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Friday, October 21, 2011

UPenn: U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor cancels Wharton speech

U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, the Republican majority leader in the U.S. House, canceled his scheduled speech at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business because if was going to be open to the first 300 people who showed up. Given that hundreds of Occupy Philadelphia protesters were planning to march from City Hall to the campus to protest the speech, that could have been lively audience.

"The Office of the Majority Leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met," Cantor spokeswoman Laena Fallon said in an email. "Wharton is a educational leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Majority Leader appreciated the invitation to speak with the students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the UPenn community."

Cantor had expected that his speech, on income disparity in the country, would be open to the media, Wharton students and faculty and guests of the university.

We can't help but feel a strong current of irony running through all this, since Cantor's Congressional office put out a curious YouTube video this week that was all about him promoting success and leadership. What was it Woody Allen said about success? Oh right: "Eighty percent of success is just showing up."

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 12:51 PM Permalink | 27 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:57 PM, 10/21/2011

Chicken.

— tonyS

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:57 PM, 10/21/2011

Fraidy cat, like most wingnuts.

— Susie from Philly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:59 PM, 10/21/2011

And so the Penn students are denied hearing a different point of view and to ask questions.

— Wilhelm Von Humboldt

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:00 PM, 10/21/2011

I wonder why tax-exempt Penn doesn't liquidate it's $18 Billion dollar endowment and redistribute its wealth?

— Wilhelm Von Humboldt

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:01 PM, 10/21/2011

The "occupiers" have every legal right to protest Mr. Cantor's speech or continue to protest at City Hall. However, it should be the "occupiers'" responsibility to post a bond and pay for the entire public safety component that allows their speech. The City of Philadelphia should not be footing the bill.

— featherman

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:05 PM, 10/21/2011

So it isnt a total loss, Occupy should go over and confront a few Penn profs with their tenure, bourgeois salaries and a Pension that a Union boss would be proud to call his own. Wonder why your student loans are so high kids? Think youre getting a teaching job with tenure? Not in your lifetime.

— tr88

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:08 PM, 10/21/2011

Not enough of Cantor's Israeli interests in this matter warranted a visit to Penn.

— gordon7

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:48 PM, 10/21/2011

What is this neo-Nazi strain in the Occupy movement? How did National Socialism work the first time around?

So you shut up someone who eloquently states an opposing point of view. That's a victory for the boot on the neck politics of hackers and thugs.

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:47 PM, 10/21/2011

I'm confused why anyone who rejects the abysmal treatment of the Palestinians (admittedly by Israel AND their Arab neighbors)is an anti-semitic Nazi? How would you react if foreigners came to your neighborhood, burned your house and farm, shot and arrested your children when they try to defend you, and denied you any recourse?

— MontcoKevin

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:09 PM, 10/21/2011

good

— Yakov

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:11 PM, 10/21/2011

Cantor punked out -- bottom line.

— union proud

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:15 PM, 10/21/2011

I for one am impressed that this GOP stalwart is so confident in his views that he was unwilling to show up just because a few people might stand outside with signs. Dont these republicans claim to love America so much? How can you love america but resent the notion of free speech that expresses views you don't agree with. Cantor wouldnt last 10 minutes in a northern liberal city, he was probably looking for a reason to cancel. The GOP loves rich people, but not their left leaning kids who go to schools like Penn.

— Yakov

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:17 PM, 10/21/2011

Nobody believes that the average American can't have a decent standard of living if other people have good salaries and health insurance and pension plans. It was never an issue before. Everyone believes that if America doesn't have a robust and healthy middle class, you can't have wealth. If the wealthy have the idea that America can become Mexico and they can sustain their standard of living or move to another country, they are seriously out of touch with reality. Imagine business in a world where the US military doesn't provide security and stability. The wealthy are doing great now and paying their taxes at the current rate and we have massive deficits and are talking about significant cuts in military spending. In other words, we can't sustain the conditions that allow the wealthy to be wealthy without the American middle class. IT'S SIMPLE MATH!

— MikeP

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:19 PM, 10/21/2011

typical right winger, when the heat goes up he runs far away... SEE YA!

— fishtownsteve

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About The Philly Clout Team

Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com

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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.

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