Donahue gets cheers, boos at N.C. State commencement

The Associated Press ^ | May 17, 2003 | The Associated Press

[jern]

Saturday, May 17, 2003 5:45PM EDT

Donahue gets cheers, boos at N.C. State commencement

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Talk show pioneer Phil Donahue got catcalls and cheers Saturday for a politically tinged commencement address at North Carolina State University. A handful of the nearly 4,000 new N.C. State graduates walked out of the ceremony at the RBC Center when Donahue began listing "what liberals believe." Donahue said constitutional rights and privileges have been eroded and he made a backhanded reference to the war in Iraq.

"Only Congress can declare war," he said to some cheers and boos, "and not just one man, the president."

The basic liberties of citizens are being undermined by the war on drugs, Donahue said, and by a "trend toward to the sword rather than a trend toward civility."

What liberals believe, he said, "is that no one in authority should tell you to 'shush;' that executing retarded teenagers is wrong, and that unions give workers a deserved place at the bargaining table."

Donahue, 67, whose most recent talk show on MSNBC was canceled in February after six months, urged the graduates to help renew basic American constitutional values of free speech, separation of church and state, and respect for the rights of minorities.

"Your mission is to challenge your public servants and bring America back to basic constitutional values," he told the students.

He urged political conservatives to be tolerant of those with differing views.

"Take a liberal to lunch," he said. "Take a Dixie Chick to lunch."

Donahue is a nine-time Daytime Emmy winner for his syndicated talk show, which began in 1967 and aired nationally from 1970 to 1996, paving the way for dozens of such shows to follow.

He was invited to speak in part because he and an N.C. State professor both attended the University of Notre Dame. He got loud applause by noting that N.C. State beat Notre Dame in this year's Gator Bowl.

"I came looking for liberals," he said, "and here at N.C. State I found friends."

[The_Media_never_lie]

Let's see, N.C. State had Donahue, University of South Carolina had George W. Bush. Hope this trend continues on the gridiron this fall.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[What liberals believe, he said, "is that no one in authority should tell you to 'shush;' ]

I suppose this "liberal" was too busy masturbating while his fellow libs were voting for CFR.

[jagrmeister]

Donahue has a right to speak. Intelligent people are disinclined to listen to him. You must earn the right to be listened to. Uttering tired liberal cliches do not merit an audience.

[Stay the course]

New York produces a few billion dollars worth agricultural products a year, mostly dairy. Not big compared the Midwest or California, but a significant part of the upstate economy, such as it is. NY is the third biggest dairy producing state (after CA and WI), and the second highest recipient of federal aid to dairy farmers (after WI). New York politicians all love to pander to the dairy vote.

[edwin hubble]

"What agricultural industry does NY state have? NY wines come to mind,and maybe some upstate cheese, but that's about it. Anybody know what ag industry hillary is talking about? "

New York State Agricultural production was $3.4 billion in 2001. (and third in US in dairy production)
37,500 farms take 25 percent of the state’s land area, or 7.6 million acres. (Dept of Agriculture, N.Y State).

[Paul Atreides]

"Take a Dixie Chick to lunch."

If you ask me, Natalie Maines could stand to miss a few lunches.

[jackbill]

Really, you are a UMD. grad.

No, no, no. I'm not a UMD grad. I went to a real school - The Johns Hopkins University. I just root for the Terps against those other ACC schools.

And, no, I don't riot, whether they win or lose.

[boomop1]

What the hell is Donahue doing at State, who invited the nitwit?

[Constitution Day]

LMAO!!!!
I saw this on WRAL this morning. It has made my whole day.