From the
Democracy for America website today:
It starts with a list...
"President Bush will be speaking at the Bison Sports Arena in North Dakota today to stump for his Social Security reforms; however, 42 Fargo-area residents won't be attending--even if they wanted to. Fargo City Commissioner Linda Coates and 41 others have been blacklisted from the event seemingly because of their ties to a Democracy for America Meetup group."
Continue Reading...
I've seen so many accounts of people being kept out of Bush events, being asked to sign loyalty oaths to attend Bush events, and members of the media being escorted by minders at Bush events.
What's wrong with this picture?
Update from
Blog for America:
"Right after the story broke, DFA supporters from across the country mobilized to contact local, national and online media to demand accountability for the creation of this list. Thanks to your help calling news outlets and exposing this story, the White House was shamed into abandoning its plans to keep anyone critical of the president from attending the speech. Commissioner Coates told Democracy for America staff today that she was hurried into the event with an apology and the blacklist was explained away as the work of an overzealous staffer."
The Forum (Subscription) Some in Fargo find they're not wanted at president's speech
Bismarck Tribune Some in Fargo find they're not wanted at president's speech
The Forum (Subscription) Coates on do-not-admit list
The Forum (Subscription) 33 on list connected to F-M democracy group
WCCO Fargo Commissioner On 'No-Ticket' List
KXMA Fargo commissioner outraged that list bars her from Bush speech
PRNewswire Statement from Democracy Radio C.E.O. Tom Athans on the Bush Blacklist for Fargo
Friday Update:
The Forum (Subscription) Local volunteer root of do-not-admit buzz
The Washington Post (Subscription) Some Barred From Bush's North Dakota Speech today.
Grand Forks Herald Busted black lists, true believers, and a snowball fight today.
The Forum (Subscription) Letter: Incensed over publishing of 'list'
Saturday Update:
The Forum (Subscription) Mystery list may trace to team
Excerpt:
"The whodunit mystery surrounding the do-not-admit list for President Bush's Fargo visit still hasn't been solved, but clues uncovered Friday indicate a worker with the White House advance team may have been the culprit."
"This comes just one day after spokesmen for the White House and North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said the list was the result of "an overzealous volunteer." "
"The list contained the names of 42 people who were not supposed to be given tickets to Bush's speech Thursday. Thirty-three of them belong to the local progressive group Democracy for America."
"The White House advance team was comprised of several people -- some state and local volunteers; others White House staff people -- who came to Fargo ahead of time to prepare for the event."