Congressman goes nuts on college student

[deleted3782]

What an appropriate clip for this website. Both the wannabe paparazzi and the overdefensive Etheridge played dicks perfectly.

 

[B_starinvestor]

I don't think the video says anything about House Leadership. Likewise, it says nothing about:

• the President;
• Congress;
• the oil spill in the Gulf; or,
• the proverbial price of rice in China.

In fact, it says nothing about anything.

Perhaps, but at some point the leadership needs to take credit for the successes and the failures.

Another loose cannon in the House. That's what Mr. and Mrs. Joe Janitor will see when they view the footage on the news after they eat a TV Dinner and Pot Pie this evening.

I'm sure the truth will come out in time, and until then I'm going to put my opinion on hold and place a tick in the column of "troubling, but more information needed".

That makes perfect sense, but if everyone aligned to that line of thinking we wouldn't have much of a poli forum here.

If you're not convinced you need to do that, StarInvestor, just take a step back and just ask yourself: "how you can I be so sure that this content -- edited for my consumption -- represents the actual events that occurred?" Even if it went down like that, why would you post it here and insist on implying it's an indictment of the current Administration or its policies? This seems to be about three individuals, one of whom is an elected official. I don't see anybody else in the video.

What could have happened to elicit that type of response that would be justifiable? If the college students just masturbated on the guy's briefcase? I mean, just walk away.

I haven't figure you out yet, but I have to believe there is more to you than this tiresome polemic rhetoric that you post from time to time in this forum. In the interest of improving the forums and the discussions, let's debate the issue of this videotaping incident after facts are established and not let an unknown poster on YouTube tell us what happened or what to think, hmmm?

We have a video. The guy already apologized for his behavior. How much editing do you think could have been added or how much footage manipulated?

[Also, the spellings that were eluding you were "assaulting" and "camera". FWIW, the LPSG forum editor does have a pretty nice spell-check... you can see your accidental misspellings before you post.]

Sorry for the typos. I'm an extremely fast typer, and the spellchecking function doesn't work on my computer for some reason.

 

[Bbucko]

Well said, and the analogy made me smile.

:biggrin1:

Okay, I saw the "Breitbart" name, but I thought I saw a YouTube logo. I am familiar with Breitbart's tactics and persona. I am pretty sure he was the guy who went online just hours after Ted Kennedy died and called him a "prick" and a host of other things. (True or not, you don't do that to someone who can't defend themselves... forget the tastelessness of it.)

Yup: same guy. He's also involved in that whole ACORN pimp-n-ho vid which has since been thoroughly discredited. Classy.

I agree... get law enforcement involved immediately. You would think these self-styled student journalists would have already filed a complaint. I know if that was my kid and that happened to him, I'd be sitting in a D.C. police station right now, asking when charges were going to be filed.

Speaking of "journalists", who blanks out their face when doing legitimate news-gathering (student or not)?

Aside from carrying the Breitbart brand, it was the erasure of the faces that aroused my suspicion regarding the veracity of the vid in question. At the very least it was a prank disguised as an ambush that got out of hand; at most, it's a malicious hatchet-job from a master of dirty tricks.

None of this absolves the congressman from the consequences of his actions. But until we understand the context behind his reaction and learn the extent of the provocation, his motivation remains unknown and his actions cannot be truly judged.

This really needs to be a police matter.

Edited to add: If similar footage of Todd Palin assaulting a group of "students with a camcorder" over a question posed to Sarah ever emerged, certain quarters would be hailing him as a hero.

 

[houtx48]

"I would think that Pelosi would reinforce the simple edict that members of Congress should not assault or attack their constituents, particularly on camara."................ Must have been a new experience for you

 

[dreamer20]

Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge goes crazy on college student conducting research for a class project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwtaZf9_kFY

What does it say about House leadership when members are assualting hard-working college students on camara? The in-fighting and meltdowns in the House make it look like a circus.

That video was their research project star, which required them to play the roles of annoying paparazzi, bait a reaction from Etheridge and put their edited video version of events on breibart.tv and youtube. O'Keefe must have been pleased with the result, but I'm puzzled as to why they edited their faces out.

Star's loathing of Pelosi and Obama is forever making him see patterns where there simply aren't any. It's kinda like seeing Jesus in a potato chip or a burnt piece of toast.

But so we're clear: this video is not just some anonymous YouTube piece of fluff and bother. It originated from Breitbart.tv and is clearly part of an agenda that is not above "creative" editing and outright fabrication that makes Michael Moore look like a contributor to Sixty Minutes.

Yes.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

I would think that Pelosi would reinforce the simple edict that members of Congress should not assault or attack their constituents, particularly on camara.

Aside from pushing pork, embracing illegal immigration and other far left ideals, what exactly in Pelosi doing as Speaker?

It appears as though, under her leadership and with recent events - members are becoming unglued.

And shit rolls downhill.

Pelosi is not responsible for what other Congressmen do outside of the walls of the House. How pathetic and pitiful you've become to take a story like this and make it into a Pelosi character attack.

Then again, being the unoriginal, partisan hack that you are we could all see it coming a mile away. One suggestion next time you make your next 50 or so "I hate Obama/Pelosi" threads... be more original. Oh, and BTW... when you want to play morality police you shouldn't misspell words. I don't really care that much for being a spelling nazi, however, things like do tend to illuminate your hypocrisy even more.

 

[B_starinvestor]

Pelosi is not responsible for what other Congressmen do outside of the walls of the House. How pathetic and pitiful you've become to take a story like this and make it into a Pelosi character attack.

Pelosi is the Speaker. He is under her leadership. You see no connection?

Yet you could rant about the demise of Wall Street under Bush? They didn't even hang out in the same building.

Then again, being the unoriginal, partisan hack that you are we could all see it coming a mile away. One suggestion next time you make your next 50 or so "I hate Obama/Pelosi" threads... be more original. Oh, and BTW... when you want to play morality police you shouldn't misspell words. I don't really care that much for being a spelling nazi, however, things like do tend to illuminate your hypocrisy even more.

This wasn't an 'I hate Pelosi' thread BTW. It was a thread about irresponsible and reprehensible behavior of the congressman. There was a side note about leadership in the House.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

Pelosi is the Speaker. He is under her leadership. You see no connection?

When you don't do your weekly chores, does your mom call your boss at work and blame him?

 

[B_starinvestor]

When you don't do your weekly chores, does your mom call your boss at work and blame him?

If I attack/assault one of my clients, my boss would certainly hear about it. I would most likely be fired, and our company would lose face in the community, and his leadership would be called into question not only by our clientele, but by other employees.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

You didn't answer my question. You have asserted that Pelosi should be held accountable for what some other person did on their own time.

The equivalent would be your boss getting held accountable for things you do on your own time. My guess is if your boss found out that you insistently believe he should be punished for things you do on your own time, he would probably save himself the aggravation and fire you now.

 

[B_starinvestor]

You didn't answer my question. You have asserted that Pelosi should be held accountable for what some other person did on their own time.

The equivalent would be your boss getting held accountable for things you do on your own time. My guess is if your boss found out that you insistently believe he should be punished for things you do on your own time, he would probably save himself the aggravation and fire you now.

Congressmen are always 'on the clock' as they are representing their constituents throughout their respective term. Nobody in the gov't is given a free pass 'on their own time' anytime they are in public, and particularly when they are interacting with constituents and holding public office.

 

[Industrialsize]

Congressmen are always 'on the clock' as they are representing their constituents throughout their respective term. Nobody in the gov't is given a free pass 'on their own time' anytime they are in public, and particularly when they are interacting with constituents and holding public office.

My hunch is that the "student journalist" was NOT a constituent of the congressman.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

I seriously doubt these kids were from his district. And until proven otherwise, I don't even believe they are actually 'students' as they claimed to be.

 

[Bbucko]

I seriously doubt these kids were from his district. And until proven otherwise, I don't even believe they are actually 'students' as they claimed to be.

I totally agree. That's why this really should be a police matter. They are the only ones who can sort out the truth from the YouTube video.

And totally off topic: random drug tests, by definition, are an employer's way of controlling what an employee does on his own time.

 

[Trinity]

You didn't answer my question. You have asserted that Pelosi should be held accountable for what some other person did on their own time.

The equivalent would be your boss getting held accountable for things you do on your own time. My guess is if your boss found out that you insistently believe he should be punished for things you do on your own time, he would probably save himself the aggravation and fire you now.

*sigh* Ben Rothlisberger. Vince Young. Enough said. Most companies and organizations have conduct clauses.

Unlike criminal laws or other Federal statutory provisions, however, there exist broad ethical standards, codes of conduct or behavior, and general principles of morality, written or unwritten, by which a Member of Congress may also be judged. This chapter explores these ethical standards and their enforcement in the Congress.

Rules of Congressional Ethical Standards

Whether the kids were from his district or not, the Congressman behaved inappropriately. His behavior was unbecoming a member of congress. He failed to handle the situation appropriately and not only embarrassed himself, but his elected congressional office.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

Congressmen are always 'on the clock' as they are representing their constituents throughout their respective term. Nobody in the gov't is given a free pass 'on their own time' anytime they are in public, and particularly when they are interacting with constituents and holding public office.

You have consistently failed to show how this comes down on Pelosi's head, as you have asserted that it should.

 

[Pitbull]

The congressman was wrong.
He has no excuse for his reprehensible behavior.
Does not matter if the students were RNC or Breitbart operatives.

Anyone remember the charges about the "violent" tea party protest.
Cameras running.
Hundreds of cameras running and no video of violence.
Just hysterical left wing accusations.

'Tea party' protesters accused of spitting on lawmaker, using slurs - washingtonpost.com

What is interesting is the reaction or lack of it by the media.
This story will die very soon.

But if it were a Republican congressman grabbing the arm of a young polite African American man...

 

[tripod]

But if it were a Republican congressman grabbing the arm of a young polite African American man...

Please go on.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

Just wondering some more about this meme where Pelosi should be punished for what this other douche bag Congressman did...

WHY wasn't this steadfast belief applied to oh, let's say Dick Cheney, when his chief of staff Scooter Libby was tried and convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury? Why weren't Dick Cheney and GW Bush also punished? Or what about when Rep Duke Cunningham committed various felonies, which were actually committed right under the noses of Republican HoR leadership? Why wasn't Dennis Hastert also held accountable? What about when Sen. Ted Stevens was charged by the Feds for corruption, which again involved crimes committed under the watchful eye of his party's Congressional leadership. Obviously, Mitch McConnell should also be punished, according to the logic being applied here.

lol... You conservatives suuure do love your hypocrisy.

 

[gymfresh]

Hmmm. Suspicious youth accost a senior citizen, refuse to identify themselves or their "organization", shove a camera in his face, then get annoyed and even more aggressive when he doesn't "cooperate".

Why should the public demand an apology when the senior citizen still managed to stop short of the good old-fashioned ass whuppin' these troublemakers deserve? Ooh, he grabbed my wrist and then my collar! Congressional brutality!

Once Etheridge's personal space was breached, all bets were off. The plain fact is that he was assaulted, on videotape, before he laid a finger on anyone.

I admire the congressman much more after this controlled self-defense. He should have sent both of them running with black eyes and bloody lips for what they did, yet there wasn't a scratch on them. Huzzah!

The very clever congressman smelled a rat, and the facts will bear out that he was 100% correct. This was an ambush to create news for his underdog opponent. Impeding a public official from peacefully using a public thoroughfare is hardly angelic behavior. Or, view it as the assault of a senior citizen by those much younger and stronger than himself, which it was. His response was swift, firm, controlled and appropriate to the circumstances. Show me the injuries!

This has nothing to do with party. It's old-fashioned common sense and common law.