WASHINGTON – Singer Justin Bieber is in trouble with the American public, and they want him to get out of town.
More than 200,000 people have signed petitions to deport him for his “terrible” influence on the nation’s youth, his bad music and his “drug-abusing” destructive behavior.
Bieber was recently arrested for drag racing down a Miami Beach street and faces charges in Toronto for allegedly assaulting a limo driver. The trials of the 19-year-old pop star are favoured topics across U.S. national news stations and are no doubt a boost to the fading image on the teen rocker from Stratford, Ont.
So far Americans have filed two petitions on the White House website, demanding Bieber’s deportation and the revocation of his green card. In total, the petitions received 213,944 signatures as of noon Thursday.
The first petition was filed Jan. 23, by the anonymous J.A., of Detroit.
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Justin Bieber is swarmed by media and police officers as he turns himself into city police in Toronto on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Toronto police say pop star Justin Bieber did not film a video promoting his music while in their custody. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
It states: “We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture. We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nations youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society.”
Support so far: 199,095 signatures and rising.
The second petition, filed by RadioNOW 100.9, of Indianapolis, states: “Forescore (sic) and 19 years ago America was a place of serenity before our ears were tainted by Justin Bieber’s abominable music and the images of him peeing in mop buckets and atop the snowcapped Colorado mountains. He has shown that he is incapable of contributing anything to our society other than stimulating the marijuana industry, single-handedly keeping the saggy hammer-pants trend alive, and giving Selena Gomez inspiration to write break-up songs. Taxpayers say NO MORE to footing the bill for his little jail slumber parties. Send him back to Canada, revoke his green card and his hair gel. RadioNOW 100.9 believes that insuring Bieber-free streets is the only way to insure that we the people of the United States can once again achieve liberty and justice for all..even one less lonely girl.”
Support so far: 23,590 signatures and climbing.
But a battle of petitions is forming. Bieber supporters have filed three counter petitions.
One demands the White House “Stop Justin Bieber from getting deported. He is a human being and he makes mistakes.”
Filed Jan. 25 by A.G. in Hobart, Indiana, it states: “The whole idea of Justin Drew Bieber getting deported, is completely unfair. He doesn’t deserve this…. With your help, we can stop it. He’s human. He’s not perfect. The media sees the bad side of him. Please. He’s saved so many lives. Including mine. A lifesaver, Shouldn’t deserve this.”
Support so far: 3,202 signatures and limping.
A second petition demands the White House: “Consider to not deport Justin Bieber.”
Filed Jan. 24 by J.C. of Paterson, New Jersey, it states: “Instead of looking at all the horrible events that Justin Bieber has been through why not the good? People only look at his bad boy aura and not everything that he has done to help around the world. He has donated so much money to charity’s (sic) but people over look that fact. Also, what about all these celebrity’s (sic) that have done so much worse. For example, Chris Brown was charged for women abuse but was let off the hook. Just because he’s Justin Bieber and not some rapper doesn’t mean he deserves this.”
Total support so far: 1745. Not great, but it’s early days.
The U.S. first amendment gives citizens the right to petition the government to take action on pretty well any issue they want. Americans make full use of this right with dozens of petitions filed daily.
Other recent petitions demand the government invade the Ukraine, legalize cannabis across the U.S., renew unemployment insurance and allow tow trucks to run colors in their light bars other than amber.
Petitions must reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days to get a response from the White House. The administration will definitely have to respond to the Bieber situation.
Another prominent Canadian to win petition status is Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. But the petition to make him an honorary American citizen went nowhere.
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