Video: Democratic congressman pushes cameraman out of his house
posted at 2:26 pm on August 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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The latest in Hot Air’s new “all Steve Cohen, all the time” news philosophy. As you’re about to see, after being race-baited and then Jew-baited in the course of three days by his very enlightened Democratic primary opponent, he’s a little on edge. So ugly and sensational has this race become, in fact, that even The One has entered the fray, shrewdly upbraiding Cohen’s opponent for her conspicuous jackassery. As for why Armenians might be hounding him, the answer lies here: He opposed the House resolution declaring Turkey guilty of genocide in Armenia — supposedly at David Petraeus’s request — and now Armenian-Americans want a little payback. Exit question: It’s his house, the cameraman wouldn’t leave his house despite repeated requests, so what’s the issue? Click the image to watch.
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I thought the same thing about it being his house.
WoosterOh on August 7, 2008 at 2:30 PM
A request to leave some one’s house is actually an order. Do it or face the consequences.
TooTall on August 7, 2008 at 2:31 PM
When someone asks you to leave their house, you leave or get pushed out.
Dr. Manhattan on August 7, 2008 at 2:31 PM
His house. No issue.
Now that says something right there. When Emily’s list thinks you are over the line, you are waaaaaay over the line.
Spirit of 1776 on August 7, 2008 at 2:32 PM
If you listen the cameraman wants his tripod and they wont let him go back and get it.
William Amos on August 7, 2008 at 2:32 PM
He (the cameraman) should have retrieved his tripod when he was first asked to leave instead of arguing to the point he was tossed. I would have done the same thing.
Sue on August 7, 2008 at 2:35 PM
He doesn’t let a total stranger to go get their stuff from the house they had no business to have been in the first place?! What a shocker!
freevillage on August 7, 2008 at 2:35 PM
No matter how justified it may be he made a big mistake losing his cool with the cameras running and suggesting his staff, “take the tripod around the back and throw it at him.”
Big mistake…
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 2:35 PM
BTW this was a press conference. But there is the issue of being harrassed by the armenians. This is what KOS and the others advocate doing to GOP candidates.
William Amos on August 7, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Why doesn’t this guy have a Republican challenger? Why didn’t anyone file to run against him?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 7, 2008 at 2:38 PM
His district is largely a black district around Memphis. Hence the race baiting in this campaign.
William Amos on August 7, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Not when you turn your home into a public place to hold a news conference.
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Good on him. It may have been a press conference, but it was his private property, he gets to decide who stays and who goes. Jerk.
bikermailman on August 7, 2008 at 2:40 PM
The cameraman he pushed out of his house is both a former Army reservist, winner of the NATO medal and Army Commendation medal for his work on American Forces Network, Red Cross volunteer, and former employee of Republican congressman Carlos Moorhead. So I think he’s more than just an “activist.”
That’s quite embarrassing. Armenians tend to be one-issue, and that’s Genocide Recognition. Sometimes they end up supporting candidates completely opposite their views, to their own representative peril.
MB007 on August 7, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Are you joking? It’s not ‘a public place’. It’s his house. He can invite or kick out whoever he wants, whenever he wants.
If you invite some people to your house for dinner, can anyone just show up? Hey, you invited some people, so everyone can come, right? Please.
Drew on August 7, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Aaahhhhh. Gotcha. OK then.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 7, 2008 at 2:44 PM
BTW will report that cohen did call the police on this guy AFTER they removed him.
Im sure Cohen’s Democratic opponent will run “OMG he assaulted a minority” ad real soon.
William Amos on August 7, 2008 at 2:44 PM
When I first saw this, I wasn’t paying much attention, I thought this guy was the republican. I figured that’s why they were airing it.
4shoes on August 7, 2008 at 2:44 PM
he should have shot the camera man. Privacy and private property rights need to make a comeback.
unseen on August 7, 2008 at 2:45 PM
I would have handled that differently. I wouldn’t be so gentle.
thekingtut on August 7, 2008 at 2:46 PM
“Not when you turn your home into a public place to hold a news conference.
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 2:39 PM”
It doesn’t appear to be a Press ‘Conference’ - it appears to be a one-on-one interview, or a couple of INVITED press individuals.
Regardless - this cameraman was NOT invited, therefore, he has no legal standing to be there and by law needs to leave when requested to do so. By not doing so, he is guilty of trespassing at the very least.
jrlingreenbay on August 7, 2008 at 2:46 PM
If the cameraman is still on his property he can launch the tripod from a catapult and that would be okay be me.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Democratic Caucus at play. Disgusting. Cohen undoubtedly has learned many lessons not only from whatever Armenian vote, but from his own party’s “yahoo” practices that infringe on civility and personal property.
As Jesus said, let the dead bury the dead. Today, Western alliance with Turkey as a SECULAR nation should have nothing to do with destabilizing those relations. Though the Armenians WERE mass murdered by the Turks, forcing formal confessions from the dead is futile, and forcing confessions from subsequent generations is also futile. The same applies to Western apologies for slavery that the Civil War paid for via sacrificing a generation of American blood and States’ Rights being tossed like a baby with bathwater.
All of this ubertard “forced confessions for historical grieviances” needs to go down the garbage disposal or into the compost heap as either wasted effort or rotten fruit.
New day, constitutional rights, fresh start, get going.
maverick muse on August 7, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Disagree. He can invite anyone into his home that he wants. Those that are uninvited better watch out.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Depending on the circumstances you can also get hurt.
Even if I invite someone in I in no way waive the irrefutable right to throw him or her out. They can leave politely or get physically thrown out. And rather than get sweaty and possibly hurt in doing so I define the threat of, or employment of, a weapon as an extension of being “physically thrown out.”
Positively crude and rude; that’s me.
E9RET on August 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Looks like we Tennesseans have been in the news a lot lately (feel like we’re turning into Colorado or Florida). Anywho, the local affiliate reported that this man IS NOT a reporter–but a surrogate of Cohen’s opponent that has been literally following him around with his camera. Apparently, Cohen had enough of him and yes–he had every right to kick him out of his house.
robblefarian on August 7, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Ahem…
When you turn your home into the venue for a news conference you’re in essence turning it into a public place like a hotel ballroom.
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 2:56 PM
He didn’t turn it into a public place. The intruder was not invited, period. It may not “look good” on camera, but Cohen was completely within his rights to toss the guy, legally and ethically.
/in Texas, it would have been a lot bloodier after the first refusal to leave.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:01 PM
If I get angry enough to ask you to leave my house you damn well better start looking for a door because I am not going to repeat myself. The guy was right on.
DoctorDentons on August 7, 2008 at 3:02 PM
TheBigOldDog,
Did you ever hear the rule of holes? When you are in one, stop digging.
First of all, just because some news outlet says it’s a press conference doesn’t mean it was. That’s the term they used.
Secondly, IT’S HIS HOME. He can change the terms of the game at any time.
What exactly don’t you get about the concept of private property that makes you think if you let one reporter in your house you have to let every reporter in your house?
Drew on August 7, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Ever hear of the term persona non grata? Even in a hotel ballroom, the owner or manager can toss any one who is not welcome. The person tossed may pursue the matter further in court, but if the person does not leave the premises in an immediate fashion, that person may be charged with trespassing. That’s the law.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:05 PM
None whatsoever. It’s his house, his choice of media venues, his choice for media invitees. It’s what’s called a free country no matter what the media believes are their “rights”.
Kudos to Cohen for exercising his rights. His campaign can live or die by them. In this case, I think what he did will a plus for his campaign, provided his constituents get the full story.
Dusty on August 7, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Yes, it was private property; if I had been that photographer/activist, I would have left the first time asked. “Ambush journalism/activism” is unsavory, unpleasant…like Michael Moore/Code Pink. If not for George Allen’s “Macaca moment,captured by a ‘Ambush Activist’, Republicans might have held the Senate.
With that said, Cohen is fair game for interviews/questions when he is out in public.
Doug on August 7, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Good for him.
RobertInAustin on August 7, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I’m not sure which on I hold in the most contempt . . . the liberal Democrat or the leftist media slug.
rplat on August 7, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Is there any truth to the rumors being circulated on DailyKos that Cohen’s opponent is being clandestinely backed by the GOP to bombthrow and embarrass the Dems? I don’t personally believe that to be true, but, interesting that they’d so publicly make that claim, and interesting that Obama would embroil himself in that debate.
Outlander on August 7, 2008 at 3:13 PM
maverick muse on August 7, 2008 at 2:48 PM
agreed going down that path led to two world wars. the past is the past and should stay in the past.
unseen on August 7, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Truth? DailyKOS? Those are mutually exclusive terms, and should never be used in the same sentence, except to highlight contradictory comparisons (i.e.: DailyKOS wouldn’t know the truth if it jumped up and bit him in the nether regions–if the schmuck actually has nether regions)
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:20 PM
So Politicians should start holding all press conferences in their homes so they can control who shows up and physically accost those they don’t like. Got it.
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Not when it’s a politician holding a news conference. If you think otherwise you should run a little thought experiment of what rights you’re granting to Obama if his home becomes the White House and he decides he doesn’t like journalists like those who work for Fox.
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 3:27 PM
good for him.
Diogenes of Sinope on August 7, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Doesn’t matter who we have contempt for. I will fight for this liberals rights within his home. The great question to be answered, would that liberal fight for mine? My experience tells me no.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Interesting tactic………….. hold the “Press Conference” in front of your house, you can’t control who covers it, = Public Event.
………. hold the “Press Conference” inside your house, you CAN control who covers it, = Private Event.
……… what if the camera man was from FOX News? ….. and it was an Obama event……. inside a supporters house?
I guess if you are told to get out, you get out….. then only the news that is fit to print, will be printed, or viewed in this case.
Seven Percent Solution on August 7, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Glad to see somebody else sees the bigger picture here….
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 3:33 PM
It seems no matter how far over the top you have to go to have the last word, you will do it.
You’re wrong on this.
surrounded on August 7, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Good point but I think he’ll think twice again before inviting the press to his home. That was his mistake.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Couple of items you might have missed here:
1. The White House is NOT private property; it is government owned, but is not public. Access is controlled. Don’t believe it? Try to get in to the White House press room without credentials, you’ll be licking the floor with a secret service guy on your back so fast, you won’t even be able to think first amendment.
2. This was Cohen’s house. Private Property. The “camera man” was not invited, was not credentialed, and was trespassing on Cohen’s private property.
It doesn’t matter if the person is a politician, a rock star or a construction worker. If the owner tells you to leave, you better GTFO or face criminal charges.
Doubt me? Cite me where it says the press has a free reign to go on a person’s private property without the owner’s consent. Find it. Take your time. There’s a lot of case law out there.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Doesn’t apply. The White House maybe a place he can sleep in but it is never his house. It belongs to the people. The president surrenders much of his privacy to be the most powerful man on the planet.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Fox news, wtf?? What does that have to do with it? It’s not about politics, it’s about a person’s right over their own property.
surrounded on August 7, 2008 at 3:37 PM
The cameraman that was thrown out was not a member of the press.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:37 PM
The intruder camera-dude is lucky the congressman didn’t hold the press conference in Joe Horn’s neighborhood.
silenced majority on August 7, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Well, I need to find out when the next celebrity home interview is occurring. I’d like to see the inside of a mansion firsthand. Being allowed in and nobody being allowed to have me leave would just make it cooler.
Seeing as letting any members of the Press in means they are not allowed to control who can come into their home; that’ll be sweet. And them not being allowed to make me leave? Hell, I’ve got a week’s worth vacation.
Anyone interviewing Lars Ulrich anytime soon? I’ve heard his house is sweet…
gekkobear on August 7, 2008 at 3:39 PM
I don’t know how big or old you are but it’s pretty clear just have persistent you are in being wrong. Very, wrong.
Again, let me ask you a question…what part of private property laws change just because you invite some members of the press in that requires you to allow ALL members of the press in?
Do you actually have an answer for this or are you just reveling in your idiocy at this point?
As for you ‘point’ on Obama and the White House press…here’s a flash for you, members of the press have to be credentialed to get into the briefing room. There’s no law that requires any and all reporters be let in. So in theory he could do that and I assure you, the Secret Service won’t take no for an answer from a reporter who is asked to leave.
But that’s not really the point is it? This is a guy’s private house, his rules.
How about we put this to the test, next time you invite someone over to your home post it here with your address. We’ll all show up and harass you. There’s nothing you can do about it right?
Drew on August 7, 2008 at 3:41 PM
And you know this how? Because Cohen told you so?
TheBigOldDog on August 7, 2008 at 3:43 PM
It’s about picking and choosing the news coverage that you want and don’t want when you hold the coverage inside your private residence.
If they were all getting together for a circle jerk, who the hell cares, but selectively choosing how your message is carefully censored and edited for your political benefit……….? Then I have an issue.
Seven Percent Solution on August 7, 2008 at 3:50 PM
cause it was described in the newscast.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:50 PM
I’d do the same, but probably do more than push if they refused my first order to depart the premises.
And even if invited, if I were told to leave I’d leave immediately.
But then I believe in and honor private property rights.
Apparently some of you folks don’t quite grasp the concept.
But then the ones that don’t quite grasp THAT concept, also seem to be the ones who call for the banning from HotAir of those people who disagree with them, so that’s no big surprise.
LegendHasIt on August 7, 2008 at 3:53 PM
except when your house is the USofA and the persoin being asked to leave is an illegal then they get toi stay and you get to support them or get killed,raped , robbed ,molested by them
Mojack420 on August 7, 2008 at 3:53 PM
If the Congressman was conducting congressional business, I could see your point, but since this was campaign related (fine line in MANY circumstances) it really doesn’t matter. This stuff is heavily controlled (censorship and editing does not apply here, check the definitions of each) for the purposes of the campaign.
Nevertheless, it is still his home, and he may allow some to his house, and not others, and the criteria is entirely his. If someone is stalking him, he can have that person thrown off the property and NO court (except maybe the 9th Circus in CA) would take issue with him for it.
His house, his rules. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And if you’re a homeowner, I’m sure neither would you.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 3:59 PM
In the words of Ed Furillo:
Tink on August 7, 2008 at 4:00 PM
I hope this doesn’t hurt your delicate sensibilities but no one cares if you have an issue.
An elected official, like anyone else, can select who may and who may not come into their homes. It’s that simple. They may select who, when and where they speak to individuals or the press.
If you don’t like that your representative does that, don’t vote for him. That’s your right.
What’s not anyone’s right is to demand that all press be let on someone’s private property just because some press has been let on.
Drew on August 7, 2008 at 4:02 PM
his house, his rules…
I don’t know this guy, don’t know who he is or what side of the isle he’s on, but your house is your house.
Kaptain Amerika on August 7, 2008 at 4:06 PM
I’d cross over to support this guy in a primary. He’s a liberal, so I’d then vote against him in the general.
As for any rumored criticism of nitwit racist Tinker from Obambi, I don’t know how “shrewd” that is. Hopefully he was serious about it, and it sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Jaibones on August 7, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Apparently…………… you did!
Seven Percent Solution on August 7, 2008 at 4:07 PM
What can I say? Public stupidity bothers me.
Drew on August 7, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I wasn’t referring to the Armenian cameraman but the press that were already in his home.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Thank you for your excellent example………
Seven Percent Solution on August 7, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Read my other comments. I agree with you. But the only thing we can hold to the congressman is that he should think twice before letting the press in his private home in the first place.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Kos is a nether region. The female one….
ScottG on August 7, 2008 at 4:28 PM
By law, it is impermissible for the Americans’ federal government to confer titles of nobility. When their Constitution speaks of the freedom of “the press,” it is not referring to a peerage to which one does or does not belong. The freedom of the press belongs to everyone who has something with which to impress words and images onto a medium.
Kralizec on August 7, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Big Old Dog and 7% -
I understand your contention that one should not be able to pick and choose the media for a press conference. But in the footage provided, it seemed to me that this Tinker guy was not there to simply report the conference. He was causing a scene, and was likely going to continue harrassing the Congressman.
Surely some level of control is legitimate. Are you saying that any member of the media are allowed to do any damn thing they want just because it is a “press conference”? You sure seem to be saying that.
connertown on August 7, 2008 at 4:33 PM
I’m not going to get into whether it was a tactically brilliant move to have the press in his home. That’s entirely his call. I wouldn’t have done it, personally, but even in a “public” meeting (i.e., a press conference), members of the press have to be credentialed, and members of the press may be excluded (which is legal) even in the White House Press Room.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Now that’s insulting to females AND their nether regions.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 4:35 PM
You still have to be credentialed, and the cameraman wasn’t. He was trespassing on private property and when he didn’t leave after the first request, his freedom was forfeit and completely in the hands of the owner of the property. If you don’t get that by now, you never will. Go find case law to back up your statements.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 4:40 PM
“The Armenian” is lucky this wasn’t in Texas.
Texas Rainmaker on August 7, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Damn straight. People get shot for that here.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 5:12 PM
I “ask” you to leave my house…..you better leave. I’m not “asking” a second time.
GarandFan on August 7, 2008 at 5:14 PM
In Texas, I don’t care who you are, If ya don’t leave my house when I ask, you won’t like how I put you out.
Farmer62 on August 7, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Good for Cohen. His house, his rules. He can change them at any time. He can filter whomever he wants for whatever reason. Press or no press, it’s his castle. He can stop in mid interview should he choose and tell everyone to “get the hell off his lawn” or it’s trespassing, credentials or no.
Once he’s off his private property or in plain view publicly, then the “press” can throw questions at him all day as long as they don’t violate neighborhood noise codes or loitering law. Otherwise, he can call the police and the unwanted guests will be arrested. It will make for fine footage which is what newsies want, but they’ll get to answer for it in court.
Likening this scene to press access of the President in the White House is apples and oranges. At any rate, the press is tightly controlled at the “President’s House”, too. When he “asks” you to leave, you leave.
AnonymousDrivel on August 7, 2008 at 5:19 PM
After he was told to leave and he didn’t someone should have pulled a gun on him. Sorry, when you enter someone’s house against their wishes you are in dangerous territory.
And for those argueing freedom of the press. This doesn’t give you permission to go onto private property where you are not welcome for any reason. The owners of the property get to decide who is there and who isn’t unless there is a warrent allowing officers of the law on the property against the owner’s wishes. Try showing up at a ball game with a camera and declaring you are a member of the press and see how far you get with that.
Buford on August 7, 2008 at 5:20 PM
I have a problem with the repeated phrase “Armenian guy.” He says it several times as if it is a dirty word. That’s racist. “This guy” would have sufficed.
Glynn on August 7, 2008 at 5:41 PM
I think that’s a matter of interpretation. I watched the video 3 times, and didn’t see him saying it like it was a dirty word.
Armenian isn’t a race. It’s a nationality.
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 5:46 PM
That Tinker woman is disgusting.
Agreed, he said nothing racist and he’s right. Leave the race to TN, everyone else from other places get the hell out, including Emily’s List and the Armnenian from CA. It’s none of their damn business.
This Tinker woman sounds like the type who if she was a Real Estate Broker would be blockbusting and redlining, breaking laws and rules right and left.
She also sounds like she studied the the Clintons.
AprilOrit on August 7, 2008 at 6:00 PM
I don’t care what it is. It wasn’t necessary.
Glynn on August 7, 2008 at 6:14 PM
It wasn’t necessary for this guy to trespass on Cohen’s property. It wasn’t necessary for him to stalk Cohen. It wasn’t necessary for him to refuse to leave.
Your response “I don’t care what it is” smacks of hurt feelings. Get over it. The world isn’t concerned about you or your feelings. This congressman was being stalked and threatened by a person who had NO right to be on his property. And you’re worried because you FEEL that the congressman was being demeaning?
john1schn on August 7, 2008 at 6:24 PM
“Carefully censored and edited”, ok. The whole thing was videotaped.
surrounded on August 7, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Agree completely.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 7:05 PM
It was necessary. He was explaining his experience with these individual Armenians. He wasn’t being derrogatory towards Armenians as a people but these specific Armenians.
Theses Armenians were being jerks no matter what their political beef is with Cohen.
shick on August 7, 2008 at 7:08 PM
When it comes to home,your home,my home,
its a mans/or/womens castle!
If your a Dem,or Rep its your home!
And you have the right to invite,and
the right to kick there #ss’s out!
canopfor on August 7, 2008 at 8:52 PM
AMEN!!
AprilOrit on August 7, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Memphis is not Republican friendly. Harold Ford country/obama country. Not to worry the rest of TN will defeat obama in that state
wepeople on August 7, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Oh yeah–Huge mistake. Huge. He only won by a 60 point margin. Deft political analysis, Dog
CalFed on August 8, 2008 at 2:55 AM
He was UTTERLY within his rights. He was within his home. His home was invaded by an uninvited annoying twit. Shoving the twit outside the door and closing the door is fully within his rights, even in California.
Of course, that was an interesting display of Republican behavior exercising a right the Republicans want to make sure he and all others have and can exercise.
{^_-}
herself on August 8, 2008 at 4:08 AM