I didn't see an assault. Neither did you.
What I saw was a right wing provocateur wannabe asking a stupid question about the "Obama agenda." That identified him as one of those movement jackasses that speak in slogans, like Bolsheviks and People's Temple members.

The "assault" is merely the camera being waved around, and, as it doesn't show an assault, the caption is added so the addle-minded viewer (aka: target demographic) will think they just saw an assault.

There is an assumption that unidentified people are free to hold impromptu "interviews," and that the "college student" is merely trying to ask an important question...instead of hoping to provoke a response (like how a camera can be waved around).

The "college student" should also be free to reach towards the Congressman, who should not react by grabbing the hand because this is, of course, a scheduled interview with a well known reporter, not a set up encounter by a stranger whose motivation is unknown.

That's some "headlock" there. My granny used to give me headlocks like that. At least Etheridge didn't lay one of those granny wet kisses on the guy.

I don't think this would make anyone feel shame because they are from North Carolina. The shame is in being gullible, and strangely motivated to make sure others know about it.

This is a US Congressman. What gives him the right to lay his hands on anyone? If he doesn't like the question asked maybe he should just keep on walking. When he stopped and grabbed the arm, he crossed the line.

I not only see an assault but also a battery. Maybe I should change the language to include both.

Mr. O'Rourke! An assault is, "an attempt to commit a battery ( no contact has to take place)." Battery is " the harmful or offensive touching of another." I believe this touching of the young man in the video was unwarranted and avoidable. Congressman Ethridge needs a Xanax. He owes the kid an apology, and better hope he does not sue him in court. The kid looks 15, he does not look like a threat Mr. O'Rourke. And btw--my Ganny kissed me and gave me money. She never put me in a head lock!

hee hee hee. Oh the horror!

I didn't know if Etheridge was a R or a D 'til I Googled just now. Turns out he's a D (surprise surprise), which begs the question; if a R congressman had behaved in a similar fashion when asked boneheaded questions by some hippy kid doing a "project" he'd probably be viewed as a hero by the same people who are decrying what Etheridge did.

nanatehay

No he wouldn't. Hopefully he would end up in court like this Congressman should be.

I don't care what party you are from. We should be able to expect more from those we elect. They should be expected to act and talk in a manner that is fitting of their office. Look at President Obama. I agree with little that he says, but when you see him he looks and acts the part of an American President.

It's sad that we allow anyone to act the way this Congressman did. It's really sad that we are trying to justify a sitting Congressman acting this way, and frankly, I don't give a damn what party they are from, this is unacceptable.

Fair enough Catnlion!

I would hate to see anyone being an apologist for this (that includes Mr. O'Rourke). This is not acceptable behavior - certainly not from an elected official.

Jeanette, I'd argue that elected officials working actively to promote the interests of the corporate sector over the interests of their constituents is (or should be) far less acceptable than being rude to a cub reporter, yet such behavior is just business as usual these days. Our democracy itself is imperilled because of legalized corruption in Washington; that bothers me infinitely more than this little imbroglio.

nana, apples and oranges. My saying that Representative Etheridge assaulted this young man is not giving anyone a pass for being beholden to corporate interests

There's always something worse going on somewhere. Doesn't excuse bad behavior wherever it may happen.

Apples and oranges it is Jeanette, but we need to see things in perspective. Non-events like this one are just distractions of the sort used by both sides in Washington (and by the press, which for my money is a huge part of the problem) to keep people from thinking about the very real, serious problems facing us. Congress is little more than a den of thieves and whores yet I'm supposed to be upset about this trivia? Seriously?

Apologist my ass.
While the Congressman should have kept walking, there's nothing on that video that shows he made the first advance. The camera shot is so tight on him you can't see what he's reacting to.

That he should assume the two guys have honest intentions is also in error. When the "college student" reaches towards him, his natural reaction is to grab the hand, then the other as the "college student" tries to, for no technical reason, raise the recorder towards him.

He turns the "college student with honest intentions who would never be confused with anything but a journalist spouting trite right wing slogans" to face the camera. Then he performs the most original "headlock" in the history of wrestling holds, heretofore only seen when Stone Cold Steve Austin hugged his grandma.

Jeanette, I'm shocked you would make assumptions based on what you cannot see. If the little right wing clown provocateurs had wanted an honest recording of the confrontation they initiated, the camera would have been set to give a more complete view. The little wannabe - on - Fox guys were not trying to ask a reasonable question, refused to identify themselves, and got the response they hoped for, as there was no honest intention behind their actions.

Etheridge was foolish for stopping, and extended that by staying. However, to make the assumption that he should have treated the wannabes as if they had innocent intentions is to remind some of Mark Chapman innocently asking for Lennon's autograph.

Etheridge apologized, which is the only thing he could do, given his errors.

To make assumptions based on what you cannot see is also an error, Jeanette. You make a conclusion without knowing if the "college students" did anything to initiate the reaction. Many prosecutors would love to have you on their jury.

Wow, Paul. I don't really know what to say when you think that any kind of non-physical provocation justifies grabbing and holding someone.

If that shocks you, so be it, but please don't insult my intelligence.

But, BTW, my husband, who reads all my blogs and all of my comments (but who hasn't joined OS), thinks I'm wrong. Such is life.

I find myself wondering who the junior journalists are.
Rep. Etheridge doesn't cover himself in glory here, but this video is every bit as convincing to me as those of James O'Keefe.

Jeanette,
Please point to the part of the video that shows there was no physical provocation, or action that could be seen as appearing to be an attempt at such provocation. That you can discern that from a tight head shot is an amazing ability.
That's all I'm saying. You don't know exactly what happened because you cannot see entirely what happened.

It is that leap of 'evidence" that prompts you to call me an apologist. I'm basing my opinion on what I can see, not what you cannot.

Paul, I am going by Etheridge's own statement:

"I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. 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."

Nowhere does he say that he was provoked physically. I think, if that had been the case, he might have (he should have) said something.

nanatehay

If the Congressman was just rude to the kid and walked away, I would have been on his side. You are also right about all the other garbage that is coming out of DC. However, you can't point to one wrong to justify another wrong.

PJO,

When you watch the Congressman to the point the Congressman grabs the student, you do not see the Congressman make a sudden move to indicate that he has been pushed, hit, tripped etc. There is also no disruption in his voice that would show that there was a shock to his system such as being hit, pushed etc.

The fact that his physical movements and speech patterns are uninterrupted and smooth show that the student didn't do anything physical to him.

You also talked about the intentions of the student. Let's for a minute say that he wanted to get a reaction from the Congressman. Trying to get a reaction does not justify the laying of hands on somebody else.

Cat,
Sorry, but that doesn't show it in the least. I get your enthusiasm for trivial right wing fake outrage, but your forensic analysis lacks concrete evidence, as well as the "ysis" part.

It is obvious the wannabes were trying to provoke a response, as their question was so stupid one realizes it was just an excuse to get a response. Given that, it's not a huge leap to wonder if they did anything else to get the response they hoped for. It's also obvious that they either had no intention to show an honest record of exactly what happened, or were too dumb to know a tight shot doesn't confirm anything to anyone with critical thinking skills (aka: the target demographic).

The right wing O'Keefe wannabes were not, by any stretch of imagination, out to get anything other than a "showtime" response. That Etheridge accommodated is his fault, as he should have walked away.

Just file this under Overblown Fake Right Wing Outrage o' the Week, spank Etheridge's bad ass, and wait for the next fabricated outrage from the right wing propaganda machine. No sense in expending too much energy on this, as you might be too tired to get outraged at next week's Rwing media fabricated scandal. And the week after....and the week after...and the week after.....

PJO

"That Etheridge accommodated is his fault, as he should have walked away. "

So now you admit that the Congressman did do something. I'm sorry that when you pulled your head out to check if the scary thing was still there it was an out of control Congressman.

I think you're just upset that this time it was one of yours.

Cat,
There is no "my" politician.
He did something foolish by stopping, sure. The rest descends from that.
Assault and headlock? No. Solid evidence on vid? No.

Don't assume I think of politics on the low level you inhabit. I don't get excited on cue, but I do see some amusement in watching those who do. I enjoyed your atypical right wing victimization post. You are so oppressed. It's all so unfair. The liberals are after you. Look, another example of conservative oppression! The poor lil' innocent feller! Headlock! Headlock!

I don't think that, even in their brief heyday, the 60's radical leftists ever were the serial crybabies today's tabloidized conservatives are.

Enough.
I'll let you get back to your National Enquirer...or Human Events...or Newsmax...or Beck show...it's all the same, isn't it?

Are you kidding me? I think Etheridge showed considerable restraint. I wanted to slap that child the minute he opened his mouth! Why I oughta...!!!!
Birdog

Berdina Henry

But there is a difference. You said "I wanted to". I think we all have at one time or another said I wanted to choke the crap out of him, slap him, run his ass over, or something like that. The difference is self control.

There is a giant step from thinking something and doing it. If the Congressman had self control, he would have just walked away and when he got back to his office and vented to who ever it is he vents to.

I smell yellow journalism and crafty editing...

The usual O'Rourke crap. "It's the right-wing's fault."

What a pile of dog squeeze.

Poor...

Thanks for coming by.

It's my position and I'm going to defend it until you can change my mind. I'm not one of "those" right wing nut jobs who only can see things one way.

However, you are not going to change my mind when you start your position with right wing provocateur wannabe asking a stupid question. Never ever.

And then you are going to tell me that I didn't see this Congressman grab somebody! Everybody can see it and by definition it's assault and battery. So why are you going to try to defend that which can not be defended? You are not this guys trial lawyer where it's you job. Even the Congressman said it's wrong.

I guess to some, left and right, defending the "cause" is worth everything, even if the cost is everything, your respect.

Thanks for rating.

Too bad he didn't act like a republican and shoot the SOB!