Kansas Governor Apologizes to Teen Tweeter

Not good enough, says Emma Sullivan
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 29, 2011 2:00 AM CST
Kansas Governor Apologizes to Teen Tweeter
Kansas high school senior Emma Sullivan displays the text of a tweet she sent after listening to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback speak to a group of students last week.   (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The mighty Kansas tweeter teen has turned the tables on a miffed governor, who is now apologizing to her. Self-described liberal Emma Sullivan, 18, tweeted a diss against Governor Sam Brownback while he was giving a speech at a Kansas youth event last week. His aides, who monitor the Twitterverse, tattled on the high school senior, and her principal demanded she write a letter of apology. She refused. Now Brownback's embarrassed. “My staff over-reacted to this tweet, and for that I apologize," he said in a statement yesterday. "Freedom of speech is among our most treasured freedoms." But he's hardly off the hook with Emma.

Sullivan is disappointed Brownback didn't contact her directly. Besides, she grouses to ABC News: “My school is owed an apology because his staff put pressure on our school, and I don’t think that’s appropriate. Of course their apology is trying to cover up their negative actions. Just because you say you support free speech doesn’t mean you support it. Saying sorry doesn’t mean it goes away.” Youch. Maybe she should run for governor. (More Sam Brownback stories.)

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