Court Rules Against Tea Party Garb, Buttons at the Polls

[deminks]

http://washingtonindependent.com/102213/court-rules-against-tea-party-garb-buttons-at-the-polls

First the scuffle over WWE outfits, now this: A court in Minnesota has ruled against a collection of conservative groups, including Minnesota Majority, in their request for a temporary restraining order against the elections managers in several local counties who have sought to prevent them from wearing Tea Party paraphernalia and “Please I.D. Me” buttons at or around polling places in the state. The court issued its decision this afternoon after a rushed hearing this morning:

Plaintiffs’ as-applied challenge rests on the prohibition of wearing Tea Party paraphernalia and the “Please I.D. Me” buttons at or about the polling place. Plaintiffs argue that the prohibition is not viewpoint neutral because their organizations are being singled out by state authorities. Such a finding would require evidence that they are being targeted in ways that others are not. The record is, however, devoid of such evidence beyond mere speculation on this point. Moreover, prohibiting the buttons and apparel is reasonably related to the state’s legitimate interests. The record suggests that the buttons are designed to affect the actual voting process at the polls by intimating that voters are required to show identification before voting.

This intimation could confuse voters and election officials and cause voters to refrain from voting because of increased delays or the misapprehension that identification is required. The buttons are also associated with a political movement to require voters to produce identification. The Tea Party apparel communicates support for the Tea Party movement which is associated with certain candidates and political views. As such, prohibiting the buttons and apparel is reasonably related to the legitimate state interest of “maintain peace, order, and decorum” at the polls. Plaintiffs have therefore failed to show that prohibiting the display of the buttons or apparel is likely to be found a First Amendment violation.

(end snip)

[louis-t]

1. See, but, rules don't apply to baggers.

Laws don't apply, ethics don't apply, morals don't apply. Republicans are SPECIAL and are better than everyone else. They will scream about their first amendment rights (unless Dems are involved in which case it's a commie plot)and their right to violate laws at will. They will holler about the Constitution (except for the parts they don't like and want to change). Sick bunch.

[pacalo]

2. Would there have been any other verdict?! Didn't those baggers have a lawyer?

I hope they wasted a lot of their money on their idiotic lawsuit.

Delusion can make one feel special.

[Kennah]

3. Please, please, please

Someone tell me the shirts are NOT brown.

[Pathwalker]

4. Excuse me, but I am required to show my ID, including driver's lisence.

This has happened to me at every election since 2000. I live in a very conservative area - is this unusual?

[myrna minx]

6. We don't check IDs in Minnesota.

You have to divulge your name and address and sign an oath, under penalty of perjury, that you're you. Your eligibility is checked when you register.

[tigereye]

5. what irks me is the supposition that these folks understand the framers,

founding fathers, etc, and their ideas, better than anyone else (particularly Democrats) could have. It's exasperating and arrogant. :grr: