Santorum jeered at commencement at historically black college

Times Leader ^ | 5/9/2004

[Born Conservative]

THORNBURY, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum was greeted with boos, jeers and turned backs Saturday while giving a commencement speech at Cheyney University, a historically black college, a newspaper reported.

"I know my selection as commencement speaker was not met with unanimous approval," Santorum said, according to the Daily Local News of West Chester.

While most of the master's degree candidates remained seated during Santorum's speech, more than half of the graduating undergraduates stood and faced away from the senator in silent protest, the paper reported. A scattering of audience members also joined the protest.

Santorum admitted that a conservative Republican might not be an obvious choice for speaker at an institution that claims to be the oldest historically black college or university in the nation.

"Our great universities don't hide from controversy. They understand they have an obligation to challenge students. They have an obligation to challenge politically correct dogma and ideas," Santorum said, according to the paper. "They have an obligation to challenge students to face the truth."

Part of Santorum's speech encouraged students to rebel against today's self-centered culture, that says "if it feels good, do it," Santorum said. Instead, he said, the motto should be "if it's good for others, do it."

The quiet protest turned to a chorus of boos and jeers at several points, particularly when Santorum focused on family values and the percentage of black children born out of wedlock, the paper reported.

The boos rose to a roar when Santorum quoted National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and remained loud through his finishing comment of "Thank you and God bless you."

[Born Conservative]

BC ping

[Tribune7]

ping

[Clara Lou]

I'd be very interested to read what they hold against Condoleeza Rice. What small people they are! ("Tell me what I want to hear or I'll stick my fingers in my ears!")

[Williams]

One of the many great disservices done to this nation by our politicians is the left wing radicalization of black citizens. I say "politicians" because democrats do it and republicans are afraid to confront it. The fact (which everyone knows in their day to day life) is that many blacks are now extremely racist, left wing, dependent upon government, etc. The worst left wing members of Congress are from black districts. Sorry to paint with a broad brush which doesn't apply to all, but what Santorum experienced is reflective of the trend. How many "white" colleges would boo a black speaker? By the way, there are no white colleges.

[SpookBrat]

Liberals in general are uncouth and uncivilized with little to no manners. The liberals in my family are just as rude and obnoxious. Why do they find it necessary to make fools of themselves and harass people?

[PokeyJoe]

The quiet protest turned to a chorus of boos and jeers at several points, particularly when Santorum focused on family values and the percentage of black children born out of wedlock, the paper reported.

ya know... the truth hurts.

The truth hurts even more when your "enemy" points out the obvious.

[Dick Vomer]

I don't know.... I think I like the fact that he was jeered.

First of all it's freedom of speech. Secondly we know that 50% that turned and jeered didn't think that he represented them or wasn't giving them the "message" they wanted to hear.

If only conservatives were as aggressive about voicing their opinion.... we'll get there. Just give us time.

[Williams]

Wouldn't an "historically white college" be protested and litigated out of existence? You know, on the out of wedlock thing it's sad because black families were once and many still are, very stable and close knit. Now when teachers ask 10 year old girls in school where they will be in 5-10 years, they talk about having babies with different fathers. True story.

[Cicero]

Brainwashing. Blacks are persuaded that the leftists are their friends, when nothing could be further from the truth. Leftists want their votes, and they are willing to buy them with other people's taxes, but they have nothing else to offer but complicity in the Culture of Death.

[devolve]

turning themselves invisible

[Pontiac]

"Our great universities don't hide from controversy. They understand they have an obligation to challenge students. They have an obligation to challenge politically correct dogma and ideas," Santorum said, according to the paper. "They have an obligation to challenge students to face the truth."

The most dangerous thing any public speaker can do is challenge his audience’s right to long held privileges.

Telling the audience that their birthright privileges are unearned and unjust is a sure way to the audience’s good will and may lead to personal danger.

Mr. Santorum has earned my resect for even accepting the invitation to speak at this college.

[Tribune7]

ping for the black conservatiaves.

(In all honesty, he'd get similar treatment at most , mostly white schools. Also, give Cheyney credit for inviting him.)

[justshutupandtakeit]

Shove it in their dumbass faces. Good.

[CasearianDaoist]

That is what attracts many people to the Left. Under the banner af absolute moral certitude they can indulge there worst faults toward anyone but Liberals. It truly is a pathology.

What is dangerous is that the rest of us think that it ois just a matter of suasion, that they will grow up. They will not, they have to be removed from power either but the ballot or the bullet. They really would destroy the country.

[Unicorn]

BTTT

[Straight Vermonter]

They don't like to see one of their own escape off the plantation.

[wardaddy]

Once blacks reach middle class parity they will become conservatives.

Once mexican campesinos do the same, they will too.

Islam is a religion of peace.


I just love empty platitudes.

[swheats]

I'd love to know-of those protesting how many have had a string of abortions or thought it more noble to have the child out of wedlock, single parents.

[radiohead]

Liberals in general are uncouth and uncivilized with little to no manners.

Boy, that is no lie. You want rude, obnoxious, behavior, just look for a liberal. Whether it's in private conversation or public demeanor, they can be counted on to act like the uncivilized children that they are.

When I think of how hard many of the students' parents worked and sacrificed to send their child to college, it is unfortunate to see those same children mar graduation. For many older blacks, perhaps true victims of discrimination that negated higher education for themselves, seeing a young relative graduate from college is a precious event. They must have been mortified by the students' behavior.

I recall my elderly aunts traveling by train from DC to Philly to watch me be sworn into the Bar. I would never have embarrassed them, or myself, by misbehaving like these idiots, no matter what political issues I might have had.