Lawmaker abandons effort to censor NFLer

[trailmonkee]

Source: Hearst Seattle Media

Maryland state legislator Emmett Burns has backpedaled from his attempt to censor Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadeja, after the NFL player spoke out publicly in favor same-sex marriage.

Del. Emmett Burns set off a firestorm last week when he asked in a letter to Ravens’ owner Steve Biscotti that Biscotti “take the necessary action . . . to inhibit such expressions from your employee.”

On Monday, however, Burns was singing a different tune. “Upon reflection he has his 1st Amendment rights and I have my 1st Amendment rights,” he said. “Each one of us has the right to speak our opinions. The football player and I have a right to speak our minds.”



Read more: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/09/10/lawmaker-abandons-effort-to-censor-nfler/

[Angry Dragon]

1. Burns is a world class idiot

It takes backlash for him to realize this fact??

[Suji to Seoul]

2. Constitution is a bitch. There ought to be a law codifying what is proper speech

massive sarcasm

[petronius]

3. Unless he concluded his statement with 'I'm a complete idiot and totally unqualified

to serve in the Legislature, so I resign immediately" then I'm not impressed by his new tune either...

[Cha]

12. +1!

[SoapBox]

4. Backpedaled?

If you need to backpedal (Mittens!), you are an idiot in the first place.

I was watching this thing develop last week...stunning. BUT, the reaction was swift and clear! Yay!

[Beartracks]

5. "Upon reflection"?? Good grief.

Why are Republicans required to check their brains at the party door?



Come to think of it, Burns may now be drummed out of the GOP for stating that he's capable of reflecting at all.

===========================

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Maryland state legislator Emmett Burns is a Democrat.

This is a page for him from Maryland: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12194.html

[Beartracks]

13. Yow! I feel stupid. But...

... not as stupid as Burns.

Thank you for the correction. I am facepalming.

=================

[Behind the Aegis]

14. No, you are nowhere near the level of his stupidity!

I wouldn't even use "stupid" to describe your post, just...well...you didn't know no better. LOL! It is almost more of a sting to know he is a democrat. But, just shows stupidty knows no bounds.

[Beartracks]

15. Thanks, Aegis. There are so many "dump Republican" stories around...

... and I just presumed this was another!

While there aren't nearly as many "dumb Democrats" (in my opinion), it does sting when you hear about one.

==================

[mountain grammy]

6. Then Kluwe wrote an email and boy did this story go viral

This one was fun to watch unfold.

[trumad]

7. Word!

I posted the Kluwe letter last week here on DU and it was great.

[kestrel91316]

8. Awwwww, the poor widdle bully got his nose punched.

[allan01]

9. re:Lawmaker abandons effort to censor NFLer

this is still a free speach country the last time i checked sir.on edit : "i cant stand stupiditys sake for stupiditys sake , and fear for fears sake ." klatoo , the day the earth stood still. the classic black and white movie from the fiftys and not the horrible remake.

[ToxMarz]

11. He still doesn't get it

How can encouraging/demanding as a Govt authority that private citizens free speech should be curtailed by a consequential action of his employer be deemed as merely an example of his right to free speech too. That is what the First Amendment is specifically against.