Kos diary about the DFAers banned from Bush SS speech in ND. [View All]

[madfloridian]

You might want to do a recommend on the right side of the diary so it will stay up.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/3/123015/5898

And here is part of the article at the ND paper, as so many can not get logged in or registered. It is from Kos diarist.

The Associated Press - Thursday, February 03, 2005
"City Commissioner Linda Coates says she was shocked to learn she and her husband were among more than 40 area residents on a list of people barred from attending President Bush's speech here Thursday.

The list was supplied to workers at the two Fargo distribution sites, along with tickets and other forms citizens were asked to fill out, The Forum reported.

The list includes critics of Bush or the war in Iraq. It includes two high school students, a librarian, a deputy Democratic campaign manager and a number of university professors.

Coates said she originally was not planning to attend the president's speech, but got a last-minute ticket Wednesday night from Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness, who offered tickets to all city commissioners.

White House spokesman Jim Morrell and Don Larson, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven's office, said they knew nothing about a list of people barred from the speech.

"This is the first I'm hearing of it," Morrell said Wednesday.

Coates said she had no idea why she would be on a list, other than the fact that she has been outspoken in her political beliefs.

"I thought that was democracy," she said.

"To me, this is very revealing as to what this administration is all about - someone who doesn't want disagreement," said Coates, whose husband, Mike, is also on the list. "That's not healthy."

Also on the list was James Holm, the producer of "The Ed Schultz Show," and Berrett Gall, the former deputy campaign manager for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Satrom. Holm, a staunch Democrat, said he felt honored.

The Forum said many on the list are current or former members of the Fargo-Moorhead Democracy for America Meetup Group, a local group working for "socially progressive" candidates.

Morrell said the White House is not directly involved in the ticket distribution but works with state and local officials to coordinate the process.

"I'm not aware of any list or of anyone being denied," he said.

Larson, Hoeven's spokesman, echoed that statement.

"I don't know anything about the list," he said. "No one was denied tickets."

Posted by Cherisse at February 3, 2005 01:14 PM