• Teen Tweeter Won't Apologize To Kansas Gov.
    52 replies, posted
[url]http://www.npr.org/2011/11/27/142833209/teen-tweeter-wont-apologize-to-kansas-gov?ft=1&f=1019[/url] [QUOTE]A U.S. teenager who wrote a disparaging tweet about Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said Sunday that she is rejecting her high school principal's demand for a written apology. Emma Sullivan, 18, said she isn't sorry and doesn't think such a letter would be sincere. The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Youth in Government program last week when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback's greeting. From her cellphone, she thumbed: "Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot." She actually made no such comment and said she was "just joking with friends." But Brownback's office,[B] which monitors social media for postings containing the governor's name[/B], saw Sullivan's post and contacted the Youth in Government program. [B]Sullivan received a scolding at school and was ordered to send Brownback an apology letter. She said Prinicipal Karl R. Krawitz even suggested talking points for the letter she was supposed to turn in Monday.[/B] The situation exploded after Sullivan's older sister contacted the media. Since then, Sullivan's following on Twitter has grown to about 3,000 people, up from about 65 before the tweet. She said she thinks the tweet has helped "open up dialogue" about free speech in social media.. "I would do it again," she said. Sullivan has received emails from attorneys but is waiting to see what happens when she refuses to hand in a letter. Krawitz, her principal, told The Kansas City Star previously that the situation is a "private issue, not a public matter" but didn't return a phone message from The Associated Press at his home Sunday. She hasn't heard from Brownback or his staff. She said she wouldn't mind sitting down and talking to the governor. Sullivan said she disagrees with Brownback politically, particularly his decision to veto the Kansas Arts Commission's entire budget, making Kansas the only state in the nation to eliminate arts funding. Brownback has argued arts programs can flourish with private dollars and that state funds should go to core government functions, such as education and social services. "I think it would be interesting to have a dialogue with him," she said. "I don't know if he would do it or not though. And I don't know that he would listen to what I have to say." Sherriene Jones-Sontag, the governor's spokeswoman, told The Star previously that Sullivan's message wasn't respectful and that it takes mutual respect to "really have a constructive dialogue." Brownback's office didn't return calls or emails Sunday from the AP. Sullivan's mother, Julie, said she isn't angry with her daughter, even though she thinks she "could have chosen different words." "She wasn't speaking to the 3,000 followers she has now," Julie Sullivan said. "She was talking to 65 friends. And also it's the speech they use today. It's more attention grabbing. I raised my kids to be independent, to be strong, to be free thinkers. If she wants to tweet her opinion about Gov. Brownback, I say for her to go for it and I stand totally behind her." [/QUOTE] Normally, I can't stand articles written about tweets, but this one actually caught my eye. By caught my eye, I really mean, "made me rage for ten minutes about how stupid and insecure this governor must be to ask for an apology over a tweet."
he's a governor. why do they care if some kid from high school said some mean things to him?
Streisand effect. Challenging the girl was the worst possible decision the governor could have made, now the whole world knows.
Sounds like an immature douchebag, why would he be in office?
I live in Kansas, Brownback can go fuck himself. He's a shit governor, and I have no sympathy for him. More power to her, I'd do the same.
When did my high school class become elected officials?
[QUOTE=YouWithTheFace.;33499465]he's a governor. why do they care if some kid from high school said some mean things to him?[/QUOTE] The point is she never actually said anything to him yet they still expect an apology from her. All I can say is she is doing the right thing. Nobody can tell her what the fuck she can or cannot say, and it is especially appalling that she would be expected to apologize for something she didn't do.
It's pretty creepy that he monitors the internet for his name.
She better not be released from her school. that'd be fucked
Lol doesn't he have better things to do with his time as governor of a state than make a big deal about some teen's twitter comment? What a fucking idiot.
[QUOTE=Schmaaa;33499523]Sounds like an immature douchebag, why would he be in office?[/QUOTE] Because Kansas is full of conservative creationist half-wits who think that we need someone like Brownback in office to divert funds from our schools in exchange for tax breaks for businesses
[QUOTE=bobsmit;33499503]Streisand effect. Challenging the girl was the worst possible decision the governor could have made, now the whole world knows.[/QUOTE] Looked up what the Streisand effect was and this is underneath the examples, neat. [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect[/URL]
[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;33499555]It's pretty creepy that he monitors the internet for his name.[/QUOTE] He's a politician. Responding to and shaping public opinion is basically the whole job of his staff.
She shouldn't have to write an apology letter, she has the right to voice her opinion.
[QUOTE=YouWithTheFace.;33499465]he's a governor. why do they care if some kid from high school said some mean things to him?[/QUOTE] Lots of people nowadays tend to get really butthurt over the littlest things.
[QUOTE=Baboo00;33499621]He's a politician. Responding to and shaping public opinion is basically the whole job of his staff.[/QUOTE] That, and figuring out how to screw over the state's people.
Looks like this situation was blown out of proportion.
[i]He[/i] should write an apology letter to [i]her[/i]
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;33499599]Because Kansas is full of conservative creationist half-wits who think that we need someone like Brownback in office to divert funds from our schools in exchange for tax breaks for businesses[/QUOTE] Hey now, I'm not like that!
He acted like a five year-old, and he deserves this. His staff actually saw her tweet and did enough investigating to contact her Youth in Government program and tell them what she said, and the principal is now asking for an apology? Freedom of speech. The principal has no grounds to ask for that, and I'm glad that girl is already getting emails from attorneys willing to pick up her case, because there's no way she can lose this fight. She didn't even say anything that bad.
Brownback is what you get after an accident with santorum
[quote]Sullivan said she disagrees with Brownback politically, particularly his decision to veto the Kansas Arts Commission's entire budget, making Kansas the only state in the nation to eliminate arts funding. [/quote] you go girl
She got more followers, like thousands... Hm, I should do this...
Hmm, using the legal system to persecute a Tweeter. This is the America today. Freedom of Speech can suck a nut YOU SUCK /lawyer time
[QUOTE=Zeke129;33499758]Brownback is what you get after an accident with santorum[/QUOTE] [img]http://blogs.mcall.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fe353ef0133ee5f7369970b-800wi[/img]
Huh, maybe all politicians are like this... Joe Walsh, you are my district representative and I think you are a raging cunt. Edit: No word back. I am sad.
hey people who think a teen using their 1st amendment rights is bad [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_QDGdbg-QQ[/media]
Good for her, the government can fuck off.
"mommy mommy, some kids at school said some mean things to me!" "it's OK brown back, how about some of that soup you like?" "NO, I HATE THAT SOUP AND I HATE YOU WAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa.......... *door slam*" first thing that popped to my mind. He sounds like a child.
THIS is precisely what Freedom of Speech is all about: To be able to criticize your governing officials without fear of retaliation. Good on her for speaking her mind.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.