The who are you US congressman

[krashkart]

This is the United States. People have a right to treat each other like crap here.




Not that that's a good thing. It's just true. Don't let the friendliness fool you.

[tater]

MSNBC said the guy was a victim of "ambush" journalism. I read another story where they described the incident (I kid you not) as the congressman hugging the guy.

He had every right to ASK who the kid was, you can ASK anything you want, the kid had no responsibility to tell him, and no one ever has the right to physically assault someone except in self defense. They should press criminal charges against him.

[AVGWarhawk]

He just needs to learn to say, "No comment." Then just walk away. That ploy has worked for decades.

[mookiemookie]

Did he look absolutely sh*tfaced to anyone else?

But that kid in the video is one of Breitbart's minions. While physically assaulting someone is over the line, it makes you wonder how the video was edited (as Breitbart is famous for) and what they're not showing. How did they antagonize the guy to the point where he gets physically violent?

[tater]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Did he look absolutely sh*tfaced to anyone else?

But that kid in the video is one of Breitbart's minions. While physically assaulting someone is over the line, it makes you wonder how the video was edited (as Breitbart is famous for) and what they're not showing. How did they antagonize the guy to the point where he gets physically violent?

There is no possible way to un-edit that to make it acceptable. Laying hands on someone is assault, period.

And yeah, he looked drunk to me, too.

So we have an elected representative drunk while he's at work, who also assaults people.

[tater]

BTW, were the video somehow nefariously edited, the congressman would not have apologized so readily. Which he did.

He should lose his job, frankly. When you are a public figure like that, you will get questioned by many people. If you are incapable of dealing with it—knowing full well you are being filmed—without resorting to violence, you lack the demeanor to hold office IMO.

He should get booted.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by tater

BTW, were the video somehow nefariously edited, the congressman would not have apologized so readily. Which he did.

Sure he would have. He was filmed physically assaulting someone. Which is completely beyond the pale.

But it still doesn't change the fact that Breitbart has a history of doing that sort of thing. While I don't condone assault, and yes, he deserves to lose his job, I also don't condone "Hey let's screw with that guy to the point of him losing it, and film the results"

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by tater

There is no possible way to un-edit that to make it acceptable. Laying hands on someone is assault, period.

And yeah, he looked drunk to me, too.

So we have an elected representative drunk while he's at work, who also assaults people.

EDIT: I thought it was battery, but I looked up the DC statutes and they don't separate assault and battery, they just have an all inclusive "assault", so I was wrong.

by the way, voluntary intoxication is only a defense when there is a very specific intent required for the crime; battery (or assault) isn't one of them.

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Did he look absolutely sh*tfaced to anyone else?

But that kid in the video is one of Breitbart's minions. While physically assaulting someone is over the line, it makes you wonder how the video was edited (as Breitbart is famous for) and what they're not showing. How did they antagonize the guy to the point where he gets physically violent?

Yes! I was about to post the same thing! Well, I thought he sounded drunk. Or maybe I just haven't heard that variation of the southern drawl before.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

He just needs to learn to say, "No comment." Then just walk away. That ploy has worked for decades.

Part of being an elected official used to mean acting in a professional manner. Congresshumans have been harassed for about 220 years by the public. If you can't keep on walking and maintain some dignity, then you should not be a congresshuman.

Sure both parties acted jerks. But there was no cause for this congressman to act that way.