Quote:
Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
Rob,
I don't think the loyalty pledge would bother me so much if protests could occur close enough to the rally for Bush to see them. Every time he's been in Wisconsin the protest zone was blocks away. When Kerry has been here the protest zone has been wherever the Bushies want to go. I just don't feeling like it's playing fair, something that I know hasn't happened in politics in years. I just hate the fact that if Bush was in Milwaukee today I'd be protesting six blocks away surrounded by security guards, and if Kerry was in Iowa right now, you could be protesting so close to him he could see you.
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Just like at the DNC, where the "free-speech zone" was conveniently tucked in a construction site parking lot a mile from Fleet, right under a bridge in the middle of the Big Dig. Neither side plays fair, and that doesn't concern me in the slightest. Make your speech unencumbered, but let the others exercise their right to say their piece. They don't have the right to say it literally wherever they want, though, remember.
Kevin makes a good, albeit misguided, point about security - I do agree Bush is probably going using that as a bit of an excuse, but the reality for me is that I don't think being within sight of the person you're protesting is of any importance whatsoever during a political rally. The right to protest should be defended passionately, but I think you're getting a little red in the lens over something that really isn't that big of a deal, to my mind.