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1. I was just able to watch the video.

   Welcome to America, where the 2nd Amendment has the full support of the GOP while they trample the 1st.

   It's my understanding that the right of freedom of speech in the 1st Amendment may be abridged in a public setting ONLY when that speech poses a "clear and present danger."

   I love the way the party of fear has turned all public safety officials into their thugs.

   Posted by: David R. (former Librarian) | Jul 8, 2008 3:38:06 PM

   
   

2. Josh--I know Obama isn't the dream candidate on gay issues HOWEVER compared to McCain he's obviously the better choice. As a Californian I find it very annoying that McCain has pledged to support the upcoming anti-gay constitutional ammendment whereas Obama is against it. There's no comparison--and Obama simply being a Democrat is better than the Republicans who still have an anti-gay plank in their platform.

   Posted by: DB | Jul 8, 2008 4:57:46 PM

   
   

3. I'm very sorry to let you all hear this but I believe the 'Constitution' of USA allows 'Freedom of Speach' in public forums, no ?

   Posted by: Richard S | Jul 8, 2008 5:02:28 PM

   
   

4. Jimmyboyo -- I disagree with virtually everything Josh has written, but you're actually quite wrong in your post concerning property ownership. With rare (but not unheard of) exceptions, property owners *do* own the land and most of what's under it and everything built on it by the current or prior owners.

   The government *may* take your property by an exercise of eminent domain but then *only* for the limited purposes of public use that pertain to its doing so (although in a shocking move for this conservative court, the Supreme Court did in 2005 radically expand the purposes for which eminent domain may be claimed in its decision in Kelo v. New London, CT).

   But quite to the contrary of your post, the very foundation of our country and legal system presume a private right of property ownership. And the fifth amendment to the US Constitution makes it quite clear that there is such a thing as private property (not property you temporarily lease from the government) when it specifically states that such may not be taken by the government except for public use and only after just compensation.
   

   Posted by: Hermes in DC | Jul 8, 2008 5:08:51 PM

   
   

5. Whatever the legal particulars, Hermes, you have to admit that not allowing that sign, which was clearly far from inflammatory, inside something called a "town hall meeting" is against democratic principles. I mean, if you can't have a voice at a town hall meeting, where can you? (My home state, VT, has a proud tradition of town hall meeting day rabble rousing.) Of course what's being billed as a town hall meeting--and McCain is not the only culprit--is nothing of the sort. It's scripted and restricted advertising unconvincingly dressed up as free speech. I guess the Internet is where genuine public forums mostly occur these days.

   Posted by: Ernie | Jul 8, 2008 6:13:54 PM

   
   

6. You're right, and I do admit it, Ernie. As I said in my original comment, the campaign is *probably* within its rights in doing what they did, but the barring of someone with an innocuous protest sign is a shocking act from a candidate for our highest elective office. McCain should be ashamed.

   Posted by: Hermes in DC | Jul 8, 2008 8:31:35 PM

   
   

7. Josh says: Second I can't believe anyone would want Universal Healthcare. I mean look how bad social security is screwed up. We should let the government dictate that too?

   This has to be one of the most ignorant statements I've ever read on this site. Social Security has probably been the most successful project this country has ever undertaken which has prevented MILLIONS of people from living their later years in poverty and not be at the vagaries of the stock market and their LUCK and/or financial acumen. If you knew anything at all about SS, you'd know that despite the repub lies, the "insolvency" date for SS has consistently been moving up and currently stands at 2042. By which time, the vast majority of BB's will no longer be around to collect benefits and any problems can be solved with minor increases to the taxable income limits.

   I wish EVERY government program was as well run as SS. Perhaps if that were the case FEMA might actually help people in need, the EPA might actually regulate poisons in the environment and limit greenhouse gases, and the White House might actually pay attention to presidential briefings entitled "Osama Bin Laden Determined to Strike the US."

   Posted by: Patrick | Jul 8, 2008 10:32:13 PM

   
   

8. Ticketed for trespassing at an open town hall meeting? That's going to hurt McCain's campaign more than having the woman actually holding the sign during the meeting.

   Posted by: Garst | Jul 8, 2008 11:51:46 PM

   
   

9. mccain = bush

   period.

   Posted by: Flood | Jul 9, 2008 5:05:09 AM

   
   

10. Garst, I hope it hurts McBush III (oops,pardon me) McCain's campaign as much as it possibly can. If for no other reason, putting the Dems in the White House will at least rid us of the thugs who have recently and currently occupied it.

    Posted by: Goodcarver | Jul 9, 2008 7:45:23 AM

    
    

11. Meanwhile, Democrat politicians personally bodyslam and assault their protesters themselves:
    http://www.baltimorereporter.com/?p=4976

    And throw them into chain-link cages topped with razor wire:
    http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Democratic-National-Convention-Boston2C-Massachusetts-Democratic-National-Convention/ss/events/pl/073008dncdemocratcon/s:/ap/20080807/ap_on_el_pr/democratic_convention/im:/080807/photos_ts/2008_08_07t010945_450x287_us_usa_politics_denver_protests/

    Posted by: On a Side Note... | Aug 10, 2008 8:56:53 AM

    
    
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