It started as an experiment borne of curiosity: what would happen if one attended a president's speech wearing a T-shirt bearing his opponent's name?
John Prather, a math professor at Ohio University's Eastern Campus, found out for himself at a rally for President Bush in Cambridge, Ohio.
He was asked to leave the rally after showing up wearing a Kerry for President shirt, and an e-mail he wrote about the experience has been zipping around the Internet since then, appearing on Web logs (commonly known as blogs) and even giving Prather bold-faced-name treatment in a Washington Post gossip column.
Prather, who describes himself as a moderate Democrat, said he was planning to go see Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., speak in his hometown of Wheeling, W. Va., July 31. When he heard from a friend that Bush would be in Cambridge that same day, he got a ticket to both events.
Where I live
you don't get to hear two presidents in one day said Prather, who supports Kerry in the election.
Though he wanted to hear Bush speak, Prather did not want to be seen as supporting his policies, so he donned the Kerry shirt. He said that most people did not hassle him waiting in line.
Most people were polite he said. They might have been avoiding me
but they were polite.
At an outer security checkpoint, a guard asked Prather to turn his shirt inside out, and he complied. Then at the main entrance to the event, Prather said he was told to take the shirt off. Again, he said he agreed and put on a non-political red
white and blue shirt.
Once inside, Prather said he was watched and was asked to leave after about 15 minutes.
The Bush campaign could not be reached for comment, but campaign spokesman Terry Holt told the Washington Post, Unfortunately
there have been a number of people who have sought to be disruptive
and unfortunately a small disruptive presence can ruin an event for the rest of the people who go to see the president and participate in the event.
Before leaving the event, Prather bought a Bush T-shirt to wear to the Kerry event later that day. He put the Bush shirt on just before entering the Kerry rally and said no one really said anything to me.
After getting into the Kerry event without incident, Prather replaced the Bush shirt with that of the candidate he really supports.
Prather said he might go see the president speak again, if he can get in.
I expect my name's going to be on some list at this point
he said.
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