Dem Rep. Etheridge Grabs Student

[joiei]

Etheridge asked a very simple question of the people who surprised him and the questioners were stonewalling him.   Why couldn't they just say they were employees of BigGoverment and answered his question?   He did apologize for his reactions or did you miss this.   Something that puzzles me,  why was the questioners face blurred?   What was the originator of this hatchet job trying to hide?  

[Conan71]

Etheridge asked a very simple question of the people who surprised him and the questioners were stonewalling him.   Why couldn't they just say they were employees of BigGoverment and answered his question?   He did apologize for his reactions or did you miss this.   Something that puzzles me,  why was the questioners face blurred?   What was the originator of this hatchet job trying to hide?  

I'd like to know though, if this were a GOP Congressman, would you still have taken the same apologist approach here?

[guido911]

The folks who produced and distributed your original youtube video (Stage Right Show) are affiliated with the folks who brought us the now famous (and heavily edited, and ultimately very fake) Acorn video via Breitbart and gang.

Oh now I get it. Etheridge is just another poor victim of some twenty-something pranksters just like that poor ACORN woman was who gave tax advice pertaining to 13 young girls from El Salvador who were to act as sex slaves.

[Townsend]

Oh now I get it. Etheridge is just another poor victim of some twenty-something pranksters just like that poor ACORN woman was who gave tax advice pertaining to 13 young girls from El Salvador who were to act as sex slaves.

You just now got that?

[guido911]

You just now got that?

I have told you before I am a bit slow on the uptake.

[Breadburner]

I'm sure if this would have been Inhofe who had a kid by the arm all you lib-tards would be just as apologetic and not out in the streets burning tires......

[Townsend]

I'm sure if this would have been Inhofe who had a kid by the arm all you lib-tards would be just as apologetic and not out in the streets burning tires......

He would've pulled him close and called him "tiny dancer".

[Breadburner]

He would've pulled him close and called him "tiny dancer".

You have got Inhofe and Barney Frank confused......

[azbadpuppy]

Oh now I get it. Etheridge is just another poor victim of some twenty-something pranksters just like that poor ACORN woman was who gave tax advice pertaining to 13 young girls from El Salvador who were to act as sex slaves.

Again, awesome with the spin.....very impressive. You must do this for a living.

[Conan71]

Again, awesome with the spin.....very impressive. You must do this for a living.

He's an attorney, it's what they do. 

[Townsend]

You have got Inhofe and Barney Frank confused......

Ever been near Inhofe when "Your Song" pipes over the speakers?

[joiei]

I'd like to know though, if this were a GOP Congressman, would you still have taken the same apologist approach here?

Yes,  I am not a fan of ambush interviewing.    I don't care who is doing the interviewing.   Lately it seems the folks that lean to the right have adopted this technique as a means of trying to get a valid interview out of someone.  I don't recall too many of these interviews happening by media or "just college students" on the left.   Back when 60 minutes used to do it,  I disagreed with it then.  

[Gaspar]

Yes,  I am not a fan of ambush interviewing.    I don't care who is doing the interviewing.   Lately it seems the folks that lean to the right have adopted this technique as a means of trying to get a valid interview out of someone.  I don't recall too many of these interviews happening by media or "just college students" on the left.   Back when 60 minutes used to do it,  I disagreed with it then.  

You're right Michael Moore, this practice is outrageous.  Those right wingers have stepped over the line Morgan Spurlock.

It's a "speaking truth to power" issue.  I think a politician, any politician, should be able to answer a simple question posed by anyone.  I am not in favor of harassment, but when you examine the exchange that took place, it was "Hi Mr. congressman.  How are you?  Do you fully support the Obama agenda?"

Acceptable answers would be: 

Yes.
No.
I support much of the Obama agenda, but we disagree on some things.

The problem is that democrats are increasingly reluctant to share their positions and opinions with their constituency.  Their constituents want them to act on their behalf, and the administration wants them to act on their behalf, which is increasingly viewed as contrary to the will of the people.

Mr. Etheridge had that classic fight or flee response.  Do I give an honest answer and anger Lord Vader, or do I tow the party line and risk losing my re-election.  It's obvious that he could not formulate a response that would allow him to escape a disastrous line of questioning, so an awkward and equally disastrous fight response kicked in.

[Conan71]

I failed to really see the "gotcha" nature of this unless some inflammitory remarks from the alleged students prior to the "Do you support..." comment were edited out.  Hell, even Gary Condit handled the media better when he had the Chandra Levy debacle coming down all around him and he was getting ambushed on a daily basis.

[nathanm]

I failed to really see the "gotcha" nature of this unless some inflammitory remarks from the alleged students prior to the "Do you support..." comment were edited out.  Hell, even Gary Condit handled the media better when he had the Chandra Levy debacle coming down all around him and he was getting ambushed on a daily basis.

If the ACORN videos are any indication, there probably were some inflammatory remarks. Not that that excuses assault.