Dozens of citizens barred from Bush's speech

"News of the Bush blacklist of dozens of citizens from a Fargo, North Dakota speech is as frightening as it has become routine for this Administration. To blacklist a local citizen because he produces a radio program at odds with the political agenda of the White House is dangerous for Democracy.

This Administration cannot promote freedom and liberty abroad while banning our most fundamental freedoms here at home. The pattern of stifling those voices that do not represent conservative orthodoxy has chilling implications for our Democracy.

Consider these recent cases:

A man is arrested and charged for holding a small “No War” sign at the January Inaugural.

The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq is ejected, arrested and charged while attending a rally for Laura Bush in September.

Across the country, citizens are removed from public sidewalks because “the President had requested a federal protection zone."

The greatness of this country lies in our constitutionally-protected freedoms and liberties. To attempt to ban those freedoms here at home hurts every American."