Congressman Manhandles Interviewer...

14 years ago

I have to say if I were walking down the street and someone stuck a camera in my face and started asking leading questions - I'd do the same thing.

I know it's called "rights" but accosting someone on the sidewalk to promote YOUR agenda is asking for an angry response.

What the man asked was "what is your name" - sounds like a logical question.

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ThomM 14 years ago

Geez he gave the kid a hug
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Dan C. Rinnert 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

I have to say if I were walking down the street and someone stuck a camera in my face and started asking leading questions - I'd do the same thing.

Are you a public figure like a politician? It's one thing for someone to start asking a random person on the street a question, but an entirely different situation when the person is a public figure.

What the man asked was "what is your name" - sounds like a logical question.

And, if he didn't get an answer, he could have simply walked away. Instead, he grabbed the guy. It's not like the students were grabbing and holding the politician trying to force him to answer. No, the physical assault was all the politician's doing. There was no excuse for that. He could have said he wasn't going to answer their questions unless they identified themselves. He could have asked them to leave him alone. He could have said "No comment." He could have walked away.
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KenThompson

14 years ago

That would be assault probably in most states. The politician
was completely out of line and should be reprimanded, or charges
should be levied.

Interesting thought is that it was obvious he was dealing with a
young person. I doubt he would try that with a grown man. And
if he did and the man responded in kind, I would not be surprised if
this politician pressed charges against him.

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Alan Petersen 14 years ago

I agree with Dan. He's a public figure, walking on a public street. He should be charged with assault. They forget they represent the people and we have every right to ask them where they stand on issues. If he didn't want to answer then say no comment or say nothing and keep walking.
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- ThomM 14 years ago
  
  I don't really condone his actions, though some days I could do worse for less.
  What got me was he asked the kid who he was and couldn't get a straight answer. Politician or not, if a stranger expects you to answer some questions, they should be prepared to answer a few themselves.
  
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Alan Petersen

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Meh. Staged political theater from college kids.

What does "Meh" mean? I've seen that before. Is that like saying BS?

Anyway... political theater or not he shouldn't have taken the bait then and should still be charged with assault.

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Lawrh

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Alan Petersen

What does "Meh" mean? I've seen that before. Is that like saying BS?

Indifference.

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Kay King

14 years ago

He's a public figure, walking on a public street. He should be charged with assault. They forget they represent the people and we have every right to ask them where they stand on issues. If he didn't want to answer then say no comment or say nothing and keep walking.

B.S. - I'll say that instead of "meh". Maybe the student forgot basic good manners - like introducing yourself before you shove a camera in someone's face to call attention to YOUR agenda?

Being a "representative of the people" shouldn't make you a target for every self important goofball who wants a moment of glory on youtube.

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January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.

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MissTerraK 14 years ago

I saw this on the news this morning and some are saying it was staged by his opponents or the opposing party.

This world is being overcome by underhanded tactics everywhere.:rolleyes:

Everyone one should be held accountable for their actions especially leaders IMHO.

Terra
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- TimPhelan 14 years ago
  
  Some strange things go on in Carolina politics. Too bad we couldn't talk about that guy Green who just got nominated to run for Senator in South Carolina. Jon Stewart calls South Carolina America's Woopeee Cushion. lol
  
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Dan C. Rinnert

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

B.S. - I'll say that instead of "meh". Maybe the student forgot basic good manners - like introducing yourself before you shove a camera in someone's face to call attention to YOUR agenda?

Oh, boo-hoo. Someone call for a waaaambulance because the student didn't introduce himself.

How does that justify physical violence? As has already been mentioned, the politician had a number of options that did not include physically accosting the student.

I wonder how the reactions would be different if it was the student who had physically accosted the politician, or if the student the politician grabbed had been a woman?

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matrix1989

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

B.S. - I'll say that instead of "meh". Maybe the student forgot basic good manners - like introducing yourself before you shove a camera in someone's face to call attention to YOUR agenda?

Being a "representative of the people" shouldn't make you a target for every self important goofball who wants a moment of glory on youtube.

BS

it's an issue of rights.

He has no RIGHT to put his hands on that kid. When you infringe on the rights of others you should be held accountable. It doesn't matter if someone was rude or not....

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Ernie Lo

14 years ago

LOL please...thats NOT assault:rolleyes: I grew up everyday experincing much worse than that....

Not saying what he did was right because I agree he should NOT of touched the kid...but still its not so black and white, why should he get a criminal record he didnt really hurt the kid.

Its a bit like the workplace these days...a guy cant even flirt with a women collegue as its "sexual assault" pfft....ridicolous.

Yeah dont flame me either dont want to hear it..the kid was annoying him and didnt even ask "could we please ask you a couple of questions"...

Originally Posted by Alan Petersen

What does "Meh" mean? I've seen that before. Is that like saying BS?

Anyway... political theater or not he shouldn't have taken the bait then and should still be charged with assault.

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Kurt

14 years ago

Yes, the politician was wrong. But what real harm was done? The kid wasn't hurt in any way and got his 15 minutes of fame. Can't we realize that politicians are human and sometimes just have a bad day?

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HeySal

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

Yes, the politician was wrong. But what real harm was done? The kid wasn't hurt in any way and got his 15 minutes of fame. Can't we realize that politicians are human and sometimes just have a bad day?

Sure - when it is realized that WE can have a bad day, too and not get arrested for this very same type of behavior.

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Kurt 14 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

Sure - when it is realized that WE can have a bad day, too and not get arrested for this very same type of behavior.

Yep...I would be against anyone else being "arrested" under similar circumstances, especially if the person didn't have any pervious record of similar behavior. There were no punches thrown, no pain caused.

This is why I don't think this should be a big deal and am treating him like I would anyone else. Just because he's a politician doesn't mean he should be treated worse than others, unless he has a voting record that persecutes others that have done something similar.

At worst, I'd sentence him to 8 hours of being the kid's butler. Seems to be a fair punishment that fits the crime.
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salegurus

14 years ago

Wow, i have never seen this country so divided, even the most unimportant news event turns into a argument with people taking sides right or left.

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HeySal

14 years ago

I will qualify my statement, though Kurt.

Our government officials are starting to act like we are their servants instead of visa versa - and this reaction could be an indication of how he feels about his constituents. I think it would be really advisable for them, when stopped on the street like this to either take a minute to comment or at least to say they don't have time for comments at the moment instead of just pushing people around literally the way they are doing legislatively. Incumbents are not making it through this time around and he should probably take note of that. This situation is bad press if nothing else. He just plain messed up, bad hair day or not.

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Kay King 14 years ago

this reaction could be an indication of how he feels

Or it could be he's in a hurry or deep in thought, or just got bad news or just wants to be left alone. You can take any simple scenario and spin it into a big problem - if that's what you like to do. I doubt the student is one of his constituents anyway.

Elected officials are our representatives, not our servants. They should not be expected to be "on" 24/7 nor to be receptive to being interrupted just because someone else wants a moment of fame.

It was a small and insignificant incident - spun into importance by a privileged college kid to give people a reason to scream about their "rights".
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Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
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KimW

14 years ago

This generation goes everywhere with cameras,hoping for situations like this.
Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame,which is also why television and the glut of "reality" shows really has become the vast wasteland.

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garyv

14 years ago

Wow, talk about major hypocrisy. We can label an entire group of people violent angry racists. And yet out of the millions that attend their rallies, I have yet to see a video w/ even half the violence this one had.

How do you think this would be portrayed in the media, if those kids were wearing acorn shirts, and the old guy was wearing a Tea party shirt? The old guy would be labeled a threat to our national security.

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Kay King 14 years ago

Amazing how much of a "story" people can construct from one small human interaction.

Racist- media - acorn- hypocrisy - tea party - violent?

That's too much baggage for me. And also why I seldom visit youtube except for the occasional link posted here.
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Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
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Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
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KimW

14 years ago

Kay,
You couldn't have said it better.

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HeySal

14 years ago

Elected officials are our representatives, not our servants. They should not be expected to be "on" 24/7 nor to be receptive to being interrupted just because someone else wants a moment of fame.

Neither are we their livestock. Would you accept treatment like that from a man in your home if he's having a bad day or feeling you to be intrusive at the moment? Being a politician doesn't give someone a right to shove someone around when "Excuse me, but I am not able to discuss this right now" might have been appropriate action from someone who's career is paid from our pockets. Especially at a time that many of them are expressing true contempt for so many of their own constituents. The guy needs to undergo the same prosecution for this one as any other citizen would.

I'm not saying that it's right that any prosecution exists for something like this........but we know who made the laws, so let them be bound by them, too.

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Sal
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KimW

14 years ago

"LOL please...thats NOT assault:rolleyes: I grew up everyday experincing much worse than that...."

In the state of Virgina that would definitely be considered assault.
I'm paraphasing but any "unarthorized touching" is cosnidered assault here.

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Ernie Lo

14 years ago

I know its "considered" assault....my point was it shouldn't be. Would that if been considered assault 20 years ago? Nope and it shouldnt be today either.

The guy was an idiot for grabbing the kid I'm not denying that but should he really get a record, charged and maybe even jail for that? I dont believe so.

Originally Posted by KimW

"LOL please...thats NOT assault:rolleyes: I grew up everyday experincing much worse than that...."

In the state of Virgina that would definitely be considered assault.
I'm paraphasing but any "unarthorized touching" is cosnidered assault here.

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KimW

14 years ago

OK, I agree 100% with that.

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Congressman Manhandles Interviewer...

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