Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz says her office never tried to prohibit voters from wearing WWE apparel within 75 feet of a polling place.
Vince McMahon, head of the WWE and husband of Connecticut Republican Senate nominee Linda McMahon, filed a lawsuit earlier this week amid reports that the state would encourage election officials to cover up the wrestling federation’s logo if worn at polling places.
Last week, a spokesman for the secretary of state indicated that campaign workers may “cover up a hat, a shirt” bearing the WWE logo because the federation is so closely identified with McMahon.
Reports of the possibility that those sporting a WWE logo may have an issue at polling places set off the WWE and McMahon’s campaign, which charged that such a move would be “overtly partisan.”
But in a memo issued Tuesday, Bysiewicz clarified that state law would not prevent voters from wearing WWE apparel at the polls.
“This office has never issued a blanket prohibition or declaration prohibiting any particular type of apparel,” she wrote. “The only clothing, items or apparel prohibited by Section 9-236(a) are those that 'solicit' for or against a candidate or ballot question.”
Bysiewicz's statement didn't stop a federal judge from weighing in today in favor of Vince McMahon's suit. U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton ordered the secretary of state's office not to interfere with voters who show at the polls wearing WWE-related clothing. ----------------------------------------------------------
What are the odds of WWE Superstars coming out in full force at the polls next week? I just went to WWE's site and found that Smackdown tapes in Bridgeport, Connecticut next Tuesday. Just imagine going to vote and being greeted by Santino. Would that sway your vote? Or, for you Conn. W's, say Aksana or Kaitlyn? Imagine going into the voting booth yelling: "Make The Rain Fall~!"
Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz says her office never tried to prohibit voters from wearing WWE apparel within 75 feet of a polling place.
Vince McMahon, head of the WWE and husband of Connecticut Republican Senate nominee Linda McMahon, filed a lawsuit earlier this week amid reports that the state would encourage election officials to cover up the wrestling federation’s logo if worn at polling places.
Last week, a spokesman for the secretary of state indicated that campaign workers may “cover up a hat, a shirt” bearing the WWE logo because the federation is so closely identified with McMahon.
Reports of the possibility that those sporting a WWE logo may have an issue at polling places set off the WWE and McMahon’s campaign, which charged that such a move would be “overtly partisan.”
But in a memo issued Tuesday, Bysiewicz clarified that state law would not prevent voters from wearing WWE apparel at the polls.
“This office has never issued a blanket prohibition or declaration prohibiting any particular type of apparel,” she wrote. “The only clothing, items or apparel prohibited by Section 9-236(a) are those that 'solicit' for or against a candidate or ballot question.”
Bysiewicz's statement didn't stop a federal judge from weighing in today in favor of Vince McMahon's suit. U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton ordered the secretary of state's office not to interfere with voters who show at the polls wearing WWE-related clothing. ----------------------------------------------------------
What are the odds of WWE Superstars coming out in full force at the polls next week? I just went to WWE's site and found that Smackdown tapes in Bridgeport, Connecticut next Tuesday. Just imagine going to vote and being greeted by Santino. Would that sway your vote? Or, for you Conn. W's, say Aksana or Kaitlyn? Imagine going into the voting booth yelling: "Make The Rain Fall~!"
Originally posted by some asshole“On behalf of myself, my company, WWE fans and any Connecticut citizen who wants to exercise their constitutional right to vote, I have filed a lawsuit today asserting that Susan Bysiewicz’s directive that allows poll workers to refuse registered voters wearing WWE merchandise the right to vote is a flagrant act of censorship and discrimination,” McMahon said in a statement.
The Blumenthal campaign agreed with McMahon.
Mindy Myers, Blumenthal’s campaign manager, issued a statement saying, “We don’t consider WWE clothing to be political or covered by any law that restricts political action close to polling places. People should be able to wear their WWE clothes to vote.”
The part I didn't quote mentions that attorney general (and McMahon's opponent) Richard Blumenthal immediately recused himself. The suit's going to get dropped, I'd assume, and you're free to waltz in wearing whatever you want. The worst you could do is be asked to turn it inside out or cover it up, the same as anything with candidate's name, face or logo on it.
And gee, imagine the timing of the taping... she's still not gonna win, of course, but no one can say they didn't try.
You wanted the best, you got... the Out of Context Quote of the Week.
Thread rated: 6.46
#
