Kansas Governor Apologizes After Staff Gets High School Student In Trouble For Tweet About The Governor

from the #heblowsalot-or-maybe-not dept

You may have recently heard the story of high school senior Emma Sullivan, who was told she had to write an apology letter to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback for a "disparaging" tweet she sent out while on a field trip to the state capitol. Apparently, while Brownback was talking to the group of students, she sent out from her mobile phone:
"Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot."
She didn't actually make any comments to the Governor, and says it was just a part of a running joke she had with some friends. However, someone on Brownback's staff found the tweet and alerted school officials, who called her into the principal's office and told her that she should write an apology letter to the Governor -- due today. Sullivan thought about it and decided that she wouldn't do it, because she didn't think she should:
"I don't think I should write the letter, and I don't think it would be the best move for me," Emma Sullivan, 18, said late Sunday night. "At this time, I do not think an apology would be a sincere thing for me to do."
In response, it appears the whole story shifted in the other direction, and the one apologizing is Governor Brownback, who has said, "My staff overreacted to this tweet, and for that I apologize." Everyone involved now seems to be playing off the whole misadventure as "a lesson in social media and free speech." The school district also said that it would not send an apology of its own, and that "The issue has resulted in many teachable moments concerning the use of social media. The district does not intend to take any further action on this matter."

In the end, it seems like everyone's right that this is something of a "teachable moment," but it's still pretty crazy that it reached that level in the first place.
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Filed Under: emma sullivan, free speech, kansas, sam brownback, social media


Reader Comments

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  1. icon
    davebarnes (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 1:55pm

    Not "someone", but

    the governor's Director of Communication, Sherriene Jones-Sontag

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    The Infamous Joe (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:04pm

    Kids these days and their fancy jargon.

    "Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot."

    I'm usually pretty caught up on the lingo, but who, or what, is "heblow salot"?














    /s

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. icon
    fogbugzd (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:04pm

    The school district letter about the "teachable moment" seemed to be aimed at the student. However, I think the ones who really got taught were the Governor's staff and the school district.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:10pm

    Why don't the schools teach children their rights?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:11pm

    It's sad that the people who should be teaching kids about the First Amendment, don't actually know anything about it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    :Lobo Santo (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:15pm

    Re: Plus Ungood

    Can't do that--then kids will later insist on standing up for and demanding their alleged "rights"... and that would just muck up the whole system.

    Better to teach them to shut up and follow instructions.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. icon
    ltlw0lf (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:21pm

    Re: Kids these days and their fancy jargon.

    but who, or what, is "heblow salot"?

    If I remember correctly, back in the days of Boy Scouting, that was the level between Cub Scout and Boy Scout ;). Too old to hang out with the kids, but too young to get a real job. Then again, Boy Scouts pretty much blew a lot too, lets not talk about it any more.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:24pm

    A senior in high school, and that's the best she can come up with?

    I fear for the future of humanity.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. icon
    Ninja (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:27pm

    Mike's Trolls

    I just had this funny image in my head of Mike as the Governor of some state asking TD trolls to apologize.

    On topic: Brave girl. Gotta find her number, I'd like to date such girl ;)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    khory (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:35pm

    What were they thinking?

    OMG! Someone said something mean to the Gov and posted about it on teh interwebz!!! We must do something!!!

    Seriously though, what did his staff expect to accomplish? Should the school shut her up? Sounds like a PR disaster. He needs to get better people in his office.

    Classic Streisand effect though. I love it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Glen, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:44pm

    A new law...

    I'm surprised someone hasn't tried to set up a new law so that Governors don't get bullied. I mean, if that governor has committed suicide, we would demand a law. THINK ABOUT THE GOVERNORS DAMMIT!!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    Overcast (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:45pm

    Here would be my 'apology letter'...

    Dear Mr. Governor,

    Learn to govern - please study this fundamental right we have.

    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

    Sincerely,
    A Taxpayer

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:49pm

    Didn't Brownback once propose making adultery a punishible criminal offense?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Donnicton, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:55pm

    Re: Kids these days and their fancy jargon.

    Heblow Salot is the famed Rabbi that founded the Salot Institute for Jewish Studies in Technology.

    Don't you know anything?





    (/s)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. icon
    Dementia (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:56pm

    Re:

    Sounds to me like she was saying "Go fuck yourself", but doing it in a very polite manner. Seems to me that maybe humanity has a chance.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:58pm

    respect

    The gov, or rather the staff he is now blaming, originally said this was all about 'respect'.

    So many people feel that respect is something they have an entitlement to. Politicians especially. The concept that respect should be earned is totally alien to them.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    PRMan, 28 Nov 2011 @ 2:59pm

    Re:

    "I apologize for pointing out to everyone that you don't understand the First Amendment."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. icon
    Chosen Reject (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:10pm

    Re: Re: Plus Ungood

    Teaching them to shut up and follow instructions is the whole point of the system. The whole system was created during the industrial revolution by the industry drivers who needed 1) compliant workers and 2) compliant buyers and embraced wholesale by a government that needed compliant tax payers. True education was never a real part of the plan.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:25pm

    Re: Re: Re: Plus Ungood

    You should see the documentary, 'waiting for superman'. Most of it is stuff you probably already know and while I don't agree with everything in the documentary (and it is overly broad), I do think it makes some good points.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. icon
    lostalaska (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:31pm

    Re:

    My school district just outright tells students that they have no rights if they want to go to public school. Students that point this out as patently wrong are labeled as trouble makers and malcontents and tend to find themselves spending more and more time in Saturday school and the principals office. Strange thing is we had an awfully high rate of "social misfits" as the administration calls them that are honor students and social activists that when told outright lies tend to stand up and say "NO you are the one who is wrong".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Avantare, 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:33pm

    Gotta love the Streisand Effect.

    I posted this on my Facebook page after I read about it on The Daily KOS Sunday morning.

    Welcome to the Streisand effect governor Brownback and the staff of Shawnee Mission East (High School). Here's the link I have and you can't make me take it down.

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/26/1039899/-Gov-Sam-Brownbacks-staff-demands-apology- from-high-school-girl-who-correctly-noted-that-he-sucks

    Ironic it's on Facebook isn't it?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. icon
    DannyB (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:35pm

    Re: Re: Kids these days and their fancy jargon.

    The rabbi hangs a sign outside his door:

    Circumcision special on Tuesday's: half off!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. icon
    vegetaman (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:46pm

    Well...

    Is it really a school's place to tell a student they need to apologize to a political figure for political statements they make on twitter?

    Hint: The answer is no.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:48pm

    Interesting...the kid makes some comment, followed by a staffer overreacting, followed by the governor apologizing. From many of the comments here, I guess the only thing that the governor could have done to make it right would have been to offer up the staffer as a sacrifice. Maybe, as an alternative, he could resign for his heinous crime.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. identicon
    brian, 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:49pm

    kansas

    This happened in kansas? surprising for such a rational, open minded state.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. icon
    oxycrimson (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:52pm

    kansas

    This happened in kansas? surprising for such a rational, open minded state.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. icon
    Dementia (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 3:52pm

    Am I the only one that caught that this student is 18 and therefore, legally speaking, an adult, not to mention a voter? Who do you think isn't getting her vote when re-election time comes around?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. icon
    bjupton (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:01pm

    Re:

    No, he should hang his head in shame that, at minimum, his 'staffer' is a dipshit who has no place in government.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. identicon
    Will Best, 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:04pm

    sigh...

    In a sane world, one or more school administrators would get fired as would the staffer that notified the school.

    Government officials who attempt censorship unrelated to national security or public safety shouldn't get "teachable moments" they should get removed from places where they can attempt censorship.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:10pm

    Re: sigh...

    But if I'm only preventing them from saying things about me, it's not censorship, I'm just claiming full copyright, patents, trademarks, trade-dress, and publicity rights about any statements made about me, or that I may think are 'kind of-possibly' about me...

    It's not like I want to stop ALL speech (unless I don't like it), so it's not really censorship...

    I'll refer to it as IPMyself and claim all rights.....

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:18pm

    Re:

    As updates to this story come out (via interviews with the local media) it turns out the little heroine wasn't quite so heroic. She admits that she didn't actually do what she claimed to have done, nor was she ordered by the district to apologize.

    So, does she deserve her 15 minutes of glory? Seems like a fair amount of questionable statements were made either by the student, or on her behalf.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. icon
    dave blevins (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:30pm

    ... it was the "staff" who did this, sure it was.

    And what about the Principal (and his "staff") who asked for the written apology ????

    Oops, as was said before, it is Kansas tho it could have been TX.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. icon
    Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 4:58pm

    Apparently in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it's considered a crime to express a negative opinion about anybody or anything.

    It's written that way in the Bill of Rights, isn't it? That free speech shall not be abridged unless somebody's feelings might possibly get hurt?

    Reminds me of this incident. Sometimes the people should check their assumptions before casting blame and threatening legal action. And frankly, the school should be better at promoting the students' rights instead of panicking any time a public figure (or his staff) starts huffing and puffing.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. icon
    hmm (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 5:03pm

    Guilty Conscience

    Girl tweets "The governor blows....."

    Governors Assistant: OMG they know about the governor giving blowjobs to underaged rentboys in the local park...DO SOMETHING......

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 5:37pm

    Re: Re:

    The principal demanded she apologize, after the wrath of the staff following ANYTHING on twitter about the Governor made its way to him.
    They threatened to send a letter to her college of choice to make her kowtow to them.

    She made a JOKING COMMENT TO ALL 65 of her followers, carrying on a running joke between them.
    The result of this was the Governors Office HUNTING HER DOWN.

    The principal works for the district, and until they reprimand him for his stupidity they are approving of the tactics used to trample on the rights of an adult citizen of the state.

    Its all about respect for them, she doesn't like an elected official, last I checked you only sent people out to terrorize those people in 3rd world dictatorships.

    Maybe if they spent less time trying to manage his image on twitter and actually running the state things would get better.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    abc gum, 28 Nov 2011 @ 5:55pm

    Re: Re:

    "turns out the little heroine wasn't quite so heroic."

    Other than yourself, who said she is a hero?


    "nor was she ordered by the district to apologize"

    Arm twisting is seldom accompanied by a notarized list of demands.


    "does she deserve her 15 minutes of glory?"

    What is your problem? She would probably prefer not to be subjected to such treatment.


    "Seems like a fair amount of questionable statements were made either by the student, or on her behalf."

    Yes, I'm sure it was all just made up and never happened.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. icon
    R.H. (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 6:19pm

    Re:

    In some (quite possibly most) states it actually is. The adultery laws just aren't normally enforced anymore.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  38. icon
    davebarnes (profile), 28 Nov 2011 @ 6:50pm

    from Sam Brownback, I would ask for

    a traditional apology.
    Seppuku
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_kiri

    link to this | view in thread ]

  39. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2011 @ 5:42am

    As a citizen of Kansas, I was dismayed when this story first started to break. I find that I am equally dismayed by the people that are so caught up in the desire to bash anyone in office that they are willing to continue the attack, regardless of what comes out in later interviews.

    Here are the facts (according to Governor Brownback, the student, and the Constitution)
  40. Yes, the governor's office was overzealous in its pursuit of this student, and in contacting the school district. (Brownback)
  41. Yes, the principal of her school did strongly suggest that she write an apology. (Student)
  42. No, she didn't really stand up to the governor and say "mean things" to him. (Student)
  43. No, she didn't "in person" tell Governor Brownback that "he sucked" (Student)
  44. No, the principal did not order her to write an apology. (Student)
  45. Yes, she has the right to express her opinion about the mayor/congressman/senator/governor/president/dogcatcher. (Constitution)

  46. However, just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean that you won't initially face some kind of negative response, from those that don't care for the manner by which you choose to exercise that right. By the same token, when someone does apologize for overreacting (whether they did it personally, or someone did it on their behalf), a civilized response would be to accept the apology and not dwell on it. That doesn't mean that you don't watch for similar misbehavior, and respond more forcefully if it happens again. But continuing to attack someone, after they have apologized, doesn't provide much incentive for them to change their behavior.

link to this | view in thread ]

  • icon
    Bob (profile), 29 Nov 2011 @ 7:08am

    Re: 39-45

    41 & 44: The principal scolded her for an hour and at the time required her to write the apology letter. Only after the superintendent stepped in was that demand reversed.

    42 & 43: She said as much. It was a joke. At the time she had 60 followers, they were her friends and peers who got the joke. She reasonably had no idea the Gov's office was looking for comments about him online.

    45: Thanks for noticing.

    His apology, if sincere, could have come on Friday afternoon when the story broke, before she had 12,000 followers on twitter. The apology after the bad publicity looks like he's sorry it blew up in their face. If he truly disagreed with the policy he could have apologized upon hearing about it.

    I have heard claims of disrespect toward the young lady. She was on a school sponsored "youth in Government" trip. If anything she is guilty of being a teenager. Tweeting instead of paying attention, and guilty of tweeting something of little value in the debate of this governor being a horrible governor, of which there are many good arguments. Disrespectful, sure. But so was vetoing the Arts commission out of existence, making Kansas the only state ineligible for federal arts funds. And doing so in the face of his own party's desire and the desire of the majority of those he supposedly governs.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  • icon
    Spaceman Spiff (profile), 29 Nov 2011 @ 9:20am

    IMHO

    Well, IMHO I think that the principal of her HS should be fired for being clueless about the US Constitution... There is absolutely NO excuse for their actions in trying to force this young lady to "apologize" to the governator.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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