Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Satirical mints poking fun at Obama pulled from UT bookstore
Knoxville TN News Sentinel ^ | August 3, 2011 | Megan Boehnke

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: offensive; offffffffffended; politicalcorrectness
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last
To: Doogle

Just ordered a dozen.....


21 posted on 08/03/2011 4:22:39 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: don-o

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.


22 posted on 08/03/2011 4:25:10 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Squantos; Jim Robinson

We might give a box away as a premium for becoming a Monthly Donor and ending FReepathons forever!!

(j/k Boss)


23 posted on 08/03/2011 4:25:19 PM PDT by don-o (Abolish FReepathons. Be a monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: don-o
politically specific products that had no educational value

That could describe most of liberal arts courses taught in any college today.

24 posted on 08/03/2011 4:25:53 PM PDT by giotto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: don-o
It wasn't viewpoint neutral. It was very specifically insulting to the president."

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.

25 posted on 08/03/2011 4:28:07 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: don-o

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


26 posted on 08/03/2011 4:31:46 PM PDT by wardaddy (Palin or Bachman..either with Marco....I'm often on a .hence my spelling..sorry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: don-o

Good idea if it doesn’t violate the forums tax laws....


27 posted on 08/03/2011 4:32:29 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Squantos

It was just a joke - JimRob has made it very clear he is not interested in making FR commercial.


28 posted on 08/03/2011 4:35:42 PM PDT by don-o (Abolish FReepathons. Be a monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]


29 posted on 08/03/2011 4:39:50 PM PDT by Rio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: davius; don-o; Squantos

done, Thanks


30 posted on 08/03/2011 4:40:49 PM PDT by Doogle ((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: don-o

Joe Armstrong D-Knoxville

31 posted on 08/03/2011 4:47:13 PM PDT by FourPeas ("Maladjusted and wigging out is no way to go through life, son." -hg)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: don-o

I figured such would put the forum perilous position.....

Stay Safe...


32 posted on 08/03/2011 4:53:49 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Squantos

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.


33 posted on 08/03/2011 4:57:19 PM PDT by don-o (Abolish FReepathons. Be a monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: who knows what evil?
I matriculated at UTK and had to put up with the biased and corrupt communist professors. I could not keep my opinions to myself when many of these began to spew their ilk and I had to settle for lower grades because of their intense scrutiny. Still, I did very well so screw them, each and everyone of the liberal illegitimate children.
34 posted on 08/03/2011 5:04:04 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Rio

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.”


35 posted on 08/03/2011 5:07:03 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Ronald Reagan: "our liberal friends....know so much that isn't so...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: vetvetdoug
I had to settle for lower grades because of their intense scrutiny.

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...

36 posted on 08/03/2011 5:07:40 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg

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?


37 posted on 08/03/2011 5:12:45 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]



Boop Their Tiny Tootsies!
Before You Pass Out From Acute Cute
Support Free Republic


Give once,
Donate monthly

Or sponsor New Monthly Donors
For a one-time contribution of just $10 each
FReepmail TheOldLady to be a sponsor

38 posted on 08/03/2011 5:27:14 PM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: FourPeas

don-o . .I rest my case


39 posted on 08/03/2011 5:28:03 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Just when you think the left can't get any loonier . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: who knows what evil?

I’ll bet this book isn’t viewpoint neutral either

https://utenn.campuswebstore.com/GetCatalogItem.aspx?SKU=1-7261109&MOD=GM&CID=025


40 posted on 08/03/2011 5:35:31 PM PDT by Locomotive Breath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson