Richardson arrested after handing out campaign literature at school (GOP NC-6)

Washington Daily News ^ | October 31, 2006 | Nike Mayo

[SUSSA]

a politician, running for State office, carrying around an arrest record for breaking state law seems sorta undesirable.

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John Hancock was a smuggler. That didn't hurt his political career. General Thomas Gage ordered Hancock and Adams arrested for treason. They escaped but the arrest order remained in effect until the colonies won their independence. Still Mr. Hancock served in numerous elected positions, including President of the United States in Congress Assembled.

[Prost1]

Let's get real....This was a HIGH SCHOOL.

They can't vote and the 1st Amendment provides for free political speech in public areas like town squares and the like.

It was never meant to disrupt a high school activity!

[SUSSA]

The high school football game is a government event held on government property. The government is forbidden by the Constitution from regulating political speech.

If he had gone to a free market school and trespassed on their private property, he would be wrong. He was at socialist schools. He was on government property and at a government sponsored public event. Banning political speech there is like banning it on the courthouse steps or in front of city hall.

If you don’t want to hear political speech or be offered political literature, don’t go to government events.

[dayglored]

> John Hancock was a smuggler. That didn't hurt his political career. ..

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!

And luckily for Richardson, it appears he may not have broken a state law after all, just a school rule. (See post #50).

[masterofjack]

He wasn't really disrupting a high school activity. It wasn't like he ran naked out on the field with a wireless mic screaming "Vote for me!"

Richardson was handing out fliers with referee signals on one side and his platform on the other to patrons as they were heading toward the stands...before the game even started for the most part.

Other political candidates have been allowed to do the same thing, within the state of North Carolina and the Beaufort County School System in the past.

[Prost1]

"Other political candidates have been allowed to do the same thing, within the state of North Carolina and the Beaufort County School System in the past."

I was unaware of these details.

[masterofjack]

Uglier than it's already been. Even though, I think the county may be split on the Commissioners -v- School Board case...which is in the Court of Appeals.

I'm not sure what the feel on this latest issue is. Tomorrow should prove very interesting.

I heard someone say today, "I've got a feeling that man [Richardson] is going to get elected. And if he does, that's going to turn them all on their heads."