WICHITA — A Kansas teenager who got into hot water last week over a disparaging tweet about Gov. Sam Brownback said she has received so much support from around the country that now she’s leaning toward rejecting her high school principal’s demand that she apologize to the governor in writing.
Since word of her tweet and the reaction by Brownback’s office and her school was reported in the media, people from across the U.S. have reached out to Emma Sullivan — mostly to encourage her to stand her ground, The Wichita Eagle reported.
“I knew it would cause some uproar, but I definitely didn’t think it would get to a national level or that I would have so many people tweeting at me,” she told the newspaper Friday.
Before the incident, Sullivan had 61 followers, but by Friday she had more than 1,400.
The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Kansas Youth in Government program in Topeka when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback’s greeting. “Just made mean comments at Gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot.”
She actually made no such comment and described the tweet as “joking around.”
Brownback’s office, which monitors social media for postings containing the governor’s name, saw Sullivan’s post and contacted the Youth in Government program. Soon, she was in the principal’s office for an hourlong scolding and a demand she send Brownback an apology letter.
The principal, who later called the situation a “disciplinary issue” that was not a public matter, even suggested talking points for the letter she was supposed to write.
Many have urged the 18-year-old to not write the letter, suggesting instead that Brownback or his representatives need to apologize to Sullivan for reporting her to school officials.
“I’m really glad most people have been supportive of me, regardless of their political views,” she said. “They’re standing up for the fact that it’s my ... right to express myself.”
Brownback’s office did not return calls or emails from the newspaper on Friday. A message that The Associated Press left at the after-hours number for the governor’s communications office Saturday was not immediately returned.
Some said the incident has become an example of Internet monitoring gone bad.
“People talking about you on social media is inevitable, and the young woman has an absolute right to do that,” said David Kamerer, who teaches public relations and new media at Loyola University in Chicago. “And Brownback has an absolute right to monitor what people are saying about him.
“But I would say it was a mistake to call her out, and that it would be long forgotten had he not done that.”
John Stanford, a Democratic strategist and political consultant in Austin, Texas, questioned the governor’s use of staff time and state resources to report the teen’s tweet.
“It’s a misuse of government property and time to intimidate an 18-year-old girl,” he said.
Sullivan, who plans to study psychology next year at the University of Arkansas, said Friday she is “leaning toward” not writing the apology letter that’s due to the principal by Monday.
“The part I’m most nervous about is going back to school and facing him,” she said. “After learning more and kind of talking to people about it and seeing how much support I have, that definitely helps.”
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
Wish I could have an apology in writing for every time someone told me I sucked. .
Yeah she may have broke some schools rules and I believe a punishment would be appropriate if that is the case. As far as apologizing, that's her own freaking right to decide if she wants to.
I am glad that Brownback having done this has brought internet monitoring into the lime-light.
November 28, 2011 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
This is eerily familiar of the Flnyt vs Falwell fiasco, I really hope this young lady does not apologize, she is guilty of nothing but bad taste.
My Dad put it best:
Topeka, where beating your spouse takes a back seat to criticizing the Governor.
This state needs an enema.
November 28, 2011 at 2:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Wow,thought police , who would of thought its a crime to have an opinion.....
November 28, 2011 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Well, the gov. issued an apology for overreacting to the tweet.
So it's over now.
http://cjonline.com/news/2011-11-28/b...
November 28, 2011 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
This particular incident may be over, Steve, but the Gov is still a religious kook.
November 28, 2011 at 9:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubbadleroy (anonymous) says...
"religious kook" OH MY GOD, apologize immediately lol,
Cold day in Hell when I would apologize to a politician..n You go girl.
Truth be known he probably did not even know about the blurp. More likely his staff thought it would be cool to make some high school girl apologize.
November 28, 2011 at 11:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
This is hardly over. Apologize for using free speech in a democracy to discuss a politician?
Now that Brownback's office has issued an apology for over-reacting, the next one who should apologize is her school principal for over reacting and insisting she apologize for exercising her right to free speech.
And what a bunch of dandies must be in Brownback's office to pick on a high school kid. Way to go, guys, way to prove your worth for being able to harvest the low hanging fruit.
Love goodoleboy's dad's comment about Topeka, where beating your spouse takes a back seat to criticizing the governor.
No, this isn't over. This is an affront to free speech everywhere, not just Kansas. It's just unfortunate that once again, Kansas has been painted with the stupid brush.
November 29, 2011 at 6:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chalkrocks (anonymous) says...
She should only apologize if she is truly sorry for what she did....not because her principal instructs her to. She has a right to her opinion and if she thinks the Govenor "sucks" then she has the right to say so. It may be distasteful and she could maybe criticize the Govenor in a more constructive way though. Brownback took it a little too far in seeking her out to make an example of.
November 29, 2011 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigRed (anonymous) says...
I don't have a problem with her expressing her views of the governor, but she lied about what she did. She should apologize for lying.
November 29, 2011 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
"The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Kansas Youth in Government program in Topeka when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback’s greeting."
Her use of her phone during this program while the Governor was speaking is what I consider rude behavior, whether she was talking or texting. A school function such as this should prohibit the use of phones, and be enforced by all school sponsors present. Does the school allow texting during classes?
How well would this behavior reflect on the school if all students there were texting, as she was? Why would it be okay for her to do this just because she was in the back of the crowd?
This was not just a casual gathering at some informal tour. It was a program geared specifically for youth.
The rudeness level is, and has been, so rapidly increasing with the use of cell phones. I'm not against cell phones. I use mine a lot, but don't use it when listening to a speaker. I focus my attention to him/her.
Yeah, I do some things the old fashion way. But, do you like to speak to someone who is focused on using their phone instead of paying attention to you?
I hope her principal read her the riot act for being so rude to use her phone during the program. The issues of free speech, apology, etc are not the point of my post.
November 29, 2011 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
BigRed,
What's wrong with lying? Christians like Ole Sammy Brownback have been doing it to their kids for centuries! Watch the movie called "The Invention of Lying". That'll put it all in perspective for you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find a quiet place to think about the man in the sky and the mansion I'll get when I die.
b3bill,
Sounds like an issue the school should sort out with the kid. What does that have to do with the Gov'nuh? In other words, the Gov's peeps shouldn't have contacted the school and the principal shouldn't have asked the kid to write an apology. Using a phone during a speech might be rude, but I don't think it's something our elected (not by me) officials should be concerned about.
To answer your question, I would rather not speak to people at all, regardless to if they're on their phone or not. I'll just email them all a link to a video of me giving the speech and they can watch it on their own time. (maybe during a speech by you) Often times, "old fashioned" does not equal "efficient".
Also, she was tweeting or twittering, not texting. Duh! (^_^)
Kindest regards,
Money
November 29, 2011 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
Malique, I am by no means a "religious kook" but I most definitely believe in God. And I wasn't lied to by my parents to believe in him. I have been moved by the power of God that I have witnessed with my own 2 eyes! Honestly I would rather be a "religious kook" than an "atheist kook" that believes we are on the same level as ants. I feel sorry for you.
November 29, 2011 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigRed (anonymous) says...
"What's wrong with lying?" Let me share a piece of information I received my first day of law school. The only thing any of us really owns is our reputation.
That young woman is a liar and will forever be remembered that way. She should use her 15 minutes of fame to stand by her political beliefs, but apologize for misleading people to believe she confronted the governor.
I don't lie and don't tolerate being lied to. If you accept lying as a natural part of life then I think that says more about you than it does about me.
November 29, 2011 at 3:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Got to hand it to you Malique. You sure know how to stir them up.
I am assuming, (probably in error), that you don't believe in Christmas either? or do you just celebrate the bearded fat man that comes down the chimney?
Merry Christmas ! (or should it be)
Merry Xmas !
November 29, 2011 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rabid_Randy (anonymous) says...
Santa Claus is made up, but he isn't believed in. Nobody as an adult actually believes that Santa Claus exists because he is never MEANT to be believed. Nobody actually tells the Santa Claus story and expects people to believe it as 100% true, it is just a story.
But religions (not just Jesus) take on myth, and myth takes on power. And that power can persuade people to believe it.
Mormonism is a great example. I am guessing that most of us can recognize that some dude in the U.S. didn't translate a magic golden tablet with his magic glasses and discover that there was a widespread and advanced society in the new world that we have absolutely no traces of.
So why did people start believing him? Why did people believe the people that believed in him? How did it spread so fast? Because people actually believed that guy, and conviction spreads.
But the reality is - just because someone believes in magic translating glasses and doesn't believe in Santa Claus, doesn't make the glasses real. On the same token, just because Christianity has so many followers who genuinely and completely believe it to be true, doesn't make it true.
November 29, 2011 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Rabid_Randy
So glad you could splain that to us all.
Now we understand.
Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS !
November 29, 2011 at 9:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I believe in Santa Claus, cause I saw him kissing mama.
November 29, 2011 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
BigRed,
Thanks for your refreshing post. Communication is so very effective when it is succinct. Yours is tops in my book and I'm glad I read it. BTW, I wrote down what your law professor said. I plan to share it with my teen grandchildren.
November 30, 2011 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
So if I were to write Governor Sam Brownback sucks, not that I know Governor Sam Brownback sucks, but its just my opinion that Governor Sam Brownback sucks, would Governor Sam Brownback try to force me to appologize for say Governor Sam Brownback sucks? Just curious. In my opinion Governor Sam Brownback does not suck....That would be giving him too much credit. Therefore Governor Sam Brownback inhales violently!
November 30, 2011 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
Steve_Corbin,
No, I don't believe in Christmas. I do think it's nice to give family and friends gifts every now and again to thank them for being there for you. Late December is as good a time as any. There's no sense pretending that it's a time for thanking a god that no one has ever seen or heard from.
Happy Xmas!
November 30, 2011 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigRed (anonymous) says...
Create,
Thank you for the kind words. However, it was not a law professor who said it. An alumnus spoke to us. She lost her practice and reputation due to the abuse of drugs and alcohol. She got treatment and cleaned-up her act but the damage was done. She had a bad reputation within the legal community and was having trouble finding work. I believe she was working for Legal Aid at the time, while she tried to rebuild her reputation.
November 30, 2011 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
BigRed,
You're welcome. I'm glad that woman was able to impart some hard-earned and thought-provoking knowledge to your class. And yes, you're right, once the damage to one's rep is done, that's the end. You can't turn an omelet into a whole egg.
The same is true of a few individuals I've run into in the teaching profession, another one where reputation is everything.
Happy Holidays to you.
November 30, 2011 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Also, now that I am looking at the little sign I made with your reputation anecdote, I can't help but think of the reputations of current political candidates that are being run through the shredder of public opinion. Millions of dollars down the drain while all the denying in the world can't halt the march of public opinion.
November 30, 2011 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )