Bush: they don't like our "freedom of speech" ... but neither does Bush at Bush events

How Team Bush Controls the Message, Stages the Events: "Monday, February 14, 2005 by Cox News Service | How to Get Straight to the People: Control the Message, Stage the Event | by Ken Herman
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From how the message is delivered, to who is in the audience to hear it, to who gets to ask questions about it, the White House goal is control. It's a critical effort for a president who must get Americans to give him a listen about proposed overhauls of basic institutions such as Social Security, health care and taxes.

The tactics include public events, sometimes called "conversations," sometimes called "forums" and sometimes called "town hall meetings" featuring Bush....
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Regardless of the name, such events are always the same: Bush as congenial host with hand-picked on-stage guests with stories to prove the president's point.
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In addition to orchestrating the on-stage portion of the events, there is evidence that the White House works to control the live audience. Presidential appearances are "ticketed events," with ticket distribution controlled by local officials and organizations.
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Inside the box of tickets and other event materials he got from the White House was a list passed down by the advance team of people it deemed could be disruptive to the event, he said.

Burgum said volunteers were told it was not a "do-not-admit list." What it was, he said, was more of please-behave list. The 42 people on the list, if they sought tickets, were to be asked not to disrupt the event.
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Among those on the Fargo list was Linda Coates, a local city commissioner who said she initially was "amused, shocked and creeped out" about it. She said those on the list probably were singled out because of "our history of outspoken opposition to many of the administration's policies."
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"Getting out of Washington is healthy, and getting out amongst the people is invigorating, and I want to thank you for coming out to say hello," Bush said by way of wrapping up.