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No worse that using the n word or stuffing deer heads in a nigg*'s mailboxes or spitting on his ex wife or ... The fact that Allen is still in this race makes me wonder about Virginia voters.
...how? The staffers wrestled someone to the ground because he got too close. I don't like either of the candidates in this race and think it's an example of how poor politics is today but wouldn't you expect this to happen?
Daily Show had a funny quote about this (I'll paraphrase): "George Allen is heard making racist remarks- it is still undecided whether Virginia voters will view this as a good thing or bad thing."
The guy wasn't close. There was always at least one other person between him and Allen. Most of the time there were more. They didn't like the guy's questions, and they wanted to get him out of there. The sad thing is that Allen could have stopped it had he had the leadership or inclination to do that. He is a weak man.
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=5615240 The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday. My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate. I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions. George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator's constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen's campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault. I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves. It just isn't the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now. W. Michael Stark
The thread title should read: Republicans attack Marine veteran The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away...
Allen is an idiot and hopefully the ex 2008 Repub Presidential frontrunner ... Va. Senator blames scuffle on Dem. foe LEESBURG, Va. - Republican Sen. George Allen on Wednesday refused to denounce his supporters' manhandling of a liberal blogger a day earlier, accusing his Democratic opponent of provoking the videotaped incident. The scuffle lingered as both Allen and Democrat Jim Webb entered the final week of their bitter and sometimes bizarre campaign. Polls show it to be a close race that could help determine if the GOP retains its U.S. Senate majority. Webb, campaigning in Richmond, said he knew nothing of the incident Tuesday in which men wearing blue Allen lapel stickers put University of Virginia law student W. Michael Stark in a choke hold and slammed him to the floor after an Allen rally at a Charlottesville hotel. Allen blamed Webb's campaign, not his supporters, for the incident. "It was typical of the Webb campaign, wanting to provoke an incident," Allen said. He did not say why he believes the Webb campaign provoked the stunt. Webb denied involvement. ...
maybe in the soviet union, but no, in america i would not expect a constituent to get attacked for asking a question of his representative. pretty sad that you think this should be expected. EDIT: i take this back - in george bush's "america" people get thrown out of public appearances for having bumper stickers and t-shirts, so sadly i guess you are right - we should expect this to happen...in george bush's america.
Yeah that was such a hilarious part of the response by Allen. Now daily Kos is part of the boogie man? oooooooooh lookout or daily kos will get you.
That is so pre-2001. In W's America, only the invited should be able to get near our sacred elected leaders. EDIT: I should've hit refresh before I replied.
Allow me to roll my eyes at the assumption this guy was just a poor simpleton asking questions of his elected official. With the election a few days away, if he were trying to accomplish something, wouldn't he be better off waiting until he knows who wins? As I've said before I could care less who wins this election as both guys scream "DB" to me. On a lighter note, the guy tackled is supposedly a gunner in law school so I assume his classmates were able to get a slight chuckle out of it.
This is what he says his questions were about: "Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain." I think now, right before deciding who to vote for, would be an extremely pertinent time to ask questions to find out more about a candidate, no?
He doesn't have to be a simpleton to be asking questions. He writes for his own blog, and contributes frequently to daily kos. But yes he was just asking questions and trying keep up with Allen.
