WWE Shirts … yes we can
It was really a silly stupid, almost moronic suggestion on the part of the Secretary of State and it took a lawsuit to get it stopped in its tracks. No silly, the AG passed on this “freedom of speech” issue.
A federal Judge ruled this afternoon in a lawsuit filed by Vince McMahon that WWE paraphernalia passed the voting test and may be worn into the polling place.
A federal judge has ordered Connecticut’s top election official to allow voters to wear World Wrestling Entertainment clothing to the polls.
U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton issued an order on Wednesday that requires that Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz not apply state election laws regarding political advertising to the WWE fans.
The Secretary of State insisted that she never ordered poll opeators to prevent WWE wearing voters from voting … and that is true. But the suggestion was clear.
But this year, the Secretary of the State’s office is telling local election officials that the prohibition also could be extended to gear promoting World Wrestling Entertainment.
That means a voter wearing a Cenation T-shirt or Generation D X Army pendant may be asked to remove it, depending in the discretion of poll workers. WWE is a worldwide entertainment company built by U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon and currently run by her husband Vince McMahon.
“Even though it doesn’t say her name directly…the brand is so ubiquitously associated with the McMahons,” said Av Harris, spokesman for Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.
On the other hand, a polling place stopped a young woman from voting, who was wearing an Obama 2008 shirt:
The problem is that Francis was wearing a 2008 Obama election shirt. It has photos of the first family during the campaign accompanied by the phrase “Our President Obama.” The presiding elections judge told her she could not vote, nor could she help her disabled mother vote, until she either turned the shirt inside out or covered it up to hide the message and photos.
“He is not a candidate in the Texas election,” Francis said. “So why are you denying me the right to vote?”
Her mother agreed.
True, but in that case Texas election code prevailed. The ruling was that Obama, as President, he was the head of the Democrat party and the Democrat party was on the ballot. Got that? I’m not sure I do. Let me give it some thought.
11 Comments
The website's content and articles were migrated to a new framework in October 2023. You may see [shortcodes in brackets] that do not make any sense. Please ignore that stuff. We may fix it at some point, but we do not have the time now.
You'll also note comments migrated over may have misplaced question marks and missing spaces. All comments were migrated, but trackbacks may not show.
The site is not broken.
Each state has their own laws, which we respect. Having a political t shirt on or other such garment or accessory, which its sole purpose is to demonstrate to others your political view, is in violation as I see it, To wear something that supports an organization, other than political, may be worn, even if someone withing that campaign may be connected to said organization, it just too much a stretch to consider it to be political advertisement.
Clearly this did not have to go into any judicial debate, what an absolute waste of time and money, just another way to try to knock her down, but I believe it strengthened her by promoting her name before the public. One way not to have to pay for campaigning, a good thanks goes out to the libs for their generosity in trying to stop WWE shirts.
What this shows is remarkably poor thinking – the immediate response among the undecided has to be negative – at a time when Blumie can ill afford it. Wait for the sound of silence from the Courant.
My advice: Keep working the Chicago playbook. Use all your power to influence the election. See where it gets you in this election cycle.
In regard to the Obama t-shirt situation…Obama IS head of the Democrat party. Presumably getting democrats elected anywhere helps his chances of maintaining control of both chambers of congress and pushing through his agenda with as few problems (read: republicans) as possible. Obama-gear should not be allowed as he is sitting president and has been campaigning hot and heavy for the dems during this election cycle.
I'm going on-line to buy a WWE t-shirt today. Why? Because I can. And because I'm a smart-a** and it'll make voting even MORE fun next Tuesday. I truly do NOT think that Bysie was "misunderstood"…I think she overstepped her bounds and got caught.
I can't believe I'm saying this – The Feds did the right thing (as did Vince). They sent a clear consistant message on this issue.
HOWEVER – It never needed to happen.
It is a clear indication that the individual or the state MUST take responsibility when it is their's to take. The Feds are more than willing to make decisions for others. But in most cases, they shrug off the responsibility of those decisions.
I honestly don't see the point of the law in and of itself. Why can't you wear political merchandise at the polls? Someone wearing an Obama pin or shirt isn't going to change my vote, and I kind of feel like this is the government once again over stepping it's bounds by telling us what we can and cannot wear when we are voting. Then again, what do I know, I'm a RASSLIN' FAN!
A letter to the Independent voters of Connecticut
Election day is next week, and we have a big decision to make. If you are happy with where we are as a country right now, and the direction that Obama and his big government policies have taken us, then by all means vote for Dick Blumenthal. He will give you more of the same, more of what you want.
But, if you are not happy with the policies of Obama, the Democrat Congress (Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid), and the effects they have had on our country and economy:
– 10+% unemployment with no end of recovery in sight
– a failed stimulus that created no real, lasting jobs for the country
– Trillion dollar national debt – owed mainly to China
– a terrible housing market and numerous foreclosures
– Obamacare and the shove down the throat of the American people approach to passing it.
– bailouts for auto companies, banks, unions
– higher taxes for all taxpayers – coming in January 2011 when the current tax rates expire
– Cap & Trade legislation that will raise our energy costs – and on and on…
Then you can not possible vote for Dick Blumenthal.
– Dick Blumenthal will be a rubber-stamp "YES" vote for Obama and his agenda.
– Obama and the first lady have come to CT to campaign for Blumenthal – Blumenthal will owe them big time to support Obama's socialist agenda.
– Blumenthal will NOT vote to repeal Obamacare
– Blumenthal WILL vote to support Cap & Trade and higher energy costs.
– Blumenthal will vote no differently then if Chris Dodd were still in office, and look where that has gotten us.
A vote for Blumenthal is not going to change the direction our country is now heading since Obama came into office.
Dick Blumenthal may be a great guy. You might think he was a good Attorney General for the past 20 years. He might have looked good on camera giving his countless press conferences and speeches. You might love his hair. You might think he is a smooth and polished lawyer. You may choose to look the other way about the fact that he lied over and over again about his service in Vietnam – when he did not serve there but said he did. You know Blumenthal may be the chosen one in the eyes of the Democrat-leaning/liberal biased CT media. But, you know what? None of this matters now. This election is not a popularity contest. This election is not a personality contest. You have to throw out all of what you know, what you have been told by the media, look at the person and ask yourself these questions about the candidates:
How will they vote once they are a U.S. Senator representing the State of Connecticut?
Do they stand for big government or smaller government?
Will they vote to stop Obama and his radical agenda, or go along with it?
The answers are clear. Blumenthal will vote to support Obama and his "big government is the answer" socialist agenda. Don't kid yourself if you think otherwise. It is not going to happen. Blumenthal owes Obama!
On October 26, 2010, Obama is quoted as saying – "My name may not be on the ballot, but our agenda for moving forward is on the ballot".
The president let the cat out of the bag. He made it crystal clear what is at stake on election day. If you do not like what the state our country, and the policies of Obama, then you CAN NOT vote for people like Dick Blumenthal who will be a "YES" vote for Obama's agenda. It is that simple!
Vote for Linda McMahon for U.S. Senator on Tuesday, November 2nd and send a message to Obama that you do not approve of his agenda for the United States of America.
The same goes for the U.S. House of Representative races in CT. Our Democrat Congressmen and Congresswoman have been lock-step "YES" votes for Obama's agenda. They helped cause the mess we are in. Send a message to Larson, DeLauro, Murphy, Courtney, and Himes as well, and vote for the Republican this time around. These so-called representatives did not listen to the majority of the people in the state when they cast their votes the past 2 years. Now they will have to pay the price for it when we cast our votes on election day.
Thank you and may God Bless America!
Please copy and paste this letter and send it to other voters who have yet to make up their minds… every vote counts!
With dick Blumenthal you know where he stands, like it or not. I have no idea what Linda stands for, other than her slick talking points. She will only represent her wwe not the peasants she has to kiss up to to get votes. When she loses on election day we will see how much she really cares about the state. She'll cry for awhile and then make money for herself and sacrifice the lives of her independent contractor employees.
@rjan … talk about slick talking points … I guess you follow the same mantra?
@ rjan: What is 'slick" about those talking points? I've listened and listened. "Jobs, jobs, jobs….". "Stop the spending, blah, blah…"
Tell us something we don't know-would ya, Linda? What are the solutions, huh Linda?
can't wait until she is gone, I am burnt.
Bysiewicz's comments, as usual, make no sense to me. Blumenthal, Malloy and most Democrats get their campaign money from Unions. Should working men wearing Union shirts be forbidden from voting? I can hear the bullhorns then.