Teen tweeter won't apologize to Kan. gov.

(AP) 

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A U.S. teenager who wrote a disparaging tweet about Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said Sunday that she is rejecting her high school principal's demand for a written apology.

Emma Sullivan, 18, said she isn't sorry and doesn't think such a letter would be sincere.

The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Youth in Government program last week when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback's greeting. From her cellphone, she thumbed: "Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot."

She actually made no such comment and said she was "just joking with friends." But Brownback's office, which monitors social media for postings containing the governor's name, saw Sullivan's post and contacted the Youth in Government program.

Sullivan received a scolding at school and was ordered to send Brownback an apology letter. She said Prinicipal Karl R. Krawitz even suggested talking points for the letter she was supposed to turn in Monday.

The situation exploded after Sullivan's older sister contacted the media. Since then, Sullivan's following on Twitter has grown to about 3,000 people, up from about 65 before the tweet. She said she thinks the tweet has helped "open up dialogue" about free speech in social media..

"I would do it again," she said.

Sullivan has received emails from attorneys but is waiting to see what happens when she refuses to hand in a letter. Krawitz, her principal, told The Kansas City Star previously that the situation is a "private issue, not a public matter" but didn't return a phone message from The Associated Press at his home Sunday.

Then-Sen. Sam Brownback announces an end to his presidential bid on October 19, 2007, in Topeka, Kansas.

(Credit: Getty Images)

She hasn't heard from Brownback or his staff. She said she wouldn't mind sitting down and talking to the governor.

Sullivan said she disagrees with Brownback politically, particularly his decision to veto the Kansas Arts Commission's entire budget, making Kansas the only state in the nation to eliminate arts funding. Brownback has argued arts programs can flourish with private dollars and that state funds should go to core government functions, such as education and social services.

"I think it would be interesting to have a dialogue with him," she said. "I don't know if he would do it or not though. And I don't know that he would listen to what I have to say."

Sherriene Jones-Sontag, the governor's spokeswoman, told The Star previously that Sullivan's message wasn't respectful and that it takes mutual respect to "really have a constructive dialogue." Brownback's office didn't return calls or emails Sunday from the AP.

Sullivan's mother, Julie, said she isn't angry with her daughter, even though she thinks she "could have chosen different words."

"She wasn't speaking to the 3,000 followers she has now," Julie Sullivan said. "She was talking to 65 friends. And also it's the speech they use today. It's more attention grabbing. I raised my kids to be independent, to be strong, to be free thinkers. If she wants to tweet her opinion about Gov. Brownback, I say for her to go for it and I stand totally behind her."

[dzaffina]

this sounds a lot like the 16 year old girl that sent a letter to a news paper that she wanted to debate michelle bachman on history, and got death threats from the tea party. googl it.

[copygalny]

She wasn't tweeting as a representative of her school or the club (as far as the article states) and therefore it makes no sense that the school can require her to apologize.

[Old-Redneck-Cowboy]

Ditsy teenager lies and damages a public servant's reputation. Looney left jumps on the band wagon, gives the lying teenager some pseudo credibility.

I hope Brownback sues the ever loving allowance out of her (and her parents) for defamation of character.

This is not a free speech issue. There are consequences for libel, slander and false accusations. What if this young girl had tweeted she had been raped? Determined to be a lie, should she not be held responsible?

[copygalny]

She tweeted an opinion of him. She can't be sued for libel over stating her opinion. She didn't make an accusation. Read the article.

How exactly is this damaging of his reputation? If every politician considered someone thinking they "sucked" as damaging their reputation, there would be no politicians left.

[turbidwaters]

"Ditsy teenager lies and damages a public servant's reputation."

Did you even read the article, or are you a parody?

[silasdoright]

Sounds like the rightous teen stuck it to the evil conservatice. She's a heroine! She's a patriot!. And she did it so eloquently.
All she left out was ..."hey dude"..

[ariz_1944]

And did it all without once using the word "like"!! My Hats off to her!!!! Understand the school QUICKLY BACK-TRACKED on their DEMAND that she Apologize!!! Guess the school Attys at least have a sense of what is covered by "FREEDOM of SPEECH"!!!

[CTG46]

If Brownback is so insecure he feels the need to monitor all social media to be sure people aren't saying bad things about him, maybe he needs to wear both a belt and suspenders.
Frankly, I think he and the school pricipal are jackasses (jackassi?)
Hey Brownback, read the Constitution and Bill of Rights without your right-wing filters.

[mary-miami]

Of course the governor is a rightwing GOP. GOP doesnt believe in free speech, they want to censor and control our speech and press. That's why most of the GOP candidates have said that they would revise the Constitution and drop the First Amendment. The First Amendment gives us the base of a free nation..free speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly, protest/petition. There are other countries struggling to get those freedoms that we Americans sometimes take for granted. The high school kid has a right to express her opinion, just like the rest of us.

[blindddhorse]

Mary put down the crack pipe.

[ariz_1944]

HEY "blindddhorse" I DON'T mind that YOU ARE BLIND, But QUIT INSULTING HORSES!!! In ARIZONA we LOVE our HORSES!!! Oh, and by the way, U BLOW TOO!!!!!

[obicera1]

"Sherriene Jones-Sontag, the governor's spokeswoman, told The Star previously that Sullivan's message wasn't respectful and that it takes mutual respect to "really have a constructive dialogue.""

Yes, it takes mutual respect, something the Republicans aren't good at.

[blindddhorse]

This jerk favors Al Gore.

[guest173]

they could kick her out of the club but that would be more of a communist type government club than a democratic one. The principal is a bit powerhungry if he thinks he can demand teens to just do whatever he wants to be politically correct.

[Jaylah54]

I support her right to free speech. However tweeting about doing something that you never actually did is, I think, rather lame.

But no, I don't believe she owes him any apology.