Secret Service used to expel Kerry supporters at Bush rallies

I heard a very interesting story on NPR yesterday about how the Secret Service is utilized at Bush rallies to question, expel and sometimes detain people showing up to hear the President speak who have any sort of Kerry paraphernalia on their person (T-shirt, buttons, etc.). This raises a really good question about how a sitting president uses some taxpayer dollars to further his campaign goals. Do we have the right, as citizens of the US, to hear the President speak, even if we support the opposition?

Here's the link to this audio news story, there is no transcript posted, unfortunately (click on the story link "Campaign Security Screening Crowds for Doubters" at this URL):
http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=4076497

I would say yes:


Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I agree we should be allowed to assemble and gather. But what do you do when someone else disrupts that gathering?

Politics of this particular story aside, where is the line drawn? Where does someone's free speech violate the free speech of another so much that one or the other must be silenced in order to assure the free speech of the other?

Also, FWIW, at a Kerry event in Mansfield, Ohio, which I attended, there were Bush supporters ushered away by people in suits wearing earpieces, too. The Secret Service are assigned to Kerry as well, since they do not serve Bush, but rather the Office of the President. I do not now the specifics, but I believe candidates with high enough profiles get Secret Service protection. I remember specifically Ross Perot saying that he was offered the Secret Service protection, but declined it, opting to hire his own security to save America the expense.

Agreed, but doesn't that presume guilt? Ushering away people at a Kerry convention who are wearing Bush t-shirts or people who are wearing a Kerry t-shirt at a Bush rally is hardly disruptive. It *could* get disruptive depending on the people, but I rather dislike the presumption that they are guilty for attending a speech given by 'the other side'.

Further the current administration is known for it segregration policy in the public arena. There have been several lawsuits filed for discriminatory treatment of citizens.

I'll try to find some more info on that for you to read up on.

Anyway, I think anyone should be able to attend either gathering. These are potential candidates for our next leader, everyone should be allowed.

Bush = One nation, One party

A rally is considered a private event, (or one with private funding anyway) so he does actually have the right to limit it to 'supporters only.' I'd question his right to have the secret service do the grunt work tho.

Hopefully they shot them too

I tend to agree with you, Corwin.

Juro, I'd love to hear more about those discriminatory treatment lawsuits, if you can find the information.

A lot of clubs have dress codes. If they expect you to be in a tie and you show up in a tanktop, they have a right to turn you away. A Coca-Cola sponsored event would likely turn away people wearing Pepsi shirts. I have the right to attend a political rally, but I would not show up wearing the oppositions garb. I naturally would expect an unwelcome reaction if I did and would actually be understanding if I were turned away.

The Secret Service is paid to provide security to the President (among other things), any sitting President would use them in the same manner.

Loki, your post would make sense if it werent for the piece talking about things like an old sticker in a teenagers wallet and expelling a family that left a pro choice tee shirt at the gate when not asked to bring it in. That family was then expelled before the President arrived.

I think its a good idea to listen to the linked broadcast. I did and was pretty appalled.

Well, I listened to the report just now, after having made my post above.

I still dont have a problem with the Secret Service doing what they are doing at these events.

But, the tactic itself is what is appalling to me. I would not sign a pledge of support to any canidate in order to attend a rally, so I will not be going to see Bush speak. I understand the idea behind the approach to have a group of supporters, but it seems the ball is being dropped on attempting to reach voters that are undecided.

*edit. Misnomer beat me to it. I decided to listen while she posted.

I totally agree. This is more apt to put more people off than it is to pull in new voters. A bit short sighted in my opinion.

The President was here in MN -again- this weekend (I have never in my life seen a Republican candidate visit Minnesota so many times in one campaign - very strange) and they wouldn't allow any obvious Kerry supporters within one mile of him.

There was also a not too bright local pilot who flew in the temporarily restricted airspace in the vicinity of the rally. I guess they were shooting flares and using other other methods to get him out of there. They interviewed him on the local news and he seemed to think it was kind of funny.

This is the most bizarre election I have been privy to in my life.