Posted on 06/08/2007 9:24:30 AM PDT by 300magnum
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A Republican state senator who punched a Democratic lawmaker in the head expressed regret, saying "that's not the way grown men solve their problems," but he said he won't immediately apologize.
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)" in the Senate chamber on Thursday.
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said.
Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.
"I was raised in the woods of Arkansas and people don't say that about your mom," Bishop said.
Barron denied saying that to Bishop. He said the Jasper senator used an expletive to him and he was trying to get away when he was hit by Bishop on the side of the head near an ear. He said he had not decided if he would file charges.
"I would like to finish today in a productive manner. I will evaluate the situation tomorrow on what I may do," Barron said Thursday.
After the punch, Barron went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but she said he was not hurt.
The fight came on the final day of the 2007 regular session of the Legislature. Republican senators were using delaying tactics to force Democratic leadership to bring up an election reform bill to ban transfers between political action committees.
Barron is chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which sets the chamber's work agenda, and Republicans were angry that he had not put the election reform bill in a position to come up for debate.
The Senate had just taken a recess Thursday afternoon when Bishop approached the chair where Barron was sitting. Moments later security officers and others rushed to separate the two senators.
The Senate later considered censuring Bishop and expelling him from the chamber for the remainder of the day, but Bishop said that wasn't necessary and walked out of the Capitol, saying he was going home.
"I love every one of you. Most of all I love this chamber. I'm going home and you all have a good day," Bishop said.
Members of the Alabama House said the incident makes the entire Legislature look bad.
"It's certainly a black eye on the Legislature and the Senate in particular," Republican Rep. Jay Love said.
Sweet
“Son of a bitch” has grown to be such an empty epithet that one really has to strain to catch the inference that it’s a slur against one’s mother.
The other day Texas congresscritters had an altercation on the floor as well. Lovely bunch of good upstanding citizens we’ve elected, huh.
I’d like to see more of that, especially on the federal level. Instead of Cheney telling Leahy “F You!” he’d simply haul off and cold-cock him. This way you’ll REALLY know when they’re mad at each other (its too easy to fake with words), and their grudges will last longer (less compromise, as in this immigration bill). Besides, it’d be a heck of a lot more entertaining than watching these jerks drone on about some meaningless pork barrel project or declaration of the day on CSPAN.
I guess it depends on where you are and who you are cursing. Down south here in the "bible belt", you have to be a little more careful of your words.
It’s a lesson more democrats need to learn; when you insult your betters, you get hurt. The pity is he didn’t learn it in grade school.
He could not have said “Son of a Bitch”, because anyone from the south knows the proper way to say it is “sumbitch”. hehehe
It’s a start.
This sounds like it needs to be settled with pistols at dawn.
First, we need to bring in a anger management team to work with all of the Republican members of the Bama senate...outnumbered three to one anyway. They need to understand their feelings and become open to the feelings of others.
Second...there must have been alcohol involved...so we need the Baptists to come in and make this a dry county around the capital building. Alcohol is the work of the devil and you can feel the situation was triggered by booze.
Third....and final....if they are going to broadcast stuff like this live over TV....with fights each day...I know this fella from Jackson who can arrange pay-per-view and we can sell fights via the Internet.
Looking for a fight, but needs a good excuse.
Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)"
Good enough..
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said.
Well I'm sure the people of Alabama would appreciate a little less emotional antics and a lot more professionalism on the Senate floor. If you want to fight do it on your own time out of public view.
Thank you, Realism, for your meddle into the affairs of the State of Alabama. If someone called your mother a “bitch” what would you do...pout?
I ask if he wanted to (discuss) the comment more in depth later on.
all politicians should be allowed to arm themselves while at work, then maybe they would kill each other and give this country a chance to start over
Actually folks here in Alabama (at least some of them) think punching out Lowell Barron is just fine. I can't think of a more deserving legislator.
The point is that its unacceptable behavior on both sides. People fight, but those with commonsense know there is a time and a place for certain things.
So you support the lame idea in schools that if someone starts a fight, throws the first punch that DEFENDING yourself should be punished as badly as the instigator.
I’m all for free speech but you should be able and prepared to defend yourself with fists, guns or wits on your words.
There is a time and place for that, the flagpole was on top of the building and the body was dismissed.
Any questions?
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