Sep 20, 2012
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An expert on the First Amendment said the Obama campaign’s decision to bar a University of Florida student from attending a Michelle Obama speech smacked of viewpoint discrimination and raised questions about liberal bias in academia.
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Clay Calvert, the director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida, said the incident also raises questions about the university’s involvement.
“While the university might not have done anything legally wrong in allowing Obama officials to discriminate against Republicans in terms of attendance, certainly the incident will, in the eyes of some folks, appear – rightly or wrongly – to be another indicator of liberal bias in academia,” Calvert told Fox News.
Matt Pesek, a student at the university, was denied entry to the speech even though he had a ticket for the event. He told the website Campus Reform that an Obama staffer pulled him out of line because he was wearing a John McCain t-shirt.
The First Lady’s speech, the Obama staffer allegedly told the student, was for “supporters only.”
The revelation surfaced the same day President Obama appeared on CBS’ Late Show With David Letterman and said he represented the entire country.
“If you want to be president, you have to work for everyone,” he told Letterman.
Pesek said he offered to turn his shirt inside but was still denied entry.
University of Florida spokesperson Janine Sikes told Fox News that the university had absolutely no control over the event. She said the Obama campaign paid money to rent the facility and could determine who was allowed inside.
However, that appears to contradict a stipulation in the contract between the university and the Obama campaign.
Fox News obtained a copy of that document which includes a non-discrimination clause.
“User shall not prohibit attendance at the Event by any person in violation of law,” the clause states. “In the event entrance to any person is restricted by law, User shall provide written notice of such restricted use to University’s vice president for business affairs prior to signing of the agreement.”
Sikes said the campaign did not violate the law by denying the conservative student entry into the event.
Calvert said the incident raises troubling questions about the university’s handling of the situation.
“My primary question and concern is whether university officials knew in advance about the attendance discrimination policy that the Obama officials implemented – that people with pro-Republican garb that didn’t include anything offensive about the First Lady or the President would be turned away,” he said. “If officials new that in advance, then it would be highly problematic. Second, if university officials did not know in advance, then why didn’t they know?”
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Your right Larry! This 1st amendment thing is getting in the way of progress. It is time to start taking dissenters at college campuses out the line. Not a heckler, just a dissenter. Your not welcome here at this event. Obama Supporters only, dissenters, you can come with me.
Why are we surprised? This is a party who is spending 70K of our money to apologize for a film trailer (not even a full length film) made by a private person who they arrested on trumped up charges. Talk about advocates for the First Amendment. I hear Obama is going to bring up the film (which he knows is not the reason for a terrorist attack on 9/11/12) and the film maker in his UN speech. Outrageous!
I am not surprised at anything the liboturds pull off, this is just sop for them.
Just another step closer to Nazism!
If this kid were wearing a shirt with Obama, Marx, Stalin, Mao or Che's mug on it, he would of been allowed in to listen to Mooooooshell jibber jabber fest.
If this kid were wearing a shirt with Obama, Marx, Stalin, Mao or Che's mug on it, he would of been allowed in to listen to Mooooooshell jibber jabber fest.
your right
your right
Jim, it just goes to show the devolution in the state of politics, and its going to continue its downward spiral until there's no nation or freedom left for anyone.
In other words, the Obama campaign did nothing wrong here, and they can choose who is allowed into the event.
Didn't you read? The contract had a non-discrimination clause. They violated that clause. I also wonder Jay, would your attitude change is a student wearing a Clinton shirt was refused admittance to a Romney event? No, they didn't commit a crime, but I want my president to at least respect my opinions, even if he doesn't agree with them.
WRONG, Jay.
It;s a PUBLIC event and anyone who isn't being disruptive should be allowed.
But in the world of totalitarianism it's not enough to stifle someone's right to assemble you have to make sure their free speech (a tee shirt) is off limits too.
they broke the law by not abiding by the contract they signed with thw university1 but it seems demorats don't care they like obama like to break the law all the time!
that only applies to conservatives
Free speech for thee, but not for the rest of you!
Your are right he will King, he will offically declare himself King if he is elected
more like dictator
There was nothing unlawful about denying entry to a student based on her political leanings. So the author is making a mountain out of a mole hill when stating, "that [the act of kicking a student out] appears to contradict a stipulation in the contract between the university and the Obama campaign."
moving on…
What it emphasizes is that while the Democrats claim to champion diversity of color, nationality and gender they do NOT tolerate diversity of opinion if it doesn't follow their own.
He had a McCain tee shirt on….he can't get in.
Damning indeed to their own claims of tolerance and inclusion.
So, the question is: Is it appropriate to allow trolls in a campaign speech area.
Moreover, this article smacks of sensational journalism.
Liberal Bias in Academia is one charge that doesn't make sense because the Obama Campaign had entered into a contractual agreement to lease the building. Every campaign, left or right, has done the same – reach out to students at colleges and universities across the nation.
Violations of the contract is another charge that doesn't make sense because I have already explained, removal of the student or denying entry based upon her political leanings doesn't violate any existing non-discriminatory clause that the University Holds in accordance with State Law.
This is why no intellectual takes Fox News seriously…this very story is emblematic of the myopic and narrow-mindedness that is Fox News…
So, the question is: Is it appropriate to allow trolls in a campaign speech area.
Moreover, this article smacks of sensational journalism.
Liberal Bias in Academia is one charge that doesn't make sense because the Obama Campaign had entered into a contractual agreement to lease the building. Every campaign, left or right, has done the same – reach out to students at colleges and universities across the nation.
Violations of the contract is another charge that doesn't make sense because I have already explained, removal of the student or denying entry based upon her political leanings doesn't violate any existing non-discriminatory clause that the University Holds in accordance with State Law.
This is why no intellectual takes Fox News seriously…this very story is emblematic of the myopic and narrow-mindedness that is Fox News…
Myopic and narrow-minded…you hit the nail on the head.
Unfortunately you nailed the wrong target…it wasn't this student or (YAWN) Fox News…it was the Obama campaign, in particular, and liberals, in general, who cannot tolerate diversity of opinion.
Millie Oberheu Tell me. Since when has the modern iteration of trolling ever been acceptable at either convention during an election year? So, based on your logic, the anti-Iraq war demonstrators should have been allowed to attend the GOP Convention during the 2004 Election year.
This false polemic narrative that either the Dem party accepts all forms of expression at any and all times, otherwise, they are hypocrites is a bit juvenile and over simplistic in its logic, don't you think? Every institution is biased towards its own ends and that includes the Democratic Party. One needs not look any further than the Chicago Riots at the Democratic National Convention in 1968 (if you don't know, Wikipedia is ur best friend.)
The point is that there is no hypocrisy in ejecting a student whose views aren't shared by those of the group (unless you're willing to condemn the Boy Scouts too), nor is there a show of liberal bias on the part of academia. Please be advised.
So much for so called "all inclusiveness" from the Party of the Jackass.
John Allen Shaw Ha ha ha…Myopic and narrow minded describes libs, lefties and Democrats, and you. Time and time again I have seen lib trolls disrupt speeches and gatherings of conservatives. They are typical libs but they aren't barred from listening until they begin to disrupt everyone elses freedom to listen to the speech.
Left tard libtards are the most anti free speech and freedom of expression group on the planet. They want to disrupt everyone else and say what ever THEY want without risk of disagreement. The utopia of the left is a totalitarian state where people who disagree are arrested on the spot and jailed. What a big bunch of baby hypocrites.
There was no evidence, other than YOU saying he was a troll, that he was there to make mischief. Wearing a McCain tee shirt may be offensive to Obama supporters but it doesn't qualify someone to not be allowed to a public event.
Millie Oberheu Wearig a McCain T-Shirt at a Dem Convention isn't trollish…that's like saying showing up at a Conan O'Brian show with an "I Love Jay Leno" T-shirt will definitely get u into the screening. It's the very definition of Trolling…
Jeff Gabel So, two hillbillies stumble onto Facebook…one riding a yak while the other's gut is showing. Tell me if you've heard this joke before. So…
John Allen Shaw "So, the question is: Is it appropriate to allow trolls in a campaign speech area."
First, how do you know he was a "troll" and not a citizen of the United States of America who wanted to hear what the First Lady had to say?
Second, would you find it OK if the shoe was on the other foot? I remember when a protester charged the stage where John McCain was speaking and was tackled and removed. You libs screemed bloody murder, demanding that she "had the right to be there" and condemned the civilians that stopped her as "hateful". Do you remember that? You libs are such hypocrites.
Your post is emblematic of the myopic and narrow-mindedness that is the left . . .
John Allen Shaw your post just get dumber and dumber. Yes, Iraq war protestors should be allowed to attend the republican convention AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT DISRUPT THE PROCEDINGS. Period. I rememer attending a tea party rally a few years back, and there was a guy wearing an Obama shirt. Nobody kicked him out because he was respectful of other peoples rights. We conservatives are funny like that.
And your comparison to O'Brian and Leno was completely invalid. They are commercial compeditors, so yes wearing a shirt like that would have been inapropriate. But is you turned the shirt inside out, you would be allowed in. It is just like when I worked for MTD we could not wear a John Deer shirt. The guy offered to make that compromise, but was still refused.
Apples and oranges again, John.
The RNC convention is closed to delegates and requires ID. Same with the DNC. A campaign rally is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
So you are saying if someone is wearing the "wrong" shirt or button, or whatever Democrats should feel free to block them from a PUBLIC event?
So that's why they wouldn't allow supporters of coal in VA to get into the rally. Let's get out the word that unless you pass the test set by Democrats don't bother to come to one of our rallies. Or the union goons will throw you out.
Sure … let's get the word out that you are disinvited if you are wearing the wrong gear and sees how it plays with the public. No wonder Obama doesn't have the crowds he had last time around.
PS Did you hear how he offered free beer to everyone at an event except the guy who he identified as a Romney supporter? Class act…NOT.
There was a young man in a Obama "Hope" t-shirt at Paul Ryan's rally in Oldsmar, Fl last weekend. No one kicked him out.
There was a young man in a Obama "Hope" t-shirt at Paul Ryan's rally in Oldsmar, Fl last weekend. No one kicked him out.
That's because it is a public event and he had a right to be there as long as he was disruptive. Which is a point that some libs here fail to understand. A campaign rally is public unlike a meeting of the Boy Scouts. Apples and oranges John Shaw. And you know it!
Wasn't disruptive. Wish they had an edit button:)
maybe they were hoping they could teach him some sense
Sue the university of discrimination.
Not surprised here. They wouldn't want some actual TRUTH getting into their little party, now would they? Better to surround themselves with nodding yes-men.
If the fellow was as rude and radical as the folks commenting here, I completely understand banning him.
You don't get around much do you Kathleen?
Your side loves to talk about civility when they are trying to silence Republicans but you don't have any problem with the insults and name-calling on Democrat sites.
The guy was not "rude and radical". He even offered to turn his shirt inside out in order not to offend anyone. It is the person who ejected him that was "rude and radical".
No, John, we will NOT move along at your bidding.
The issue is that this student went to an event that was PUBLIC. It was open to the public and there was no dress requirement. But it's just like you lib totalitarians to try to suppress his First Amendment rights. You are the same people who constantly rail against Fox News and talk radio because they speak for voices on the right. It's not enough that you have most of the media, print and TV, you brook no opposition to your opinions.
This incident was outrageous to deny someone access because you didn't like what his shirt implied.
This is also politcally stupid. You do not gain votes by preaching to the chior. You gain them by convincing people who might vote for the other guy to vote for you instead. The Obama campaign blew a chance to convince this young man to support them. Makes me wonder what kind of idiots they have running this thing.
WOW. Obama is afraid of a student? Really?
how long till they just arrest you for a diffent view point? kicking a student out of a speech is discrimination isn't it. these fake americans need to lose this election big time. Its time to get rid of OBAMA AND His wife and let them go back to their life of vacation get aways and golf.
Wont be long til they arrest us and behead us.
I agree….and this crap has gone on with many other candidates as well….unless of course the person in question was interfering with the rights of the other people there.
I bet if he was wearing muslim garb the red carpet woulda been rolled out.