WWE garb allowed at polls, Connecticut judge rules (whew!)
If you鈥檙e a Stone Cold Steve Austin fan who鈥檚 registered to vote in Connecticut, we鈥檝e got great news! A federal judge has ruled that it鈥檚 OK for you to dress up like your hero when you go to the polls to cast your ballot next Tuesday.
No, we鈥檙e not making this up. On Wednesday US District Judge Janet Bond Arterton ruled that Nutmeg State election officials must allow voters to wear World Wrestling Entertainment-themed clothing to the polls.
Such garb cannot be considered political advertising for former WWE CEO and current Connecticut GOP Senate candidate Linda McMahon, said Judge Arterton.
So in this instance at least it appears that the US judiciary fully supports a constitutional right to bare arms.
鈥淚 am pleased that Connecticut voters have had their freedom of expression to wear WWE merchandise and their right to vote restored,鈥� said current WWE CEO Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon鈥檚 husband.
OK, OK, we鈥檙e aware that this case is not really about voters who possibly want to look like a wrestler per se. It鈥檚 about those who might be wearing even a WWE logo on a T-shirt within 75 feet of the polls.
In Connecticut, as in most states, it鈥檚 illegal to overtly electioneer that close to the actual ballot box. And last week, a spokesman for the state鈥檚 top election official had said that WWE items might be construed as political, given Ms. McMahon鈥檚 background. This raised the possibility that wrestling-fan voters might be asked to cover up if they appeared with 鈥淲WE鈥� on a hat, shirt, or other piece of clothing.
Mr. McMahon quickly filed a lawsuit to clarify the situation. He won. Smack down!
鈥�Vince McMahon was trying to make an issue where there wasn鈥檛 one. So the lawsuit didn鈥檛 have traction because it didn鈥檛 have a legal basis,鈥� said Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, a Democrat. 鈥淪o I am happy that this issue is cleared up so we can just move on with a smooth election.鈥�
So what will the likely tens of individuals this ruling affects actually wear? The WWE online shop offers many good ideas, from a Stone Cold Steve Austin Adult Halloween Costume, which features a 100 percent polyester muscle chest with attached vest, to a Randy Orton Viper Top T-shirt, to a simple Rey Mysterio Blue/Silver Replica Mask (only $49.99!).
Overall, the Connecticut Senate race has been a tough match, but at this point Ms. McMahon鈥檚 opponent, the Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, has the upper hand, according to polls. The Real Clean Politics average of recent surveys puts him 12.5 percentage points in the lead.
