Emma Sullivan Receives Apology From Sam Brownback For 'Overreaction' To Tweet

In an unexpected turn of events, the Kansas governor who was the subject of a disparaging tweet is apologizing to the teen who sent the message.

In a statement Monday, Gov. Sam Brownback acknowledged 18-year-old Emma Sullivan's rights:

"My staff over-reacted to this tweet, and for that I apologize. Freedom of speech is among our most treasured freedoms. I enjoyed speaking to the more than 100 students who participated in the Youth in Government Program at the Kansas Capitol. They are our future. I also want to thank the thousands of Kansas educators who remind us daily of our liberties, as well as the values of civility and decorum. Again, I apologize for our over-reaction."

Sullivan, a senior at Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas, was on a field trip to the state capitol last week and listened to a speech by Brownback. During Brownback's remarks, the teen tweeted, "Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot."

Brownback's office flagged the tweet and forwarded the information to the Youth in Government program and her school. Although Sullivan later admitted she didn't actually make the direct comment to the governor, her school principal Karl R. Krawitz demanded that she submit to Brownback a letter of apology. The governor also subsequently received hundreds of upset comments on his Thanksgiving Facebook message.

Although the teen initially agreed to write the letter to "get it out of the way" and not have more to handle amid her college applications, according to Yahoo! News, she later changed her mind and refused to submit the note, saying she "would do it again," the Associated Press reports.

The Shawnee Mission School District has also retracted its punishment for Sullivan.

Comments

[SitFidoSit]

12:23 AM on 01/05/2012

So there are no consequences for her rude, crude lack of common courtesy? She's not accountable? Guess not. Let's keep lowering the standards and removing all accountability.

[sadwitness]

02:58 PM on 12/03/2011

Seems like the Principal and the School District should also apologize to her and the parents and students that have been effected by their heavy handed knee jerk reaction to what should have been a non issue.

[Johnnyash]

02:54 PM on 12/03/2011

"I also want to thank the thousands of Kansas educators who remind us daily of our liberties"

Except, of course, Principal Karl Krawitz who apparently doesn't think the 1st Amendment applies to all citizens equally.......

[rwalk48]

10:20 PM on 11/30/2011

Miss Sullivan is a product of her environment. That being the Peoples Republic of Shawnee Mission. I don't think that the governor had much of anything to do with the initial response to her school. Obviously, the incident spun out of control more from Sullivans actions than Brownbacks. A little civility on her part would have helped.
Should she have apologized. It would have been an adult gesture on her part. Should Brownback have apologized to her. Not really, but he is an adult and a gentleman.
While we don't all agree on his policies he does deserve our respect. Well, except perhaps in the Peoples Republic.

[LeftRight]

09:24 AM on 12/01/2011

Wait.... So she did something that's not only legal, it's Constitutionally protected, if a bit crude (but she IS 18....) and his office called the school to complain, and the school broke the law by insisting that she apologize to the governor, so she stood up for her First Amendment rights.... And SHE'S the one who caused all the hullabaloo....?

[iLdoRight]

10:23 AM on 12/01/2011

Is it all about being a, "Winning Charlie" ?

[Johnnyash]

02:54 PM on 12/03/2011

I think a US Governor apologizing for his staff's monitoring and reporting of citizens who speak out against the government is actually quite appropriate....

[Master Jeffrey]

04:21 PM on 11/30/2011

Ha! He wastes taxpayer money harassing high school students who tweet "mean" things about him but says he must cut funding for the arts! Typical hypocritical behavior from a blowhard politician. If he really wants to eliminate wasteful spending, fire the person who thought it was a good idea to react to this non-incident at all!

[AuldLochinvar]

01:41 PM on 11/30/2011

The only problem I have with Emma's tweet is my distaste for the word "sucks" as a derogatory. Well, yes, it's vulgar, but that's not it. WHY is it derogatory? It seems that it is a reference to the activity alleged to have occurred between Clinton and Lewinsky in the Oval Office, an event embarrassing to Democrats like myself. But nobody uses as a pejorative the phrase "gets sucked".
Anyway, now that oral forms of sexual activity are only frowned upon by the most stubbornly conservative of religious people, what's the harm in "sucking"?
Let's just say "is a bore", "is no good", "is a lying scoundrel" or even "is bloody useless".

[sadwitness]

02:47 PM on 12/03/2011

wow you should have yourself checked out, if every time someone says something sucks you think of clinton- you're issues sound pretty deep

[AuldLochinvar]

12:19 AM on 12/08/2011

I didn't say it reminded me of Clinton, I thought that I could refer more delicately to the activity by using that notorious example.

[SitFidoSit]

12:32 AM on 01/05/2012

Now it's a reference to your post.

[Melissa Rashid]

02:06 PM on 12/05/2011

The word sucks has been in use a lot longer than the Clinton fiasco. As a derogatory word it's pretty tame. Teenagers these days ( even my generation for that matter) don't say things like "Scoundrel" and especially not "bloody...." in America.

[AuldLochinvar]

12:21 AM on 12/08/2011

... don't say things like "Scoundrel­" and especially not "bloody...­." in America.
More's the pity!
And most of them in this season of the Dickens "Christmas Carol" say something that means bovine dung, when all they mean is beautifully expressed by the old word "humbug!"

[Wyl]

09:18 AM on 11/30/2011

Welcome to Brownbackistan, it's where Kansas used to be
Welcome to Brownbackistan, it's our new theocracy!
Brownback and Koch call all the shots, we're governed by the rich
The wealthy all get wealthier and the rest can all eat $%#

the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLUfNPdirdE

[Cunningham]

02:59 AM on 11/30/2011

That was probably the smartest thing Brownback has ever done.

[Jessica Moe]

02:08 AM on 11/30/2011

What an immature little girl. Hopefully college will give her something intelligent to say besides someone "sucks". The first amendment is a right that should be respected by the person who chooses to open his/her mouth as much as anyone else.

[AntiSocialSailor]

10:33 AM on 11/30/2011

What do you mean the First Amendment should be "respected by the person who chooses to open his/her mouth.."? My guess is that what you really mean is that the person who opens their mouth shouldn't say things that you consider disrespectful or inappropriate.

That's the thing about the First Amendment. The right of free speech isn't contingent on what someone else considers "respectful" or "intelligent" or "appropriate" or any other criteria besides directly inciting violence or bodily injury. If it was, it wouldn't be a right at all. It would be a privilege.

Brownback also had a First Amendment right to whine and cry. He had no right to demand an apology for remarks that weren't directed at him in the first place. It was totally inappropriate, even fascistic, to expect or pressure her school to intercede on his behalf.

[capercaper]

11:48 AM on 11/30/2011

Pls provide a citation for Brownback's demand for an apology.

Certainly there is none in the article nor do any come up in a Google search . . .

[tan2123]

11:44 AM on 11/30/2011

Actually, she responded to this whole situation is a very mature manor.
The words she chose were very indicative of her age. You may not chose those same words b/c your teen years have past you, but, I'm pretty sure you had your own lingo at that age too.

[LFord1951]

03:24 PM on 12/05/2011

"[S]he responded ... is (sic) a very mature 'manor'?"

Do HUFFPOST SUPER USERs not have to use proper grammar or spelling?

[Edguy52]

11:25 PM on 11/29/2011

Damn, she's cute and bright too :)

[iLdoRight]

10:26 AM on 12/01/2011

By comparison ?

[jsgaetano]

10:21 PM on 11/29/2011

Typical right wing thuggery.

[lovingthechaos]

09:37 PM on 11/29/2011

I'm impressed a high schooler knows enough about the Governer of her state to have actually formed an opinion. For her detractors on here, you folks are so two faced. Had she tweeted that Obama suc-ke-ed, none of you would bat an eye. Hypocritsallofyou.

[lovingthechaos]

09:42 PM on 11/29/2011

Unless, of course, Obama called her principle & told on her. In that case, she would be strutted onto Fox news for the next 6 weeks until we all knew who she was...

[LeftRight]

02:28 PM on 11/30/2011

And for once I would agree with Faux...

[jsgaetano]

10:22 PM on 11/29/2011

Conservatives think they're the only ones allowed to have an opinion. That's why they are thugs and terrorists- their entire agenda is based on it.

[mpstrong1414]

01:03 AM on 11/30/2011

My don't we like to group people. How about the liberals in college that disrupt conservative speakers or attempt to bully the college into not letting them speak? People are individuals on all sides of the political spectrum.

[dbolser]

05:10 PM on 11/29/2011

A spoiled, self-indulged little Princess that wanted EVERYBODY to see how hip she was. She was "shocked" when she put something on the internet and somebody noticed it. Gee whiz, Gomer. Even a Razorback knows that when you put something on the internet it becomes VERY public. Gosh, Emma, better get Gloria Allred. Where are the proud parents?

[saltpeter]

05:35 PM on 11/29/2011

A scared, self-entitled governor who wanted EVERY CITIZEN to heed his AUTHORITY. He was "shocked" that people would have a response to his boneheaded policies. Gee Whiz, Brownnoser. Even a real conservative can handle criticism on the internet from the people he knowingly ticks off. Gosh, Browny, get JOSEPH GOE B BELS to lead your gestapo goon squad next time. Your state must be proud that you have no regard for the First Amendment.

[dbolser]

06:21 PM on 11/29/2011

Ah, Saltpeter, we whipped the bad guys in 1945. We won. They lost. All is good. Now, about your hallucinations.................................

[Shiggity]

06:54 PM on 11/29/2011

She was acting like a child. He responded like an adult.

[LilacGypsy]

06:11 PM on 11/29/2011

Didnt He apologise to her? Why would she need Gloria Allred? Your post didnt make any sense...

[dbolser]

06:21 PM on 11/29/2011

Yes, he did. I thought he was a sissy. Disappointed in him. No backbone.

[MarsAmbassador]

04:56 PM on 11/29/2011

Just a brief glimpse into our near future, where the strong can do what they will and the weak shall endure what they must. Just like conservatives have always wanted.

[Shiggity]

06:56 PM on 11/29/2011

You mean where a girl gets to make an immature comment to the governor and have the governor apologize for having his staff tell her principal? What a police state indeed

[MarsAmbassador]

07:28 PM on 11/29/2011

Wow, did you ever miss the entire point of this story.

[PatA]

08:16 PM on 11/29/2011

"to" the governor? It was "about" the Governor.

[MarsAmbassador]

04:54 PM on 11/29/2011

Welcome to Police State 1.0, where they simply attempt to suppress your rights through threats and intimidation. In version 2.0, things take a turn for the worse.

[sadwitness]

03:10 PM on 12/03/2011

just testing the waters to see how many like shiggity- will applaud their toughness in ruling the citizens of this unruly country....oh wait- they are not rulers...they work for us. Sure they do.