Posted on 10/13/2007 11:52:59 AM PDT by raccoonradio
Bonneville news/talk WTOP/Washington reporter Mark Plotkin was escorted out of a White House function on Thursday (Oct. 11). According to a posting on the WTOP Web site, Plotkin attended a function where first lady Laura Bush honored the Ballou Senior High School Marching Band.
The post goes on to say that as the first lady finished a short speech, Plotkin called across the room to get her attention. Then, according to an audio clip posted on the site, he asked, "Mrs. Bush, do you agree with those who say and believe that members of the Ballou High School band that you just lauded should not grow up to be members of the House of Representatives?" Mrs. Bush returned to her seat without answering. It was at this point that Plotkin was escorted out of the White House. He claims that White House staffers told him that the question was "out of line" and "disrespectful."
Ballou is a H.S. in D.C. and I guess Plotkin was arguing for D.C. statehood--i.e., he's asking the First Lady why those in the band are denied the chance to become a U.S. Rep., etc., because of D.C.'s status as not-a-state...
C'mon man, leave the First Lady alone and don't drag politics into a cultural event...
Besides, it’s not like DC is a prison ~ those kids can all grow up and leave town as fast as they can ~ leastwise that’s what they ought to do. They can run for Congress somewhere else.
Yeah, like growing up as a Cubs fan and then becoming a Yankee fan when you carpetbag into the People’s Republic of New York to take over the junior senator spot.
“Freedom of Speech” also includes the right for listeners to treat the speaker like they’re an idiot.
What a jerk! He took away the honor given to the school with his boorish behavior.
>>Ballou, a documentary film, follows the talented Washington, DC, Ballou Senior High School Marching Band, as they overcome a negative environment filled with guns, drugs and violence to overcome and uplift the community with music, dedication and personal sacrifice. Ballou High School is in Washington DC. They are on the way to a national band competition, but first they have to learn how to play instruments and overcome personal loses (sic) due to the United States governmental neglect of an impoverished community just 3 miles away from the US Capitol building. Political leaders and celebrities are featured in the film to show the importance of a small marching band that overcomes the negative environment and neglect to become an award winning band.
OK so it's the government's fault that they're impoverished...?
This guy obviously favors the democrats getting one more state and the resulting district(s). This was an event to honor the young people and he didn’t have the mental faculties to understand his comments would compete with the nice memories such an event would provide for them. What a moron...
What person would repay the honor of being invited to a White House event to honor some young kids, to yell across the room at the First Lady.
It sounds as if Laura handled it just right. And this lame brain got just what he deserved.
Surely if the favorite candidate of reporters like
this wins the Presidency, they would not dare ask
a question like that of...
...The First Husband...
Well, of COURSE!!! This is a Hollywood product. Duh!
——don’t taze me bro-—
Another idiot chile asking dumbass questions because he wants to be star of the show
Ass Clown came to mind. Reminds me of the annual Thanksgiving editorial that excoriates the community for indulging while "so many do without".
Agreed. And yup DC statehood would be a boon for the Dems.
The state does have 3 electoral votes (and you know
they’d go to the Dem candidate)
Wikipedia:
>> The U.S. Constitution gives Congress direct jurisdiction over Washington, D.C. While Congress has delegated various amounts of this authority to local government, including an elected mayor and city council, Congress still intervenes, from time to time, in local affairs relating to schools, gun control policy, and other issues.
>>Citizens of the district have no voting representation in Congress. They are represented in the House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC At-Large) who sits on committees and participates in debate, but cannot vote. D.C. has no representation at all in the Senate. Attempts to change this situation, including statehood and the proposed District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, have been unsuccessful.
...With the passage of the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961, residents of the district became eligible to vote for President of the United States. The district has three electoral votes—the same number as states with the smallest populations, such as Montana, Wyoming, Delaware, Alaska, Vermont, and the two Dakotas.
I made a prediction awhile back that, as the Hillary! campaign gathers steam in the next year, there will be more and more joking about Bill being “the First Lady” to the point where he will realize that would completely overshadow his presidency and likely make him a joke for all time.
I just don’t think Bill’s ego could handle that.
>>would be a boon for the Dems.
i.e., more votes for the Dem side with a Dem. senator
or Rep. whose votes count (unlike the “non voting”
Rep., described above) but yes they do get electoral votes
“He claims that White House staffers told him that the question was “out of line” and “disrespectful.” “
And stupid.
DC schools are funded to the tune of $16,000 per student per year. I don’t think the fedgov is neglecting them. Maybe a bunch of other people are however.
Thanks for the 411. Heh heh...
That’s interesting that their electoral votes don’t go to the left. Any suggestions why?
Mark Plotkin. What a colossal boor. (”Boor” is college for “@$$hole”.)
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