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So what?You know, I just had a thought. Why didn't the "student" ID themselves when asked? the more time I watch this video, the less I believe they are students
I'm sorry, Dave, but no it doesn't. Not to whether it was assault or not.
If the Congressman (or some other Breitbart target) wanted to file charges of harassment, it would, but that hasn't happened yet.
I think he may have reacted a bit poorly, but grabbing someone's arm is assault? I'm not saying that I condone violence, but this is hardly anything worth discussing. He was pissed off, and reacted poorly. Who doesn't do that?
That didn't stop the guy who got punched by Buzz Aldrin from filing charges. Looking for the link, but apparently the judge threw it out not because of the chain of custody issue, but because he believed Aldrin was suitably provoked (the guy did get in his face and call him a liar and a coward, after all).
C
Chibibar
So what?[/QUOTE]You know, I just had a thought. Why didn't the "student" ID themselves when asked? the more time I watch this video, the less I believe they are students
well.. I am thinking that these freelancer are egging the Congressman on. They notice that he is getting increasing hostile while keep asking "Who are you?" over and over and over again. This to me, seems a bit fishy and that these "kids" are actually trying to get a rise out of this congressman and hope to get it on tape. That is just my feeling.
@Dave: I know it is not a "gotcha" crew, but it seems a bit fishy that the whole situation could have been avoided if the kid just ID themselves. It is much simpler to say "I'm John Wong from Washington University doing a project" than just avoiding the answer. To me, avoiding the answer and keep going just "egging" the congressman.
Note: I am NOT condoning the Congressman's action. I think it is over the top, but I feel that BOTH party are to blame.
You gotta ask the questions Dave, if Ive learned anything from Glenn Beck it's that you gotta ask the questions no matter how far out or irrelevent they might be. 
seriously though, I don't think it matters whom the students were affiliated with, it does matter if they were harrasing him all day. However, due to him addressing his behavior in his statement and not brinigh up any harrasment it's not crazy to assume this is somewhat legit video.
seriously though, I don't think it matters whom the students were affiliated with, it does matter if they were harrasing him all day. However, due to him addressing his behavior in his statement and not brinigh up any harrasment it's not crazy to assume this is somewhat legit video.
Yeah my work Internet is being wonky on my iPod Touch...
Dave
Staff member
I'm sorry, Dave, but no it doesn't. Not to whether it was assault or not.
If the Congressman (or some other Breitbart target) wanted to file charges of harassment, it would, but that hasn't happened yet.[/QUOTE]
Really? Association means nothing? That's odd. And I wasn't talking about the association making it assault or not. I'm talking about the association with this particular site or group of people making the entire episode suspect or not complete in it's disclosure of information or actual events. Yes, we see the dude coming in physical contact with the "student", but it shows nothing more than that and is a very incomplete story as they are withholding a lot of information about the people filming.
Association makes a hell of a difference no matter what charges are brought up against the congressman. I'm fine with his being charged with assault, but I don't think it was as cut & dried as it may seem on the video specifically because the individuals are associated with a group known for creative editing, gotcha tactics and outright lying about how things went down.
Bob Ethridge has apologized and is making no effort to dispute the events of the video. He is not claiming that he was harrassed for days, that his family was threatened, or anything else other than that he over-reacted and should have kept his cool.
So why does the person he attacked (to use the thread titles term) matter?
So why does the person he attacked (to use the thread titles term) matter?
Dave
Staff member
And I said above that he hasn't disputed it. Reading is fundamental. But I'm also saying that I don't trust the makers of the video specifically because of their relationship with the people who LIED about the whole ACORN thing. If I associate with liars and cheats then no matter what I do my motivations and results are going to be suspect.
Ethridge is certainly not helping himself here. Had a bad day? What kind of lame ass excuse is that? I've had bad days, too and even though it was close to sunset I didn't accost anyone.
But I'm not giving the victims a pass on this until full disclosure, if we ever get it.
Maybe because everything matters? Your willingness to be obtuse is a trait that needs to be seen to be believed.
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Chibibar
Maybe because everything matters? Your willingness to be obtuse is a trait that needs to be seen to be believed.[/QUOTE]
It does matter cause if these "students" are associate on some level with the same people who did ACORN thing, then there are some facts missing. The ACORN video cause a good organization to be tarnished and probably never recover ever again, LATER a true unedited video was release and it was taken out of context altogether.
I feel we are missing some facts, but the Congressman did apologize but the "students" didn't file charges either. It is assault so......... something is fishy (unless they recently did then I take it back)
No one here is asking you to. We're just saying that as far as his behavior is concerned, and as far as a possible assault charge is concerned, it doesn't matter who they are. Even for publicly-elected officials, there are no particular groups or associations of people who are legal to physically assault in public without physical provocation.
---------- Post added at 11:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------
They don't need to. They got what they wanted, if not exactly in the way they were probably expecting. This is even better than a soundbite, and backs up everything the Wingnut-o-sphere and Fox News pundits try to claim about the "liberal elite".
Maybe because everything matters? Your willingness to be obtuse is a trait that needs to be seen to be believed.[/QUOTE]
Is that why you put me on ignore, but still read my posts?
Dave
Staff member
Or maybe they are just really nice, forgiving guys. We just don't know.
That didn't stop the guy who got punched by Buzz Aldrin from filing charges. Looking for the link, but apparently the judge threw it out not because of the chain of custody issue, but because he believed Aldrin was suitably provoked (the guy did get in his face and call him a liar and a coward, after all).[/QUOTE]
Evidence that the guys in the video have filed charges.
The fact that the video wasn't obtained through proper channels and they don't have a complaining witness is why they can't bring charges to bear against the congressman.
If they had this footage off of a dashboard camera or a police operated survelience camera they could proceed with charges without the complaining witness. With a complaining witness they could use the video footage because it provided context. Without either the police can't even investigate the crime.
Um, no one is saying they have. Just that they could. And I've been saying that they won't because they have they probably wanted in the first place, just not in the way they expected.
Was there a complaining witness for Aldrin? The tape belonged the guy he punched.
No charges pressed, because there was no injury, and the defendant was provoked.
If you throw fighting words, be prepared to defend yourself.
If you throw fighting words, be prepared to defend yourself.
Dave
Staff member
You are talking about the Buzz Aldrin one, right? Just clarifying before people start things.
If we're talking about the Aldrin one, apparently the guy tried, and the court laughed at him for claiming a man who was 40 years older, 4 inches shorter, and 80 pounds lighter had assaulted him after he called that same man a "thief, liar, and coward", and dropped the charges.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2272321.stm
C
Chazwozel
You are talking about the Buzz Aldrin one, right? Just clarifying before people start things.[/QUOTE]
Well there are perks to being a national hero. Punching a nutball in the jaw is one of those perks.
This "attack" was a wrist grab and a hug. He batted the camera away because it was like 2 inches from his nose. Why he got all pissed off in the first place is beyond me.
Exactly. It was not an attack. It wasn't even assault. Put a camera in my face when I am in a good mood, and I probably won't be as friendly as Bob. I don't even like him, but if this 'tarnishes' his reputation or hurts him politically then that's totally stupid.
Some one needs to spin this, and make him out to be a man of action.
Dave
Staff member
Or a mashup with a Who song...
Or a mashup with a Who song...[/QUOTE]
It would be the best thing ever if he was walking from a mid-day karaoke bar session, and was trying to get the students to join him.
"After failing to get the student to sing the next line of the song, he concluded, obviously, that the kid just wasn't understanding him, so he grabbed him and enunciated as hard as he could. Unfortunately, the kid's taste in music clearly sucked, so he let him go and walked away, in search of mic partner who would actually know the darn words."
Um, no one is saying they have. Just that they could. And I've been saying that they won't because they have they probably wanted in the first place, just not in the way they expected.[/quote]
I know they could and until they do the police can't investigate the charges of assault. And I agree that this probably worked out much better than they ever expected so they probably won't file charges.
Yes the guy he punched was the complaining witness. He wanted charges filed and that's why the the police investigated the incident.
If he hadn't wanted to press charges then the police wouldn't have done anything when the video hit the internet.
Dave sides with other old people.
Fucking A man. He knows it's the only way his AARP card is ever going to help him take over the world.
M
Matt²
Exactly. It was not an attack. It wasn't even assault. Put a camera in my face when I am in a good mood, and I probably won't be as friendly as Bob. I don't even like him, but if this 'tarnishes' his reputation or hurts him politically then that's totally stupid.[/QUOTE]
I see.. so it's totally ok to grab someone by the neck and hold them against their will for asking if they support a political agenda?
Exactly. It was not an attack. It wasn't even assault. Put a camera in my face when I am in a good mood, and I probably won't be as friendly as Bob. I don't even like him, but if this 'tarnishes' his reputation or hurts him politically then that's totally stupid.[/QUOTE]
I see.. so it's totally ok to grab someone by the neck and hold them against their will for asking if they support a political agenda?[/QUOTE]
I don't like Etheridge, but I don't really see it as assault. He also wasn't holding him against his will. It wasn't very smart to do that's for sure. At least he apologized for it.
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