By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) June 14 | In a stunning video expose posted online at YouTube earlier today and which has now spread virally in the blogosphere and on the web, North Carolina Rep. Bob Etheridge, (D) is seen being stopped by two camera wielding young men in professional attire who ask if he "fully supports the Obama agenda." The visibly agitated Congressman then demands that the one young man identify himself, growling "Who are you?" As he demanded a response he appears to slam the camera with his hand and grabs the youth roughly at one point in what appeared to be a wrestler's hold.
In a statement released by his office today, the Congressman apologised for his behaviour:
"I have seen the video posted on several blogs," Etheridge said in a statement. "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."
CBS News senior political correspondent Brian Montopoli reported that National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Jon Thompson said in a statement:
"Bob Etheridge has lost it, His conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress. It's bad enough that he's joined Obama's assault on North Carolina jobs, but his physical assault on a college student goes beyond the pale."
Late this afternoon Congressman Etheridge said, in a televised press conference regarding the incident;
"No matter how partisan and no matter how difficult things get sometimes, that's no excuse for my response," he said. "I came today to say I'm sorry."Etheridge told reporters that the confrontation happened after he came out of a meeting in Washington, D.C."The truth is, I had a long day, it was the end of the day -- but that's not the issue," he said. "I've been through a lot of tough situations... I've been spat at, pushed on and threatened before, and that's no excuse for... not walking on by."
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1 comments:
So why is this not assault? If he'd tried that on Obama instead of a kid, he'd be in jail, if not in the hospital.
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