Donahue Gets Crowd Riled Up At N.C. State Graduation (students walk out, boo liberal-speak)

WRAL-TV ^ | May 17, 2003

[Liz]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Talk show pioneer Phil Donahue heard boos and catcalls Saturday during a politically tinged commencement address at North Carolina State University.

Donahue's speech was peppered with his political opinions. It was met with boos that rained down like confetti.

[Howlin]

It sounds like SOME college students get it.

Go Wolfpack!

[STONEWALLS]

.....did the weather permit graduation at Kenan stadium or did they have to go indoors to the Dean Dome?....my niece graduated today....thanks

[Blue Scourge]

"what liberals believe," including the true separation of church and state.

____________

Fine...when the govt quits telling me where I can and can't pray and quits punishing people of Faith for their beliefs.

I too would have walked out on this idiot. I believe when I heard he was our graduation speaker I would have started a petition to have him removed.

Clarence Thomas's speech showed true class and skill, unlike Donahue's garbage.

[Liz]

What? And spoil my appetite? I get nauseous just thinking of LIEberals. No thanks, Donahoot.

[zip]

An N.C. State spokesman later said the crowd was generally respectful and that some students cheered his comments

"some students cheered" = both of them cheered. Pathetic.

Liberal/Conservative viewpoints should not have been the issue, this was the graduates' time to be recognized and lauded for years of study, not a place for a has-been to spout marxist doctrine.

Bottom line - I am not surprized that the "spokeman" would spin it to the left, after all he/she represents academia.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

It was met with boos that rained down like confetti.

A few students walked out of the ceremony at the RBC Center. Some yelled at Donahue to "get off the stage." Others booed when Donahue listed "what liberals believe," including the true separation of church and state.

and An N.C. State spokesman later said the crowd was generally respectful and that some students cheered his comments.

And Hillary wasn't really booed at the concert, and Michael Moore wasn't really booed at the Oscars. Nope. Didn't happen. The vast majority of the people love 'em. Uh huh.

[jetson]

" Sorry Phil, but we had your number a long time ago."

[MWS]

"Take a liberal to lunch," he said.

Gee, it's not like I don't try. It's just that liberals tend to be far too offended offended of my opinions as a conservative that they don't want too much to do with ME.

[Howlin]

During his commencement speech, Phil Donahue offers opinions on evolution, the war on drugs and President Bush.

[Liz]

Did you hear the latest Moore anti-Bush drivel the lowlife spouted on the Bob Coatas show?

I swear this slobola must lay awake nights thinking up stupid things to say.

[Howlin]

Sunday, May 18, 2003 12:00AM EDT

Donahue stirs graduation
Speaker's political views mix with traditional messages at N.C. State

By JONATHAN B. COX, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- N.C. State University seniors got a final lesson in tolerance Saturday before receiving their degrees.
At first drawing laughs with his self-deprecating humor, commencement speaker Phil Donahue soon prompted a cacophony of boos and bravos reminiscent of his TV talk show days, in which he dealt with provocative topics including one show on transvestites during which he wore a dress.

Donahue built on a theme he dubbed "take a liberal to lunch" and used the platform to share his views on everything from the Constitution to media ownership to the war on drugs.

At least 15 of the 3,701 graduates at ceremony at the RBC Center walked out, and some audience members headed for the exits. Others applauded.

"I came here looking for friends, but I also came here looking for liberals," he said after the booing started. "Along the way I obviously have made a few enemies; I didn't do it on purpose."

His approach contrasted with the rest of the event, which was steeped in the tradition of academia. A 58-page script guided Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and other officials through the ceremony.

Fox had to improvise, though, when Donahue finished.

"America is truly a wonderful country when we can be civil even when we profoundly disagree," she said, departing from her prepared remarks. "It is a true mark of an educated person to be able to listen carefully to all points of view."

Among the perspectives expressed by Donahue, who hosted a nationally syndicated talk show for 27 years: No child in public schools should be forced to pledge allegiance to the flag; Charles Darwin, father of the evolution theory, is one of the great geniuses of modern time; the war on drugs is eroding civil liberties and hurting minorities.

He warned that media consolidation will make it harder to find truth in society. And, in an apparent slap at President George W. Bush, Donahue said only Congress, not one man, can declare war.

"I'm here to support the Constitution," he said. "Your job is going to be to bring us back to this original vision."

Peppered throughout Donahue's speech were calls for him to "shut up" and leave the stage. When he concluded, though, some graduates and audience members gave him a standing ovation.

"It was a powerful speech," Beth Rose Murphy of Havertown, Pa., who received a bachelor's degree in psychology, said after commencement. "I didn't quite think it was appropriate for the occasion. It was better on TV than to have at graduation."

Blair Robinson of Durham, who received a bachelor's degree in business management, said he expected more inspiration.

"I came into the graduation hoping to hear some words of encouragement and advice on where we go from here," he said.

Graduates are headed into one of the worst job markets in years. Not only are they competing with their peers, they are up against more experienced, laid-off workers and last year's graduates who still haven't found jobs.

Fox urged the graduates to persevere, despite the challenges.

"There is no shortcut," she said.

Fox gave honorary degrees to Ken Burns, the documentary filmmaker; Cyma Rubin, an Emmy award-winning producer, director and writer; William G. Hill, a leading geneticist; and E. Carroll Joyner, former vice president for real-estate development at Golden Corral.

The atmosphere was festive at the university's 111th spring commencement. Some graduates carried balloons, and many had thank you messages to their parents written on their mortar boards.

Where Donahue might have been short on inspiration, Elizabeth Rose Gutierrez, selected as the student speaker for graduation, stepped in. She urged her fellow graduates to leave NCSU determined to make a difference.

"Please do not surrender to the mediocrity of life," said Gutierrez of Cary. "The world is waiting for you."

[TomB]

---Yikes--you ARE in trouble......

Nah, I'm pretty sure the fire sterilized any "Donahue" germs that may have been still floating around.

[oldironsides]

I had the pleasure of listening to Glenn Close at my daughter's William and Mary graduation several years ago.
She was upbeat and a pleasure to hear. I do not see why Donahue had to venture into politics. A pep talk, congratulations and some jokes would have been better. He just cannot help himself. Nobody should have to walk out of their own graduation because they are offended by a speaker.
He never took into consideration ROTC, relatives with kin serving and people that like GW Bush.

[Liz]

The Abraham Lincoln at sea.

Can you picture Donahoot in full flight gear landing on the Lincoln? No? Neither can I.

[Liz]

Attaboy, Joe.

[TLBSHOW]

in his a threat to the United States of America!

[Liz]

This is Obviously part of the Liberal Lecture, Talk and Commencement Circuit.

If you wanna obfuscate, proselytize and bore the new graduates, just call a liberal.

[FairOpinion]

"Clarence Thomas's speech showed true class and skill, unlike Donahue's garbage."

---
That was my point. Clarence Thomas spoke encouraging words, and the truth, that hard work will get you somewhere, but playing the victim and whining won't, words, which, if heeded will help graduates succeed in life.

Donahue on the other hand used, or I should say abused, his opportunity to speak to graduates to push his own agenda and take swipes at President Bush, none of which will inspire graduates to succeed.

[GBA]

Graduation was outside at Kenan. It was a little misty, as was I if the truth be told, but it didn't rain until the ceremony ended.

It was almost as if the rain was part of the ceremony. It started exactly when the ceremony had ended and everyone could go out on to the field.

Congratulations to your niece!!!

[hattend]

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."

How do you feel about hate speech laws, Phil? I don't believe those came from the right side of the spectrum.

Why these 60's era flaming libs still get invited to any post 9/11 events is beyond me.