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Profanity Or Politics?
By Matt Margolis | January 25, 2005
I suspect the liberal blogs will jump on this story, which was linked by Drudge, with the headline “Officer Threatens To Arrest Woman For Anti-Bush Sticker”
The article itself is pretty ambiguous:
Some people are angry when they see Shasta Bates’ derogatory bumper sticker about President George W. Bush — but she didn’t think she’d be threatened with arrest because of it.
The Denver Police Department is investigating a sergeant who allegedly threatened to arrest the 26-year-old for displaying the bumper sticker.
Bates said she was told by the sergeant Tuesday that her bumper sticker was illegal because it was profane. She said he told her he’d arrest her if she didn’t remove it.
But City Attorney Cole Finegan said he doesn’t believe there’s any city ordinance against displaying a profane bumper sticker.
The article never explained what the bumper sticker said. I looked into it and found another story that did—and gave more insight into the story:
About 11 a.m., Shasta Bates, 26, was standing in the shopping center store in the 800 block of South Monaco Parkway when a man walked in and started arguing with her about a bumper sticker on the back of her truck that had “F— Bush” in white letters on a black background.
“He was saying it was very sick and wrong and you shouldn’t be doing that,” Bates said. “He was very offended by it. I said, ‘You didn’t have to take it so personally.’ ”
The two argued for a few minutes, and then the man walked out of the store and stood behind Bates’ truck. A few minutes later, the man flagged down police Sgt. Michael Karasek, who was patrolling the area.
It is also worth noting that the chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Ted Halaby, said that while he feels the bumper stickers message is distasteful, he “also realizes that it’s probably protected under the First Amendment.”
“There are all sorts of derogatory bumper stickers that seem to be covered under the First Amendment,” he said, “whether or not you find them personally distasteful.”
The liberal bloggers will jump to the conclusion that this was political. The bumper sticker in question wasn’t merely an anti-Bush bumper that read “Anybody But Bush” or “ReDefeat Bush” but included language that would get a radio talk show host fired for using on the air, that is considered inappropriate for network television. The bottom line is the bumper sticker did include profanity, and had actually offended people. I’m not saying the officer was right, I just believe the issue here is not the crushing of dissent, but really is about appropriate forms of dissent.
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January 25th, 2005 at 11:20 pm
As a liberal, I agree with you the bumper sticker is in bad taste and I would like to see it removed.
January 26th, 2005 at 12:11 am
Fuck Bush. There. I said it.
Is it any different in execution or meaning from the way “fuck” was used by the VPOTUS on the Senate floor?
I see his speech is protected, why not hers?
January 26th, 2005 at 1:09 am
My prediction: this will *not* be demagogued as much coverage as the guy who was arrested for praying. (in the middle of an intersection)
January 26th, 2005 at 7:52 am
You raise a very good point: Why do Liberals always get tasked with defending free-speech rights? When are Right-wingers going to step up and defend the Constitution? Liberals can’t be the only ones who think the first ammendment is fundemental to a free society. Can they?
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January 26th, 2005 at 7:54 am
It is protected under the first, I can’t remember what the exact cite is, however, a man walked into a court house in california with a jacket that read, “Fuck the Draft!” on the back. Was arrested, tried, and deemed to have violated due process and the 1st I believe.
But it’s been a few years, but I do know that it’s protected speech.
January 26th, 2005 at 7:56 am
JRI,
In all honesty, I have to say that the liberals also reject free speech when it is something they disagree with, at which point, unless it’s something truly distasteful to both sides, the conservatives will support as free speech.
It’s just that conservatives tend to find more things distasteful then the liberals at large.
January 26th, 2005 at 12:15 pm
Obviously this is protected speech and the officer should have known it. The issue isn’t even obsenity, but double standards. If the lady had a sticker that said Fuck Kerry they would have laughed about it. I agree that the sticker is in bad taste but this type of legal thugery is what makes people put them on their car in the first place. There was also a story a few days ago about a Dr. who had her insurance cancled because she organized a Dean MeetUp.
January 26th, 2005 at 12:20 pm
In all honesty, I have to say that the liberals also reject free speech when it is something they disagree with
Scott — January 26, 2005 @ 7:56 am
Not this one, Scott. Some conservatives are very active in free speech. Often it has something to do with what is euphemistically called Southern Heritage.
January 26th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
This is a great example of what PC gets ya. I know a lot of people on the right like to blame liberals for being too PC and all, but aren’t the people objecting to this bumper sticker getting too PC? It’s just a word people. It’s the attitude that offends. So let’s leave the words alone. Besides, if they want to claim it offends them in a religious sense, why is FUCK a problem for them? That word came waaay after the Bible. As far as the attitudes go, people should be able to think and feel the way they want. The person getting offended really is the issue bearer. By taking on that energy that the other person is intending, all the offended is doing is giving up their power to the person that’s trying to upset them. Why would you so easily give up your power? It’s much more powerful to laugh at it all. Although, it’s very difficult to always put that into practice. Reflex often takes a little more processing to stop.
January 26th, 2005 at 5:20 pm
Are you saying, we have to have our protest messages approved by the republican party before we can protest mr. bush?
January 26th, 2005 at 6:11 pm
I just believe the issue here is not the crushing of dissent, but really is about appropriate forms of dissent.
And who better to decide what’s “appropriate” than a uniformed policeman? We can all celebrate free speech but, really, being patriotic means not offending the President. Or his supporters. Perhaps the government could lay out for us what appropriate dissent is? Maybe a set of federally-sanctioned guidelines so we don’t get accused of terrorism or something. We could call it the Department of Truth, or the Ministry of Information. Something like that.
January 26th, 2005 at 6:13 pm
So, what about OU banning “Support Our Troops” yellow ribbons? Is that how liberals support free speech?
January 26th, 2005 at 6:19 pm
The OU thing is a little different. It’s their vehicle as far as I’m concerned and only they can decide if it’s right to have it on their. I don’t think they should have made them take it off though. I don’t think “Support our troops” should be considered some sort of partisan issue. I don’t know anyone (most everyone I know is Dem, lib, prog, ind) who doesn’t support the troops. The majority of them just hate the war. What war brings. It’s a terrible thing and I think we all (right and left) realise that and it’s why we support these people that are in a very difficult situation. Although, this is a bit of generalisation, since some of our troops are off their lid and just murderous. I think it’s a small number of them, but just wanted to qualify the generalisation.
January 26th, 2005 at 6:21 pm
And why do you automatically assume the people that made the decision are liberal in a left/dem political way? Or are you assuming and insinuating that? It reads that way to me.
January 26th, 2005 at 7:23 pm
Losing Faith - They are liberal at the University of Oregon. And, the fact is that many liberals see support for the troops as a conservative thing. I rarely see liberal groups organizing troop supporting things like sending them food and sundries, or hard to get sniper accesories, or anything. Hell - the liberals in Congress vote against giving them food and bullets.
January 27th, 2005 at 1:24 am
I actually used to go to school with Denver police Sgt. Michael Karasek’s daughter and I totally disagree with what he did to Shasta. That is none of their flippin business what they put on THEIR car that THEY pay for, just as long its not on their car. FUCK BUSH!!
January 27th, 2005 at 12:45 pm
Kahn - so you know the entire administration at UO do ya? That’s quite a knack for blanket statements and assumptions you have there. I’m sure they’ll take you far. I’m glad to see you can understand every liberal in Congress to the point you know exactly why they vote against things too. Good for you, don’t bother looking deeper than a puddle of water.
January 27th, 2005 at 3:14 pm
Sure Losing, whatever you say. You don’t think a generalization like UO or Harvard, or Yale are liberal. OK. And Texas A&M and the Citadel are not conservative. OK. By the way, as you are a loser, the arrogance is inappropriate.
January 27th, 2005 at 3:17 pm
Oh and Britt - FUCK YOU. Can I get a sticker saying you are a scum sucking fuckwad? I’d only put it on MY car of course. I’m sure the second grade kids who read it will understand that it is protected speach. So long as they don’t join the Scouts and find out its OK to have morals we should be all set.
L-O-S-E-R-S spells Democrats
January 27th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
I only hope that you idiots that are all about supporting this stupid bitch, someday pull up behind her with your ten year old and have to explain her rights (stupidity). I will not feel sorry for her when some drunk pulls her out of her truck and smacks her around. It’s not just Lib or Conservative, it’s morality….
January 27th, 2005 at 10:43 pm
Lars - they don’t “get” morality.
January 28th, 2005 at 3:03 pm
Wow, that’s some good ol’ close minded and childish commentary. Good for you. You showed us!
January 28th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
Losing - by the way, great name. I’m not trying to show you anything. I think liberal are idiots. I’m just trying to keep you out of government.
I grew up in Western Mass. - hotbed of idiot liberalism. I have never seen any solutions offered by your side. All you do is snipe, and whine. You all must really hate the USA. Ted Kennedy is a great example - you sound just like him. I gave up trying to debate you wackos long ago. I’ve resigned myself to contempt for you and for your kind.
So - you made a statement that I was wrong to assume that the U of O was liberal? OK again whatever you say wacko.
Write to president Kerry about it.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA -
January 28th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
President Kerry HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
January 29th, 2005 at 12:39 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
February 3rd, 2005 at 12:48 am
Well, this little bitch lucked out. An even BIGGER idiot, Ward Churchill, is all the rave here in Denver now. He seems to think that all the people in the 9-11 attacks deserved what they got, and then hides behind the first amendment. Not on MY fucking tax dollars he don’t! Like the Governor says, “If this cook wants to run around the state capitol with all the other cooks and they’re signs, thats they’re right. But he needs to be fired from the University of Colorado and not spewing this garbage while he’s on our payroll as a teacher!” And you think OU is left!
Hey Shasta, you’d better call this ass up and thank him. ( They’re probably related)
February 5th, 2005 at 6:33 am
Why is it that a person such as this woman-child (Shasta Bates) hates President Bush so much? I really don’t understand the hate, or people like her. It is a shame that she displays such a vulgar attitude. I’m just a person who has a few thoughts about people like her….
She probably blames America for all the world’s ills, even when America has proven time and again how thoughtful and gracious we show to every part of the globe. She probably believes that preventing the murder of thousands of people is bad. She probably believes that the United States donation of billions of dollars each year to countless countries around the world is bad. She probably believes that our hope for freedom and economic stability for countless millions of people is bad. She probably believes that doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of terrorism is bad. She probably believes that law is a major imposition. She probably believes that America should be more like the third world nations around the globe, where there are a lack of jobs, little medicine, sparse clean drinkable water, little education, no law, domestic violence against women, daily murder of innocent people, lack of respect of women…. and the like.
She probably thinks that the military is one major problem to increasing the level of hate of the American people around the world, even when the military people are first to put their lives on the line. She probably thinks that those who commit acts of violence and terror (Hamas, OBL, etc) are completely justified by their actions…because they are expressing their “freedom of speech”, and their disdain to the “rule of law”. She probably would side with anyone against the American people, our values, our hopes, and our dreams. She probably doesn’t mind those who commit terrorist crimes against the innocent, because there are no real “innocent” victims…they got what they deserve (ala Professor Ward Churchill). She probably believes that Americans are too rich, and should donate their money to various groups that “promote” their agendas of “fairness” to poor countries (income distribution). She probably believes in abortion on demand, and that a baby in the womb is only a “thing” or “inconvenience”… not a living being. She probably agrees that partial birth abortion (sucking the brain out) is an acceptable procedure. She probably believe that women should be paid the same as a man, even if a woman is not qualified or capable to do the same job as a man. She probably is very liberal in her political leanings. She probably thinks people should be able to urinate and defecate in public, no matter where. She probably hates women who believe that a housewife and mother are valued career and life styles. She probably believes in blaming the police for arresting suspects of crimes (police abuse), and blames them for not being responsive enough when people are victized by crime (too slow to react). She probably blames her parents, authorities, government, teachers, men, and such for her shortcomings in life…everyone except herself. She probably is a member of NOW, PETA, and other similar left-wing organizations. She probably thinks that all religions, except Islam, are bad. She probably believes in legalizing all (illegal) drugs. She probably complains how bad America is, but is unwilling to do something constructive for the poor and destitute in our society…or even offer to go to other countries to help out.
Well, I guess I said my piece.
Personally, she has the right to express her views no matter how childish or incoherent they are. She seems to be nothing but a spoiled little child…a real whiner. She needs a reality check.
February 5th, 2005 at 7:03 am
Unfortunately, the reason for all this crap is the political correctness running rampant in our society. The ACLU (most dangerous organization)and other like organizations, as well as the left-leaning activist judges, deem it perfectly fine for people to express such vile hatred for others. The police have been beaten down so often by the ACLU and anti-police judges, as well as receiving bad press by the liberal news media, they have bent over backwards to punish their own before doing any other action, such as training. Personally, the police hierachy in Colorado (not police officers doing their jobs) are weak and pathetic. The police heiracrchy place too many road blocks on their police officers doing their best to “serve and protect”. Are there a few rotten eggs in the police? Of course there are, but the vast majority are honest and harworking, and uphold the law equally across the board.
So here we have this piece of crap person…I say FUCK Shasta Bates. Shasta Bates masterbates.