Kemp doesn't get my vote!!!

At 04:28 PM 11/4/96 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 96-10-30 15:15:16 EST, you write:
>
>>bj
>
>The Colorado Springs Museum is a municipal institution and has a strict
>policy against political or religious events being held in the museum.  We do
>not think it is in the best interest of the museum for us to get involved in
>partisan politics.  It seems to me that  allowing politicians to make
>speeches at museum events, especially during an election year, could appear
>as an implicit endorsement of that candidate.  Aren't non-profits running a
>serious risk in doing this?  We have had politicians attend events, but in my
>time at the museum we have never had them make speeches.  Certainly you have
>to weigh the benefits of sure-fire media coverage with the risks you run in
>entering the fray.  If nothing else, during an election year I would think
>you would want to offer time to both sides.
>
>Having said all of this, here is the experience we had last week.  On Monday
>we found out that vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp wanted to make an
>address in the park surrounding the Museum.  We have no way of stopping such
>an event in a city park, so we went along.  On Tuesday, the political
>flunkies (sorry Andy Finch - nothing personal) organizing the event asked us
>if they could *dismantle* part of our historic building, because a particular
>lamp post would be unflattering to Mr. Kemp.  We said no, they moved the
>podium, without telling us, to directly in front of the building, and as a
>result we would either have to shut down or endanger museum security by
>bringing the public in through less easily monitored doors.  I complained and
>said I said I wouldn't accept that, and they went over my head to city
>administration who told us to do whatever the campaign people wanted.  On
>Wednesday, the day of the speech, the secret service agent in charge told me
>"He thought we should know that they were shutting us down for the duration
>of Kemp's visit."  Not only did they shut us down, but they commenced to hang
>Dole-Kemp banners all over the building, and there was nothing I could do
>about it!!!
>
>This was a horrible experience for me.  I encourage you to stay clear of
>politics because you can lose control before you know it.  Just a cautionary
>tale.  Good Luck!
>
>Matt Mayberry
>Colorado Springs Museum
>719-578-6650
>[log in to unmask]
>
>*the usual disclaimers apply*
>
>


John Martinson
[log in to unmask]
288 N.E. Maple Avenue
College Place, WA  99324
(509) 525-7793 (W)