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37 U. Tol. L. Rev. 841 (2005-2006)
Candidate Endorsement Forms as a Prerequisite to Political Event Entry: Disloyal to the People's Right to Freedom of Speech

handle is hein.journals/utol37 and id is 853 raw text is: CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT FORMS AS A PREREQUISITE TO POLITICAL EVENT ENTRY: DISLOYAL TO THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH Greg Wolenberg* I. INTRODUCTION ON July 31, 2004, the Republican National Committee (RNC) hosted a tpolitical rally in Rio Rancho, New Mexico at Rio Rancho Mid-High School. To attend the limited-seating event, the Albuquerque Bush-Cheney Victory Office (Victory Office) required individuals to obtain tickets.2 The Victory Office required people that it could not identify as Bush-Cheney supporters to sign an endorsement for President Bush to obtain a ticket. Notably, many registered Republicans in the area were not required to sign an endorsement to get a ticket.4 The endorsement was designed to prevent a group of Democratic Party operatives from crashing the event and to give the limited seats to known Republican and Bush supporters.5 Additionally, the endorsements were intended to ensure that no debate or interruption occurred during the Vice President's visit.6 Many citizens not affiliated with any party believed that they had the right to hear the Vice President speak without signing such an endorsement.7 A New Mexico judge denied a petition by known Democrats to gain entry into the event, which effectively closed the rally to those * I would like to thank Professor Courtney Cahill for her much appreciated help with this comment, and also my wife, Kimberly, for her support and encouragement. 1. Jeff Jones & Andy Lenderman, GOP Says Pledge Allegiance, ALBUQUERQUE J., July 30, 2004, at Al. 2. Id. 3. Id. I, (full name) ... do herby (sic) endorse George W. Bush for reelection of the United States. It later adds: In signing the above endorsement you are consenting to use and release of your name by Bush-Cheney as an endorser of President Bush. Id. 4. Id. 5. Id. This is not the only instance of Republicans limiting access because of viewpoint. For example, two people were arrested for trespassing after they revealed anti-Bush clothing during a speech by President George W. Bush in Charleston, W.V. on July 4, 2004. Lawrence Messina & Richard Benke, Loyalty Oaths Not Required in W. Va., Campaigns Say, CHARLESTON GAZETTE & DAILY MAIL, Aug. 7, 2004, at P2A. The problems were not limited to Republicans, as Democrats have had trouble with protestors, too. Id. Protestors in Boston were relegated to a free-speech zone blocked by fences, barricades, and wire during the party's national convention in July. Id. 6. Messina & Benke, supra note 5, at P2A. 7. Jones & Lenderman, supra note 1, at Al.

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