Shut Up and Bid! Support the Bridgie Chicks!

These bridge-playing champions on my left are about to be stripped like Chuck Conners in Branded because they played the unthinkable trick:

They held up a handmade sign at an award dinner, that said, "We did not vote for Bush."

And then laughed about it.  —The fiends!

Today's Times reports, in Anti-Bush Sign Has Bridge World in an Uproar , that some powerful, enraged, and unbelievably stuffy bridge players have accused the women players of “treason” and “sedition.” Not to mention being uppity bitches.

“This isn’t a free-speech issue,” said Jan Martel, president of the United States Bridge Federation. “There isn’t any question that private organizations can control the speech of people who represent them.”

Remind me not to invite Jan to any close Constitutional readings.

Ms. Martel said the action by the team, which had won the Venice Cup, the women’s title, at the Shanghai event, could cost the federation corporate sponsors.

The players have been stunned by the reaction to what they saw as a spontaneous gesture, “a moment of levity,” said Gail Greenberg, the team’s non-playing captain and winner of 11 world championships.

In other words, everyone had a cocktail or two at this event.

The controversy has gone global, with the French team offering support for its American counterparts.

“By trying to address these issues in a nonviolent, nonthreatening and lighthearted manner,” the French team wrote in by e-mail to the federation’s board and others, “you were doing only what women of the world have always tried to do when opposing the folly of men who have lost their perspective of reality.”

French allies, eh? These people are a hair away from Gitmo.

The proposed sanctions would hurt the team’s playing members financially. “I earn my living from bridge, and a substantial part of that from being hired to compete in high-level competitions,” Debbie Rosenberg, a team member, said. “So being barred would directly affect much of my ability to earn a living.”

A hearing is scheduled this month in San Francisco, where thousands of players will be gathered for the Fall North American Bridge Championships. It will determine whether displaying the sign constitutes conduct unbecoming a federation member.

I hope there is a whole-scale riot.

The sanction calls for a one-year suspension from federation events, including the World Bridge Olympiad next year in Beijing; a one-year probation after that suspension; 200 hours of community service “that furthers the interests of organized bridge”; and an apology drafted by the federation’s lawyer.

It would also require them to write a statement telling “who broached the idea of displaying the sign, when the idea was adopted, etc.”

Alan Falk, a lawyer for the federation, wrote the four team members on Nov. 6, “I am instructed to press for greater sanction against anyone who rejects this compromise offer.”

Sacre bleu! Has there EVER been a punishment on this scale in the women's bridge federation? What are they going to do when someone gets caught shoplifting, or shooting someone?

Many of those offended by the sign do not consider the expressions of regret sufficient. “I think an apology is kind of specious,” said Jim Kirkham, who has played in several bridge championships. “It’s not that I don’t forgive them, but I still think they should be punished.”

Would he personally like to administer the "punishment?" What a sanctimonious prig! No wonder bridge is going the way of the dodo bird.

Robert S. Wolff, one of the country’s pre-eminent bridge players, opined....

“While I believe in the right to free speech, to me that doesn’t give anyone the right to criticize one’s leader at a foreign venue in a totally nonpolitical event,” he wrote by e-mail.

Oh, Robert "believes" in free speech, does he? Is that like believing in the tooth fairy? It's not a church, you idiot, it's the law. Whatever he "believes," he is entitled to express it, just like the Bridgie Chicks are entitled to say what they like, especially over victory drinks and dinner!

As blogger Hot Air wrote this morning, "I’ve got a better idea: How about a simple press release noting that anyone who can’t get through a card game without declaring his or her opposition to the Bushitler is an abject moron?"

UPDATE: 

Jon Swift's must-read satire:

The First Amendment does not give people the right to yell anti-Bush slogans in a crowded theater, or even to talk during the movie at all. If we let a few lady Bridge players criticize the President, it could spread. The next thing you know Democrats in Congress will start opposing the President's appointments, passing laws against torture or defying him on funding for the Iraq War.

From behind the scenes in competitive bridge:

Another part of the reason I became disillusioned with bridge was the cheating. Bridge has a long history of cheating -- even at the international level...So when I read about the yahoo who held up a sign reading "We didn't vote for Bush" at an international bridge tournament, I can't say it surprised me. She was probably signaling the number of spades she was holding.

Seventh Sense examines the rules carefully:

Does any reasonable person believe the four women were speaking for the United States Bridge Federation when they said "We did not vote for Bush"?

The clear answer is "no".  They were speaking for themselves.

It also seems clear to me that the four women did not violate any rules of the USBF.  You know how you can tell?  Because as a result of this incident, the USBF Board is considering changes to its disciplinary rules to "make certain that an incident like this does not happen again".  Tell tale sign -- if you make the rule after the fact, then it clearly wasn't there before the fact.

John Aravosis points out that the USBF is defending their hardline by saying that the women were wrong to insult China's no-free-speech policies:

The USBF printed a statement on its Web site that says the reason the outburst from the US team was bad is because China is a dictatorship, and dictators don't like free speech.

Here's a snippet from the USBF's  statement about the incident:

[These players' actions] reflect a complete disregard for the fact that the Chinese government, which does not exactly have a history of sympathetic views toward political dissent, provided the bulk of financial support for both the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 World Bridge Olympiad.

Even very conservative pundits are disgusted:

...The bridge organization seems to have also overreacted. Rather than scold the players and let them absorb their due obloquy, they have decided to sanction them for their political speech. The sign did not explicitly violate any rule, apparently, but the club will suspend them for conduct unbecoming a member. In doing so, they have transformed these women from immature, sniveling examples of BDS sufferers into First Amendment martyrs.

Comments

[MacGuges]

Thank you for bringing more light to the encroaching figure of American fascism. This story reminds me of the students at Morton West High School who are now threatened with expulsion for protesting the Iraq war in their cafeteria.

Adults and children alike here have been cautioned against speaking too freely; about incomes, religion, sexuality, politics, whatever. Our corporations regard any communication which may threaten efficiency of their commerce as intolerable, unprofessional and immature. Forget that bridge players have human concerns outside gaming or that high school students deserve education beyond preparation for their employment - the invisible hand of the market will protect us. Ultimately such pragmatism will enable more authoritarianism and more fear.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

"Free speech" as a constitutional issue only constrains the government, not private organizations, as you must know.

It does seem to me bad form to politicize the winner's circle of an event having nothing, previously, to do with politics. Even though I agree with their position. And I can't imagine they're surprised the bridge world is mostly against their position; in fact I'd imagine that's why they felt a need to identify themselves in this way.

[t'Sade]

When the Dixie Chicks did what they did where they did it, I supported them. I'll do the same for these ladies, though I don't play bridge. Free speech should be exercised anywhere and everywhere.

[Anthony Kennerson]

Uhhh, David....that is not the point.

The point is that these women are being basically given the equivalent of "the death penalty" for exercising their right to state their opinions. If they had been conservatives during the Lewinksy scandal promoting a "Impeach Clinton" sign, would you be as exercised??

If the North American Bridge Federation goes through with this sentence, I hope that the women sue their asses off, and break off and form their own organization. Not that I'm a fan of bridge, but fascism and thought control still sucks big time.

Anthony

[Peter Throckmorton]

The email address listed on the USBF website is janmartel@comcast.net, should any of you feel as I did.

=====
Ms Martel...

Your incredible over-reaction is a total affront to the Constitution of the United States and decent people everywhere. I was personally incensed when I heard of it.

If you are truly intent on their being punishment over this affair please be in touch. I would thoroughly enjoy schooling you in subjects of the Bill of Rights, the necessity for levity in day to day human interaction, and the obvious and necessary benefits of your adding a significant amount of fiber to your diet. It would be education to you and punishment to me, and would leave the folks that you have sanctioned alone, as they should be.

Please let me know your next visit to Seattle. We'll have tea.

Peter Throckmorton
Freelance Etiquette Consultant

[Susie Bright]

In my ranting, I forgot to mention, that I used to enjoy playing contract bridge when I was a young teenager. I don't remember a damn thing about it now, but I loved it at the time. We lived in Canada, lots of winter nights were spent playing cards.

It's interesting to me that the game of bridge has a conservative reputation... as opposed to chess, where you hear about all sorts, from left to right to outer space. You can be 'eccentric" in chess. You can be a maverick in all sorts of card games. What is it about bridge, as a game, that enforces a button-down feeling? Or is this just a cruel trick of bridge history?

[rt]

oh, when is the hearing? is it open to the public? i've never played bridge, much to my late great-aunt's chagrin, but i live in san francisco and would love to support these bridge players.

[Nobilis]

I applaud the courage of these women.

I can't imagine how the organization could have handled this any worse; whether they were seeking to preserve the reputation of the organization or prevent criticism they have failed on both counts.

That being said, I don't know that constitutional law applies here. As I understand it, from a legal perspective, it is binding only upon governments. We can hold it up as an ideal, and as a basis for criticism of their actions, but from what I understand (which is minimal) the women do not have much of a legal defense.

[Chuck]

The Card Party for The Fall 2007 NABC (North American Bridge Championships)— Nov. 22 - Dec. 2 in San Francisco CA @ SF MARRIOT

http://www.acbl.org/nabc/SanFrancisco2007/

where

"A hearing is scheduled this month in San Francisco, where thousands of players will be gathered for the Fall North American Bridge Championships. It will determine whether displaying the sign constitutes conduct unbecoming a federation member".

[sally]

what struck me most was that it was said that people were "offended" by this.

Since when is it offensive to mention whom you voted or did not vote for?

If the sign had said "people who voted for Bush are idiots who have the blood of tens of thousands on their hands", then a group would have been mentioned, and they might be in a position to be offended.

This is absurd.

[Susie Bright]

Just a heads up to point you to the updates I just posted. There's a lot of new information and analysis to absorb! You must, must, must, read Jon Swift's satire. Even the USBF attorney read it, and sent him a unintentionally hilarious response.

[C.S. Lewiston]

Electro-pop auteur Moby caught some shit for flashing a "Gore Lieberman" bumper sticker at an awards ceremony 7 years ago:

http://search.pitch.com/2000-09-28/music/moby-great/

[Laurie D. T. Mann]

Talk about your tempest in a teapot!

Yeah, they probably shouldn't have displayed a political sign in that context, but still!

[Harel B]

Thanks for the great updates Susie..Seventh Sense and Aravosis especially...yeah, we're worried about offending the Chinese government's anti-free-speech sentiments now? surreal..

You asked why the conservative aura to bridge..I have to wonder if it has anything to do with the IMAGE that some conservative folks may aspire to, you know, blue blood, prim, proper aristocracy, etc..why else do they give silly names like "fox trot court" to McMansion subdivisions, but to try to make you think of old aristocratic fox hunting etc...well if you want THAT type of thing, chess doesn't do it, video games don't do it, football and frisbee don't do it...Bridge does it. Now "A implies B" is different from "B implies A" and enjoying bridge doesn't mean you do it for that reason..but for certain quarters, if it's not golf, then yes, Bridge fits the bill and Country Club flavor..(even the "liberal" billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett who just told Congress it should do more for the poor and "take more out of the hide of people like me" when they get together, they play...Bridge!) So that's my unscientific take but general hunch as far as your question..I think those kinds of cultural things are at least *partly* related to why bridge might be seen as at least a tad more correlated with being 'conservative'..(of course you can help change that by popularizing a bridge equivalent of poker's Strip Poker game, I suppose :-)

[Steve]

Here's my email to Jan Martel:

I just want to register my dismay at the position of the USBF in regard to the women who held up a sign saying “We did not vote for Bush.”

What kind of idiots must run your organization! How on Earth could you think it would be ok to mete out punishment in this scenario? For goodness sake, take a pill and enjoy the fun! If there is anyone left who thinks it’s an insult to disclaim credit for this miscarriage of a presidency, it must surely be just the people who run your “club.” But most importantly, who the hell cares what sign they held up? If it was meant in fun, you should have just laughed and let it go!

You could not have handled this any worse. I hope you grow up, let the matter drop, and most importantly APOLOGIZE TO THESE WOMEN.

Sincerely,

[Avedon]

As an American living abroad, I'm grateful every time someone lets the world know that we did not all vote for Bush. They could be saving my life.

When I first moved to England it was tedious beyond words to have to keep pointing out to people that most of us did not actually vote for Reagan. Then, they thought we must all be morons. But Bush is worse - they don't just think he's an Alzheimer's case, they think he's evil.

I used to play bridge regularly back home. Over here, I can never find a fourth. I'm not that good at it, but I still read the bridge columns, anyway. This whole thing is pissing me off bigtime.

[Jesurgislac]

Here via Sideshow. I started compiling a list of ludicrous comments and then gave up: I could have gone on forever...

[velvetrut]

Free speech!

Free speech and access to the commons!

People take the airwaves!

Bid!

[Miss L.]

Susie, this is very much like a lite version of the Black Power salute given by Black U.S. athletes while they were being given their Olympic medals in 1968, during another president's falsely justified war.
I just checked Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute, and I see that they suffered a heavy professional and personal toll from this action, now regarded by many as heroic, for many years. I'm afraid we haven't learned very much, and that these women will suffer professionally too.

[Jesurgislac]

Miss L, the USBF board of directors seems to be thinking along the same lines as you:

"World Bridge Championships, like Olympic events, are intended as a respite from politics. India plays against Pakistan. Israel plays against Arab countries. All in a spirit of good will. It is simply not the time or place for any team to make a political statement -- and all participants should know that. The championship rules expressly require participants to abide by the provisions governing Olympic athletes, including the Olympic Charter ban on demonstrations and political propaganda. The women’s team may not have intended their sign as political but it was viewed by many on both sides as making a political statement." (From their Open Letter.)

[AlanDownunder]

Nobilis: I applaud the courage of these women.

And I detest and fear any country where it takes courage for individuals to dissent and for organisations not to punish dissent.

[Nobilis]

Alan: Dissent always requires courage.

[Gopal Tejwani]

I am a bridge player and an ACBL member. If the talked about sanctions are actually imposed on these champion ladies, I will be resigning from my ACBL membership and I will stop playing in ACBL tournaments. I will also devote all my energies in formation of an alternative "Free Speech Contract Bridge League" which was mentioned by Keith Olbermann on MSNBC on November 15, 2007 during his Countdown show segment with Ms. Gail Greenberg and Ms. Jill Levin.