KS teen gets in trouble for tweet about governor

[proud2BlibKansan]

Emma Sullivan’s trip to Topeka with other high school students to learn about government taught her a few unexpected lessons:

• Gov. Sam Brownback’s office monitors social media for postings containing the governor’s name.

• Some folks exhibit little sense of humor or appreciation of free expression.

• And sometimes a few “joking” words can land a student in the principal’s office, drafting a letter of apology.

All that resulted from a tweet the Shawnee Mission East High School senior wrote Monday during Brownback’s greeting to young people who were brought in for a closer look at the political process.

“Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot,” Sullivan thumbed from the back of the crowd.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/23/3283680/students-joke-creates.html#ixzz1ecszsP4g

[hobbit709]

1. Well, he does suck.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Apparently he doesn't want that tweeted.

This is really ridiculous.

[FoxNewsSucks]

22. If only she'd spelled his name correctly -

Sam BROWNHOLE, then his office spies might not have found the tweet while they were searching.

He was Senator Brownhole, and now he's Gov. Brownhole. An embarrassment to Kansas.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. And Kansas is spelled BROWNBACKISTAN

:)

[annabanana]

3. I support that kid's right to freedom of speech..

And she's absolutely correct!

[DiverDave]

4. Once again we see the rethug's cant take it.

It's called free speech, you stinking fascist pig.

Good for her, altho I would have told them to
pound sand instead of writing an apology.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. And they think they can control folks

I hope her family files a big ass lawsuit.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. Thin skinned much?

What happened to the 1st Amendment? He's a public figure and as long as it's not threats, he should STFU!
The student learned that 'She wasn't in America anymore.'

I wish she would refuse to write the apology, and take it to court if she is punished.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Her mom was just interviewed on local TV

She's pretty angry. She thinks they are blowing this way out of proportion.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. I'd tweet something right now that

would that would really his panties. In fact, I think I will.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. This is way way more than "blowing it out of proportion".

The school is colluding with the Governor's office to repress freedom of speech.

The school is sending a message to students that repressing freedom of speech is ok.
Read again what the school told the girl.
Read again how the girl is "afraid" of what the school can do to ruin her college chances, over a tweet.

This is part of the pattern of government controlling education that is happening all around the country.

I would be suing, if it were my kid.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Mom doesn't seem pleased

I just saw her on another local channel.

Seems like a lawsuit is on its way.

[csziggy]

41. She should frame it the way Repubs frame their "apologies"

"Governor Brownshirt, I'm sorry you are so thin skinned you can't take a joke." Or words to that effect.

If the students had mic checked him, I bet his head would have exploded!

[AnOhioan]

9. Awwwww...poor brownback got his widdle feelings hurt......

What an ass. He is confusing himself with some 3rd world tin-pot dictator.

[piratefish08]

10. there needs to be a Gov. Brownback Sucks facebook page.

it could be very popular.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Here's the first one that came up in a search:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kansans-Against-Brownback/212695285429427

[Cirque du So-What]

12. I hope this conforms to the Law of Unintended Results

and blossoms into a groundswell of criticism for Brownback's office, who - I would think - have bigger fish to fry than singling out high school students who DARE to criticize the governor.

[baldguy]

14. She should send an essay regarding the meaning of the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. She didn't threaten Brownback's life. She exercised her First Amendment Right to Expression

and her right to dissent.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. His supporters have invaded that article I linked

They have zero understanding of the first amendment.

[hootinholler]

18. Mr. Krawitz, I beg to disagree...

East principal Karl R. Krawitz declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, calling it a disciplinary action: “It is a school issue, a private issue, not a public matter.”


This is indeed a public matter and I think the ACLU would agree with me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. It's all over local media

and exploding on social media.

I'd say it's public now. LOL

[Odin2005]

20. Pukes = Fascists.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

21. I believe we now call assults on our civil liberties like this

Beink Piked!

[dsc]

23. From what I gather the school sponsered the trip

and thus have every right to make the girl apologize for the tweet. Let's be blunt here. If this were a school district and Obama and the district refused to punish the student nearly everyone in this thread would surmise the school district agreed with the tweet. It is no different here. The governor on the other hand is in the wrong.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. A friend who is a retired principal just posted this on Facebook:

First of all, I find ridiculous that any rightwinger would be using the phrase "mutual repsect' when their governing style depends almost wholly on intimidation, control, domination and lying to the public.

Secondly, "he sucks," and "heblowsalot" does not, in my book as a retired administrator, require an hour long discussion with a student. What are you going to talk about for an hour? Unless of course it was simply an attempt at intimidation - which no administrator or teacher should ever invoke as a means of discipline.

Should she have been twittering during the speech - no. Is this a major concern - definitely not. I do think it says something about the extreme paranoia that surrounds rightwing republicans and their penchant for governing from a position of fear rather than from a position of intelligence AND MUTUAL RESPECT.

[Logical]

27. You are wrong about this. They have no right to demand an apology for their opinion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. The principal was right to tell her the governor was upset

But he should have left it at that. Telling her she needs to apologize is way over the top.

[Logical]

34. I agree.

[cecilfirefox]

53. A letter is a bit much, but its understandable to have a sit down with her- nt

[Major Nikon]

29. It sounds more like they were herded in and forced to listen to Brownback’s propaganda

The student identified herself as a liberal, so I doubt she would have voluntarily gone. So it sounds like the price of her being involved with the Youth in Government program was being force fed propaganda by Brownback. And the principal berated her for an hour? Sounds like he's a wingnut. And no, I wouldn't have agreed with the school district regardless. This is obviously free speech, and I may not agree with what someone has to say, but I'm not going to claim they don't have a right to say it.

[hootinholler]

35. Ok, I can be blunt

The notion that the school has every right to force an apology is total bullshit. It's a naive reaction to a juvenile stunt that disrupted nothing but assumedly the Governor's and Principal's blood pressure readings.

Additionally it teaches not only that civil rights can be ignored but that the exercise of them will be punished.

[Occulus]

40. "nearly everyone in this thread would surmise the school district agreed with the tweet"

Speak for yourself. Most of us are, well, smarter than that.

[dsc]

43. I have one word for you NASCAR

wanna bet that exactly 0 people from this thread spoke in any of the NASCAR fans booed Michelle Obama threads saying that it wasn't what NASCAR stood for but just some boorish fans.

[xmas74]

47. I stayed out of those threads.

Did the NASCAR fans have the right to boo her? Absolutely. Did it make them appear to be immature and (possibly) worse? Absolutely.

The student also had the right to express herself in a nonviolent manner. Did it make her appear immature? Yes, but also consider that she's a high school student. Should the principal have spoken with her about her behavior? Of course but demanding an apology wasn't necessary.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. So did I

But I did start a thread saying I couldn't hear the boos.

Hope you're having a great Turkey Day!! :hi:

[xmas74]

54. You too!

The weather is gorgeous out our way so I believe a brisk walk is in order at dusk.

[Logical]

24. Here is the principals work email address. I just sent him a note!!

[e-mail]

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Great idea. Also if you're on Twitter, send a shout to Emma

@emmakate988.

[JoePhilly]

28. Her apology should simply say ... "I'm sorry that you suck."

[left is right]

31. “I am sorry that you are so thin-skinned that

you are offended by my freedom of expression.” signed Kansas high school girl

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Thanks! Sent that out in a tweet to Emma.

@emmakate988

[Occulus]

42. Exactly. This is one apology that should be nothing of the sort

And, I should also point out, Republicans regularly "apologize" in exactly that same fashion.

She should throw the attitude directly back into his teeth.

[BiggJawn]

32. Coerced "apologies" aren't worth the paper they're written on.

An HOUR? What, he had her under a hot light, pushing a pen and paper at her screaming "WRITE IT! NOW!"?

If it was my kid, I'd call a presser and have her state that she wrote the "apology" under duress and threat of having her future ruined by the school officials.

Then I'd grab the mike and invite Gov. Bareback to perform certain acts on me that are probably still illegal in Kansas.

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. "..made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him sucked, in person..."

Can dish it out but can't take it, eh gov.? :silly:

[fishwax]

38. I'm guessing his office will find plenty of postings w/ the governor's name in the days ahead

:rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. That is indeed the plan.

Give the fascists something to do this weekend.

[fishwax]

48. lol -- the #heblowsalot hash tag will save them some time

:rofl:

[Logical]

39. To email the Kansas Governors media person use this "[e-mail]"

[Downwinder]

45. Looks to me like Brownback has proved her correct.

[proud2BlibKansan]

46. Yes it does.

He's really awful but since Kansas is so so red and not very populated, he doesn't get the national attention other fascist governors get.

[Downwinder]

49. But he can sure pick a no win situation. Well, blame on the staff.

[cecilfirefox]

51. As a student in Lawrence- University of Kansas, I'll say this,

As rude as her comments might have been- for the Office of the Governor, be it Democrat or Republican, to get its panties in this much of a twist is appalling. It's a teenager for the love of the gods- please, how about a bit more focus on our budget, on making sure we aren't hurting the middle class as we handle our deficits, on trying to keep our public works projects up to par while being fiscally sound. THAT is more important than this- if I ever get the chance to meet my Governor be sure I'll give him a tongue lashing over this nonsense.

[Downwinder]

52. Tweet the message, you will hear from him. n/t

[lonestarnot]

55. What bullshit!

spokeswoman Leigh Anne Neal:

“Students may express their personal beliefs, views, and opinions, as long as they do so appropriately and in accordance with school policies.”