'Deport Justin Bieber' petition reaches 100,000 signatures, prompting White House response
Some Americans want Canadian pop-singer Justin Bieber out of the US so badly that they are getting their government involved. A “Deport Justin Bieber” petition has collected over 100, 000 signatures, meaning the Obama Administration must respond.
The petition, submitted six days ago on the White House’s “We The People” website, now has 118,669 (a total by 21:00 GMT) signatures, and the number keeps growing.
“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,” the petition reads.
Non-Beliebers say Canadian pop-singer is "not only threatening the safety” of people in the US “but is also a terrible influence on our nation's youth."
The threshold of at least 100,000 signatories triggers a required response from President Obama, though the White House does not give itself a limit to address petitions. So, it may take weeks, months or even years before the Administration gets around to it. Generally, the administration responds to petitions that surpass the threshold within 30 days.
The petition seems to be further proof of just how serious America takes Bieber.
News of Bieber’s arrest over a DUI in Miami last week has overshadowed, it seems, even one of the hottest topics of recent weeks and months: the NSA and its surveillance program. Even the President’s keynote State of the Union speech likely fought for media coverage against expansive coverage of the young pop-star’s hijinks with the law.
Recently, MSNBC cut off Congresswoman Jane Harman’s live interview mid-sentence to cut to news of Justin Bieber, while she discussed the recommendations for the NSA by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The watchdog’s report slammed NSA hoarding of phone data, calling it ‘illegal.’
“…We've got some breaking news out of Miami, stand by if you will. Right now in Miami Justin Bieber has been arrested on a number of charges," announced Andrea Mitchell, the MSNBC news anchor, interrupting the congresswoman as he was just about to call on Congress to “seriously consider discontinuing section 215.”
The White House has confirmed in email responses to several US media outlets that the petition to deport Justin Bieber will be treated just like any other and will be reviewed and responded to.
“Every petition that crosses the threshold will be reviewed by the appropriate staff and receive a response. Response times vary based on total volume of petitions, subject matter, and a variety of other factors,” the White House said.
