Aggression at the CRG Rally

Clearly there was some aggression at the the CRG rally held at Serb Hall yesterday, which resulted in some ideological finger pointing.  For instance, the Fox 6 video clearly shows an anti-tax protester shoving a woman and later throwing her husband man into a bush.  (Footnote Comment: the woman was the director of public policy for the AFSCME union.) 

The Fox commentary described the man as a "heckler", who had "unfortunately" and "suddenly" disappeared after the incident.  Interestingly, Fox 6 not only took a side on the incident, but for unknown reasons edited out the second half of a composed chant from union members "No more cuts, Walker sucks".  Was Fox 6 trying to present all of the union protesters as decent and refined?

From another perspective, a CBS 58 video shot from a cell phone showed a union worker swinging his sign at the man before the incident occurred.  This was not caught on the Fox 6 clip; and unlike Fox, the CBS commentary correctly described the man as "retaliating" while the protester sign was in "mid-swing."   

It is also apparent that different video footage can lead to different interpretations.  According to Chris Liebenthal, who was present at the rally,

"There were two men from the CRG crowd that were obviously intent on causing mischief.

One gentleman, in his late thirties or early forties, went around screaming at people, and bumping into them intentionally. One of the people he screamed at was wearing hearing aids. That person had to take the hearing aid out, because the loud yelling shorted it out, and it wouldn’t stop humming."

Being a union member whose county job may be on the line, Chris' perception of the event is obviously partial.  For instance, why bring up the lady with a hearing aid unless you're trying to drum up sympathy? 

Ironically, Liebenthal was carrying around a sign that said, "Pass a Responsible Budget".  I don't know Chris, but when my household-income begins to shrink, I usually reduce my spending on services; I don't preserve them when I don't have the money.  Creating a responsible budget entails a prudential control of government spending in the face of tough economic times.  Therefore, maintaining all of the county services that you want just isn't responsible.  During this recession, taxpayers that are making financial sacrifices at home while there are some who refuse to recognize that we are no longer in times of good and plenty.   

In another eye-witness account, Scottforgov.com posted this:

"The thugs from the unions harassed everyone as they tried to enter the driveway or the building. I had one elderly lady tell me "I have never experienced anything like that, I was very frightened to walk past them". (You thugs feel good about harassing an elderly lady that is only concerned about her high taxes?) Another woman asked as she was about to leave if it was safe to leave yet. She was blocked from entering the driveway and they were taking pictures of everyone for their little scrap book.

The icing on the cake was a guy that was there for the CRG rally was standing on a rock yelling ("No More Taxes") back at the AFSCME folks and one of the goons hit him with a sign. (I do not know if that was intentional or not.) But he took exception to that and grabbed the sign. Then the AFSCME rep and he got into a shoving match. "

It is clear that the ScottForGov interpretation provided an account that corroborated more with the CBS video while Liebenthal's account corroborated more with the Fox 6 video.  We now have two eye-witness accounts saying each party was trying to intimidate each other into a conflict, so who is right?  The below video provides a few more hints, but the narrative is somewhat supportive of the pro-union protesters.  (This is just my opinion, so feel free to watch it and develop your own.) 

Concluding Thoughts

Although I was not at the rally, I will make a conclusion based upon the available evidence.  I examined three videos, it was obvious to me that the man in the gray jacket was acting inappropriately.  He shouldn't have put himself within arms distance from the AFSCME protesters; this only leads to a physical conflict. 

And it also appears that he, without provocation, pushed the woman who was in his face.  But then again, who knows what happened.  We've already video coverage that missed a key part of the scuffle.   

It was also obvious to me that pro-union protesters were agitating him with their signs.  In two different videos, we see a sign swung at the man's head.  And in the last video, a sign was swung at the man in gray three times - once just before the altercation, and twice during the altercation.

There is always the potential for altercations at rallies where two opposing parties are protesting.  Although they are practicing their constitutional right to free speech, some free speech isn't so free when it intimidates or incites aggression.  In my opinion, both parties are at fault here.   

As the last video illustrated, shouting "No more cuts, Walker sucks" and "Walker is a whore" doesn't contribute to intelligent debate.  And it certainly won't persuade Walker that cutting or limiting the extent of social services is the right action.  On the other hand, getting in the faces of protesters isn't the best way to avoid a fight.  The man in the gray outfit was obviously wrong, and there is no justifying his act. 

And this leads me to my last question.  What does it mean when someone calls Scott Walker a whore? 

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Comments (2)

• |129.89.73.xxx |2009-10-06 12:23:20 jpk
  "... shouting "No more cuts, Walker sucks" and "Walker is a whore" doesn't contribute to intelligent debate."
  
  Agreed.
  
  In general, rallies and mobs don't add to intelligent debate, especially CRG activities.
  
  Ever met Orv Seymore?
  
  I'm appalled that Walker would side with the lunatic fringe that is CRG.
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• |SAdministrator |2009-10-06 16:20:51 Aaron M Rodriguez
  JPK,
  
  Are you really appalled? Seriously?
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• |97.88.246.xxx |2009-10-06 13:35:41 Robert Downey
  1. Once you push a woman on camera, and then run away from the cops, you don't get to tell your side.
  
  2. The opposite of 'impartial' is not 'partial.' Partial means relating to a part, or not the whole. I believe you're looking for 'biased.'
  
  3. We have all watched as red-faced teabaggers goose-stepped around this summer at AFP rallies, health care town halls etc, and they're unhinged and violent, just like this Walker-bagger in the video. Conservatives claim to want an "intelligent debate," but actions speak much louder than words.
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• |SAdministrator |2009-10-06 09:20:12 Aaron M Rodriguez
  Robert,
  
  All three of your points are either wrong or inaccurate.
  
  First, everyone is entitled to the full range of protections provided by our legal system. Even those who transverse our borders illegally enjoy protections provided by our courts when they become victims of misconduct or crime. So although it is culturally wrong for a man to shove a woman, the law doesn't look at it through a cultural lens. This man will get his day in court if he wishes to contest those tickets.
  
  Second, the Encarta dictionary defines "partial" as incomplete, affecting parts, fond of something, or as biased. My use of the word partial is appropriate. And I must say, I am certainly glad you were willing to call the definition police on me.
  
  And third, the great majority of town hall protesters are not violent. And when I say "great majority", I mean 99.9% of them have not become physical with others - unless you define shouting as being physical. And I'm quite sure you don't want to broaden the definition that far since the AFSCME protesters would fit into the same category.
  
  Thanks for the response.
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