Sumner did not deserve to be beaten or even punched. Brooks and Keitt (both Democrats) should have been thrown into prison for the attack. It was not justifiable in any way.
Disagree completely. The man was running his mouth talking sh*t about an elderly member of the Senate, and he should have had his teeth punched out.
What was he hoping to accomplish by demonizing someone who disagreed with his beliefs?
A lot of modern problems would be less of a problem if obnoxious people hurling insults got their mouth punched.