College Democrats respond to Editorial Board claims
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As President of the MSU College Democrats, I would like to take a moment to clarify our organization’s opinion regarding Glenn Beck and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce annual dinner he attended Tuesday.
We are dedicated to the preservation and protection of free speech for all persons. Free speech, however, is acknowledged to have limitations. When speech is untruthful, it is called slander. When speech is hateful, it is called incendiary.
We firmly uphold that Beck has crossed the threshold of mere free speech by engaging in openly hateful remarks that seek to specifically twist the truth regarding various issues, among them health insurance reform.
Our rally yesterday sought to playfully show that health insurance reform will benefit those who need it most, and individuals who oppose health care are those who are not in need of it. We also would like to bring serious attention to the unfair distortions created by Beck, whether they were caused willfully or not.
We sincerely disagree with The State News editorial board in stating that Beck is not as extreme as other speakers brought to campus. Additionally, the threshold for insanity ought not to be measured by the speakers previously brought by MSU Young Americans for Freedom, as stated by the editorial board.
We welcome Beck to address our questions and concerns in a civilized manner and would happily oblige to discuss our concerns regarding his rhetoric, so long as he too acknowledges that MSU College Democrats seek only to inspire a more just and prosperous society.
Mitchell Rivard
social relations and policy junior and president of MSU College Democrats

Commentary
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Brittanicus
(09/15/09 8:04pm)Report
The bombardment of American voters at the doors of Congress must be heard, to make E-Verify a permanent illegal immigrant enforcement tool? It’s incredulous that we are winning small wars against our lawmakers beneficiaries—the special interest lobby. LEGISLATORS ARE FINALLY HEARING OUR ANGRY VOICES. Rep. Joe Wilson C-SC opened the eyes of millions of Americans, who are been left unaware of the cloaked—AMNESTY—committees that is going to rip the fabric of every voters life apart. There’s also language in the senate bill that states that if one family member is an American citizen (anchor baby) then the entire household will be eligible for coverage. Any detail in the national media has been subdues or intentionally omitted, as with the crowds of Tea Party opponents. Sen. Harry Reid could be stretching his neck out for the headsman in his re-election campaign, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They both have used their political influence in trying to overturn E-Verify. Pro-Illegal alien lawmakers could table it, under the “Sunset Provision” on September 30?
President Obama’s direction towards an unmentionable path to citizenship for all those who broke our law is abhorrent. After the controversial eruption in the Session of Congress, they surely must be aware that imposing immigration reform on the people could break them? Americans taxpayers are already supporting business welfare? Corporate entities want these destitute people here to exploit, but don’t want to pay for their health care, schooling or towards the massive numbers surviving in prison. They leave that to the fading middle class taxpayers who carry the tax burden? Over a decade has passed since illegal people started coming here in droves and with little or no laws, to blockade their arrival we are now talking over 20 million. Nor does it stop there? Owing to the clarion call of Amnesty ringing out in the slums and ghetto’s of foreign criminals, sick, elderly and those without means, from all over the world will descend on us. IT MEANS OVERPOPULATION?
Bad as it may be now, who is going to subsidize the new arrivals? Not the business cartels that’s for sure? Once again taxpayers will be heavily taxed to pay for the new shipment of poor, uneducated from every region. How can we expect to have any government public option for our own people, when our gates remain wide open for “Anchor Babies” and the illegal millions expecting a free handout? A nurse in a Nevada hospital indicated they have a row of beds of illegal immigrants on dialysis, which was costing weekly $18.000 dollars for each treatment. Tell me who pays for that? The US government pays a small portion; the rest is acquired from the hospital or taxpayer.
I want a single payer system for homeless veterans, seniors, single mothers with children and poor American families. But I refuse to pay for everybody who climbs, crawls under the fence or bluffs the Federal officer at shipping ports and airports of entry. It’s not our responsibility. DON’T WAIT! PESTER YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AT 202-224-3121? Find true facts by GOOGLING NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & IMMIGRATION COUNTERS
student
(09/15/09 8:53pm)Report
No.
Free speech doesn’t have limits in the general population. “Slander” and “incendiary” are mere adjectives you, Mithcell Rivard, used to describe when “speech is untruthful” or when the “speech is hateful.”
Now, don’t get mad at me. I am as unbiased as one can be and I heavily support free speech for any group without disruption. By letting others talk is that we learn what others have to say and we also learn about ourselves.
But this stupidity that happens every time that a celebrity or high profile individual steps on campus is just unacceptable. By stupidity I mean all the fights and disruptions in activities of other groups, especially political.
There are many ways to express yourself besides throwing tomatoes or interrupting a person talking. In fact, it is more stupid when 99% of the student body is not present when this happens. The StateNews is always available to express your opinions without acting violently against others because of their ideas.
Finally, who really believes that Beck is an extremist? He is just a celebrity with very conservative ideas and it just happens that he has a TV show to display them. We don’t even know if that’s his real attitude in life. Maybe that is only his personality when he is front of the cameras or, as in this case, when someone pays him to talk.
There are many and more important ways to spend your time in life than by being this way. I bet that if MSU’s student political organizations made a balance between political activism and community service the community would be better off than we are now.
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
(09/16/09 11:21am)Report
I agree. This protest was a waste of energy over a stupid stupid man.
Why not focus your efforts on raising the level of discourse?
Townsend
(09/16/09 11:40am)Report
“Finally, who really believes that Beck is an extremist? He is just a celebrity with very conservative ideas and it just happens that he has a TV show to display them. We don’t even know if that’s his real attitude in life. Maybe that is only his personality when he is front of the cameras or, as in this case, when someone pays him to talk..”
I disagree, student. Beck’s an extremist. Anyone who says Obama hates white people/the white race, is an extemist in my book.
Truth
(09/16/09 1:11pm)Report
“Why not focus your efforts on raising the level of discourse?”
We could all write comments and comments but i think that truly sums it up. Don’t stoop, stand.
tedman
(09/16/09 3:24pm)Report
playfully show
Really? Everybody is right and everybody is wrong. Both parties suck balls.
PH
(09/16/09 3:30pm)Report
Not to worry, everyone. For every Glenn Beck that speaks on college campuses there are about 10 for the “other side”. No comparison here, and even the State News acknowledged that. Let’s also recall how Tom Tancredo and the border volunteer were shouted down and protested violently with slashed tires and thrown bottles. Angela Davis spoke at a graduation and for Pete’s sake Robert Mugabe received an honorary doctorate from MSU. Can you imagine MSU having given Pinochet an honorary PhD? So, while Beck is an oddball, he should be allowed to speak. He doesn’t advocate open violence (Davis, Mugabe, Ayers). You want to raise the level of discourse? Don’t call everyone who disagrees with you a racist, and don’t threaten or start violence. For anyone who has not read Obama’s autobiography, it is obsessed with race: he may or may not be a “racist” but he is undeniably obsessed by it.
MSU Parent
(09/23/09 9:45pm)Report
What is MSU teaching today’s youth? Mitchell Rivard has lost it….I am amazed that a group of young professionals that don’t work, haven’t raised a family or purchased a home, don’t pay taxes and have participated in maybe 1- “ONE” election have such distain against “Free Speech”. Mr. Rivard go back to class. Clearly you are not worthy of any title and the Democratic Party should be ashamed of your antics.