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Etheridge caught in on-camera confrontation

Redress said:
Etheridge reacted poorly. I think there is no real question there. I do to an extent feel for him. Just because you are a public official does not mean people should be able to try and get an on camera interview any time they want. The kid was being a dick. That does not excuse Etheridge's behavior, but he was not the only one whose behavior was inappropriate.
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LOL, you guys will support anything with a D next to it. Wow.
 
Redress said:
Etheridge reacted poorly. I think there is no real question there. I do to an extent feel for him. Just because you are a public official does not mean people should be able to try and get an on camera interview any time they want. The kid was being a dick. That does not excuse Etheridge's behavior, but he was not the only one whose behavior was inappropriate.
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Kind of like Palin's new neighbor.
 
Etheridge reacted like an idiot. The kid was being a prick, but the proper response would have been to ignore him or sling some verbal insults his way. I personally don't consider what he did to be serious enough to get the police involved, but the law is the law and he should receive no special treatment for his political status.
 
Redress said:
Etheridge reacted poorly. I think there is no real question there. I do to an extent feel for him. Just because you are a public official does not mean people should be able to try and get an on camera interview any time they want. The kid was being a dick. That does not excuse Etheridge's behavior, but he was not the only one whose behavior was inappropriate.
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Kids do that, Assault, however is illegal, he could have kept walking. He chose poorly.
 
American said:
Kind of like Palin's new neighbor.
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Well, a little, yes. I note I thought that was inappropriate too. Every one deserves some space from prying eyes. In this case, walking down the street, trying to get somewhere, I can see the desire to be left alone.

And again, this does not excuse his behavior. If he has said "I don't have time", or even "**** off and leave me alone here" I would not have had a problem with it, but to grab the kid, that is simply wrong.
 
rathi said:
Etheridge reacted like an idiot. The kid was being a prick, but the proper response would have been to ignore him or sling some verbal insults his way. I personally don't consider what he did to be serious enough to get the police involved, but the law is the law and he should receive no special treatment for his political status.
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What if the kid, in fear of his safety, reacted more violently, breaking the doods nose or knocking him out. There is a reason simple assault is illegal.


If someone grabbed me or my wife like that, it wouldn't have ended like this, even if I was standing on the corner, being a dick to a passerby.
 
Erod said:
LOL, you guys will support anything with a D next to it. Wow.
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I don't think pointing out someone else's wrongdoing is meant to absolve the Representative. In fact, the person you're directing your comment at specifically does hold the Representative accountable.

You're attempting to pick a fight where there isn't one, and you're accusing someone of something they didn't do.

That's a cheap shot, as well as dishonest.

rathi said:
Etheridge reacted like an idiot. The kid was being a prick, but the proper response would have been to ignore him or sling some verbal insults his way. I personally don't consider what he did to be serious enough to get the police involved, but the law is the law and he should receive no special treatment for his political status.
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I dunno. I think it's pretty serious when a member of our law-making body commits a felony.

Reverend_Hellh0und said:
Kids do that, Assault, however is illegal, he could have kept walking. He chose poorly.
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Agreed.

Redress said:
Well, a little, yes. I note I thought that was inappropriate too. Every one deserves some space from prying eyes. In this case, walking down the street, trying to get somewhere, I can see the desire to be left alone.
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He was walking down the street after a political engagement. He was not on his own property trying to enjoy some private time. He is a public figure that was at a public function. He didn't get a taxi, he wasn't in a car. He had no reasonable expectation of privacy and should have been prepared for to be approached by citizens.

By the way, the day someone tells me I don't have a right to question my duly elected government, is the day I'll thank them for the offer of a new outfit with the swastika on it, but I think I'll have to decline.
 
He didn't assault them. (unless DC has a different statutory definition)

In fact, it could be argued that they assaulted him.
 
Alastor said:
He was walking down the street after a political engagement. He was not on his own property trying to enjoy some private time. He is a public figure that was at a public function. He didn't get a taxi, he wasn't in a car. He had no reasonable expectation of privacy and should have been prepared for to be approached by citizens.

By the way, the day someone tells me I don't have a right to question my duly elected government, is the day I'll thank them for the offer of a new outfit with the swastika on it, but I think I'll have to decline.
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Do not put words in my mouth. Whether what the kid did was legal or not I did not comment on(it is legal). What I said is that from a practical standpoint, it was the wrong time and place to do it. That politicians should be able to walk down the street without being ambushed by some one with a camera and a loaded question.

You have every right to question your government, but there is a time and place for everything. Nice job with the Nazi reference though, no thread is complete without one of those.
 
Erod said:
LOL, you guys will support anything with a D next to it. Wow.
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I was unaware that the words "poorly" and "inappropriate" indicated support. Can I borrow that weird dictionary you have so I know what words to use to get across my message?
 
The kid sounded like a little **** to be honest. No need to politisize this time, come on guys, the congressman should not have done what he did, he should know better with stuff like youtube around. Whether he will be charged with assault is up to the police. Let's not politisize this, BAD CONGRESSMAN BAD!!!! :naughty:naughty
 
That tool James O'Keef has not got every pimple-face college freshman thinking he's Woodward and Bernstein...

These assholes walked up to a congressman, stuck a camera in his face, and asked a stupid question. The congressman was annoyed with the little boys, playing at their little boy games. And he quickly showed them he could kick both their punk asses back to Jr. College journalism school.

"We're doing a project." Then make an appointment, idiots!

This will be the lead story on Fox tonight.
 
Etheridge responds:

“I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”
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Redress said:
Etheridge responds:

“I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”
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That should be the end of it, right there. 'Sorry, boys, I lost my cool. Come by the office and I'll give you 2 minutes.' Bam. Done.

But no-oooo Fox and Druge are going to have a field day blowing this wa-aaay out of proportion. (as the partisan far-righties have already done here)
 
hazlnut said:
He didn't assault them. (unless DC has a different statutory definition)

In fact, it could be argued that they assaulted him.
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Did anyone expect anything different?
"It could be argued they assaulted him"?

Haznut: You could be right, hate to say it.

So, you are saying that asking a question of a Democrat about Obama is an assault?
OK. I might believe that.
Obama is an assault on America, so mentioning it to a Democrat is now an assault on a Democrat?
Plausible, if you are a Democrat.

My, how low Obama's sunken. He's sunken so low his own party sees him as a weapon used in an assault.
Obi. Weapon of Mass Democrat Destruction.
Use at your own peril.
Punishable by the full force of the law.

Democrat: Did you say Obama to me?
Citizen: Well, yes Sir? Will you answer the question?
Democrat: You do know it is punishable by law? An assault?
Citizen: Obama?
Democrat: (Holding student in a full-Nelson after cuffing him one) Son, there you go again. What's your name? Where do you go to school?

Ethridge:
“I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”
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Why do I not believe this?

Obama, Obama, Obama...
ROTFLOL.

.
 
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Redress said:
Etheridge reacted poorly. I think there is no real question there. I do to an extent feel for him. Just because you are a public official does not mean people should be able to try and get an on camera interview any time they want.
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Actually that's exactly what it means. These people make their money from being popular and they get angry when people try to photograph or videotape them? Gimme a break. It would be one thing if it was a person who became famous involuntarily, but movie stars and politicians went out willingly to intentionally gain that attention and then they have the audacity to act all outraged when they get it? :roll: He's a public figure, ****ing deal with it.
 
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hazlnut said:
He didn't assault them. (unless DC has a different statutory definition)

In fact, it could be argued that they assaulted him.
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Really? Videotaping public figures in public and asking them questions in public is assault now? Are you out of your ****ing mind?
 
hazlnut said:
He didn't assault them. (unless DC has a different statutory definition)

In fact, it could be argued that they assaulted him.
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Really?


so if I were to swing at you, grab your neck, hold your wrist and refuse to let go, you would simply have to deal with it?


Seriously?

If he was a republican you would be all over him. :roll:
 
Re: Congressman Assaults Student Asking if he supported the Obama Administration Agen

hmm... what would I do if some guy(or a couple of guys) came up to me, asked for a very specific viewpoint, then pulled up a cell-phone and held it within 2ft or so of my face after refusing to tell me who they are or where theyre from ?
 
hazlnut said:
That tool James O'Keef has not got every pimple-face college freshman thinking he's Woodward and Bernstein...

These assholes walked up to a congressman, stuck a camera in his face, and asked a stupid question. The congressman was annoyed with the little boys, playing at their little boy games. And he quickly showed them he could kick both their punk asses back to Jr. College journalism school.

"We're doing a project." Then make an appointment, idiots!

This will be the lead story on Fox tonight.
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so it's not assault, but he then showed them he could kick some kids ass?


:doh:


You need to get real my friend.
 
Re: Congressman Assaults Student Asking if he supported the Obama Administration Agen

WhyteRash said:
hmm... what would I do if some guy(or a couple of guys) came up to me, asked for a very specific viewpoint, then pulled up a cell-phone and held it within 2ft or so of my face after refusing to tell me who they are or where theyre from ?
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Keep walking? :shrug:
 
Um... do you understand the difference between assault (threat of violence) and battery (physical violence)??

It's not partisan, Rev. It's just words that you're misusing...
 
Agent Ferris said:
Really? Videotaping public figures in public and asking them questions in public is assault now? Are you out of your ****ing mind?
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I see two little jerks running up to an old man and shoving a camera in his face asking a stuttering-John type question meant to provoke him.... what do you see?

What I love about this guy and the far-rightie's response to the story is how you all talk so big about your guns and your wars and your "taking back the country" but when some old dude grabs you by the scuff of your neck, you practically wet your pants...

Classic!!:peace:peace:lamo:lamo

I think the reason the faces were blurred out is to hide the tears in the little boy's eyes when he found out the other meaning of 'gotcha journalism...' -- when your intended victim grabs you and says: "Who are you?"
 
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