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Vince McMahon sues Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz over informal ban of WWE-branded clothing at polls

Vince & Linda McMahon (Getty Images)

As you may remember, Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz had mentioned that fans wearing WWE merchandise to Connecticut polls might be turned away on a case by case basis.  First Vince McMahon threw a fit.  Today, he filed a lawsuit.

"On behalf of myself, my company, WWE® fans and any Connecticut citizen who wants to exercise their constitutional right to vote, I have filed a lawsuit today asserting that Susan Bysiewicz's directive that allows poll workers to refuse registered voters wearing WWE merchandise the right to vote is a flagrant act of censorship and discrimination," said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, World Wrestling Entertainment.

A few hours later, WWE released this statement:

"The moment Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz issued an un-American, unconstitutional and discriminatory directive prohibiting voters from wearing WWE® merchandise at the polls, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal should have immediately stepped in to enforce the law. As a result of the Attorney General's inaction, I brought suit to enforce these basic, fundamental constitutional rights. Within hours of filing the lawsuit, Blumenthal recused himself, and Bysiewicz reversed her position and immediately notified all Local Registrar of Voters and Town Clerks via email. I am pleased that Connecticut voters have had their freedom of expression and their right to vote restored," said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, World Wrestling Entertainment®.

As you might expect, that's not the whole story.  Cue the Hartford Courant:

The office of attorney general Richard Blumenthal is responsble for defending the secretary of the state's office in the case. But Blumenthal, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and Linda McMahon's opponent, has recused himself, his office said.

"Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has recused himself from this case," Deputy Attorney General Carolyn K. Querijero said. Querijero added, "We will review the lawsuit and consult with the Secretary of the State's Office."

Bysiewicz's office last week said poll workers will have the discretion of asking voters wearing WWE paraphernalia to cover it up or go home and change before entering the voting area.

A spokesman for the office, Av Harris, stressed that no one will be prevented from casting their ballot. However state law stipulates that political signs and messages be kept at least 75 feet away from the polls and some WWE merchandise could potentially be deemed "political" because Linda McMahon, the company's former CEO, is on the ballot.

The discussion about election day attire came up because the WWE brand "is so ubiquitously associated with the McMahons,'' Av Harris, spokesman for Bysiewicz, said last week.

Harris said each instance will be examined on a case by case basis, and will be left to the discretion of local poll workers.

Jerry McDevitt has to know this is ridiculous...right?  RIGHT?

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Does Jerry McDevitt care that this is ridiculous so long as he gets paid?

by Keith Harris on Oct 26, 2010 9:55 PM EDT reply actions  

I’m not so sure that this is as “ridiculous” as everyone thinks it is, or at least, not from the viewpoint that you guys are coming from.
I look at it like this. Here in North Carolina, Erskine Bowles is the president of the UNC system, was Chief of Staff under Pres. Clinton, and unsuccessfully ran for the Senate here in NC against Elizabeth Dole. Let’s say a month before the election, Dole’s campaign issued a statement saying they were looking into banning all UNC apparel from the voting booths. There would have been a huge outrage, and people would have thought she was crazy.
This is a wrestling site, and of course everyone here thinks everyone in the real world knows who Linda McMahon is associated with. I guarantee if I knocked on any of my neighbors doors right now, there may be one house out of ten that would recognize the name.
Vince has always felt that he has been unfairly persecuted by the federal government, and this is just another case that he can point to, whether true or not.

by isaacduke on Oct 26, 2010 10:05 PM EDT reply actions  

Vince 2 Government 0

by Victator on Oct 27, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions  

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