UPDATED Video: McCain Staffer Confronts and Threatens Obama Supporter, Calls Obama a Socialist
By: Rusty5329 Published On: 10/28/2008 8:35:23 PM
Today I attended the Obama rally at James Madison University in Virginia. Outside one of the buildings that was showing the speech was a tiny McCain rally. I figured that I would drop in decked out in Obama gear and see what was going on. One of the speakers accused Obama of planning to outlaw (literally outlaw, video of that coming soon) the national anthem. At that point I laughed and said, "That's ridiculous." Someone came over and confronted me, as it turns out it was the paid, local Field Organizer for the McCain campaign. Here is the video of our chat:
A paid staffer should know better. A paid staffer should know that you do not confront someone with a camera if you are going to be hostile. And you never threaten to throw someone out if you do not have the power to do so.
Him: Don't be rude
Me: Okay, does she think Obama is going to outlaw the National Anthem or saying the Pledge?
Him: Listen...
Me: That's what she said. She said "I want my kids to be able to say the National Anthem.
(She actually said "I want my kids to be able to say the National Anthem without going to jail.)
Him: Don't be rude to these folks, okay. You had your chance down here, let us have ours. Alright.
If you're not interested in standing and listening without making a bunch of comments, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
Me: You're gonna ask me to leave?
Him: Just relax.
Me: Who are you?
Him: Just relax okay.
Me: You're gonna ask me to leave?
Him: You had your time, this is our time. Okay?
Me: Okay. So you believe in freedom of speech?
Him: Just be respectful.
Me: Okay. But isn't it disrespectful to say that someone is going to outlaw the National Anthem?
Him: Be respectful.
Me: She called him a socialist. That's respectful?
Him: He is a socialist.
Me: He's not a socialist. Is Reagan a socialist?
Him: Listen, I'm not here to get in an argument with you.
For anyone that thinks I'm being disrespectful, and crashing their event: This was an outdoor event on campus. They did not want to sit by themselves and have a nice meeting, they wanted to be in our face. So if an Obama supporter shows up unwanted, that's their problem.
Here's another exchange with me and someone from the crowd:
Comments
You should cross post this at Daily Kos! (Lowell - 10/28/2008 8:56:52 PM)
Good work, by the way.
done (Rusty5329 - 10/28/2008 8:58:04 PM)
I was actually just coming back here to edit it to say so.
Cool (Lowell - 10/28/2008 9:01:43 PM)
I've also posted on MyDD "Breaking Blue" and Open Left "Quick Hits."