Geniuses

The Kerry campaign was in Steubenville today. Good move. I've had a report, second-hand, via email, that nearly half of his audience was composed of protesters. I'm hesitant to pass on what I heard without the correspondent's permission...so if you're reading this, correspondent, please feel free.

Here's a news report.

Comments

[Brian Lester]

http://news-register.net/news/story/094202004_new04.asp

300 Protesters outside, some portion were eventually allowed in as long as they didn't bring in their signs.

I loved the exchange between the sherrif and the Kerry campaign:

We handle security," Abdalla said. "Nobody else does. I'm not going to let you people start a damn argument," Abdalla said. "They have a right to protest."

However, a Kerry official contended that the protesters would not be allowed inside the private rally which was open only to those with tickets.

"Not inside the event," an unidentified Kerry official said.

"They have a right to do whatever they want to do as long as they don't interfere," Abdalla countered.

[Father Wilson]

Here's the description of the event I had from one of the participants:

""John Kerry came to Fort Steuben (on 3rd Street) in
Steubenville Ohio today to campaign for president. Just under HALF the
crowd were protestors (I can get digital photographic evidence in a few days
for you if you need). It occurred from 4p.m. until about 7:30p.m. today,
Saturday, Sept. 4th. Priests, nuns, American Life League, students, profs,
staff, and good Catholics (including some steel workers) all came to protest
and boo. The AP is falsely reporting (in the story, "Kerry Rips Bush Over
Record Medicare Hike"), "Several dozen Bush supporters greeted Kerry in
Steubenville with signs favoring a second Bush term and opposing the
Catholic Kerry's support for abortion rights." There were several HUNDRED
as Carl Cameron of FOX news stated on live TV! Now that's news. I emailed
Drudge about this - not that it's terribly news worthy. Though Kerry and
some of his staff were visibly shaken!"

He goes on to describe --

"Y'all should have been there - it was truly AMAZING!!! There were at least
500 of us (almost half the crowd). Our city councilman at large is a
republican and he secured w/ the local police our protection and they all
allowed us to take in our protest signs (sans sticks) INTO the VENUE
ITSELF!!!

There were many good signs: I used "Pontius Pilate was also
personally opposed" , but Laura's was most effective: a
bright florescent hot pink sign saying "Kerry" with a slash through it. She
worked her way to the front of the crowd and stood on a chair holding it
high. She clearly saw Kerry look at the only hot pink sign in the entire
crowd several times and get slightly flustered. Other signs: "Kerry is bad
for steel" (he's in the pocket of the enviros - that really pisses off the
steel community here), "Unfit for command" (thanks for the ideas, guys!),
"Steubenville for Bush!", "Taxpayers for Bush", etc.

At one point, Kerry said "To all you Republicans in the crowd..." I
couldn't hear the rest over the deafening boooos!

You should have seen the media and Kerry's campaign when they arrived - he
must have had no idea what hit him: we were all lined up along the fence (a
whole city block) and there were ONLY pro-Bush, anti-Kerry, pro-life signs
along the entire fence. Several of his staff gave us very nasty looks -
they couldn't believe that someone (the police! - most of whom are
Republicans here) let us in the venue with those protest signs. (BTW, he
tried to come last month and the Kerry camp was turned down by the head of
the local firemen's union - another republican).

Perhaps the highlight of the night was this: John Glenn introduced Kerry.
During his introduction, at a moment when the entire crowd was silent and
during a pause in his intro, Regis Martin (a fellow prof here) yelled at the
top of his voice to the great consternation of the Democrats: "Go back to
the Moooon!" You've really got to know Regis - he sure is something.

Kerry was shocked and upset. A job well done."

[Kathleen]

I couldn't believe it when I heard they were going to Steubenville. Like Amy said, what geniuses.

I hope some of the signs sunk in.

[tom faranda]

Oddly enough, the NY Times daily article on the Kerry campaign, datelined from Steubenville, Ohio, failed to mention this. Oddly enough.

[Frank Elliott]

I was heartened to see that protesters were allowed at a speech given by a presidential candidate. Then, I realized the protest was government-sponsored.

The Republican mayor of New York and the NYPD held protestors in jail for more than 60 hours after their arrest , although state law mandates an appearance before a judge in 24 hours. The effect was to keep protestors off the streets until the Republican convention was over.

Anyone-else find this disturbing?

[Joanne]

"Anyone-else find this disturbing?"

Possibly, but I guess I'd need more details to form an opinion. I'm still voting for Bush though.

[Father Wilson]

Government sponsored? Where did you get that idea?

Check out Kathryn Jean Lopez, posting on The Corner, National Review Online. She recounts that the Kerry campaign scheduled Kerry's rally in a state park; the city councilman merely secured the services of the police, and the police protected the public's right to free access.

The protest was put together by Franciscan University students -- even the University itself had nothing to do with it.

[Frank Elliott]

I was referring to the Republican councilman's collusion with the police to bring demonstrators into the venue. This is during a campaign season when the sitting Republican president and vice president have required loyalty oaths for a chance to attend their rallies.

[TP]

Greetings,

The Article quoted Gabriel Hahn. I am assuming that is Prof. Scott Hahn's oldest Son. That was odd. I have his Tapes from St. Joseph's, and he always mentions his children. Since they are still young in the tapes, I just assumed that they have not yet grown up. I suppose people do age.

peace

[Donald R. McClarey]

Maybe Kerry should restrict himself to friendly venues? The Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts, gatherings of employees of Heinz-Kerry, the U.N. and meetings of the Association of Vietnam Veterans Who Married Two Heiresses might be among the safe choices.

[Frank Elliott]

I'm glad the protesters were there. I consider it heartening people can protest in the presence of a presidential candidate. However, I recognize that security is necessary to preserve the electoral process.

Unless this city councilman or the police notified the Secret Service agent guarding John Kerry, a presidential candidate, then they were colluding to violate security and endangering the electoral process.

[Chris]

I think someone needs to teach Frank the real meaning of "Free Speech". I started to, but I've got better things to do than argue against the wind in the middle of a real hurricane.

[Greg Popcak]

Frank,

Did you read the article? The Sheriff is a Democrat. In fact, Fred's brother, John Abdalla is the Democratic Party Chief for Jefferson County (of which Steubenville is the seat).

It is true that we have a few Republicans who slip in to some public offices here, and there are also a few local cops I know who are Republicans, but by and large, Steubenville is still--technically--a Democratic town.

Anyway, despite Amy's comment box observer's slightly overheated tone, nobody colluded to undermine anything. Unless, that is, you count the Kerry team's desire to interfere with the free speech rights of the protestors.

Greg

[Frank Elliott]

Greg,

Given the generally paranoid and bigotted tone of your article on same sex marriage, I not inclined to regard you as a paragon of reason or fairness, but I will research this further before taking it up with the Kerry campaign.

[Lee]

What all of the above shows is that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans want opposition protesters at their rallies, and that both sides will:

(1) use police power and "security" if they can, to attain this end, and
(2) will send their own "turbas" to enemy rallies, and will
(3) complain if the other side does the same to them

Neither side cares for freedom of speech. What a choice we have .... Sauron or Saruman? Gog or Magog? Jesuits or Opus Dei? Stalin or Hitler? I don't want any part of any of these pairs.

Lee

[Frank Elliott]

I'm all for freedom of speech. I think the protestors should have been there, and I want to see Mcain-Feingold repealed. However, I don't think that free speech necessarily involves getting within spitting distance of a president as "code pink" did at the Republican convention. I particularly dislike the thought that a government official would endanger the security of a president or a presidential candidate by (possibly) making it possible for a hostile group to get so close to a presidential candidate.

I remember the assassination attempts against Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford ( a Republican president whose life was saved by a gay man. Perhaps, it's fortunate that Ford's savior didn't live to see Ford's party try to write anti-gay bias into the Constitution) . Both were facilitated by lax security that allowed unknown people to close to the president. Whatever I may think of the two candidates, the worst possible outcome for this election would be the assassination of either one.

[Lee]

Frank, what happened to the man who saved Pres. Ford? I do recall that some people were throwing jeers in his direction when it came out that he was gay.

Lee

[tom faranda]

As Nat Hentoff likes to say: "Free speech for me, but not for thee." Protesters at the Democratic Convention in liberal, progressive, Catholic, Democratic, Boston were restricted to a caged area underneath an overpass. I had prolife friends who were there, and it was absurd.

[DJP]

As a graduate of Franciscan University (1986), I am proud that the students continue to carry on the strong, pro-life Catholic tradition.

Steubenville may be democrat, but it votes pro-life, and if the University gets all of those new students and their families to register to vote in Steubenville, they might be able to make a difference in this year's presidential elections.

[Kevin Miller]

By the way, more local news coverage here.

[Greg Popcak]

Wow, Frank. Sit on a stick today? As I recall, the "article" I posted (a blog entry) simply cited research from the US Census, the Gay and Lesbian Online Consumer survey, and the US DOJ stats on domestic violence in same sex households. All I did was literally quote the data. Don't kill the messenger just because you don't like the news.

Now, again, I point you to the facts of this situation and you go nuts. Sorry to have pissed in your Wheaties, friend, but if you're going to get all hot and bothered about something, try to get your facts straight next time.

Greg

[frank Elliott]

Greg,

Your article (
http://www.exceptionalmarriages.com/weblog/BlogDetail.asp?ID=16869) cited no direct sources. Instead, it cited a single article by the Family Research Council, an anti-gay activist organization. This article made comparisons of data from disparate sources and you made conclusions without appealing to the primary sources to see if the data actually were comparable. Your article was an unresearched, unscientfic attack piece.

[Joseph R. Wilson]

"I point you to the facts of this situation and you go nuts. Sorry to have pissed in your Wheaties, friend, but if you're going to get all hot and bothered about something, try to get your facts straight next time."--Greg Popcak

You point to the facts, but then attack him in a way that is unlikely to further the cause of persuasion (if that is what you, in fact, wish to accomplish). John Kerry is a sinner like the rest of us, and I am praying that this demonstration helps in his ongoing conversion.

I visited Franciscan University several weeks ago when picking up my daughter after she spent the summer studying Greek there. Our whole family thought that it was a pretty great place, with many faithful and enthusiastic Catholics. It would be interesting to me to hear how this event is viewed by Bishops (and their chanceries) in some big cities. From what I've read, it seems to have been very effective. Maybe it is the start of something good.

[Joanne]

"Sorry to have pissed in your Wheaties"

Greg-

This was pretty gross, and not really a great reflection on you or your argument. (Frank's probably unfounded insults notwithstanding.)

Joanne

[frank Elliott]

Joseph and Joanne,

Greg's "facts" regarding SSM are second hand rantings from the Family Research Council, which has a history of citing sources that falsify and distort research (e.g. Paul Cameron). Greg didn't bother to consult any of the primary sources. In short, he got caught not doing his homework.

[Kevin Miller]

Frank:

1. In what ways did the sources (like, as I recall, the US Census Bureau!) cited in the FRC piece actually at issue falsify or distort anything?

2. In response to a criticism - I forget from who - Greg actually defended the thesis that the FRC's handling of data is correct. You'll need to go back and engage his actual arguments if you don't like the conclusions - not simply assert - falsely - that "he got caught not doing his homework."

3. What the heck does this have to do with who did or didn't want signs allowed at the Kerry rally? In fact, very little - it's a gratuitous distraction here.

[Joseph R. Wilson]

Frank, when a writer clearly provides the reference and proceeds to clearly review "the high points" it seems reasonable to me that the reader is then well advised and free to read the piece in question in order to draw personal conclusions. And are you sure that Greg "didn't bother to consult any of the primary sources"?

Your statement "has a history of citing sources that falsify and distort research ," even if true, does little to advance the cause of your present argument, and may represent a form of sophistry. If I were to abide by your cautionary statement, I would not be comfortable obtaining any information from the notorious New York Times.

And what does any of this have to do with the genius of the Catholic and other pro-life people of Steubenville?

[Esquire]

To get the discussion back on topic, I think everyone can or should agree that the ability of these Steubanville students and faculty to voice their opinions was important vindication of their right to free speech.

These so-called free-speech zones (which if memory serves were first instituted on a large scale at the Republican convention in Philadelphia in 2000 and followed by the Democrats in L.A. later that summer) are absurd.

That being said, I can't even remotely imagine this sort of thing being permitted at a George Bush campaign stop. People have been forced to sign loyalty oaths, been ejected (and subsequently fired by their employers) for asking questions, and been removed or forbidden from wearing anti-Bush t-shirts at various Bush campaign stops.

[Glenn Juday]

Has there yet been an instance of opposition or criticism of Senator Kerry (you know - like - a public official, you know?) on the issues and of his record, that has not been jumped on as (a) a smear, (b) hate speech, (c) an expression of fear and a warning of imminent repression? Those who support the Kerry candidacy, if they wish to actually elect the guy rather than use him as a vehicle for expressing their disdain for Bush, need to start policing their ranks and give some indications that they actually support the ground rules of traditional American political life and discourse. As in debate, differing viewpoints, stuff like that.

Being thin-skinned is not a good recommendation for the highest executive office of the land. That is one thing. But there IS something creepy about the automatic reflex to shout down criticism.

[Glenn Juday]

Has there yet been an instance of opposition or criticism of Senator Kerry (you know - like - a public official, you know?) on the issues and of his record, that has not been jumped on as (a) a smear, (b) hate speech, (c) an expression of fear and a warning of imminent repression? Those who support the Kerry candidacy, if they wish to actually elect the guy rather than use him as a vehicle for expressing their disdain for Bush, need to start policing their ranks and give some indications that they actually support the ground rules of traditional American political life and discourse. As in debate, differing viewpoints, stuff like that.

Being thin-skinned is not a good recommendation for the highest executive office of the land. That is one thing. But there IS something creepy about the automatic reflex to shout down criticism.

[Jerry Frances]

Esquire,

The cheif difference would be that those Bush rallies were not held on State Park property. If Kerry wants to hold a rally on private property and limit access, he is free to do so and I couldn't think any less of him for it.

But he's a moron and a budding tyrant if he thinks he can do it out in public and not face criticicsm.

[Frank Elliott]

Jerry,

Republican Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, banned protesters from Central Park during the Republican convention. If you're looking for tyrants, look in your own party.

[Christopher Rake]

I might have made a different decision than the one that denied a permit for mass protest at Central Park. But that is hardly the act of a "tyrant," and if it is, a very ineffective tyrant given the large demonstrations that did take place in NY (as they should; that is their right).

As for Kerry, the key here is, as pointed out above, Kerry held an event in a public space, which one would think guarantees public access.

[Mio]

Whether the public vs. private space distinction matters probably depends on the circumstances.

If the public place can be "rented out" for special events (concerts, corporate events, or whatever) and closed to the public during those events, and Kerry's campaign people rented it in accordance with the regular procedures, then they should be able to invite and exclude whoever they want.

But if that's not the case, then certainly the public should be able to gather at a public park, within whatever reasonable limitations might be required to protect the facilities, public safety, etc.

To get back to Amy's original comment, I agree that the original "let's take Kerry to Steubenville" idea was a massively stupid one. What'd they expect?

[Jerry Frances]

Actually, Frank, I've voted for two republican candidates, one for governor and one for senator, in my entire voting history. I am registered with neither party.

Just because you're an entrenched partisan hack doesn't mean everyone is.

[Hermann]

What is the matter with Kerry? Why doesn't he make people who wish to be in his presence sign a Loyalty Oath, the way our Fuh... I mean, our President does?

[Kevin Miller]

Hermann:

Did you notice that that's exactly what the Kerry people wanted to do? It was only the local organizers who kept it from happening.

[Stephen]

This is during a campaign season when the sitting Republican president and vice president have required loyalty oaths for a chance to attend their rallies.

Funny, Frank, I didn't have to take a loyalty oath for the Bush rally I went to in Pensacola, Florida. Neither did the Niceville or Panama City attendees.

[Doug Sirman]

Considering how many millions of dollars was just spent restoring the lawn at Central Park, I hardly think restrincting it from being used for a rally constitutes "tyrannny."

Now, why wasn't that little fact mentioned?

Oh, that's right. The fact didn't fit the agenda.

[Frank Elliott]

Jerry,

I've campaigned for Reagan against Carter because Jimmy Carter was (and is) an incompetent, narcissistic, pseudo-intellectual. I left the Republican party in 1992, when the key not address by Pat Buchanan made it abundantly obvious that the party had been taken over by its Christo-fascist wing.

[cs]

I left my post as Democrat Party Secretary of my town when Gov. Casey was denied his speech before the Democratic National Convention in 1992.

As for Christo-Fascism, there are plenty of Rockefeller Republicans left for you to play with. Come back to the GOP.

[Allen]

"Christo-Fascist??"

LOLOLOLOL!!

I seem to recall that the 92 election did not go to the Republicans. Buchanan may still be a registered R, but his views are so anti free trade as to make him, well, a Democrat.

Hardly a takeover...

[RadTrad]

I left the Republican party in 1992, when the key not address by Pat Buchanan made it abundantly obvious that the party had been taken over by its Christo-fascist wing.

As a fully paid up member of the Christo-fascist wing, I would like to inform you that you have been subjected to summary judgement for thought crimes and are to be liquidated. Please report to your local Bureau of Fraternal Correction field office to receive Viaticum and the standard issue bullet behind the ear. Thank you.

[Dave Mueller]

By all means, keep protestors far away from Kerry. If some loony is able to get near him and assassinate him, the Democrats might replace him with someone who could actually win!! We certainly don't want that to happen. ;-)

[John Jakubczyk]

Well, Seems like everyone is getting intense over this issue of free speech. Isn't that wonderful. A couple of points by someone who has seem a little bit. Both the democrat and republican conventions were not going to let ANYONE get close. Blomberg is not friend of the first amendment nor to pro lifers but given the security alerts that existed for both Boston and NYC, I do not know that I can blame them for the paranoia. I remember protesting the Democrat convention in 1976. I was a disenfranchised pro life Democrat at the time. They had us blocks away from Madison Square Garden. We were about 10,000 strong. The police had no problems with us and it was very peaceful. Now I have to tell you that we were much more polite than the crowd in NYC this last go around. From what people told me. some places were very scary.

As for demonstrating against presidential candidates, I did that too. It seemed that we were always somewhat in the distance. No matter as long as the press saw us. Ah but there is the rub. The media was not accurate in reporting what ever happened. They controlled the news and tried to minimize your presence. That should be the subject of the conversation - the failure of the media to do its job - to report the news and not to trim it to meet their agenda.

Good job to all who participated.

Kerry is a sad pathetic candidate. Supports killing children whether in Vietnam or here at home. At least that is what his statements say. Wants pro abort judges to keep abortion legal. Not a friend to children nor their moms.

Well if we all support Bush and make sure to get out the vote, then we will have an opportunity to make a real difference during the next few years.
PAX.