When Liberals Attack: Leftist Union Protester Attacks Tea Partier at Fort Lauderdale Townhall Meeting April 7, 2010, Matthew Cochrane
Update #2: Thanks to an anonymous reader, here is the video of the attack:
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Update #1: Many thanks to our good friend Ramesh Ponnuru for linking to this post at National Review's magisterial blog, The Corner. The traffic momentarily crashed our server, but the problem has been solved and we are back up and running.
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At the end of my post reviewing the Debbie Wasserman Schultz townhall meeting in downtown Fort Lauderdale Monday night, I wrote, “A fellow conservative captured a union representative assaulting a Tea Party protester in a series of damning photos.” While I went outside, this friend, a faithful reader, remained outside where all the real action was going down.
After the meeting he told me he took the only pictures of a union member attacking a Tea Party protester (unfortunately, no video!). Last night he sent me the pictures of the attack with his commentary. The words and text narrating the pictures are my friend’s, not mine. This is exactly how he emailed me the pictures and explanations:
In the very middle you will see a black union guy in a blue striped shirt right in front of the man in the white shirt . . .
Now the same guy is still in the middle but you can see him holding a union-style sign in his hand . . .
Now he is holding the sign high over his head . . .
Now he is attacking one of the protestors . . .
He is attacking the guy in the green shirt while another man (grey hair) tries to pull him off . . .
More of the same . . . while a cop at upper right tries to keep more people from getting into it . . .
Cop pulls grey haired dude off and then the man in the blue striped shirt is handcuffed and taken out of the area . . . sort of. He was kept handcuffed across the street for about an hour and then I didn't see him any more. . . my guess is they didn't arrest him because there was no attempt to find or speak with a complainant . . . no complainant = no crime . . .
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Ultimately, this incident is not a big deal. At most, the man pictured is guilty of a misdemeanor simple battery charge. What continues to boil my blood, however, is how the mainstream media continues to emphasize the threat of potential violence from extremists on the right and ignore the real violence of extremists on the left. This incident highlights how the vast majority of violence has been against conservatives by liberals, not the other way around.
Comments
You're absolutely correct by stating that the actual (as opposed to potential) violence always seems to come from the left wingers against conservatives. Although there was a large, boisterous and passionate crowd on hand for this town hall meeting, the only incidence of violence I witnessed was the one highlighted in these pictures.
There was plenty of sign waving, shouting, demonstrating, etc but the only act of violence came from a union member supporting Obamacare. And you're right, also, by saying that the media will never pick up on it. Along with the crowds at the city hall there were representatives of all the print and tv outlets in south florida on hand as well and, as far as I can tell, none of them have even mentioned this incident.
- Sam the Eagle (04/07/10 9:18 AM)
Those are great pix. Schutz hates Jews?
- c (04/07/10 10:24 AM)
"Schultz hates Jews?" - c
I wouldn't actually know about that. What I do know is that she exploits her own Jewishness to the max. For instance, even at the beginning of this twon hall meeting there was a brief awards ceremony for a Bill Kling a long-time Democratic operatiove in South Florida. He is also a member/leader of a local chapter of the local chapter of Jewish War Veterans.
There were Jewish people carrying "JINO" signs (Jewish In Name Only0 and at least one Jewish group, Young Zionists, held an impromptu rally and speech on the sidewalk outside the city hall. They were very upset at the administtration's stand against Israel and for Wasserman being such a staunch supporter of the Administration.
- Sam the Eagle (04/07/10 10:42 AM)
Great pics. I guess there was as much action outside as inside. As far as numbers go, about how many were iside and outside altogether?
- Michelle (04/07/10 2:02 PM)
Carlos probably likes the last pic.
- c (04/07/10 2:59 PM)
- Anonymous (04/07/10 3:22 PM)
Ask readers to help identify the perpetrator.
- Melanerpes (04/07/10 5:51 PM)
it also shows how much the cops are on the other side sad day for the usa
- jerryl (04/07/10 6:48 PM)
This seems to be more common than not. The progressives must realize how dangerous the Tea Party Movement is to the Democrat party (in particular). Hired protestors is actually quite common for them.
It's good to get this on camera...
- Todd (04/07/10 7:41 PM)
DemocRATs are RATs and are feeling the heat of the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Parties will continue to grow and more and more Americans will realize that The Tea Partiers are the vanguard of a New American Revolution to rid the goverernment of Socialists, Progressives, Marxists and Politicians who support Big Government and Bloated Budgets.
- Anonymous (04/07/10 9:05 PM)
I am sorry, the commentary by your friend is very aggravating. This should be pursued. Someone should have filed a complaint against this guy. With accusations that are being thrown at tea party protesters we can not afford to stand by and NOT stand up against all of the attacks from the left - physical or otherwise.
furthermore, considering that anarchists have stated openly that they are planning on infiltrating and attacking tea party protesters on april 15th, every single person needs to have a video camera of some sort. if anything happens it must be documented because the left manufactures lies. it is the only way to protect ourselves. people really need to wake up. - margareta (04/07/10 9:09 PM)
"Ultimately, this incident is not a big deal."
Um, actually it is a big deal.
If I'm exercising my rights and am physically attacked, it's a big deal. - Les Nessman (04/08/10 12:07 AM)
In the fourth picture from the top the guy in the green t-shirt is on the far right, well away from the skirmish. He is looking at the union guy and the gray haired man who are apparently in some sort of conflict. How does he get beneath the union guy in the subsequent pictures? Perhaps he intervened on behalf of the gray haired older man?
Also, I see another union guy there with the same sign and an older woman with an Obama campaign-like poster. She is tapping the shoulder of a man who is holding a sign but who is ignoring her.
Was this an "official" tea party protest? If so, it appears it was deliberately infiltrated by supporters of Obama care who may have been trying to provoke people. - Shelley (04/08/10 12:30 AM)
Shelley, it was outside a townhall meeting hosted by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in downtown Fort Lauderdale this past Monday night. I reviewed the meeting in detail here. There were plenty of protesters from both political sides present but this was the only act of physical violence at the event. I was inside while this incident took place outside.
Les, you're right. I meant that as a criminal justice issue it was not a big deal. No one was seriously injured and no lasting damage was done. When it's all said and done, it's a misdemeanor. That being said, anytime someone's rights are taken away by physical force, it's a big deal. As a moral issue, this makes it an outrage. I should have been clearer.
- Matthew Cochrane (04/08/10 1:08 AM)
I'm sure there is a good reason why someone did not kick the black union guy in the face repeatedly while the black union guy was on the ground. - Paul A'Barge (04/08/10 4:29 AM)
I remember Les Nessman: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Nessman" - Paul A'Barge (04/08/10 4:31 AM)
This is the Left's/Democrat's/Commie way. It's been blatantly true for the last 8 years. The Left continuously and loudly accuses the Right of all manner of unethical/dishonest/atrocious behaviour and then, under cover of the accusations they've made, go right ahead and openly do exactly what they accuse the Right of doing.
The Press seizes on the accusations, which only rarely can be proved, trumpeting them. While the Left cops the "So what, the other side's doing it too." response to any criticism of their actions. With the press' help, they've created an environment where FOUR (or is it FIVE?) wrongs (the first imaginary) make a right:
1) Accuse the opposition of doing something they haven't done
2) The Press makes a show of getting to the bottom of the accusation, in spite of denials
3) Those who made the accusation, know it is false
4) Members of the accusing party do exactly what they accused opposition of doing
5) If caught, the accusing party claims its only doing what its opponents are doing
Proving once again that success at being truly evil comes only with perseverance.
- catastrophist (04/08/10 8:21 AM)
"So what, the other side's doing it too." I can't tell you how many times I've heard that before...
- Todd (04/08/10 8:56 AM)
video of the attack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5X1Forjwck - Anonymous (04/08/10 10:30 AM)
A quick question..if this really happened tell me why the media, lame, main or otherwise would not have jumped on this? Looks like this is spin from the right...and tell me is this the United States of Israel? - political monkey (04/08/10 10:42 AM)
Wow, thanks so much for the video Anonymous!
- Jamie Cochrane (04/08/10 11:49 AM)
So, why should I be surprised by this? - annie oakley (04/08/10 11:49 AM)
they are resorting to taliban tactics
- Anonymous (04/08/10 12:08 PM)
- Anonymous (04/08/10 1:04 PM)
peace loving people might not want to frequent unpeaceable assemblages like this one; it'll be a shame if these tactics decrease attendanceship
- c (04/08/10 2:08 PM)
- Novaqt (04/09/10 11:15 AM)
Alinsky's Rules for Radicals
Always remember the first rule of power tactics (pps.127-134):
1. "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have."
2. "Never go outside the expertise of your people. When an action or tactic is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear and retreat.... [and] the collapse of communication.
3. "Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty. (This happens all the time. Watch how many organizations under attack are blind-sided by seemingly irrelevant arguments that they are then forced to address.)
4. "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity."
5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."
6. "A good tactic is one your people enjoy."
7. "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag. Man can sustain militant interest in any issue for only a limited time...."
8. "Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose."
9. "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself."
10. "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign."
11. "If you push a negative hard and deep enough, it will break through into its counterside... every positive has its negative."
12. "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative."
13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In conflict tactics there are certain rules that [should be regarded] as universalities. One is that the opposition must be singled out as the target and 'frozen.'...
"...any target can always say, 'Why do you center on me when there are others to blame as well?' When your 'freeze the target,' you disregard these [rational but distracting] arguments.... Then, as you zero in and freeze your target and carry out your attack, all the 'others' come out of the woodwork very soon. They become visible by their support of the target...'
"One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other." (pps.127-134)
This is Obama's Bible which he and his minions live by. What is needed is for our side to develop an antedote to each one of the rules. The Tea Party groups should hold meetings to take each rule and develop and antedote. For instance, if you are called a racist. Look him/her straight in the eyes and say your sorry they are uncomfortable in their own skin or image of themselves or only small underdeveloped minds would use the word racism.
- Novaqt (04/09/10 11:29 AM)
I'm not sure that is the antedote but the concept has merit
- c (04/09/10 4:39 PM)
Hey, Political Monkey, I'm the 50yr old, non-Jewish woman who was pushed to the ground by the angry Union protester. So to answer your questions, YES, it's real and this happened in the United States of America! No media new story but there are plenty of pictures...do you need more evidence?
It's extremely sad to see Americans so divided and Pres Obama and his administration continue to misunderstand the Tea Party message. We the People are speaking out as it's our Right in a Free Country!
Stop spending money! Stop fraud, careless and unaccountable spending in the entitlement programs before you start another!! - Peaceful American Tea Party Protester (04/18/10 3:48 PM)
and pork
- c (04/18/10 5:51 PM)
Pork is only good when it's eaten.
- Todd (04/18/10 6:46 PM)
southern style
- c (04/18/10 8:55 PM)
these damn sons of bitches!! I am tired of this!! we need to take back this country!!
- COAXER (07/02/10 8:12 PM)
Did anything ever happen with this? Anyone get arrested?
- Todd (07/02/10 10:14 PM)
I for one am sick and tired of the violent behavior by these right wing nutjobs. To openly advocate to murder of a US President is beyond the pale. Have a look for yourself...