Kansas Governor Apologizes to Teen Tweeter

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.)