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 ...
How noble or legitimate are your political convictions if you are so ashamed and angered you cannot discuss them?
I'm sure this happens to Congress folks on a regular basis.
Is he on meds? I'm betting he will bow out....because there's more to this than we think.
Obozo example he thought he had the right to kick some student ass.
Did he ever answer the question?
What a cowardly beast this Ethridge is.
Lawsuit him till he goes to jail or resigns.
Has the victim filed charges?
Let the MSM defend this bully. It will further destroy what little credibility they have left.
Just watched two videos. He appears to have been drunk. Mean drunk.
Bossman Obama also told his followers in 2008 to "get in their faces".
I guess that is only permitted for Democrats confronting Conservatives.
I doubt the student was a “meek soul”....he just wasn’t going to get drawn into a violent act by this congresscritter. very smart of him to stay non-violent.
“No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response.”
Where’s the obligatory “IR I offended anyone, I’m sorry?”
It’s a dirty trick when you expect a Democrat to tell the truth. On record no less.
I’m thinking he freaked because he said something anti-Obama to someone recently...in private...
IR = IF I offended anyone..........
Sorry!
Look at the comments by this idiot!
by doctajim June 14, 2010 12:58 PM EDT
As an ex college Prof, no student worth a grade would have asked a question as broad and ignorant as the one asked by the “student”. Thus, the person was either falsely representing themselves (to a Federal Rep. - there are some legal issues for the interviewer now), and it also brings in the agency (Fox, Tea Party, or whoever - for putting this bozo up to it). Since the guy was not being LAWFUL in identifying himself - the Rep had full right to extricate himself from the situation as well as have the interviewer’s face on screen for legal identification. If this was the camera idiot’s idea of 15 min. of fame - very stupid way of doing it. With the possibility of weapons or physical harm to legislators and others in the government, he’s lucky he didn’t put that camera in my face and lie about who he was - he’d be on the ground.
It means that ass clown thinks his personal space was violated and was totally justified in assaulting the two kids...which cancels out any sincerity of his “apology”.
Worthlessburger was in Dallas?.............
The kids should have ID’d themselves, but he had no right to assault them.
The congressman looked a mite drunk to me, too.
I am a polite conservative woman. However, with such anger and hostility in politics today. If someone came up to me and wanted to discuss anything other than “Good day, isn’t it”, I would certainly want an introduction and name with whom I was talking.
I am a nobody and worried about speaking freely and having an ACORN target placed on my home.
You’re right, he doesn’t have the right to ask.
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