Ticket ripped because of sticker (teacher at Bush rally)

[Rose Siding]

TRAVERSE CITY - Kathryn Mead wanted to see her first sitting president when George W. Bush visited the city.
Instead, Bush campaign staffers tore up the 55-year-old social studies teacher's ticket and refused her admission because she sported a small sticker on her blouse that touted the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards.
"I had my ticket and photo identification, but they would not let me in because of this sticker," said Mead, a teacher at Traverse City West Senior High, who said she has seen Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul in person.
"I have never found this kind of screening anywhere in my travels around the world. I can't imagine being denied access to hearing the president of the United States speak."
...
"I really, truly wanted to have the experience of having seen the president and hear him speak, which is very important to me as a social studies teacher," she said. "How can anyone in the United States deny someone entry? Isn't this a democracy?"

http://www.record-eagle.com/2004/aug/17mead.htm

[MercutioATC]

1. It's a private event. They can deny entry to anybody they wish.

...and this is something that should get a LOT of press, EVERY time it happens!

[RobertSeattle]

7. Good point

But the President probably got their on our plane(Air Force 1), with our fuel, and was protected by our civil servants.

I this was being done by a (D) the RW would be frothing at the anus.

[Cha]

11. Another Good Point!

This is from the uniter not the divider.

And why are they doing such blatant dividing?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. Let me tell you what Bush would say to all of that

"Who cares what you think."

[DemoTex]

49. "Who cares what you think."

Philly? 2001 pre-911? Definitely a true Bu$h quote.

[MercutioATC]

21. Not exactly:

SS protection IS paid for by the taxpayers, but all retired Presidents also have the option to have it as do Presidential candidates.

The President (whoever it happens to be at the time) does use A1, but the campaign reimburses the government for the portion of the trip that's used for campaigning. Yes, it's a racket, but ALL sitting Presidents do it.

[snippy]

32. The campaign does not reimburse the government for the cost of the trip.

The Bush campaign reimburses the government only for the cost of a comparable commercial airline ticket for everyone on the campaign trip.

[MercutioATC]

35. I was under the impression that other costs (Presidential limo, etc.)

were also reimbursed on a prorated basis.

Perhaps I'm mistaken.

[snippy]

40. No reimbursement for security related expenses,

but direct campaign expenses are reimbursed. Here's is a brief description of how it works.

When the president, vice president, their families, and their political staffs go campaigning on government planes, they (or some political campaign) must reimburse the government for the equivalent of a first-class airline ticket for each campaign-related traveler. (If no commercial flight is available they must pay the going rate for charter service.) Lodging and meeting hall expenses must also be covered by the campaign. Because presidents, vice presidents, and their families must attend to official duties and stay inside their security bubbles while campaigning, the government assumes the travel costs of Secret Service officers and other official personnel who must accompany them.

The FEC requires reimbursement for travel expenses if an event is designed to raise money or involves more than "incidental" campaign contacts. The timing of the event on the electoral calendar, the substance of remarks made at the event, and the stated purpose of event are also considered. When a trip mixes campaign stops with noncampaign stops, the government must be reimbursed for the portion of the trip devoted directly to campaigning. If any event is campaign-related, the entire stop is considered political.

http://slate.msn.com/id/1003141/

[MercutioATC]

41. Thanks for clarifying that.

It's the same for ALL sitting administrations, so I don't think it's an issue, but it's good to have the facts.

Loyalty oaths and turning people away from events might be an issue if there's any public money involved, however.

[snippy]

42. I agree. n/t

[saracat]

52. Except that Bush has used the plane as well as other transportation,

for mor campaign related use than any other sitting President. Even in the early part of his admin, he would plan a ceromnial visit to a state and combine it with a fund raiser within hours and often at the same location!

[MichiganVote]

46. Michigan costs for candidate visits est. at 250,000 and counting

News reports indicate that the costs to Michigan local governments for staff security are now in excess of a quarter of a million dollars.

Nice. I pay my state taxes for security for the President of the US who arbitrarily denies visits to the citizens of my state.

Can you spell c-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n

[yardwork]

10. I don't agree that it is a private event

Fundraisers are private events. But when the president flies around the country, paid for by American taxpayers, and makes public speeches, then anybody who shows up should be allowed to listen, provided they aren't wielding a weapon.

That's just the way that democracies work. This isn't a monarchy where only the special ones get into court to petition the king.

[MercutioATC]

20. Depends on whether it's a campaign event or not.

By my understanding, these events have been campaign events. The campaign pays for those.

[Hobarticus]

22. Wanna bet?

My town here in Iowa, and another nearby town in Wisconsin, sent a bill for police service and clean-up to the GOP for one of Bush's 'presidential visits', where guests were screened. It was obviously a campiagn stop, since they were screening entrants, so the city managers billed them.

No payment as of yet.

[MercutioATC]

25. None yet or none coming?

As I said, I'm not sure.

[Hobarticus]

28. Not holding my breath...

I don't know what the line is, legally, what entails a presidential visit and what entails a campaign stop. Any idea?

Ethically, I'd think that if an incumbent's party isn't letting in the opposition, then it's a campaign stop and the city should be compensated. But that's just me.

[MercutioATC]

31. I'd agree with your assessment, but I don't know the legal requirements.

I do know that support costs (like A1) are reimbursed by the campaign if it's a campaign stop.

[Hobarticus]

34. It was billed as a presidential stop...

So I'm guessing there won't be any payment.

I've heard of a few other municipalities doing this also, wonder if they've had any luck?

[Massacure]

43. They are supposed to bill the secret service

Because it was security related expenses, if I recall.

[GOPFighter]

24. Cooda' foold me!

Democracy, what democracy? looks more and more like a theocracy. If you don't worship our Lord and Savior, George W. Bush, you don't get entrance into the inner sanctum.

[TahitiNut]

17. "private"? Who foots the bill for traffic control and security?

The local governments should be damned sure to bill the RNC for every penny of additional costs.

[MercutioATC]

23. That I don't know. However, the police in my city provide traffic control

for a church on Sundays and aren't reimbursed, as far as I know. If the campaign doesn't pay for it (and I think they do) it's probably viewed as a "public safety" issue.

[TahitiNut]

30. I'd be willing to bet I could attend your church, though.

When someone in my community has a private gathering (i.e. not open to everyone) that causes traffic disruption or interference with the "peaceful enjoyment" of others, they can be ticketed.

What do you suppose would happen if the RNC barred entry on the basis of race? religion? gender? :eyes:

[MercutioATC]

33. Which is why I want to see every one of these occurances publicized.

[MichiganVote]

48. $250,000 tax dollars and counting in Michigan for campaign security

[Tight_rope]

27. Not if she bought a ticket...Ihope she got her money back!

Anyway, too much exposure to *ush will freeze the brain. She's better off.

[MercutioATC]

37. I didn't see anything about "buying"

[JNelson6563]

29. In a public park? Ms. Mead pays for that park

This event was held at the Civic Center. I am right here in Traverse City and I know. It was a wonderful protest BTW.

Still, our chair commented in the paper beforehand that the GOP will screen and only let in those they approve of. You shoulda heard the hate-filled messages from "Independents" left on her machine at home and ours at the office. All claimed to NOT be Rethugs and all called her a liar and asserted EVERYONE was welcome. With Kathy Mead's experience I'd say my chair was right and the outraged "Independents" are blowing hot air, again.

We've already filed a FOIA on the public park business, FYI.

Julie

[MercutioATC]

38. Let me know if the Bush campaign rented the space or not...

If not, I'd question their ability to turn people away in a public-owned venue.

[JNelson6563]

47. I'll be sure to post when I find out

:toast:

[kodi]

45. if it is, he better not be using taxpayers money

.

[xray s]

2. You must swear allegience to the fuhr...er..President,... to get in...

What is Bush afraid of?

[LisaL]

50. They can't have him answer question

I think they are afraid he will make an idiot of himself if somebody asks him a real question instead of singing him praises.
This is so ridiculous to not let people in if they don't vote for him-has any other president done that?

[rfranklin]

3. No Kathryn, this is not a democracy....

It may be a budding theocracy, a burgeoning kleptocracy, or a corporate fascist state, but in the Bush world democracy is just another advertising slogan, like "Coke, it's the real thing!"

[The Doctor.]

14. not to mention ...

it's a budding plutocracy, hegemony, and Hypocracy...

[NoQuarter]

4. She sure has some material for

a new lesson plan. How 'bout "The Rise of Facism in These United States."

[Cha]

5. This needs to be spread Far And Wide!

Like this teacher,Kathryn Mead, said.."I have never found this kind of screening anywhere in my travels around the world. I can't imagine being denied access to hearing the president of the United States speak."

What is their reasoning on this?.. It smacks of fasciam. Are they just too totally fascists to see what this looks like to average Americans as well as people like duers?

[AspenRose]

6. The United States *used to be* a Free Speech Zone.

Those days are gone.

[yardwork]

8. Disgraceful behavior.

I don't think the people in Michigan will take this lying down. Shrub seems intent on making as many enemies as possible.

[Cha]

18. Which I must say is to our advantage.

It reminds me of before 9/11 when they were soooooooooo low in the polls because they were making enemies left and right with their environmental stances.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. Bumiller made Bush look a fool in yesterday's Times

You have to read the whole thing. It's too good to edit, but I will cite this:

Bush campaign officials tell reporters at every "Ask President Bush'' forum that the questions are not planted and that the sessions are spontaneous. Senator John Kerry's campaign officials say the events are too ridiculous to be believed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/politics/campaign/16letter.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[yardwork]

13. Well it's about time. Considering the trash the Times has published

about Kerry, it's about time they started reporting some of the real news.

[Cha]

19. yeah, I read that whatever it is..bush comes off looking "smooth"..

so I'll take the "planted" version.

[Democat]

15. Bush probably bills taxpayers for these events, even though they can't go

Unless they swear to worship Bush's feet.

[wildeyed]

16. Isn't this a democracy?"

No, but we play one on TV.

[Fleshdancer]

26. The President represents ALL Americans...whether he likes it or not

Who in the Bush camp could possibly think that pulling stunts like this is acceptable? Certainly they know that when this happens, a new article is written, right?

[Tight_rope]

36. Oh...I guess Karl Rove forgot about that!....*ush Bad Brains!

[salib]

39. Regardless of all this discussion

IT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG, AND PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the news reports started
"... and in another 'campaign stop' for the President in which many people were denied entry simply for their political beliefs..."

[faithnotgreed]

44. keith needs to hear about this: [e-mail]

its the kind of story he would do

and tds of course..

[sphincter]

51. I have seen this before

...in Germany 1937

[tom_paine]

53. "Isn't this a democracy?"

All that ended in Dec.2000.

We now live in an Orwellian Managed Democracy of the BushPutin variety.

Such behavior as that is commonplace (usually not carried out so pleasantly, but Amerika IS the front lines of the BushPutin War Against Freedom, as and such, needs to be treated for the moment with kid gloves) in Totalitarian Nations such as Imperial Amerika.

[maxrandb]

54. Sent the Link to CNN

I said, "Please report this, or are you too busy whoring for this administration".

No it probably won't do any good, but.......

[onenote]

55. the press doesn't care

Because they get into these events. If a reporter from the "mainstream" media was ever kept out, then it would be reported. If the media was truly interested, they'd have a reporter put on a Kerry button and attend a Bush event and then have the reporter put on a Bush button and attend a Kerry event and then report the difference. But don't hold your breath...

onenote