‘He Sucked’: High School Student’s Tweet About Kansas Governor Triggers Big Time Tempest
- Posted on November 25, 2011 at 4:57pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Emma Sullivan, 18, was made to apologize to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback after writing a rude tweet about him. (Image source: Twitter)
An 18-year-old high school senior has been made to apologize to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for writing a snarky tweet about him during a field trip.
“Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot,” Emma Sullivan wrote Monday while the Republican governor was addressing her school group.
Even though Sullivan didn’t actually approach the Brownback to make any such comments to him, the tweet caught the eye of his communications director, and it was passed back to the school.
From there, things happened fast: Sullivan was sent to the principal’s office, she told the Kansas City Star, and reprimanded for nearly an hour for the “not so nice” comments. She said she was told she had embarrassed her school and the district, and needed to do “damage control” with the governor’s office.
That‘s how she ended up writing an apology to Brownback’s office, with her principal even giving her talking points.
Shawnee Mission East principal Karl R. Krawitz wouldn’t comment the matter except to call it a disciplinary action. He told the Star, “It is a school issue, a private issue, not a public matter.”
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback
Despite the dust-up, Sullivan — who describes herself as a liberal — maintains she didn’t do anything wrong.
“I don’t regret sending the tweet,” she said. “It was harmless. It’s not like I was really fired up about anything he said.”
But Brownback communications director Sherriene Jones-Sontag disagrees.
“That wasn’t respectful,” she said. “In order to really have a constructive dialogue, there has to be mutual respect….It’s also important for students to recognize the power of social media, how lasting it is. It is on the Internet.”
In the days since the incident, Sullivan has maintained a heavy presence on Twitter, posting news articles about what happened and thanking those expressing their support.
Her account had about 60 followers before the tweet, but now has more than 1,000. There’s also a Facebook page with the tagline, “Support the first amendment” that has garnered more than 50 “likes.”
“I knew this day would come, but I didnt know itd be today #makingheadlines,” she tweeted Wednesday.
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Comments (331)
The Scarecrow
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:48pmWhoa! I guess someone changed the Constitution while I wasn’t looking, I thought everyone had free speech! Maybe Kansas is excluded and nobody told me or the girl.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:41pmFIRST, you have to learn to wipe your ass, before you can figure out the rest. You have not gotten to first base yet.
Report Post »Patrick Henry II
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:26pmActually Brownback is the best KS governor in my lifetime. I am not saying he’s a George Washington by any means but KS has had terrible governors. The old people here believe that the Dems and Moderate Repubs are just like good ole FDR in the glory days. They are easily fooled. Ufortunately.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:34pmBefore you fall lamely – and inappropriately – back on your First Ammendment excuse, wise up and realize that our Founding Fathers didn’t write it so that classless twits like this one and you could publicly go around recklessly name-calling and insulting people. Take a hint from most people, who don’t engage in such immature stupidity.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:05pm… so, the vivacious little tart has an opinion. Let it be said – let it be so …
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:30pmShe’s georgeous! sorry, i tend to be superficial at times.
But seriously, great points made about the 1st Ammendment not applying in school…sort of. When do school rules have dominion over a personal device? She didn’t publish or vocalize anything (which is what the 1st was to protect…for the PURPOSE of being able to criticize govt.)
Ya, she might be a little numbskull, but unless she was not following shool policy or doing her work/paying attention/etc and unless somebody in authority made it clear that using personal devices was not ok, then her privacy has been violated.
My question would be, “who looked at her page or received a message so as to expose this in the first place?”
That’s the key determinant as far as legalities go.
I guess it’s like you can get a permit to have a peaceful protest gathering on campus (college, anyway) but you can’t spout hate words or try to incite violence. This is a bit different in nature….even if she isn’t qualified to make legitimate staments about the good Governor (as some here have testified to).
Am I wrong?
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:50pmYes, Free Speech, but you also have the responsibility to be held accountable for what you say, and when you say it!
I do not think she should be writing a letter to apologize, and if I was her, I’d write a letter that apologized that they were offended.
However, I do believe that the problem comes not from her tweeting about the Gov sucking, but rather that she was tweeting while on a school function. If you are interested in politics, you let the other person speak, then you comment. Just like any other liberal, she wasn’t even listening to what the Gov was saying, she was bashing him while he addressed them.
Report Post »MrldPatriot
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:29pmFirst, just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean you should do it or that it is good to do it. Second, if that girl doesn’t learn how to get her point across in a polite way before she graduates from high school she may never learn. Third, when she went to the state capitol she was with her school group, therefore, any public comments she makes about the trip she makes she is making as a representative of the school. Therefore, she should have gotten the okay from her school and fellow classmates to post those comments.
Report Post »JohnofOregon
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:32pmsilly people, brownbackistan is appropriate to describe the twit. It goes both ways. Here in oregon we have the annoited lefts nazi punk us senator jeff merkley introduceing a constitutional amendment to eliminate the first amendment as we know it. Its getting legs, there are senators that have signed on. The left wants to eliminate the second, fourth and 5th amendments. by eliminateing the first you can end free speech on the others and therefore ram it down our throats. The right like it because it allows them to monitor more closely teenage texting going on.
Report Post »Falconer
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:59pm@AOL REFUGE………..get a clue pal. I’m probably the most conservative person here. The first amendment is to protect political speech, her comments as much as I disagree are political speech. Don’t be a twit. Don’t be so blinded by ideology that you develop a double standard like a marxist, socialist peace of crap liberal.
Report Post »beverlee
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:18pmI‘ve said it before and I’ll say it again…kids should not be allowed to have cell phones in school. They text when they are not supposed to and utilize the phones to cheat on tests. The girl is nothing but a glory hound. I suppose her parents raised her to believe it is all about her…just like most kids today.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:26pmAOL_REFUGEE,
Report Post »couldn’t disagree more… a high schooler should be free to say a politician sucks, without being punished and forced to write an apology. if a 17 year old wrote a tweet that said obama sucks, i wouldn’t be up in arms either.
Maji
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:27pmYes she has the right to say those things
No she shouldn’t have to say” I’m sorry” if she doesn’t mean it.
No she’s not “gorgeous” as someone said! Kinda cute? maybe? But shes’s 18
She does have a huge nose and if it doesn’t slow down it will explode one day!!!
Rude thing to say isn’t it!!!
That’s why she should apologize!
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:36pmThis girl is perfect for a job at MSNBC!
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:45amLeave the girl alone. If she doesn’t like Sam, her choice to say so. Its pretty sad when the Governor’s office goes after an 18 year for her tweets…..
If the problem was tweeting while at school the school first wouldn‘t let her have such device at school and second they wouldn’t make her issue an apology to the Governor. Would love to see the schools handbook and what rules she violated. Or is this simply politics for funding?
We all say BO sucks everyday, because he does. Should we all apologize to him?
In politics many will disagree with you and insult you, their right to do so. Your right is how you react to it. And our founders said way worse things then some guy sucks. They were vicious in their attacks.
Get a grip! If you can’t stand for your opponents to speak you are stripping your own rights away! Wake up!
Boson Higgs
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:45amYou are correct! She obviously has sucked many more than the Gov.
I’m sure that #SheSucksAlot!
Report Post »Boson Higgs
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:48amActually, it is obvious that #SheBlowsAlot!
Report Post »Boson Higgs
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:59amNo one changed the Constitution while you were watching Sesame Street, Scarecrow.
You just are too stupid to know how to read it.
By the time you get to elementary school, you might learn how to read.
You ride the ‘Short Bus’”, don’t you???
And YES, both you and Emma Sullivan do #BlowAlot.
I’m sure that you both enjoy it!
I know that you are enjoying my Constitutional right to free speech, aren’t you, Scarecrow??
I mean between your #********.
NTTAWWT !
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:07amaol refugee…on the contrary..the founding fathers made it EXPRESSLY for that purpose. read some history..focus in on old predidential debates and the debates they had. they called each other far worse. her tweet was assinine and foolish, buthe should respond so thin skinned to every lil thing. she never even said anything to his face. if he had not overreacted she would just be another cowardly lib liar trying to pretend she is a freedom fighter when she dosent know anything. now he made her a hero in the eyes of other idiot libs.
Report Post »axel@25
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:11amOur Constituition doesn’t protect lying and fabrications…never has and never should. Don’t let the fact that most people get away with public lies on the internet confuse you…Libel and slander laws are still on the books and fully constitutional.
Fact is she was lying… quote..” Even though Sullivan didn’t actually approach the Brownback to make any such comments to him “.
So, I guess if I tweeted that while at the track last week, I saw your mother having sex with a horse while high on meth that would be protected speech?
And a note to the OWS protesters: the first amendment protects your right to speak freely, it doesn’t grant you the right to force people to listen to you.
Report Post »davidroth1971
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:21amIn Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969), the Supreme Court extended free speech rights to students in school. The case involved several students who were punished for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. The Supreme Court ruled that the school could not restrict symbolic speech that did not cause undue interruptions of school activities.
the question is, is twiter symbolic? then did it cause “undue interruptions of school activities. “
Report Post »Watchingtheweasels
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 5:49amThe difference between then and now is that if you “tweeted” something like this, the offended party could challenge you to a dual and you might end up getting shot.
That having been said, it is pretty bad that a staffer would be monitoring this and worse that the school would react in the way that it did.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:47amI think the problem is the double standard. Liberals try to squelch free speech from other people, but scream about it when there’s in inhibited. If this had been a Democrat Governor or Obama, the FBI or secret service would have gotten involved, and she would have been painted as a terrorist. There are consequences with free speech that you have to be prepared to accept. I am free to stand in a black neighborhood and scream racial slurs (If I were so inclined, which I’m not, it’s just a point), but I better be prepared to defend myself. If you’re going to make a “political statement” that’s provocative, you better be prepared to back it up with facts. I think it was a publicity stunt to get more twitter followers, and it apparently worked.
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 7:53amThis is a NON-STORY for sure. Some stupid kid can tweet anything she wants….it is free speech. In some ways I feel this is bullying a child by coming down on her for it. (and I would be on the conservative side of all issues). I think this is called “over reaction”. While I may not be on her side as far as what she says I do respect the right for her to say it and for the supposed adults to just leave her have the right to say it. We don’t need the gestapo coming down on everything every kid has to say, or adult for that matter! LET HER BE!
Report Post »Gop_Hac
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:31amFree speech yes still here, but this LITTLE KID needs to learn respect.
You don’t get free speech till you earn it!
Teenagers haven’t earned crap yet.
This is how the whole OWS crap starts.
Speak to me when you have done something, anything for that matter to earn my attention.
Report Post »jeffrey7112
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:22amHave to go with the scarecrow on this one. I don‘t care if he’s the best administrator ever. There was nothing threatening about her tweet, and thus falls under free (unregulated) speech. Your opinion has nothing to do with her right to say whatever pops into her head and out her mouth or in this case out her fingers. Matter of fact, you’re supposed to be fighting for her right to say things that may upset you. What are you? Some kind of Democrat?
Report Post »Lord-help_us
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:11amJust because something is legal, doesn’t make it right.
Report Post »FNTM
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:43amSo with the 1st amendment parents and teachers won’t even try to teach a person how to behave nicely in society? After all, you have freedom of speech. Say any dumb thing including a lot of these comments anytime you like.
Report Post »chiefparker
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:59amIs (“Heblows a lot”) considered an opinion now?
Report Post »Rather than an opinion, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say projecting?
karen162
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:07pm1st of all, she lied. She never approached him and never said anything to him. Lying is NOT covered by the 1st amendment. If she had gone up to him and said those things, then she would be covered. But she is a Liberal and trained to lie.
“I don’t regret sending the tweet,” she said. “It was harmless. It’s not like I was really fired up about anything he said.”
She doesn’t regret it because the Liberals are encouraging her lying about Republicans. Had she tweeted this about Barack Obama, she would be correctly humiliated by both sides.
Report Post »snooop1e
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:16pmFree Speech 101: Saying that someone sucks is Free Speech. Saying that you told someone to their face that they suck when you didn’t is refered to as a LIE. Lieing is not protected under free speech. Not only is it a lie but it is disrepectful, like calling someone a tea ****** because you disagree with their opinon. It’s juvenile and disrepectful. We need to bring back civility and respect in our culture.
Report Post »PhunkDaPhish
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:19pmSo..our little underage tart lib is tell lies about saying something to the gov in person. Geeze, a lib using the social networking platform to lie. Go figure.
Liberals suck no matter what the age.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:39pmThe GOVERNOR SUCKS, big time. C’mon sue me,Double dare you. DUFUS!
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:42pmSpeach is free but I think there is a thing called slander, the price of your free speach. Speach is free but the consequences of what you say isn’t. If you tell the truth and can prove it, ok, however if you tell a lie, the consequences of the lie are on you.
Report Post »coindexter
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:03pmmaybe he really sucked…why would a teenager be interested in listening to a politician other than obama?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:41pmIt was her opinion, and unfortunately for most people saying “Lying isn’t protected by the first amendment,” it actually is (unless it does damage to someone, ie libel/slander). The only thing she could be in trouble for is using her phone while on a school trip, and that depends entirely upon the rules of the school. I’m doubtful that they have a policy specifically for field trips, but hey, it’s possible.
Seems like an overreaction on the part of adults because of some immaturity from a student.
Report Post »Grey Eagle
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:45pmThis girl is legally an adult. She has to learn there are consequences to actions. Sounds like she is a liberal in training.
Report Post »politicojim
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:16pmin my opinion, anyone that says whoa and Constitution, in the same sentence, is either Bill or Ted….how’s that Adventure?
Report Post »curtisgb
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 8:01amShe lied. She broadcast her lie. She should apologize for lying, at the very least.
Report Post »Concerned Green Beret
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 4:50amYeah you forgot the part about only liberal idiots have freedom of speech. We are only free as long as we support the commie infrastructure and bash Christians, Constitutional Americans, and the founding fathers.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:46amIs it any wonder that a liberal indoctrinated student would hurl insults at a Republican. Public schools as well as most colleges are packed with liberal influenced educators who try to instill thier beliefs into their students. This girl is just another sads example of what is being produced in our school system.
Report Post »jank0614
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:46pmIt’s only a school issue because it was “during a field trip” at a high school. Any time outside of school and nobody but her friends would even know about it.
Report Post »My students have freedom of speech – but NOT to be exercised during a test, nor are they allowed to have their phones on during school hours. Period.
Anyone here complaining that this is a free-speech issue has a problem with school authority. And that’s an entire different issue. But when you’re on school time, you are subject to school rules.
chfields62
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:08pmMore proof that liberals shouldn’t breed……Just another braindead bimbo after her 15 mins…..
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:27pmIt’s ok to express your opinion–as long as it complies with the with the authority’s approval.
Thought control kiddies. You‘d think that this kid would realize after this that liberalism only works if you comply with the elite’s edicts
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:31pm>JANK. Aye! Good posting.
Report Post »undercover
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:47pmYes JANK it is a free speech issue because all the other kids who were tweeting didn’t get punished along wither her. She was not punished for tweeting during school hours, she was punishe for the content of the tweet.
Report Post »junior1971
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:47pmChildren have no first amendment rights. Children cannot drive before a certain age, they cannot vote before a certain age, they cannot speak out of line. First amendment rights have nothing to do with spoiled children whose parents cannot teach them to respect other people. I assure you, she will continue and has already, on numerous occassions behaved in such a piss poor manner. Pity the guy who ends up with her!
Report Post »undercover
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:53pmJUNIOR – she is not a child. At 18 she is a legal adult and assumes all the rights and responsibilities accorded by the constitution. Read the article before you make a fool out of yourself.
Report Post »dpt334
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:59pmUmm, I vote Republican but this is a nonissue. Since when do students not have freedom of speech? Most politicians do “suck”, are we this afraid of opposing opinions? Can you imagine the tweets if Obana were to visit a TX highschool?
Report Post »vnachi77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:11pmHer age has no bearing on it. She is a student on a school sponsored field trip. As a registered student at that school, she falls under the schools authority. En Loco Parntis, look it up. It’s for this same rule that a 18 year old student cannot consent to sex with a teacher, as that teacher is in a position of authority. You can’t have it both ways. If she violated school policy, which according to the principal she did she can be punished. This is not a case of government overreaching and if at 18 she doesn’t like the school telling her what to do, simple, drop out.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:24pmLittle lying Bit$h. I am allowed to say it now that Jimmy Fallon and company is allowed to say it on national TV.
Report Post »geonj
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:25pm@jank0614
Report Post »well said.
vnachi77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:29pmUndercover why are you so angry an Junior? Did you think you had the market cornored on making a fool of yourself? After consulting my pocket constitution, I failed to find a age requirement on anything other than voting and presidential election. Certainly the First Amendment does not have one. However Supreme Court ruling has in fact put restrictions on free speech. So it appears to me if anyone is making a fool of themselves it is you Undercover. It might be that you failed to notice as you’ve become used to it.
Report Post »theaveng
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:29pm>>>Anyone here complaining that this is a free-speech issue has a problem with school authority.
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled again and again that just because a student is involved does NOT take away basic rights such as free speech (or in this case: freedom of the press/publishing an opinion).
PLUS this is an adult we’re talking about. Adults have the full range of rights w/o any of the restrictions of youth. Therefore this principal acted inappropriately. He had no business to limit what an Adult woman has to say, or to punish her for her twitter activity (which exists outside of school).
The young lady could have sued the school in Court and won. Easily. I say that Bush and Obama “blow” at least once a week. And now I’ve also added the Kansas Governor and the Principal to my tweets and facebook. They “blow” too for trampling First Amendment Rights for an adult citizen of these free states.
What kind of precedent does this set? Will the Governor’s office call my college dean and demand an apology? Or the Human Resources dept. of my workplace and demand an apology. Well forget em.
Citizens have a first amendment right to express their opinion about the servants that they Hired to administer the People’s government. If the servants don’t like it, then they can step down and choose a different career.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:38pm>VNACHI77. I totally agree with your follow-up. This is where the disrespect of authority starts. It starts with children and teens of school age who aren’t admonished for their disrespectful behavior.
We can agree or disagree as to whether this was a big deal or not, free speech or not, she is an adult or not. If she is in school, at a school function, on school time… the school is at that time… functioning as the parent. The same should go for teachers too. They, as far as I’m concerned, should be held accountable in a similiar fashion when they go off the reservation of acceptable behavior… answerable to us the community.
I’m glad this “kid” was scolded and told to perform a penance of sorts. She might just be that smart@ssed kid who tells you to phuc off when she doesn‘t agree with you and your rules at work because she wasn’t put on “pause” and made to think from this “little” episode in her life.
Report Post »CowboyExpat
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:39pmThese liberal folks want their freedoms, but are charging headlong into the restrictions being place upon society by their political party of choice.
Report Post »Bekrhed
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:58pmI wonder what you rightwingers would say if some kid did the same thing to Obama and he retaliated like Brownback?
How old is Brownback…12 ?
So what if she was at a school function, she’s 18 so she has every right to twitter anything she likes.
This is the real reason you rightwingers idolize the business world and the military.
Report Post »You like the inherent authoritarianism that goes along with them.
No democracy…no free speech…soldiers/employees are obligated to just shut up and FOLLOW ORDERS or risk being fired and/or disciplined by their superiors.
Deep in you gut you all want to be little Hitlers.
symphonic
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:36pm“But when you’re on school time, you are subject to school rules.”
Jank, public school socialist communist advocate that you are, you need to realize that because of the stance people like YOU take, this is why there is the homeschool option.
Report Post »InversionTheory
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:40pmYou’re on a school trip and you break school rules, you get punished. Big flipping deal. But the article says she was punished for the content and no mention of breaking any no tweeting policy (if they‘re like my high school they’ll get around to banning such things 2 years after they stop being popular anyway).
So why the apology to the governor? If this were my daughter, I would advise her to tell the principal and the governor where they can stick it and have them take it to court. I may not agree with what she said… But I will fight to my last breath for her right to say it.
Report Post »symphonic
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:51pmJANK, she is 18 years old, legal adult, and no, the schools don’t have a right to take that away from you or dictate your free speech. Taxes pay school admins and teachers. TAXES means that this is not some private institution here. If OWS can do what they do on TAX FUNDED properties, you can bet that your argument does NOT hold water. This is America. Free speech is a right. Especially for an 18 year old who can vote, etc.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:55pmINVERSIONTHEORY, you’ve inverted your head and inserted it up your arse – likely quite some time ago. You don’t think the governor is entitled to ask for an apology for an insult without any substance from a clueless twit who needs to learn the meaning of respect? Then you’re a complete imbecile.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:22pm>BEKRHED SAID: “This is the real reason you rightwingers idolize the business world and the military. You like the inherent authoritarianism that goes along with them. No democracy…no free speech…soldiers/employees are obligated to just shut up and FOLLOW ORDERS or risk being fired and/or disciplined by their superiors.”
And this statement of your‘s is why you’re probably sniveling right now like some street urchin at a 7-11 close to an “Occupy something site” begging for a free Slurpee, then glomming onto an internet signal from the Starbucks next door with a borrowed lap top. Then it’s back to the free park for you that sign right? Lmao!!
Report Post »jank0614
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:22pmSome have decided all teachers are liberal commie supporting, etc. people.
Report Post »I am not. I’m in Texas, and I actually believe in following school rules.
This girl may text anything at any time – as long as she is not in school, and no one will care but her parents – if she lives with them, even at 18, she is under their authority in a school setting, and the authority each school has to make rules. NO ONE (including me) is allowed to have our cellphone on during school hours. Kids can have their phones on before and after school and during their lunch time. The rest of the time they can’t, so that they pay attention in class and so they don’t cheat on tests. Now, you can attack all teachers, or you can actually realize that a lot of us are God loving, Constitution loving conservatives who don’t belong to unions and who are the last chance for the public school system. We pray for our kids, we let Jesus’ love shine through us – and on the sly, when our kids have problems they’ll actually come to us and ask us to pray for them and their family and friends. So attacking me takes your eyes off the ONLY issue here. Students are NOT allowed to have phones on during school hours or activities – or to make disparaging tweets while representing the school. There is no other issue. As I say, she may say whatever she wishes that her parents allow her outside of school authority, and nobody will care. I’ve seen MUCH worse on FB. But not during school hours.
axel@25
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:23amGood grief…is nobody here able to read?
She had to apologize because she LIED about saying it to his face…and never did.
lots of people on this site say they think Obama blows…that’s free speech (ignorant and tastless but free and protected). The LIE happens if you say, “I said it to his face”, and didn’t.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:38pmMore proof that conservatives have no business in leadership positions, they can’t follow the simple rules (like free speech).
Report Post »Michael_912
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:45pmThe Commie, I mean communications director should apologize. The school should apologize. She should never have apologized!
People, are you getting conditioned to the point where you think someone giving their opinion is wrong? I don’t care how “rude” her comments might have seemed to the politician, it is still her opinion and I thought we still had our speech protected. Who cares if it is in a school, on a field trip or in her home, it is still just an opinion on a stinkin tweet for God’s sake. She didnt point a gun at anyone, she didnt bomb a building, she stated her opinion.
To be brought into a hearing and be made to apologize and be forcibly re-educated is worse than any Communist or NAZI story I have ever heard. WAKE UP PEOPLE.
Report Post »proantisocialist
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:39pmWhen i go to the mivie theater and yell fire i should not be punished or go into a bank and say this is a robbery i should not be punished??????
free speech has boundries and she went beyond that,as when someone calls obama the n-word that really ticks me off..being a white male any derogatory remarks that are not backed up ticks me off….
Report Post »Kevin The Elder
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:19pmHome run Michael!!! Whatever happened to ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’? I’m truly shocked at our fellow conservatives here; the same ones that were willing to go to war against the USSR for suppressing their citizen’s speech. What is happening to people; are we all being blinded by the media with the constant barrage of political correctness that we don’t see the truth anymore?
Report Post »ripple effect
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:45pmJust because she is a usefull idiot ‘liberal’ does not mean she cannot speak her mind. If this governor got his panties in such a bind over an eighteen year old uninformed child, maybe he does suck.
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:55pmWhen I was her age I thought all politicians sucked. With Michelle Bachman demanding apologies from a band and now this Gov demanding apologies from a teenager, I am beginning to believe that most politicians these days are Progressives. That is a Progressive reaction to a no news story. If I had that mindset, I would be asking for apologies from all the Progressive idiots that call me a Paulie or Paulbot here on The Blaze. I could care less about what people say about me as I know myself and my character better than anyone else, especially a band member and teenager.
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:05pmShe is just doing what every good little ‘socialist in training’ does……..spew the ‘party line’; clueless as to any reason, but stupid is as stupid does…
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:48pmTo Westcoast:
I think you’re absolutely right. There’s no integrity even on local levels. I could care less whether somebody calls themselves Lib or Cons, the real issues are how they behave and vote. All I see is everybody being self serving or being a pawn (both sides).
It seems like everybody on the planet that does something wrong has to publicly apologize or anybody that’s been wronged needs a public apology. What happened to “gentlemanly” ways of resolving things? Frivolous lawsuits with unscrupulous lawyers and clients come to mind…politicians too.
I’m 43 and go to college. If I was on a geology or archaeology field trip and texted my buddy something like, “Obama’s an undercover-Islamist Socialist much like the Nazis” (which I do believe) and there was no prior restrictions made about phones or devices (syllabus always have the rules that have to be signed), then there’d be a situation.
Anybody here find a copy of this school’s policy specifically related to this matter? Everybody’s jumping to conclusions without enough facts to make an educated determination.
Report Post »Cottoneyed77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:42pmI could careless what this high school “liberal” has to say or what she thinks. She’s relevant in her own mind, only! The Brownback people should have realized this, and laughed her off. Brushed her away like some nuisance fly! Hey, Emma, your 15′s over, now go back to your irrelevant life.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 8:47pmHow‘s she ever going to get the chance to find out that she’s a classless idiot so that she can seek out some self-improvement? Does the word “respect” mean anything to twits like you and her?
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:07pmAOL does a gov really get hurt by a teenie stupid comment? are you and the rest gonna try and destroy everybody who makes a mean comment? think! a govenor should have far far bigger fish to fry than this. we got upset when obama cried about rush, and rush is a nationally syndicated famous speaker and author. you mean to tell me a teen with 60 (now 1000) followers is more powerful than Rush? there are somethings that should not let get by..i completly agree…this definatly is not one of them. read the article. because this blew up she has gotten more followers and more credibility simply by prooving that a teeniebopper making a stupid non issue comment cna make the govt of a state react so strongly. you want to keep using missles to kill a fly then fine. but sooner or later u run out of missles and you do more damage to yourself than the fly.
Report Post »BigGoliath
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:35pmMountain out of a molehill. She is entitled to her opinion. End of story. Being forced to apologize is a pointless effort. This school system is a true joke, if you don’t like the comment/opinion, that is your decision. Since when am I not allowed to say somebody sucks? What the hell, somebody sucks at one time or another in my day to day life. This poor kid tweets it and gets kicked in the face?
LAME.
Report Post »John Kettlewell
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:31pmShould read the Kansas City Star article, it is somewhat illuminating. Apparently it’s some school trip for a Youth in Government. Her sister is a Poli-Sci major and is SHOCKED. The offender states we are all liberal. I don’t know what the hashtag started as, or if it was always about the Governor.
I don’t know what the rules of the school group are, but I do believe some admins overstepped their assumed authority. Still it is interesting the frenzy and background of the ideological youngsters. Was she on CNN like she stated?
Report Post »BowHuntingTexas
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:30pm“Despite the dust-up, Sullivan — who describes herself as a liberal — maintains she didn’t do anything wrong.”
Now that it’s on the world wide web for all to see:
Ha. Have fun explaining that in an interview with your next potential manager – in the private sector.
If you’re going for a government job? Put it on your resume.
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:56pmThe school should be embarrased that they havent been able to teach a student how to form a cohesive sentence which can explain the student’s disagreement with the Governor without having to say something as stupid and ignorant as, “He sucked”.
When I was in high school, our opinion would be considered by others if we could WRITE a
grammer-perfect discourse in 2 paragraphs explaining our position on a matter which might be of interest to other students. And, we were graded on content, value and completeness of thought.
Emma Sullivan should spend more time with books and less time with her tweeter trying to show people how smart she is. SHE ISN”T.
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:30pmCynic-clinic, I agree. However with today’s kids that have an attention span of a gnat, it’s a tough sell.
By the way, I don’t want to come off as a grammar nazi, but since you’ve emphasized the grammar aspect…
embarrased => embarrassed
Report Post »havent => haven’t
grammer-perfect => grammar-perfect
Jerbear1098
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:29pmTime for people to cut the BS political correctness. Speak your mind and to hell what they think. The T-Ball mentality we have now is killing America. If the guy is so thin skinned, maybe he needs to leave office. I call BS on this young lady representing anyone but herself.
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:35pmThe irony is that she as a liberal would be instrumental in buttressing the PC edifice.
Report Post »The libs’ tacit rule: “Free speech for me, nothing for thee”.
Secessionista
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:27pm“Shawnee Mission East principal Karl R. Krawitz wouldn’t comment the matter except to call it a disciplinary action. He told the Star, “It is a school issue, a private issue, not a public matter.””
That’s right. You dirty stinking filthy masses need to keep your noses out of the PRIVATE business of our PUBLIC schools. Word.
What arrogance. Our public officials truly have lost all sense of reality. First, the governor has aids who are petty enough to want to nit pic an 18 year old girl, and then a principal who doesn’t even understand or care about the important differences between a private and a public institution.
I think the people or Kansas deserve an apology from the governor and the principal. And perhaps some unpaid time off while they contemplate their transgressions against we the people.
Report Post »Stephan D. Markos
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:24pmThe words “First Amendment” and “but” should never be used in the same sentence,
Report Post »blaaaaackwoman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:20pmSo now it’s a law we must be respectful? Sounds like communism to me.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:17pmYou got it right my sister.
Report Post »mrjpack
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:16pmJust what I would expect from a disrespectful, arrogant Blaaaaak woman.no surprise here….
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:20pmwhy should she appologize…. she expressed her opinion…. so what…. i think he sucks also.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:42pmgood for you sucker
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:19pmI think it’s time society treats everyone with respect. No matter what political views you have; simple respect is due ALL people. I personally have a policy. I treat everyone the same, with complete respect. In essence, giving everyone a grade of 100%. However, once they do something to prove to me they do not deserve my respect, this arbitrary “grade” is reduced, until, in some cases my respect for the person no longer exists. Society today has broken down to the point that we no longer communicate with others face-to-face. Instead we would rather, even slander any person, for any reason. Instead of granting everyone respect so they can be free to demonstrate their thoughts. It is only at that point, when we have been able to demonstrate (perhaps the wrong word, hope you understand the thought behind this) our thoughts so others completely understand them, in any relationship that people can communicate and either agree, or agree to disagree.
Report Post »blaaaaackwoman
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:21pmYou are more idiotic than the loaf I just flushed down the toilet.
Report Post »Eleutheria
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:26pmMandated virtue diminishes its splendor.
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:27pm@Blackwoman; They call the principles I claimed “civilized”. We used them all the time back in the 50′s. The younger generation has perverted them and now would rather spit on anyone who disagrees with their thought than acknowledge the person as a human being. If society continues to decline in this manner, it won’t be long before death at any age will be supported by society and only the “perfect” as deemed by society will be allowed to live. Not to mention the Marxist Communism that will be the order of the day in every country. The righteous will be offered up as the sacrifice to the gods that be in that day and the criminals will be released into society. Continue to shake your fist in the face of God; you will pay the price someday. Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Romans 14:11 For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Philippians 2:10, 11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Report Post »God expects civility and constraint be shown from those that love Him. Receive Christ today, Romans 10:9-13.
RichNGadsden
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:17pmI agree with her having her 1st Amendment rights, but when a member of a school and while on the school grounds she would have been better off and probably even respected had she been able to voice her disagreements instead of attacking with such a banal attack.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:17pmShe didn’t embarrass anyone. The government school and district opened their big mouths. That’s what embarrassed them. Did they have a warrent to search her brain? Maybe they just took her out of context like Demorats.
Report Post »vnachi77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:16pmThis is not a First Amendment issue. She was on a school field trip, which replaces her regular class, as such she had no business being on her cell phone. Secondly, as she was out in public she was acting as a represenative of her school and by tweeting that during the firld trip she did embarrass herself and school. When I am at work, I am not allowed to use my cell phone. When I am sent out into the community (I wear a uniform that identifies my agency) I represent my agency, my actions can reflect both positively and negatively and I should be held to account either way. Had this young lady been playing soccer and told a ref he “sucked,” she would be disciplined and no one would be screaming First Amendment. This is no different. You’re 18, time to stop acting like a child, grow up.
Report Post »bnjamn73
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:31pmWell said. I hope Blaaaaaaaaaaackwoman and others are reading and not loaf-flushing.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:31pmShe still can’t buy alcohol, but she can be drafted. And apparently, she is a slave of the school.
Report Post »Radiant.Simplicity
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:33pmYes it is commie! Representative of her school, you must be kidding lol! if the Governor has that thin a skin he should resign, pathetic is all I have to say. I would have told them where they could stick their apology.
Report Post »vnachi77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:42pmI don’t recall anywhere in the article or the news clip the Governor or his aide sanctioning her. It was her principle who did so. This is not a case of the government overreaching, rather that of a school addressing a precieved discipline problem. Stop looking for government conspiracies everywhere.
Report Post »ShyLow
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:49pmIt appears to be the conditioning of children to fear the government
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:20pm@ ShyLow
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:49pm
It appears to be the conditioning of children to fear the government
Report Post »———————————————————————————————————————————-
co-signed and quoted for truth.
Bookster
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:15pmMajor over-reaction by the school. I don’t care if she said it about a Democrat or Republican, she has the 1st amendment protected right to say what she wants about any of our politicians. If she thought he sucked, that’s her opinion and he had every right to tweet it.
I think the school owes her an apology and the Governor would be wise to issue a press release in the same way that George Bush handled hecklers, saying that is the great thing about America, we have the freedom to express our opinions without fear of the government stomping on you.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:14pmJust maybe its time to teach our young people some civility. Talk about ideas, not this unintelligent crap that comes out of so many now. We have to elevate politics. Perhaps the politicians themselves could set an example of civil exchange of ideas without personal attacks and name calling. Is that even possible?
Report Post »encinom
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:16pmCivic is more important the civility. The first lesson is the First Amendment and the right to voice your opinion about the government and those that hold offices. An Americna should never be made to issue a mea culpa for voicing their opinions about a tyrant in the Govenor’s office and have his lackies force the school to take action makes him a tyrannt.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:12pmSince when… can a person… Not OPINIONATE?
Report Post »vnachi77
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:35pmCan you openily “opinionate” while at work, during work hours about something, with out sanction, if those opinions are offensive? This took place during school hours, during class time and while representing her school. It was out of line and it was right that she was made to apoligize.
Report Post »axel@25
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:41amOpinionate? okay…how about if someone decided to “opinionate” during your wedding ceremony, that in their “opinion” you were still married to 2 other women and had 5 children and they told you to your face (didn’t actually happen) and that of course you didn’t deny it…but, hey… its just their opinion. They‘re allowed to ’opinionate” all they want…
Here’s my opinion…where there‘s smoke there’s fire…a lying little skank that tweets fabrications about anybody she dislikes (even a Governor) is probably into big-time cyber bullying of her classmates at school. They are probably afraid of her and won’t say what they really think of her.
Hey this is fun!! we can now make stuff up and pretend it’s true…
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:10pmStupid ****, why was she not suspended like the kids wearing America Flag T-shirts? Oh that’s right, there is a double standard in this country against conservatives – NOT FOR LONG!
Report Post »texanpatriot
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:18pm2012 – won’t be long…
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:15pmLet’s hope we get to vote – if we do we can turn it around, but either way there will be much pain. You see we are bankrupt now.
Report Post »calonzap
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:09pmThe little broad has a constitutional right to say anything she wants to say about the governor BUT, she really showed her lack of class when she said what she said. She’s most likely too stupid to intelligently express an opinion or to engage in a debate with someone about something with she disagrees so, she reverts to calling names and making personal attacks. She must be a “budding” democrat.
Report Post »Radiant.Simplicity
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:35pmShe is completely within her rights to be both stupid and unintelligent!
Report Post »AmericanLass
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:09pmSo much for teaching our young about freedom of speech. Boy oh boy, I‘ll bet she won’t try that again. Geech, its not like she threatened him, she was just expressing her feelings. Gee, isn’t that what the OWS folks are doing. Ok, who is going to tell ows they have to ALL apologize to Police, Politicians, Business owners and the American people ?
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:44pmIt‘s called respect for one’s elders, I guess you didnt learn that one yet
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:07pmI’ve got work for her out here in the San Fernando Valley. She is 18, right?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:54pmYes, but how does she feel about farm animals and 20-somes?
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:00pmULY, That’s just sick man! HAHA! Besides, the starlets that have reached their expiration date (in the industry) are the ones who do the funky stuff.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:05pmWhy the hell should she have to apologize? I wouldn’t care if he was Republican or Democrat. He’s a politician, and if I personally believe their policies suck, that means they suck.
It‘s time for the citizens of this Country to put a stop to the idol worship of the jerks in suits who think they’re above everyone else.
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