speech and respect - College of Social Sciences and International ...

The Poverty of Civil Libertarianism
planning to broadcast NARAL spots that they would be closely monitored.
New York Times A12 (June 11,1992).
82 Los Angeles Times A11 (February 26, 1991); Chronicle of Higher Education
A35 (March 4, 1992).
Church-affiliated universities are even more intrusive. Georgetown
University, a Jesuit institution, withdrew the $150/year subsidy and
meeting space allocated to G.U. Choice for violating an agreement not to
participate in "advocacy or action on behalf of abortion." The group is
forbidden to demonstrate or distribute information on campus. New York
Times 9 (April 25, 1992).
83 Entman(1989).
84 New York Times A13 (March 26, 1992).
If poverty silences, those with resources may be compelled to speak. At
an April 1992 fund-raiser for President Bush, donors were invited to buy
tables for 10 for $15-20,000. One table got you a member of the House
of Representatives; a second got you a Senator; $92,000 got you a photo
opportunity with the President; and top contributors got to sit at his table.
(Michael Kojima, who bought a seat at the President's table for $500,000,
was simultaneously being sought by former wives and business associates
for large unpaid debts; he has since been jailed and forced to pay
$120,000.) James R. Elliott, president of Cherry Payment Systems of
Illinois, was under investigation by the FDIC and had already served a
prison term for bank fraud. He denied telling subordinates that their
contributions might secure him a Presidential pardon. But a letter from his
regional marketing director to Midwest offices described the dinner as
a great opportunity. . .to rub elbows with the most powerful people in
this country. . .
So what I suggest is that you do some soul searching and decide
whether you're going to go the distance. What I need is a phone call
from those of you that plan to participate in this event. There are other
perks that will go along with this. ... If you're asking yourself, can I
afford to make this trip, then ask yourself, ifyou can afford nottoo! [sic]
We will truely [sic] see what kind of cloth your [sic] cut from when I
hear from those of you that plan to participate.
The company said the letter was unauthorised and its sender had been
reprimanded. It also insisted that an employee was dismissed for not
meeting sales performance targets rather than for refusing to contribute.
The dinner raised $9 million. New York Times A20 (April 24, 1992); Los
Angeles Times M (May 8, 1992), B1 October 16, 1992).
85 Los Angeles Times A26 (November 3, 1990), A25 (November 8, 1990);
New York Times A15 (November 5, 1990).
86 New York Times B1 (March 9, 1992), s.2 p. 11 (April 19, 1992). Art
Linson, producer of such commercial successes as "Singles," "Melvin
and Howard," "Car Wash," and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," hates
the review process.
You're doomed the minute you start cutting your film because 100 kids
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