U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, the Republican majority leader in the U.S. House, canceled his scheduled speech at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business because if was going to be open to the first 300 people who showed up. Given that hundreds of Occupy Philadelphia protesters were planning to march from City Hall to the campus to protest the speech, that could have been lively audience. "The Office of the Majority Leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met," Cantor spokeswoman Laena Fallon said in an email. "Wharton is a educational leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Majority Leader appreciated the invitation to speak with the students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the UPenn community."
Cantor had expected that his speech, on income disparity in the country, would be open to the media, Wharton students and faculty and guests of the university.
We can't help but feel a strong current of irony running through all this, since Cantor's Congressional office put out a curious YouTube video this week that was all about him promoting success and leadership. What was it Woody Allen said about success? Oh right: "Eighty percent of success is just showing up."
