Dem Refuses to Sign Pro-Bush Pledge
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An Albuquerque man has lost a court bid to have a rally where Vice President Dick Cheney (search) is to speak opened to people of all political affiliations. Cheney is scheduled to speak at a Rio Rancho school Saturday afternoon.
Albuquerque attorney Susan Chappell, a Democrat, filed a petition against the Republican rally late Friday afternoon on behalf of John Wade (search).
Wade, a Democrat, and at least one other man were asked a number of questions Thursday and then told they must sign a pledge of support for President Bush (search) before receiving tickets. Wade signed the petition and got the tickets, but then promptly returned them and took back the petition.
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The petition for a temporary restraining order argued that requiring an endorsement as a prerequisite to attending the rally at a public school violates the constitutional protections of free speech and freedom of assembly.
The petition asked that Wade and other people in his position be let in — or that the event be shut down.
State District Judge Ted Baca quickly turned down the request because Republicans were never informed that they were being taken to court.
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"It's hard for me to conclude you could not at least make a phone call to the Republican Party," Baca said.
Baca kept the court open after 5 p.m. Friday to hear the last-minute motion.
Chappell told Baca she was under a "tremendous amount of pressure" to get the petition filed Friday and she shouldn't be required to give notice under the circumstances.
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Baca disagreed.
All of the tickets to the event were reserved as of Friday night, organizers said.
The rally is meant to be a thank you to supporters, Republicans said.
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The measure was a security step designed to avoid a disruption, which Bush campaign spokesman Dan Foley alleged Democrats were planning.
Democratic Party officials denied it.
Yier Shi, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., said the rally is meant to reward and enthuse supporters, not as a forum to preach to skeptics.
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Democrats, independents and others are welcome as long as they like Bush and Cheney, Yier Shi said.
Rio Rancho resident Jim Brown, a registered Democrat, said he's angry.
"I resent the school that my taxes paid for being used for an event that's restricted to people who sign a pledge to the Republican Party," Brown, a Democrat, said.