More Crushing of Dissent in Ashcroft's America!

Cowboy Unilateralism!

When Morons Attack!

Did You See 'Im Oppressing Me?! NOW WE SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM!!--Al Franken Knocks Down Dean Heckler

I saw a couple of other links this morning on this, and quite frankenly couldn't believe it:

January 27, 2004 -- EXETER, N.H. - Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean.

The tussle left Franken's trademark thick-rim glasses broken, but he said he was not injured.

Franken - who seemed in a state of shock and out of breath after the incident - was helped back to his feet by several people who watched the tussle. Police arrived soon after.

"I got down low and took his legs out," said Franken afterwards.

Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely. "I would have done it if he was a Dean supporter at a Kerry rally," he said.

"I'm neutral in this race but I'm for freedom of speech, which means people should be able to assemble and speak without being shouted down."

Apparently it also means that it's permissable to physically harm someone if they disrupt the speaker.

This is absolutely stunning coming from ANYbody, much less Franken, who puts himself forth as the kind of liberal who's good enough, smart enough, and doggone it people like him. Does this now mean that I have license to start gang tackling protesters at Bush speeches?! (If so, I guarantee you I'd be a darn site better at it than Al, but that's beside the point.) This was assault and battery, pure and simple. Franken deserves whatever New Hampshire law allows.

The trouble started when several supporters of fringe presidential candidate Lyndon Larouche began shouting accusations at Dean.

Franken emerged from the crowd and charged one male protester, grabbing him with a bear hug from behind and slamming him onto the floor.

"I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move," Franken said.

Kewl, Sparky!

Just be glad you didn't tangle with someone who was on the pistol team.

(Of course, I guess we should have seen this coming--Franken doesn't pull any punches in Dads' Weekend show)
posted by Terry at 1:48:00 PM