CONGRESSMAN ETHERIDGE SHOULD RESIGN OVER ASSAULT
- Rick Scarborough
- Jun 18, 2010
I was shocked and dismayed by the video of Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge assaulting a student. I thought I had seen it all. But a member of the U.S. House of Representatives acting like a common thug - even in today's political climate -- that's appalling.
I'm referring to a recent incident in which two young men confronted the North Carolina Congressman as he was leaving a diner with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on June 9, only recently posted on the Internet. (Click here to view video.) One of them asked Etheridge if he "supports the Obama agenda."
The clearly enraged Congressman grabbed the interviewer by the wrist, demanding "Who are you?" "Who are you?" On the video, you can hear the young man pleading with Etheridge to let go of him. The Congressman then grabbed the scruff of his neck hard enough to pull the student toward him, while repeating the question.
This technique, an ambush-interview, has become commonplace. Documentary filmmakers like Michael Moore use it all the time and no one physically attacks them.
If he didn't want to be interviewed, Etheridge could have simply ignored the query and walked on. No one was holding him there. He could have told the aspiring journalist, "If you want to talk to me, call my office." Instead, the out-of-control rep committed assault and battery.
It's true that Congressman Etheridge has apologized for the incident. But I'm afraid that's not enough. I believe in forgiveness, but I also believe in consequences, and his reference to partisan politics, as if to blame his actions on those who disagree with his political views, reflects a lack of understanding that he and he alone is guilty.
If anyone other than a Democratic Congressman in the District of Columbia behaved this way, he'd be in jail or out on bail awaiting trial. Bob Etheridge has disgraced his office and should resign from Congress. Barring that, his colleagues should remove him. Given the current composition of Congress, I don't expect that to happen any time soon
By the way, if the assailant was a conservative, Republican Congressman, my response would be exactly the same. If this happened during a Baptist business meeting and the pastor grabbed a member of his congregation or a visitor, he would be fired immediately.
The Etheridge incident also reflects a general disregard for the Constitution and laws of the land in Obama's Washington.
We have a president who routinely ignores the Constitution when it suits his purposes, even threatening to pass Cap and Trade by executive order. We have Congressmen passing legislation which will transform our health-care system without even reading it. We have the administration's media lackeys smearing decent Americans who attend Tea Parties, accusing them of sedition for exercising their First Amendment rights.
And here we have a man who believes he's so far above the law that he can assault someone who asks him a question and get away with it. (And what law was he citing when he repeatedly asserted, "I have a right to know who you are"?) Etheridge should resign or be removed. At the very least, his colleagues should censor this Congressman. Please send a fax to every member of the House and demand that they take appropriate action. We have made it very easy to take action.
SELECT HERE to send a fax to every member of Congress demanding that he resign or be removed from his office. At the very least he should be censored.
SELECT HERE TO SIGN FRC'S PETITION TO REPEAL DON'T ASK DON'T TELL - Family Research Council is trying to collect 100,000 more signatures against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Please sign it and drive people to their website to do the same!
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