Donahue Stirs Graduation

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<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>Donahue stirs graduation

Speaker's political views mix with traditional messages at N.C. State

By JONATHAN B. COX, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- N.C. State University seniors got a final lesson in tolerance Saturday before receiving their degrees.
At first drawing laughs with his self-deprecating humor, commencement speaker Phil Donahue soon prompted a cacophony of boos and bravos reminiscent of his TV talk show days, in which he dealt with provocative topics including one show on transvestites during which he wore a dress.

Donahue built on a theme he dubbed &quot;take a liberal to lunch&quot; and used the platform to share his views on everything from the Constitution to media ownership to the war on drugs.

At least 15 of the 3,701 graduates at ceremony at the RBC Center walked out, and some audience members headed for the exits. Others applauded.

Among the perspectives expressed by Donahue, who hosted a nationally syndicated talk show for 27 years: No child in public schools should be forced to pledge allegiance to the flag; Charles Darwin, father of the evolution theory, is one of the great geniuses of modern time; the war on drugs is eroding civil liberties and hurting minorities. (http://www.news-observer.com/front/story/2547164p-2364774c.html)</span>

[Saber]

Well, at least SOME walked out. I also heard that a bunch of people headed for the exit when Santorum gave a speech at some other rat-infested university. I forget which one....ummmm....Itha ca? ummmmmmm...not sure......

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Quote[/b] ]some other rat-infested university.

<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mdr11.gif Is there any other kind of university? *(not countin' the one my sonnies are in which isn't a state one)

My husband said tonight at supper that he heard that Rush Limbaugh has never been asked to speak at a commencement of any university~~he's so conservative and universities are so liberal that his name doesn't even come up. *

We also heard on a local radio talk show that PD is a friend of one of the board members. *This is a BIG story here locally (Raleigh). *People are IRATE!!!! *They are going to lose some $$$$$$$ moolah on this one! http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/yelclap.gif</span>

[Der Alte]

Laurie, according to WTVD 11 there were a lot more that got up and left - yesterday they said, &quot;a large portion of the audience walked out after some of Donohue's remarks&quot;. One student that they interviewed said he agreed with his right to say whatever, but he did not have to agree with him. Donohue would have gone over much better at the U of NC (a liberal bastion if there ever was one).

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<span style='font-family:comic sans ms'>Cosby speaks at UNC-CH (http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/051803_NW_cosbyuncgr aduation.html)


I really, really like Bill Cosby and we have a lot of his old Cosby shows on tape.

He's probably a liberal, but I think he gave a proper commencement speech unlike PD.

&quot;I'll remember the part about keeping your integrity. Keeping your integrity is probably the most important thing you can do in the real world.&quot; *Good advice for college graduates. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif</span>