AL FRANKEN KNOCKS DOWN DEAN HECKLER

New York Post Online ^ | January 27, 2004 | VINCENT MORRIS

[Matthew James]

January 27, 2004 -- EXETER, N.H. - Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean. The tussle left Franken's trademark thick-rim glasses broken, but he said he was not injured.

[luvbach1]

Apparently Al has not watched Prime Minister's question time for the House of Commons.

[luvbach1]

correction: from the House of Commons

[Caipirabob]

More about HAPPY FUN BALL!

Otherwise known as "The contents of Al Franken's head!

[CyberAnt]

"wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely"

W H A T!! But the guy he tackled didn't have a right to speak freely ..?? Al Franken is nuts. I hope this costs him big time. If I was the guy Franken tackled, I would sue him for everything Franken owns.

You're right .. NO LIBERAL HAS ANY CONCEPT OF WHAT FREE SPEECH REALLY MEANS.

[prion]

Freedom of speech does NOT include the right to shout other people down.

You're absolutely right. But the options for putting it right do NOT include a flying tackle from behind.

[al baby]

[Jorge]

"I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move," Franken said.

Right. If looks could kill the protestor would be on life support now.

[luvbach1]

Don't forget, leftists consider conservatives to be obnoxious louts.

[isthisnickcool]

If you have not seent he movie "Gangs of New York" check it out. It will give you a feel for what some "American" men were like in that day.

[BushWonGore'sDone]

Hecklers are generally ushered out of the room by authorities. I can't tell you how many cases where a person in a fit of anger lashes out to another and inadvertently causes a fall resulting in head injuries, breaks and brain damage with several instances of death. Not everyone at political rallies are equipped for wrestling matches. I think the Larouche guy may have promising suit.

[lelio]

just PR flack?

Did you complete your sentence? "PR flack ... jacket needed if Al Franken's in the house. Parents, leave your kids at home"

[ChadGore]

"uhhhh"

[FBD]

"I would have done it if he was a Dean supporter at a Bush rally," he said...

Oh, wait...he didn't say that.
But ya gotta love those Larouchies!!! heh, heh...

:^)

[Rocky]

"Now let's look in the mirror together and say, 'I talk better, I wrestle better, and doggone it, I deserve my own radio show.'"

[FBD]

"Freedom of speech does NOT include the right to shout other people down."

Freedom of speech also does NOT include the right to knock other people down.

Franken could well be looking at assault charges, a civil lawsuit, or (hopefully) both.

[Hodar]

Freedom of speech does NOT include the right to shout other people down.

And where is that written? Do you have any sources, or is that simply your opinion? Now, it is bad manners to shout someone down, and hecklers are usually ushered out of places by security for doing this. However, assault and battery are crimes. Simply put, the heckler was rude, but his actions certainly did not justify an attack; any more than any other protester is worthy of assualt and battery.

I wonder what would happen if a popular Right wing supporter did exactly the same thing to a heckler at a Bush speech. Firstly, the Righ Wing supporter's actions would be condemned by President Bush. And this would be public, and it would be LOUD. Have you heard anything from the Dean camp about 'their guy' assualting a protester? Secondly, the Right Wing supporter would be sued for millions. So, let's wait and see what happens.

[CyberAnt]

Sorry .. I think "assault" means just that .. assault. It's an attempt to injure by grabbing someone and twisting their arm behind them and threatening to break their arm (but not actually doing it) .. but "battery" is the actual injury. It's kind of weird how they word it, but assault is not merely shouting or verbally threating someone.

[usafsk]

From English common law we inherited the concepts of assault and battery. Assault traditonally involved only words, not deeds. Today, there is variety among the states on what assault constitutes. Regardless, in any state Franken's actions would clearly equal battery. There is actually no right to personally remove someone physically who is disrupting an event verbally, unless there is some written contract that admitted the individual (a ticket to a baseball game for example). If you hold an open event and someone disrupts it, you are expected to call the police and they can be charged with tresspassing and disorderly conduct, or the local equivalent.

Usually, however, such dopes are just dragged out and the cops - rightfully, in my opinion - look the other way. Regardless, Frankens is a loser.

[usafsk]

Correction:

"constitutes assault" not "assault constitutes"

[HardStarboard]

You got assault, a battery and a confession. Even a cheap-suit trial lawyer like Edwards could collect damages on that case!