From Big Government:
Jan 24, 2011 (yesterday)U of AZ Paid $60,000+ for Obama’s ‘Together We Thrive’ Tucson Eventfrom Big Government by Tom FittonWas that a memorial for the victims of the Tucson shooting tragedy or a pep rally for President Obama that was held at the University of Arizona? Many were discomforted by the constant screams and cheers at a memorial service for the victims of the shooting.
Adding to the inappropriate atmosphere were thousands of blue “Together We Thrive,” t-shirts and posters plastered all over the place, an obvious play on a popular Obama presidential campaign theme from 2008.
Perhaps it was also the fact that the whole event was “branded” in the first place: “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America.”
Perhaps it was the cheering throngs of Obama fans whooping and hollering as the President took to the stage, making the whole event seem more like a pep rally than a memorial. (And the same goes for Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, who also reportedly received a thunderous reception.)
Or, conversely, perhaps it was the smattering of boos that erupted when Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, took to the stage to deliver her remarks — a reaction that “would have been hard to imagine, say, in the days after the Oklahoma City bombing,” the New York Times noted.
Perhaps it was all of those shameless attempts by liberals to play politics with this massacre leading up to the memorial event — suggesting, if not outright claiming, that this tragedy was the fault of “right wingers” in general and Glen Beck and Sarah Palin specifically. (I documented many of these ridiculous statements previously.)
Even the President himself made a subtle attempt to put the shooting in a political context — during his 31 minute speech! — when he talked about the “sharply polarized” nature of political discourse in our country.
Given the political nature of the event, many questioned how it was set up and, specifically, whether the White House was involved in the t-shirt controversy. Being the curious folk we are, Judicial Watch filed a public records request with the University of Arizona asking for the following information:
1.Any and all communications, contracts or correspondence between the University of Arizona and The White House concerning, regarding or relating to T-shirts bearing the logo “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America,” distributed to attendees at the January 12, 2011, memorial service for the victims of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, held in the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
2.Any and all records concerning costs associated with T-shirts bearing the logo “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America,” distributed to attendees at the January 12, 2011, memorial service for the victims of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, held in the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
On January 20 the University told us it had no documents responsive to our first request. And it gave us one document responsive to our second request showing that the t-shirts cost the University of Arizona $60,885. Supposedly, the University of Arizona is paying this bill without the use of “tuition, state allocations, tax dollars or student fees.” Money is fungible, so the taxpayers apparently help pay this bill, however indirectly.
If we are to believe this official response, there are no records showing Obama White House involvement. Not only are we curious, but we’re skeptical. And we will push back a bit to ensure we’re not being trifled with by yet another government entity that doesn’t want to produce embarrassing documents.
In the meantime, I leave it up to you to judge whether $60,850 for silly t-shirts for a memorial service is an appropriate expenditure for a public university
Jan 24, 2011 (yesterday)U of AZ Paid $60,000+ for Obama’s ‘Together We Thrive’ Tucson Eventfrom Big Government by Tom FittonWas that a memorial for the victims of the Tucson shooting tragedy or a pep rally for President Obama that was held at the University of Arizona? Many were discomforted by the constant screams and cheers at a memorial service for the victims of the shooting.
Adding to the inappropriate atmosphere were thousands of blue “Together We Thrive,” t-shirts and posters plastered all over the place, an obvious play on a popular Obama presidential campaign theme from 2008.
Perhaps it was also the fact that the whole event was “branded” in the first place: “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America.”
Perhaps it was the cheering throngs of Obama fans whooping and hollering as the President took to the stage, making the whole event seem more like a pep rally than a memorial. (And the same goes for Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, who also reportedly received a thunderous reception.)
Or, conversely, perhaps it was the smattering of boos that erupted when Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, took to the stage to deliver her remarks — a reaction that “would have been hard to imagine, say, in the days after the Oklahoma City bombing,” the New York Times noted.
Perhaps it was all of those shameless attempts by liberals to play politics with this massacre leading up to the memorial event — suggesting, if not outright claiming, that this tragedy was the fault of “right wingers” in general and Glen Beck and Sarah Palin specifically. (I documented many of these ridiculous statements previously.)
Even the President himself made a subtle attempt to put the shooting in a political context — during his 31 minute speech! — when he talked about the “sharply polarized” nature of political discourse in our country.
Given the political nature of the event, many questioned how it was set up and, specifically, whether the White House was involved in the t-shirt controversy. Being the curious folk we are, Judicial Watch filed a public records request with the University of Arizona asking for the following information:
1.Any and all communications, contracts or correspondence between the University of Arizona and The White House concerning, regarding or relating to T-shirts bearing the logo “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America,” distributed to attendees at the January 12, 2011, memorial service for the victims of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, held in the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
2.Any and all records concerning costs associated with T-shirts bearing the logo “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America,” distributed to attendees at the January 12, 2011, memorial service for the victims of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, held in the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
On January 20 the University told us it had no documents responsive to our first request. And it gave us one document responsive to our second request showing that the t-shirts cost the University of Arizona $60,885. Supposedly, the University of Arizona is paying this bill without the use of “tuition, state allocations, tax dollars or student fees.” Money is fungible, so the taxpayers apparently help pay this bill, however indirectly.
If we are to believe this official response, there are no records showing Obama White House involvement. Not only are we curious, but we’re skeptical. And we will push back a bit to ensure we’re not being trifled with by yet another government entity that doesn’t want to produce embarrassing documents.
In the meantime, I leave it up to you to judge whether $60,850 for silly t-shirts for a memorial service is an appropriate expenditure for a public university
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