Posted on 08/24/2011 6:43:47 PM PDT by GreaterSwiss
A congressman from Ohio had cops grab the cameras of constituents during a town hall meeting. Steve Chabot, a Republican, had cell phones and cameras confiscated in order to prevent an embarrassing Youtube video from making the rounds, according to Carlos Miller, who runs a blog documenting efforts by the state to stifle the First Amendment rights of photographers. Police said the cameras were taken to protect the constituents. A local television station, however, was allowed to videotape the meeting and the brazen move by Chabot and the cops.
(Excerpt) Read more at nation.foxnews.com ...
I called it Gestapo.
I also called Chabot's Washington, DC office and lectured the young fellow who answered the phone.
I've videoed all my Senators and Reps ( all Dems) and never had any trouble.
This one was widely viewed in Connecticut
I suppose everyone must now create their own press badge like me?
Why wouldn’t all constituents of a Congressperson’s district be allowed to attend?
In any district you will have the opposite party attending the meeting. Let them ask all the questions they want. Answer them honestly so at least they respect you.
It’s when you refuse to answer questions, stay in the same office over a decade (16 yrs), or confiscate video camera, you overstayed your welcome.
Security reasons ... Yeah. Job security for Chabot.
I just watched it too and you are right, they gave up their cameras - and their rights - way too easily. I would have held my ground, or maybe just for fun ask him to give me a receipt.
I’m calling his office in the morning and asking for my camera back. Tell them it was taken from me and they could not find it after the town hall meeting. Ask his office if I can send him a bill for the camera.
Anyone know a really expensive brand?
You need to come up with something to back up the suggestion it was staged or put that tin foil hat away, with all due respect.
All constituents would get an invite, all constituents could attend.
Peofessional traveling union goons, however, would not.
I’m getting one of those.
Do you think the pen camera, the button camera or the sunglasses with a camera is better. I’m thinking the pen camera is probably the more practical.
Chabot was my congressman when I lived in Cincy. Actually a pretty solid conservative. I remember the day after he defeated liberal puke David Mann in 1994, I saw Mann jogging down the street, looking very unhappy. Put a smile on my face.
You don't think he paid for that hall out of his taxpayer-funded Congressional expenses?
It does not matter if they were Democrats, communists or the American United Freedom Patriots Party (whoever they are), you don’t take people’s cameras.
If he can’t say it in front of someone from an opposing party, then he is pandering.
Gotcha.
Oops, I misspoke...
All registered voters would get an invite, not every constituent.
Those without an invite could show proof of residence instead.
Pretty frackin sad isn’t it?
This jack booted thug needs to go.
Something is wrong with the legal system. If you did this to leftists, the ACLU would have a court case the next day. Do this to Tea Party, and no attorney will take the case.
Something is wrong with the legal system. If you did this to leftists, the ACLU would have a court case the next day. Do this to Tea Party, and no attorney will take the case.
Chabot was a good guy during the Clinton impeachment proceedings. I can see how he might be concerned about edited tapes taking things out of context. He may remember how the Dems crucified George Allen over the innocent Macaca remark.
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