Man tosses tomato at Palin … hits cop
posted at 10:55 am on December 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I love living in Minnesota, but sometimes the people here can cause a little embarrassment. Thirty-eight percent of Minnesotans elected Jesse Ventura as governor in 1998, and ten years later, 42% put Al Franken in the US Senate. At least yesterday’s embarrassment was limited to one lunatic with catastrophically bad aim:
A man was arrested for throwing tomatoes at Sarah Palin during her book signing on Monday at the Mall of America.
Jeremy Olson, 33, allegedly threw two tomatoes from the second balcony, however did not come close to hitting Palin.
So who did he hit? Uh ….
Bloomington Police report that Bloomington Commander Mark Stehlik was struck in the face with one of the tomatoes and may face charges for assaulting a police officer. Olson was booked at the Bloomington jail. He was arrested for suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct.
Good shooting, Jeremy! Instead of hitting his bête noir, he hit a police commander — and now could face some serious jail time as a result. And for what? He wanted to injure Palin for writing a book, which apparently Olson finds somehow threatening. Anything thrown from the second floor down to the first other than a Nerf ball would have a good chance of causing an injury, especially to the face.
Adding to the air of mysterious stupidity, Jeremy also apparently goes by the name Jeremiah Wobbe. The police initially reported his arrest under that name. Olson, or Wobbe, seems to need more than one identity to contain his bountiful immaturity.
Just to cut off the rumors, Olson is not one of the Viking quarterbacks. At least not this year.
This is one of a string of assaults on conservatives making personal appearances over the last few years, although usually it involves pies rather than produce. It’s a natural reaction, I suppose, from those who lack the intellectual heft to debate issues. Unfortunately for Olson, he also lacks the aim to do anything other than ensure that the police will demand his prosecution. Maybe he should stick to his Wii.
Update: It occurs to me that this is more violence than anyone saw from Tea Party protesters. Will that fact get hours of analysis on MS-NBC? Don’t hold your breath.
Blowback
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I was watching the History Channel tell the tale of Kennedy getting shot in Dallas. The build up to the shooting was that Kennedy was heading to Dallas where there was lots of Right Wing anger against Kennedy.
Nowhere in the documentary did they mention that the guy who killed Kennedy was a commie.
Bleed_thelizard on December 8, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Sigh. A wonderful demonstration of the average American’s memory span. How’s this:
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/08/11/matthews-to-obama-protester-whyd-you-bring-a-loaded-gun-to-a-town-hall-with-the-president/comment-page-1/#comments
To quote Allahpundit:
Dark-Star on December 8, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Let’s put this tool downrange of Sarah and her rifle accompanied by 100 rounds of buskshot and salt.
dthorny on December 8, 2009 at 5:00 PM
In the real world the FBI would be watching every move this dumbass makes. But, that would be in the real world.
oakpack on December 8, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Of course! Now, those bible-and-guns-clingin’ typical white people, or those PTSD-inflicted Right-wing war veterans? Let’s keep an eye on them…. and Fox News. – AG Holder
dmh0667 on December 8, 2009 at 6:21 PM
“The ones showing up for tea parties with their guns”
Please supply a link for this claim.
When, Where and who.
DSchoen on December 8, 2009 at 4:15 PM
That’s what I thought.
What is your reading comp/level? 4th grade?
The statement was “ showing up for tea parties with their guns”
At “TEA PARTIES”
Did ya get that? or is it too complicated for you?
At “Tea Parties” NOT Town hall meetings.
DSchoen on December 8, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Minnesota:
Where they elect truther, fake Seal, professional wrestlers as governor.
Where they elect Islamist assholes to the house.
Where they elect wannabe Sandinista, failed comics to the senate.
Where the state bird is the mosquito.
Where it is flat as a pancake and either scorching hot or absolute zero cold.
Where drooling locals sit in sheds all winter and poke at a hole in the ice.
Where the bridges collapse because of corrosive pigeon poop.
Shocked, Shocked that Jeremiah Wobbe is from minnesota.
Boxy_Brown on December 8, 2009 at 6:28 PM
This heinous act is simply indicative of the broader tactics used by the left.
Ann Coulter was assaulted with a pie
GWB was assaulted by two shoes
Kominsky Field was pelted by a weak leftie throw that hit the dirt and missed the glove of the catcher
Now Sarah Palin is attacked by a limp wristed guy (possibly wearing MOM jeans, independent accounts not corroborated).
The common thread to all these is that the leftist attacker has now gone 0-5 in hurling missiles at their intended target.
No wonder the left complains of fairness, they’re the kids that never got picked for dodgeball. I betcha Tiger’s wife is a conservative—she connected, with a leftie!
ted c on December 8, 2009 at 6:36 PM
I saw that broadcast (History Channel) and I think their angle is that “the guy who killed Kennedy” (Oswald) “was a commie” but that being “a commie” is some sort of “rightwing fanaticism”.
You’re right, though, that they dodged (not accidentally) the entire issue of Oswald-the-assassin’s LEFTWING POLITICAL associations and dedications.
Lourdes on December 8, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Regardless of his intended target he hit a cop. He assaulted a cop, in an attempt to assault a privet citizen.
There is no way this guy is going to get a slap on the wrist.
Your point is that people who live in “blue” states and major urban are a bunch of ignate animals?
Do you really want to make that point?
Your point is liberals have no self control, and are easily played?
Is that really the point your trying to make?
Seriously, are you claiming to be a mind reader?.
DSchoen on December 8, 2009 at 6:59 PM
They just do not like attractive conservative women.
Johan Klaus on December 8, 2009 at 7:05 PM
If you do not like the second amendment, you had better stay out of Texas.
Johan Klaus on December 8, 2009 at 7:09 PM
I applaud the amendment itself, have gone hunting, and would like a defense-worthy firearm just in case. Oh yes – and I’ve also been to Texas – Dallas to be precise. Nice place, but boy do you guys have screwy weather sometimes! (maybe that was just my luck though)
I don’t like some of the people who adhere to the amendment. That is all.
Dark-Star on December 8, 2009 at 7:21 PM
I don’t understand your comment. Can you explain?
Red State State of Mind on December 8, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Captain Sidearm wasn’t a tea party’er. He was a second amendment advocate.
The event wasn’t a tea party, it was a Congressional Town Hall.
Likewise the event at the Church.
Don’t confuse the two, please.
Jason Coleman on December 8, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Perhaps poor word choice. Let me restate: I applaud the existence and purpose of the second amendment, but I don’t like some of it’s more hardcore ‘fans’.
Dark-Star on December 8, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Gotcha. Personally, I’m not at all flustered by people carrying and bearing arms. I don’t own a gun, but I believe an armed populace is a safer populace, and appreciate any lawful citizen carrying. He’s doing me a favor and improving my security when I’m out in public next to him.
I hang out at a local cigar shop frequented by a few cops and ex cops and each of them carries a concealed weapon at all times, and it is very comforting and relaxing being there.
Red State State of Mind on December 8, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Also live in Minnesota. Cops may press charges but I’ll believe a DA here, will prosecute this dim wit when I see it.
He’s got a better chance ending up as a commentator on MSNBC.
chickasaw42 on December 8, 2009 at 8:12 PM
I agree with you on all points, all I’m saying is that some of the gun fans here give me goosebumps. The firearms themselves are just tools. And if an armed citizenry does one thing well its to “up the ante” for criminals. When so much as robbing a gas station or sticking up a little old lady could get you a death sentence served on the spot, it does wonders for the crime rate.
Dark-Star on December 8, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Speaking as a husband and father rather than as a conservative (so as not to unduly put the generally pacifist conservatives in a bad light), I would have thrown the son of a b!tch off the second floor.
justltl on December 8, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Actually, now that I think about it, I guess that I’m not being totally forthright.
If the target had been Pelosi, for example, I would have given the thrower a cigar.
Sorry.
Carry on.
justltl on December 8, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Is this ORANGE guy still around? He/she didn’t answer my question last night about how well informed he was by listening to his beloved media which addmittedly is already biased to his way of thinking. Orange stated earlier and bragged on how consistent he is with his answers. Anyone not answering a simple question is not consistent. I will say it again the left in this nation as with other nations does not like dissent. They only like dissent if they are out of power. This turd who threw the tomato probably secretly wished he had the guts to eliminate Sarah. He is probably another leftists who can’t tolerate dissent.
garydt on December 8, 2009 at 8:23 PM
The sweetest part of Victory in 2010 and watching Ms. Pelosi hand over the gavel to Mr. Boehner will be that we fought the fight fairly and with civility.
Red State State of Mind on December 8, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Time for more “liberals have limp wrists and therefore bad aim” cracks.
BKennedy on December 8, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Possibly he could host an MSNBC show and give gardening tips. That would probably draw better than they do now.
Red State State of Mind on December 8, 2009 at 8:29 PM
I betcha both Todd and Sarah caught those tomatoes out of the corner of their eye and would’ve nailed them twice with a double barreled shotgun before they hit that cop.
10 min later they’d be inviting folks over for salsa.
ted c on December 8, 2009 at 8:50 PM
OK, Einstein, what state do you live in that has no idiot politicians or moonbats?
You might want to power up the CPU before spewing next time.
2ipa on December 8, 2009 at 9:08 PM
I hate to disagree, but I do not think this fight will be won with fairness and civility. Those are the two traits that the left depends on us exhibiting.
The only way to beat them will be to get down in the trenches with them, and kick some butt. They will fold, because they are basically cowards. That might sound harsh, but I think it is correct.
Yoop on December 8, 2009 at 9:14 PM
I think he lives in the state of Confusion. |-)
Dark-Star on December 8, 2009 at 9:15 PM
It can’t figure out what her egregious crime was. What is it that she has said or done that makes these aholes think that this kind of hate is warranted? How does this end well?
ronsfi on December 8, 2009 at 9:23 PM
So let’s list the abuses hurled at Sarah Palin. I’ll probably need help. Here are the ones I remember:
1. Called a slut
2. Called an idiot
3. Compared to a pig
4. Her daughter called a whore
5. The maternity of her child questioned
6. Her church burned down (everyone forgets that one)
7. Unrelenting stream of frivolous lawsuits that paralyze her administration.
8. The rape of her 14-y.o. daughter laughed about on MSM TV
9. Caricatured on SNL to the point that many young people think Tina Fey and Sarah Palin are the same person.
10. Tomatoes thrown at her.
etc. etc.
What if this had been done to Hillary Clinton or Geraldine Ferraro? Imagine the outcry.
So… which ones have I forgotten?
cane_loader on December 8, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Sigh
I suppose you’re right.
But couldn’t he just smack her once or twice with the gavel when nobody was looking?
justltl on December 8, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Shouldn’t you be out in your hut scratching your icehole?
Boxy_Brown on December 8, 2009 at 9:43 PM
She is a threat and would win. The only reason that she wouldn’t win is because of Women.
That’s right, your sisters, mothers, and aunts. If they cause her to lose I’ll forever laugh that women don’t get paid as much as men.
If that happens I’ll not have as much respect for women.
Palin as Prez or VP would do great things for women.
father on December 8, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Good points.
As for the tomatoes…I dunno. Would it have been different if he threw paper wads or water balloons instead? Better than rocks…or certainly bullets. Of course the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that probably means not throwing anything.
How about the “finger”? A really mean sign? An effigy? Guess it depends on which side of the fence you’re on and who it is against. Americans 200+ years ago burned King George III in effigy from what I remember reading.
Remember that Ann Coulter was attacked by a pie-thrower. In itself harmless, though embarrassing. All in all, though, doing such things removes the victim’s right to free speech and those that want to hear them speak (or get a book signed, etc.). Do we really want folks to go around and throw things, even harmless things at us and others in public?
But, I’m a hypocrite so if someone threw a tomato at Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or some others I can think of, I wouldn’t think it to be a bad thing.
Dr. ZhivBlago on December 8, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Can’t take advice or answer the question I see. Since the thrower has
“no permanent address” I guess it’s Minnesota’s fault that he chose to do it here. Your idiot is showing.
And there won’t be enough ice to fish on for a few more days, fool.
2ipa on December 8, 2009 at 11:10 PM
`
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`
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Her crime? She stood up for traditional American values, and struck a nerve in the populace. She could not be allowed to survive as a viable political candidate – she attended her kids’ hockey games, for crying out loud! What self-respecting elitist leftist could tolerate her existence on earth as anything but an object of ridicule? It would mean their existence was . . . meaningless?
`
Palin’s got what they secretly wish they had, but can never have, and can never admit they ever ever ever wished they had.
`
The wretched leftists are a lot like zombies, existing only to destroy what they can never have. There are also many similarities in their thought processes . . .
`
`
Adjoran on December 9, 2009 at 3:41 AM
Sorry pal but it’s already been pointed out by Bleedingblueheart. Since you’re too lazy to look back in the thread (or maybe conveniently ignored the exchange) I’ll repost here.
And quit being such an arrogant ass. Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?
hawkdriver on December 9, 2009 at 5:08 AM
“leanings”…
hawkdriver on December 9, 2009 at 5:09 AM
It’s actually a myth that women get paid less than men for the same work. Liberals also complain that women are discriminated against in hiring. When viewed together, these lies simply make no sense–if employers could hire women to do the same job for less, they would hire women over men at every opportunity. In any event, I’m not interested in identity politics. A victory for Palin is not a victory for all women–it is a victory for Palin.
DrMagnolias on December 9, 2009 at 5:56 AM
Fuquay Steve on December 9, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Is Minnesota in America? If it is, we need to sell it to Russia.
DanaSmiles on December 9, 2009 at 8:32 AM
We can’t be throwing things. Pretty soon it gets out of hand, and people will be throwing things at the other side too like Franken or Obama or whoever.
I still couldn’t help but laugh when that guy through his shoe at president Bush though.
Spathi on December 9, 2009 at 9:58 AM
“Let me be very bold and fresh again, do you believe that you are smart enough, incisive enough, intellectual enough to handle the most powerful job in the world?”
“I believe that I am because I have common sense and I have I believe the values that are reflective of so many other American values, and I believe that what Americans are seeking is not the elitism, the uhm, the ah, a kind of spineless, spinelessness that perhaps is made up for that with some kind of elite, Ivy league education and, and a fat resume that is based on anything but hard work and private sector, free enterprise principles. Americans are could be seeking something like that in positive change in their leadership, I’m not saying that that has to be me.”
No wonder he missed – he was probably laughing too hard.
Dave Rywall on December 9, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Of course Dave, your comment is consistent with your usual nonsense. What is she talking about with spinelessness?
Hawaiian prep schools, Columbia, Harvard Law, they are really tough places. Even more so when you look and act like every liberal professor’s dream.
Former Governor Palin really has had a cushy life compared to the White House wonder who hasn’t released any of his work and can’t speak without a teleprompter.
The only thing saving this country is the fact that he is too busy being stupid and cowardly to be really destructive.
I do disagree with one thing she said. I think that most of our current crew do not have “fat” resumes. They have resumes as meretricious as your leader’s fake classical columns. Even by the standards of “public service” jobs, our Prez is a loser. Just look at all the legislation introduced by Our Leader. All the problem solving meetings. All the crucial and well explained votes. All of the great law school articles.
There was a rumor that the major networks wanted to do specials during the campaign comparing the candidates. Till it became obvious that The One had not done a thing. And certainly nothing courageous. Projects scrapped.
IlikedAUH2O on December 9, 2009 at 1:18 PM
The left-wing Minnesota press will probably want Wobbly Wobbe to throw the first pitch for the Twins next spring. He probably wouldn’t want to mess with Sarahcuda, who still runs marathons in her 40′s, according to her book!
Steve Z on December 9, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Now there is a real surprise. The limp wristed wanna be somethings – anythings – at PBS failed to report that Kennedy’s assassin was a communist. Now lets see, understand that I was a freshman in college at the time but if I remember correctly in the forty some odd years since then I can count on probably one finger the number of times that any MSM reportage has mentioned the fact that he was a communist. What eles do you expect? First off, the new members of the MSM were educated in the American school system. Secondly they attended American Universities, where they are not taught to think, but rather to parrot the line espoused by the professorship. You reap what you sew folks and if you as parents failed to raise you children any better I’m sorry. They don’t know any better.
georgeofthedesert on December 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM
IlikedAUH2O on December 9, 2009 at 1:18 PM
—-
Let’s see now: you’re railing on Obama’s education, so let’s have a look at Palin, who went to
Hawaii Pacific U (1 semester only in 82)
North Idaho College ( 2 semesters in 83)
U of Idaho (2 semesters)
Matanuska-Sustina College (1 semester)
back to U of Idaho (2 semesters in 86, then a year later 1 more semester)
Spinelessness? You betcha.
Dave Rywall on December 9, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Re;2ipa on December 8, 2009 at 11:10 PM
If my initial response somehow appears excuse me for being redundant:
I’d tell you where I live but I don’t want a skandi-snowback showing up on my doorstep hoping to get fed…
Lots of Minnesotans don’t have “permanent address”…Igloos tend to melt and your huts tend to fall through the ice.
I actually prefer your “minnesota obnoxious” to the usual “minnesota nice” but that’s like choosing between root canal and a colonoscopy.
Have fun on lake woebegone you exciting fellow, bring lots of “food on a stick”. (Because knives and forks are so damn difficult to master for you folk.)
Boxy_Brown on December 9, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Yall are welcome to flame me to your hearts content for the slight digression………….BUT
I wanna SEE that rifle that shoots buckshot!!
Katfish on December 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Box: I guess at this point I’ll have to defer to your superior display of incisive knowledge of Minnesotans. The way you backed up every charge in your first post with flawless logic and multiple sources, and then proceeded to do the same with every single line of my responses. I sit in awe.
Oh, and the Democrat Underground is calling. They’re running out of ad hominems.
2ipa on December 9, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Well, I am only an amateur primatologist. I did however observe minnesotans in their natural habitat. (the mall and the tundra)Indeed, the longest year of my life was the 2 months I spent in Minnesota.
Jane Goodall and I documented the the typical minnesotan eating Lutefisk off a snow blower. When we showed the footage they thought we found bigfoot.
Saw something shiny did you?
Well considering that you are so bent out of shape about some cracks about a state that provided the USA with Al (the unfunny comic) Frankin, Keith (is that a suicide bomb vest or have you been hitting the “hotdish”*) Ellison and Jesse (Fire doesn’t melt steal) Ventura maybe you ought to bring your little Minnesota chamber of commerce routine over there. I’m sure you will have PLENTY of company from other Minnesotans.
.
*For those of you in civilization Hotdish is a Minnesotan delicacy consisting of flab, potato and grizzle.
Boxy_Brown on December 9, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Box of Rocks:
Ah- we start to get to the truth! Did something bad happen to you when you were here? I can’t imagine why…
2ipa on December 10, 2009 at 12:39 AM
It all started when I landed at the 2nd worst airport on earth (Heathrow has you edged out, congratulations.)and tried to get a ride with one of your militant islamist-terrorist Somali cab drivers. (I know that many minnesotans can’t figure out how to use a steering wheel but importing the Mogadishu Black Hawk down veterans was just making the situation worse.) After I was tossed out on the tundra because the jihadi discovered there was alcohol in my aftershave I was carried off by Minnesotan mosquitoes that looked like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.
That was the highpoint of my trip.
Seriously; The Minneapolis/st.Paul leftists are probably the most annoying leftists out there. NPR listening, smug morons. Complete morons. Pompously declaring how enlightened they are with absolutely nothing, NOTHING to back that up. They “over-compensate” for their Midwestern upbringing by aping the worst aspects of leftist culture in a petulant rejection of everything they have seen that actually was functional or had an element of common sense tied to it. At least the adolescent trotskyite clowns who infest places like New York, San Francisco or Chicago can talk about another subject or 2 if pressed. Minnesotan-leftist-morons (redundant, I know) are made more moronic by being cut off from the things they emulate. They are made more shrill by bouncing their leftist drivel off each other. Your leftists tend to be single mindedly stupid fanatics who wont change their minds and can’t change the subject. They can’t change the subject because the only other culture that they have been exposed to, (other than the one they have rejected) is the mall of America.
Now if this somehow offends you that Boxy pointed out that your state is chock-full of these particularly annoying idiots you might be part of the problem. Stop scratching at your icehole and set aside your “Minnesota nice” the next time someone like Jeremiah Wobbe decides that it would be a good idea to run Al Frankin.
Boxy_Brown on December 10, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Box of Rocks: So you hate us all because there’s a few extra fools here? Your thinking frankly does not strike me as very conservative. More like reactionary.
About that CPU- after further reflection, I think it’s going to need a little more than power. More like professional help. You gotta do something about all the hate, man, its eating you up.
2ipa on December 10, 2009 at 1:50 PM
I don’t hate anyone in the sh!t#ead state.
Boo hoo, someone doesn’t wuv minne-soder, call a wambulence!
It must be something in the water. I wonder if Canada is interested in a trade… Probably not.
Boxy_Brown on December 10, 2009 at 2:27 PM
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