Posted on 05/16/2004 5:45:34 PM PDT by veronica
A keynote speaker at State University College at Oswego's graduation ceremony Saturday was drowned out by booing, hissing and foot-stomping after he criticized President Bush.
Theodore C. Sorensen, a lawyer and author who served as special counsel to President Kennedy, never said Bush's name. But he took the president to task for going on vacation after warnings of terrorist attacks surfaced, declaring war without allied support and gloating about a victory.
Sorensen compared the ways Kennedy handled the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 to the methods Bush used to handle the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"President Kennedy did not proceed unilaterally, without obtaining the support of our allies and without recourse to the United Nations," he said.
As Sorensen spoke, one student's mother stood up and ordered him off the stage. A graduate yelled, "Are you serious?" but another quickly chimed in, "Let the man finish his speech."
The noise got so loud that Sorensen, who spoke into a microphone, at times could not be heard. More than half his speech was overpowered by audience rumbling and shouting.
College President Deborah F. Stanley moved next to Sorensen as he spoke through the chaos. Stanley thanked the audience for being respectful "in a place where ideas, information and understanding reign supreme." She said after the ceremony that her comment was as much a criticism as a compliment.
"People, I think, understand that Mr. Sorensen has led a political and policy-oriented life," Stanley said. "But the way he chose to express that was, perhaps, surprising."
"It was just like a slap in the face," said Mary Sheldon, of Lorraine, Jefferson County, whose daughter Johanna Besaw graduated Saturday with an English degree. "We came here to be supportive of our kids and their achievements. It wasn't the time or the place for politics."
Sheldon's son, David Dreier, 25, received notice Thursday that he will be shipping out to Iraq with the National Guard. The family left Romney Field House, where the ceremony was held, midway through Sorensen's speech.
Charlie Vecchio, 25, a former army soldier originally from Manlius, disagreed with Sorensen's views but had more of a problem with the audience.
"People's reactions were a little outrageous," he said. "I have friends who died so we could say what we want. That's part of why our soldiers are over there, for our right to freedom of speech."
Sorensen has a First Amendment right to say what he wants but the audience has the right to express itself as well. I agree that manners should normally prevail, and I prefer to hear those I disagree with. However, I am also tired of the left going unchallenged when they utter their nonsense. Both sides exercised free expression.
I guess Sorensen knows deep in his heart, in places he doesn't talk about it, that some people want the U.S. military on that wall, he needs them on that wall to paraphrase Colonel Jessup from "A Few Good Men."
There's not a thing wrong with congratulating graduates for their achievement, inspiring them to future success, and leaving it at that.
I for one do not blame them. How
dare he ruin their occasion of
family, pride, love and hope with
such a mean diatribe against the
President. Good for them!
It's a new day,people are better informed,not buying the same old lib b.s.,or maybe just speaking up more.Does my heart good to see stories like this.
We are at war. It seems the audience realized that and the speaker did not.
Wrong - I guarantee you that if my daughter's graduation gets turned into a political event I will participate as appropriate.
Couldn't agree with you - LESS.
After the outright slander, abuse, scorn, derision, ridicule, faux commission hearings, stone-walling of judicial appointments, calls for assassination and other items on the liberal/progressive agenda it is long overdue for them to receive the cold hard slap of reality.
They have never and will never respond to civil discourse unless they control all avenues of debate and discussion.
Praise the times we live in where truth can reach fellow conservatives that they are not alone.
Withhold applause?
By all means, yes, withhold applause.
You can't clap when you're throwing rotten tomatoes.
Absolutely.
The grads and their parents, etc., have more of a right to enjoy the ceremony than that old fool has to use the platform for a political diatribe.
Rude? Yeah, Ted -- not the audience.
I agree. The man got called on the carpet. We do live in a country where we have a voice and the parents and kids were expressing theirs. Nothing wrong with that.
by the way, it's about time the conservatives started doing this to liberal, whiny, b#tches. It just seems that libs get to shout down conservatives and no conservatives have the stones to do the same to the liberal speakers.. I say
Let the shouting begin.
I am declaring a "Jihad".. hahahahahaha Yep that's it, I hereby declare a fatwa on lib speakers at graduations.
It is written that those who jihad against liberals WON't get virgins... nope they'll get 72 members of the Sweedish bikini team or the Coors light twins to comfort them in Valhalla.... YEAH!!!!
Many the time we conservatives have accused liberals of promoting "free speech for me but not for thee." Apparently many Freepers actually hold the same principles and feel that drowning out a liberal speaker is perfectly acceptable, even if what he says is wrong and unpopular. And while what Sorensen said is despicable, it hardly amounts to the Michael Moore level of obnoxiousness.
People have the right NOT to be lectured to--It's called freedom of speech. There is no need to be forced to sit and listen to BS. Stop whining.
I hate to break this to the libs, but one reason to get the President out of Washington is better security. Also these days, you can work from most anywhere.
Now for the big kick in the teeth to the commie left. World leaders visit here sometime and it can't be broadcast thanks to 9/11. More than you hear about stay at the President's Crawford, Texas ranch. The Clinton's turned Camp David into a dump and the White House became a for rent motel thanks to them. President Bush is able to show these leaders the hospitality of our nation by offering his own house for some stays. All the tax sucking Clintons could offer is a nice hotel or staying with other rich people, something the leaders could do on their own.
Just because liberals infringe conservative free speech, two wrongs do not make a right. Drowning out speech is not free speech.
Sorensen is a liar and a scumbag.
But worse, he's a boring writer, too.
They were simply expressing their appreciation of his opinion.
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