MSU Professor Says Funeral Protest Ban Should Be Thrown Out

KSDK.com ^ | 3/8/06

[StarCMC]

created: 3/8/2006 8:26:18 AM

updated: 3/8/2006 8:29:11 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A Missouri State University professor says a new state law that limits protests at funerals is so broad that it should be overturned.

MSU journalism professor Andrew Cline says a Kansas church's picketing at funerals for U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq makes him "nauseous." But Cline said Missouri's new law is so vague that it invites a legal challenge.

The picketing has spawned legislation in Missouri and several other states to limit funeral protests. Last week, Governor Blunt signed into law a bill to ban the demonstrations.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka say the deaths are God's punishment on the nation because it tolerates homosexuals.

Cline says the Missouri law takes away too much free-speech space, and "without question violates the First Amendment" which guarantees the right to speak freely and to assemble.

[StarCMC]

Ping

[StarCMC]

Missouri ping

[in hoc signo vinces]

MSU Professor can go fly a kite with all his Brokeback liberal kin, says In Hoc.

[StarCMC]

He he he!! Tell me how you REALLY feel! (BTW -- I agree.)

[Quanah Parker]

This man's right and dragging them behind a Hemi is unlawful as well.

Ignore them [so easy to say!]

[StarCMC]

I don't believe he is correct. If he is, then there should be no law against electioneering within a certain distance from the polls. It's the same idea.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What we don't need is a J-school prof giving legal advice.

[holymoly]

Frankly, I'm surprised some of these "protesters" haven't been beaten within an inch of their lives.

[metesky]

Cline should stick to journalism and leave the law to the lawyers.

[muawiyah]

What a stupid professor. Doesn't he realize that the alternative to this law is for the attendees to simply shoot the protesters?

[Logical me]

To He@@ with you, Andrew Cline. No respect for those who gave their lives so you could enjoy your a@@. When I was a young boy, I used to blow taps at WWII grave sites. It was a beautiful moment and full of honor even in its sadness. I just turned 17, and being made a honorary member of the Vets who had an agreement with my High School for me to be excused for this honor. Those were the real patriots. This jacka@@ Andrew Cline should be ashamed of himself.

[KarlInOhio]

Where do you get the idea from the article that the professor is an liberal idiot? It looks like he is just warning everyone that far too many judges are idiots and the law will likely be overturned unless it is changed.

You don't have to be an antismoking nut to warn someone it's unsafe to pump gas while smoking.

[magslinger]

We are probably talking about a person who interprets "...the right of the People to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." as meaning "the government has total say over who may and may not own those icky guns."
Or maybe he is just worried that this law may prohibit what happened at funerals like Wellstones or Coretta Scott Kings.

[Bahbah]

MSU journalism professor Andrew Cline

Reliable source. LOL. I think not.

[sully777]

Fred Phelps reviled by J-schools for anti-sodomy stance.

Fred Phelps applauded by J-schools for anti-american stance.

---

What's a liberal to do?

[in hoc signo vinces]

True, but anytime Journalism and Professor are paired in the same sentence, I default to liberal.

Yes, I read the part where he does consider protesting at funerals to be "nauseus"...but, IMHO, it may just be a caveat to his real agenda of advocating this as, eventhough heinous, free speech...maybe not.

Perhaps I was a bit too hasty.

[StarCMC]

Interesting Links:

Rhetorica.net

Faculty page at MSU

Andrew Cline on Blogging, Journalism and Credibility

Andrew Cline personal websiteMore on Andrew Cline - he's called non-partisan here

Any thoughts??

[longtermmemmory]

Law professors are NOTORIOUSLY far left.

Remeber most full time law professors are refugees from the legal profession because they can't hack the real world.

[StarCMC]

FINALLY found his picture...