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."
The First Amendment bars the government from stiffling political speech. Wherever did we get the idea that the First Amendment applies here or to Howard Stern's filthy mouth? You can say anything you want, but your listeners are free to hoot and jeer, thus expressing their opinion of your opinion. If commencement speakers would leave politics out of graduation addresses, this would not occur.
How many times has that happened? A very low number I'm sure.
I put the blame on the person or committee asking him to speak. That's kind of like asking Rosanne Barr to sing the National Anthem at a ball game...what in the hell where they thinking?
"Say W or Rummy gave a commencement speech and was drowned out, you know you would be cursing the audience."
From the looks of the article I think Bush or Rumsfeld would have received a warm welcome at State University, Oswego.
xactly.
Ted Sorenson has been able to exercise his freedom of speech in this nation's magazines and on its airwaves for more than a half century. There has been precious little opportunity for those who disagree with him to respond.
He has been a pontificating busybody since the death of JFK. It is time that he be reminded of the failure of his myth making and of his hero worship.
"However, I am also tired of the left going unchallenged when they utter their nonsense"
BINGO!, We have a winner. It is not a matter of manners. It is refreshing to see the liberal left challenged by a group of normal, everyday, workaday people. We have waited too long for our conservative leaders to challenge the nonsense.
When I cast my ballot, I would like to think I am voting for someone who will stand up, speak bluntly and not be afraid of being called a "mean, old nasty republican."
If they won't do it, it is up to us to challenge whenever the oportunity presents itself.
More out-of-control Northeasterners.
Put in context that even though Oswego is a "blue" city in a "red area", about half the student historically come from downstate NY and Long Island. So I would be safe in saying that the crowd demographically would be left-leaning as a whole. Remember this is not Baylor, but also not Cornell. For this kind of reaction at this kind of a venue is a good sign.
Very telling.
Bet she won't be a guest on GMA.
Maybe the audience did consist of liberal leftists who were not interested in any politics, left or right. Or maybe there were a couple rabble rousers in the crowd.
Maybe the crowd was a little over the top ...maybe. But, look at it this way, how many times have conservitives been shouted down at universities, often by the faculty, that is assuming they're even allowed to speak. The students and parents had every right to boo this hack, especially considering how much money they paid for their education. It's good to hear not everyone gets brainwashed at college.
And a fine job of it you are doing. Liberals have no greater right to lecture than anyone else. The students were free to express their displeasure at inappropriate remarks. If booing a radical is unfair to you, then I would suggest you grow up. I those of you aon the left believe in mandatory listening, but unfortunately that is not a constitutional right in this country. Spew BS and take the consequences ande least until the left mandates that I must hear these fools.
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At a Chapman University Graduate School Grad Ceremony Speaker 9th Circuit Judge STEPHEN "No Under God in our Pledge" REINHARDT was also just about boo'd off the stage when he kept saying what good friends he was with BILL & HILLARY CLINTON.
The American People are Getting it.
The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.
.
I'll say. I'm sitting here on the floor, wondering whether Blue Cross covers falling out of my chair.
Admit it, men: when you read that, your first thought was, "Glad I'm not married to that one."
LOL!
Yes, I doubt President Bush would have allowed thousands of Cubans to be slaughtered after we promised our support.
That is the problem. One in one hundred are conservatives, the conservatives are just supposed to sit quietly and be haranged at the other 99 speeches.
Good comment!
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