'Impeach Obama' bumper stickers spark a shopping mall protest

[RamboLiberal]

Source: McClatchy News

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While protesters rallied in his support, the owner of a Concord Mills kiosk that sells conservative merchandise said he met with the mall's manager Sunday to see what arrangements can be made for him to remain after his lease expires Friday.

Nothing was agreed to, except that the two would meet again Monday, said Loren Spivack, owner of Free Market Warrior.

Spivack has contended that he's being kicked out of the mall for political reasons. He's traced his exile to a letter to the editor in the Charlotte Observer criticizing his business, saying it promotes “ideas such as racism, sexism and even slavery.”

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Sunday, about 100 people rallied in front of the mall to support Spivack and his right to free speech.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/72492.html

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[Blue_Tires]

1. i thought the mall owner used the holy 'free market forces' to kick him out

since he was almost certainly costing the mall business, and his sales of his wares were obviously not popular enough to override the negatives....

[ejpoeta]

7. free market is only good when it refers to how they can do whatever they want

and we can't do anything about it. when it is them, then it is because of a conspiracy against them.

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. Can I sell Marriage Equality Bumper stickers/Tee-Shirts

Is it Free Market when a Mormon owned buisiness refuses to rent me space to sell such?
We actually do regulate some aspects of commerce. Forbiding the denial of rent/purchase or service based upon Race, Gender etc.

If the mall bans all controversial political speech then so be it. But you can't allow the sale of Arrest Cheney and not allow Impeach Obama bumperstickers. IMHO

[ejpoeta]

11. i don't personally believe that this guy should be kicked out for selling these bumper stickers.

i think people can vote with their wallets. but these guys are the same ones that tout the businesses right to do this kind of thing. i don't agree with kicking these guys out, but, doesn't it make them a hypocrite to complain about some conspiracy??

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Hypocrisy Yes

I agree on pointing out their Hypocracy.

My only point, and not geared toward anyone here in particular, is that the principals are more important than one person with a undesired message. The space is not totally private in that the offer to rent is made available to the public and as such has certain conditions prescribed by society upon the sale/rental.


P.S. Is anyone aware of what merchandise this place might have offered for sale 1-2 months ago? The complaints don't seem to match the currently offered/listed merchandise. Perhaps there was more offensive merchandise when the original complaint was filed?

[47of74]

2. Sounds like a freeper to me

All about freedom of speech now. Not so much when Drinky McDumbass was in the office.

[AlbertCat]

3. Freedom of speech...

....does not include setting up a business. It merely states the GOVERNMENT cannot MAKE LAWS prohibiting your speech. It says nothing about a mall manager not renewing an expired lease.

He can set up in another mall.

Now, where's that "Wwwwwambulance" graphic....?

[Hello_Kitty]

6. Exactly.

A lot of people have no clue what freedom of speech is. They seem to think it entitles them to an audience wherever and whenever they want.

[dysfunctional press]

15. since the mall owns the property THEY have the right of 'free speech' on the premises...

and if they feel that the message that this person's kiosk sends doesn't agree with the 'message' they want their mall to have- they have the right not to renew his lease.

[Hello_Kitty]

4. 'Free Market Warrior' objects to a private business doing what they want with their property?

How odd. :eyes:

[Larkspur]

5. Freedom of Speech only pertains to the government and us

not between customers and business, so the Mall owners have the right not to renew his lease for any political reasons. What they could not do is deny it because of race or gender.

[merwin]

8. Political views do not count as protected

under anti-discrimination laws.

He can take advantage of the wonderful capitalism we have here and set up shop elsewhere.

[karnac]

12. The mall owner can do whatever he wants, however

He is still subject to political/protest pressure like everybody else. Actual rights notwithstanding.

In fact, even more so because he *might* lose more foot traffic in his mall if he doesn't give in. The kiosk owner(who made this a big issue) can make the mall a living hell at least till the lease formally expires.

It appears negotiations are continuing by both parties. That's doesnt happen if the mall owner isn't feeling the pressure.

What we need are counter protests OR a requirement that a Liberal kiosk be established also in the mall.

[AndyA]

10. I'm sure this same guy sold anti-Bush mercandise when Idiot Son was in office.

He just goes against whoever is in power, right? Right.

They want freedom of speech now, but not so much when Bush was shitting down America's throats after slashing them open at the same time he ripped up the Constitution.

[timeforpeace]

14. I never saw Impeach Bush bumper stickers when he was in office, did you?

[AndyA]

17. Can't ever recall seeing any.

That is telling, isn't it? :puke:

[Seeking Serenity]

18. Never mind

On edit: Never mind. I just realized you likely were referring only to this shop.

[Tyler Generation]

20. Yeah, my friend had one

There were a ton of anti-Bush stickers. Never saw any sold in a mall, though.

[Lorien]

16. Hell, mall SHOPPERS were ejected from malls for wearing "impeach Bush"

T-shirts back when BushCo stole the office. Can you imagine if there had been a liberal kiosk in a mall selling anti-Bush merchandise then??

[captain jack]

19. "....promote racism, sexism and even slavery!", excerpt from the Republican Mission Statement