Posted on 11/04/2010 5:53:12 PM PDT by FTJM
As of Monday, the number one political video on YouTube was Rep. Bob Etheridge’s (D-NC) infamous June assault of a college-aged kid who asked about Obamacare. The video shows Etheridge grabbing the young street interrogator by the wrist and neck* and demanding the boy reveal who he worked for:
For months, no one has come forward to answer that question. Not surprisingly, Democrats labeled the video and ambush a Republican “operation.” And while rumors swirled that Republicans were at least in the know, they never fessed up.
Until now — kind of.
In a story in Thursday’s New York Times detailing how Republicans won so handily on Tuesday, the paper includes this nugget:
They also tried to push Democrats into retirement, using what was described in the presentation as “guerilla tactics” like chasing Democratic members down with video cameras and pressing them to explain votes or positions. (One target, Representative Bob Etheridge of North Carolina, had to apologize for manhandling one of his inquisitors in a clip memorialized on YouTube. Only this week did Republican strategists acknowledge they were behind the episode.)
Details about the video end there. No explanation regarding who the “strategists” are or what exactly they “acknowledged.”
Either way, if the video was part of a larger Republican plan, it worked. Etheridge lost his election on Tuesday (although he’s demanding recount).
Whatever. It’s the seriousness of the charge that counts right? Doesn’t matter if it’s real or not.
Inquisitors?
The spin is sickening. No one made Etheridge grab the young man around the neck and demand to know his identity.
There was no excuse for the Etheridge’s behaviour. I guess he felt that no one ought to dare ask him a question about his vote.
It looks like some smart college kids asking this POS Dem why he was going to put them in debt forever with Obamacare. The media thinks if the “peons” ask questions they are “operatives.”
F the ruling class.
I bet somebody knew he was a hot head.
“Only this week did Republican strategists acknowledge they were behind the episode.”
Oh really? Who, What, Where, When?
Another NYT anonymous source!!!!
I call BULL!
So, the Republicans are behind trying to get Democrats to explain their support for various bills on video? How dastardly!/sarc
Did Republicans force him to get drunk before the students approached him? Or was he sober and acts like that normally?
Etheridge committed a felony when he grabbed the kid. Looks like it’s time for a trial. This is similar to the LE stings shown on TV against sexual perverts.
Since the NYT lied about the above (unless filming a Democrat walking toward you counts as chasing him down), there'd be no reason to believe their unattributed sources exist, even if the Times weren't already a den of known, unrepentant liars.
Who are you!? Who are you?! Who are you to vote against me!? We'll recount and recount until I win!
What about George Allen’s stalker? Mr. Makaka?
He GRABBED and throttled the asker....what difference does it make who it was??? Etheridge is a THUG!
Etheridge was lucky he grabbed some witless college kid. He left himself wide open. There are people out there...out here...who would have changed his life the minute he touched them.
I can’t wait to learn the names of the Republicans who were able to telepathically control Etheridge and make him rough up those college kids. I have no objection to Repubs asking people to ask their senators questions. Etheridge could have said yes, no, or no comment. Etheridge chose...poorly.
Isn't that what the press is supposed to do. It is sad that we have college kids doing a better job than the media.
And the Democrat guy in the cigarette outfit that dogged Bob Dole.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.