Ron Paul's signs prohibited from displaying in public

[njandrewg]

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/V...ited_from_displaying_Ron_Paul_signs_in_public

Quote: They first confiscated the sign that said "who is Ron Paul?" We also had signs spelling out "r o n p a u l 2 0 0 8"; they later came back and took all those signs too. Rather forcefully, I might add. Later - around the 7th inning they asked us to leave (or they would eject us).

Apparently Fox didn't want to display unathorized messages

 

[Lord Xar]

maybe somebody should streak waving a ron paul banner or having ron paul stickers on his/her body...

 

[BLS]

wow.......how long are we going to let this go on??

 

[LibertyOfOne]

Private property no? I don't see nothing wrong with it so long as whoever owns it is not getting government handouts.

 

[foofighter20x]

The answer to this problem is T-shirts

Each one with one letter... Just like each person had a sign.

Thye aren't going to make you strip, are they? If so, that's grounds for a lawsuit!

 

[njandrewg]

but the park is publically funded, so public funds should = freedom of _____

 

[torchbearer]

more public funding?

 

[joshdvm]

I'm embarrassed to be a RP supporter after seeing this. This has nothing to do with "freedom of speech." I thought RP supporters were more sophisticated than this. A stadium, even if it's tax-funded, has the semblance of being 'private' property. If they don't allow political signs, then comply and quit whining. And, no, you don't get your money back just because you complied with stadium policy.

 

[Devil_rules_in_extremes]

but the park is publically funded, so public funds should = freedom of _____

Are you absolutely sure this stadium was built with public funds? Because if it wasn't, or really if it was, I don't see any problem with them taking the signs.

Since a PRIVATE organization owns the stadium, then they have property rights, and can allow or DIS-allow anything on their property.

Just my $0.02

 

[Akus]

This link has no details.

I will have to agree, we don't need to compete with Evangelists on annoyance. We are good people, not extremists or nutjobs. But that is how Ron Paul will be presented if we do anything crazy.

 

[GreyBlood]

The answer to this problem is T-shirts

Each one with one letter... Just like each person had a sign.

Thye aren't going to make you strip, are they? If so, that's grounds for a lawsuit!

They will kick you out.

 

[SWATH]

I wonder if some people will get Fox's panties in a wad by doing this at the Fox/Hannity Freedom concert?

 

[LibertyOfOne]

I'm embarrassed to be a RP supporter after seeing this. This has nothing to do with "freedom of speech." I thought RP supporters were more sophisticated than this. A stadium, even if it's tax-funded, has the semblance of being 'private' property. If they don't allow political signs, then comply and quit whining. And, no, you don't get your money back just because you complied with stadium policy.

I am not so sure about that. The second they do get government funds they should no longer be fully considered private.

 

[joshdvm]

Whatever the case, I think it would depend on the rules established by the stadium management. If they don't want political signs, it has nothing to do with the 1st amendment, and I think compliance is necessary. Now, if they were not consistent, and allowed political signs of SOME candidates' supporters, but not others, then I'd cry foul.

 

[Wyurm]

I swear I heard on the audio that the signs were approved with the park. Is that what was said? Then I heard that it was FoxSports that was asking for removal of the sign because it could be caught on camera.

If I have all of that right, then there is an issue, though its one we already know exists (Fox is against Ron Paul).

Otherwise, if they dont allow any political signs, then you have little to argue, but if they allow political statements other than Ron Paul 2008, well ...

It all depends on the specifics of your situation. It would help if you explained a little more.

 

[LibertyEagle]

It's ok. It's not one single thing that we do that will make us win. It is everything together that we do, hitting them from all different directions, that will win the day. No other candidates have the passion that supporters of RP have and if we use that passion wisely and with persistence, they cannot beat us.

 

[Avalon]

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED: umbrellas, alcohol, cans, bottles, zoom lenses, tripods. Coolers, backpacks, large bags, duffle bags, coolers & hard-sided containers will no longer be permitted in the stadium. ALL small bags, including purses, diaper bags and fanny packs, WILL BE INSPECTED before they will be permitted into the stadium. Additionally, umbrellas will no longer be permitted in the facility. Due to these increased security measures, patrons will no longer be able to check prohibited items at the stadium gates. ITEMS ALLOWED: cameras, recording devices

I'm guessing they got approval at the gate but that changed when a complaint was filed from a broadcast affiliate (ie, Fox). Whether the stadium is tax funded is unfortunately irrelevent (unless that was part of the agreement for funding). Now if they were forced to leave in the 7th inning as was stated in the OP (without charges being filed) then I'd say they certainly deserve their money back. But not because the stadium wouldn't allow them to display their signs, or however forcefully they were confiscated.

Interesting trivia: Fox won an appealed case in Florida which gave them (and other news programs) the ability to (as a corporation or as individuals) purposely lie to the public (even using public airwaves).

 

[Swmorgan77]

Private property no? I don't see nothing wrong with it so long as whoever owns it is not getting government handouts.

Obviously noone can expect to be entitled to free speech on private property. It still doesn't mean that you can't get irked when the exclusion is apparently inconsistent and the basis for it is biased.

In the end, however, the property owner has the say....

 

[duffster]

They will kick you out.

First three people: We're big Ron Howard fans.
Next four people: We like Paul Rudd.
Last four people: We can't wait for New Years!

 

[constituent]

"I'm embarrassed to be a RP supporter after seeing this."

Give me a break. Run back to the arms of Romney then. Oh wait, you're probably there already!