Posted on 08/03/2011 4:04:06 PM PDT by don-o
KNOXVILLE - Breath mints packaged in a tin can poking fun at President Barack Obama have been pulled from the shelves at the University of Tennessee bookstore after local legislator Joe Armstrong told store officials he was offended by the mints.
Armstrong, D-Knoxville, said he got a call from a student who had seen the satirical mints in the bookstore and was bothered by the depiction of the president.
The tin can reads: "This is change? Disappointmints."
Armstrong followed up Tuesday with a visit to the bookstore, located in the basement of the University Center, where he talked to director David Kent.
"I explained to him that I felt those mints were politically specific products that had no educational value," Armstrong said.
"If it was a book or something of that nature, fine, but that's sort of a discretionary product they have there. It wasn't viewpoint neutral. It was very specifically insulting to the president."
Armstrong said he did not ask Kent to remove the mints from the store but was glad he decided to do so.
Kent said the bookstore had previously carried mints in tins that depicted former President George W. Bush when he was in office.
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
Just ordered a dozen.....
In a bookstore no less. I’m just wondering why he stopped there and didn’t walk down the aisles pointing out the book titles he wanted removed for “offending” him.
We might give a box away as a premium for becoming a Monthly Donor and ending FReepathons forever!!
(j/k Boss)
That could describe most of liberal arts courses taught in any college today.
Where the hell do these ninnies get off time and time again declaring that the world must be "viewpoint neutral"? Was it some rule their middle school teacher had? I have news for them. No one ever said life was fair. Get over it you big crybaby.
Indeed I think UT AUSTIN is infinitely more liberal than UT KNOXVILLE and I know Austin is liberal....much more than Knoxville which aside from the school is conservative
I think the posters didn’t think UTA would have had the mints to begin with
Good idea if it doesn’t violate the forums tax laws....
It was just a joke - JimRob has made it very clear he is not interested in making FR commercial.
done, Thanks
Joe Armstrong D-Knoxville
I figured such would put the forum perilous position.....
Stay Safe...
Yes. I was NOT joking about ending FReepathons forever, though. Sick and tired of ‘em. It’s a shame and a disgrace to Conservatives that Jim has to go begging every three months.
Wonder how “offended” Gumbo the Legislator would be if a student had complained about mints spoofing Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann.
My guess is he/she’d be lectured about free speech and told to “get over it.”
Having to 'settle' for lower grades because your ideology conflicted with their communist agenda is complete and utter bullsh*t...especially when you consider how much cash you are shelling out...
What difference does it make that the mints are a “discretionary product”???
He would be okay with a book, but a book is also a “discretionary product”, isn’t it?
Who in the sam hill does he think he is, saying it wasn’t “viewpoint neutral”???? Why does something like this have to be “viewpoint neutral”?
And so because he was offended, hold everything!!! Another liberal has been offended by something which would not be offensive if this had been directed at a Republican president.
Exactly what are the criteria we may follow in criticizing the president?
don-o . .I rest my case
I’ll bet this book isn’t viewpoint neutral either
https://utenn.campuswebstore.com/GetCatalogItem.aspx?SKU=1-7261109&MOD=GM&CID=025
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