Posted on 06/14/2010 10:14:03 AM PDT by jessduntno
Democratic Rep. Bob Ethridge of North Carolina lost his cool on camera in a video that is making the rounds of the conservative blogosphere today.
Ethridge was walking down the street when he was approached by a pair of camera-wielding questioners.
As one asks if Ethridge "fully supports the Obama agenda," a visibly agitated Ethridge asks, "Who are you?" He repeats the question and appears to slam the camera with his hand.
In the edited video, which you can watch above, Ethridge is then shown holding the wrist of one of the questioners and repeatedly asking him to identify himself.
The two people will only identify as students and say they are "just here for a project." In the video, the face of the student in the shot with Ethridge is blurred.
"I have a right to know who you are," the congressman says, holding one man's arm. The pair refuse to tell him where they are from and repeat that "all we are is students."
Ethridge then grabs one of the self-identified students by the neck and pulls him next to him, apparently so that his face will appear on camera.
Ethridge apologized for his actions in a statement Monday.
"I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved," he said. "Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse."
You can see what appear to be the two unedited videos here. In comments on that site and others, commenters are calling on Ethridge to be charged with assault.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
“As an elected official, such confrontations are part of the job description. If he can’t take the heat...”
IMHO, this incident does demonstrate that the Democrats in Congress are feeling the heat. I just believe that if the young man had given his name, the Congressman’s actions would have been even less defensible by his supporters.
Staying cool is not turning the other cheek.
As amusing as this drunk guy was, the kids should hire a lawyer and file charges, go on OReilly and write a book and maybe do a reality show.
The guy has fried himself I do believe. But he is funny and could become a new folk hero of those of us who want to grab kids by the scruff of their necks at time and give them some rough talking to.
“Its time they are afraid of us, not the other way around.”
Totally agree with you on this point. Politicians should constantly be less adored and remember that we employ them to represent us.
There are times for “grabbing a kid by the scruff of their neck”, but his was most definitely NOT one of them, and anyone who would make a folk hero out of this asshat needs their head examined, IMO.
well, grab me by the neck and tell me so DUde~
I believe my point was he had no right to lay a hand on that young man. And you DU insinuation was pertinent to what??
I am not sure what the DU insinuation means.
I just was remarking on your rather heated post to me.
It seemed very, well, angry and out of sorts.
It is questionable. His identity has not been confirmed.
To me, the two words (which you use interchangeably) express two slightly different connotations:
Unconfirmed - a neutral description of a claim that it has not been confirmed to be a fact
Questionable - while also being unconfirmed, implies a value judgment that there is reason to suspect that the claim is not true
That’s a fair point. You’re right, I was using them interchangably, but there is a subtle difference. Unconfirmed better describes my take on it. Thanks for the input.
Its getting close to time that the corrupt lying politicians are tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail....after that its let them eat cake time...
I wonder if this “representative” has held town hall meetings or if he is one of the chickcrap ones who is too afraid to stand up for his votes to his constituents?
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