New footage: The unedited Etheridge assault video

posted at 5:30 pm on June 14, 2010 by Allahpundit

New from Breitbart.tv. No word yet on who the two students are, which means the media jury’s still out on whether this was a wildly inappropriate criminal assault by a sitting congressman or an act of righteous fury from a man pushed too far by the insolence of wingnuts asking him whether he supports the president. Hopefully, though, these two vids will finish off the DNC talking point that that crafty Andrew Breitbart edited out some sort of provocation by the questioners in the original video that might explain Etheridge’s anger. Unless they waylaid him somewhere before this incident and he suddenly remembered them, it appears to be completely unprovoked. And nothing he’s said, either during the assault or at his presser this afternoon, suggests that he’d met them before this.

Here’s something else to look for in the second clip while you watch: At seven seconds in, Etheridge appears to grab the kid’s cell phone. At the very end of the clip, he still has it in his hand. Dude?

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Comment pages: 1 2

“DC Thug”

Has a nice ring to it. Movie in the works?

trapeze on June 14, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Same thing happens every time I go see pawpaw.

ConstantSorrow on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Probably has something to do with all of that presidential talk about kicking ass.

Or he was drunk.

Either works for me.

trapeze on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Now that I’ve watched it a couple of times, his eyes look puffy and tired, like he has had a long day. Poor fellow.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Hilarious, the congressman actually says “who am I?” Drunkenness is no excuse for assault.

azkenreid on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Assault, strong armed robbery and kidnapping.

ColdWarrior57 on June 14, 2010 at 5:34 PM

I hope that cell phone didn’t have too much of the kid’s personal information on it, or Etheridge certainly knows who that kid is by now.

DrAllecon on June 14, 2010 at 5:34 PM

Etheridge appears to grab the kid’s cell phone

Looks like a Flip camera to me. He must have given it back, because the video in the top clip is from that camera.

aero on June 14, 2010 at 5:34 PM

I think that’s a flip video camera, not a cellphone.

SWLiP on June 14, 2010 at 5:35 PM

Now that I’ve watched it a couple of times, his eyes look puffy and tired, like he has had a long day had been binge drinking. Poor fellow.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

FIFY

trapeze on June 14, 2010 at 5:36 PM

Etheridge should come and get sloshed at my place, then he could hop on a mini-bike and ride it off the dock and into the lake like the other drunks do.

Bishop on June 14, 2010 at 5:36 PM

entitlement

The Race Card on June 14, 2010 at 5:37 PM

Just another example of the way Obama inspires his party and followers.

pearson on June 14, 2010 at 5:37 PM

Etheridge probably dropped the camera when he realized he had just committed ‘armed’ robbery.

Jocundus on June 14, 2010 at 5:37 PM

George Bush set this up !!!

jake-the-goose on June 14, 2010 at 5:37 PM

Where was the follow up vid that might have shown him staggering away in search of the nearest bar?

trapeze on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

wow, and the libs are calling this an ambush….puhhhleeeeze…

cmsinaz on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

Etheridge should come and get sloshed at my place, then he could hop on a mini-bike and ride it off the dock and into the lake like the other drunks do.

I was wondering whose lake that was!

azkenreid on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

Can I do that to the idiots who vote for this guy in the fall?

beatcanvas on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

…or an act of righteous fury from a man pushed too far by the insolence of wingnuts asking him whether he supports the president.

Why? If Obama is THE ONE, why would Etheridge proudly proclaim his support?

We all know the answer.

We all can see the guy was drunk, lost control, and committed multiple counts of several crimes.

One question: if he kept the kid’s phone (which he clearly took), how do we have the video?

Ragspierre on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

Hey.
Give Representative Otis there a break.
He might be a real nice feller when he’s not hammered.

justltl on June 14, 2010 at 5:38 PM

Bye bye congressman.

notagool on June 14, 2010 at 5:39 PM

Poor fellow. Had a long day. Lets make it easier on him by kicking his ass out of office.

sandee on June 14, 2010 at 5:39 PM

just out finding some axx to kick

faraway on June 14, 2010 at 5:39 PM

An honest journalist would look at these videos and see that there is a seriously disturbed man coming unglued without provocation and report it as such. Wake me when you find an honest journalist in the MSM.

SKYFOX on June 14, 2010 at 5:39 PM

All the kid had to say, and it owuld have been the end of the career of a elected official, “You are hurting me”.

That is all.

The kid did nothing to warrent this.

upinak on June 14, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Doesn’t matter if the phone was dropped, he still took it by force and against the will of the owner.

Bishop on June 14, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Yes, that’s definitely a FLIP camera.

SWLiP on June 14, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Here’s something else to look for in the second clip while you watch: At seven seconds in, Etheridge appears to grab the kid’s cell phone. At the very end of the clip, he still has it in his hand. Dude?

I noticed that this morning. People said it was knocked away, but I didn’t hear it hit the ground, and it looked like he was holding the other hand away, like he was playing keepaway.

MadisonConservative on June 14, 2010 at 5:40 PM

he’s definitely toast after this…

cmsinaz on June 14, 2010 at 5:41 PM

If these wingnuts were in camps where they belong, we wouldn’t have all these problems.

/

faraway on June 14, 2010 at 5:41 PM

He said in his presser that he did not know the two guys and did not know how to contact them….what did you do with the cell phone Congressman?

d1carter on June 14, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Everytime I watch this clip, I can’t help but think of Longshanks saying: “Who is this person who speaks to me as though I needed his advice?” Than throws the kid out the window.

portlandon on June 14, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Ha! It looks like Etheridge didn’t know there was a second camera — having grabbed the kid’s cellphone, he felt free to be his own unplugged self. Damn those intertubes!

Nichevo on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Etheridge came off as threating and dangerous. I would have been worried about provoking him as well.

William Amos on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Don’t hug me, bro.

faraway on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

This guy has nothing on Jean Chretien.

YYZ on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

hm. I thought that was the camera in #1 which hit the ground.
Why haven’t two clearly media savvy students come out with a statement? Surely they know the attention this has gotten. Weird.

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

The kid got the video camera back, guys.

The first clip is from that camera!

aero on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Someone should make a bunch of signs that just say “Who are you?” and put them up all over his district.

Mark1971 on June 14, 2010 at 5:43 PM

that congressman deserves a good ass kicking.

lavell12 on June 14, 2010 at 5:43 PM

I want you to argue with them and get in their face

- President Barack Obama (September 18, 2008)

Done.

pain train on June 14, 2010 at 5:44 PM

that congressman deserves a good ass kicking.

lavell12 on June 14, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Capt KickAss will now make him the head of something.

upinak on June 14, 2010 at 5:44 PM

Why haven’t two clearly media savvy students come out with a statement? Surely they know the attention this has gotten. Weird.

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Because there is a secret third video in which the Congressman kills the two and then calls Rahm the Cleaner to dispose of the bodies and take care of the situation.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Has anyone seen James O’Keefe lately?

pain train on June 14, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Regulations will fix this. Already you can’t video police officers on the street. Soon you will not be able to video a congressman without an appointment.

Skandia Recluse on June 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Why haven’t two clearly media savvy students come out with a statement? Surely they know the attention this has gotten. Weird.

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Maybe they can’t as they are talking to the judge concerning the Congressman?

upinak on June 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Was he demanding identification papers?

d1carter on June 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Paris Hilton is always
ALWAYS
hounded by paparazzi
EVERYWHERE
Even she conducts herself with dignity
This guy is worse than that skank

macncheez on June 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

What a low class tool.

College Prof on June 14, 2010 at 5:47 PM

The Kids are Alright!

Caper29 on June 14, 2010 at 5:47 PM

That is the Jim Beam talking!

Mr. Joe on June 14, 2010 at 5:48 PM

Is Jimmy O’Keefe going street rouge?

Mr. Joe on June 14, 2010 at 5:48 PM

Because there is a secret third video in which the Congressman kills the two and then calls Rahm the Cleaner to dispose of the bodies and take care of the situation.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Not entirely implausible. :)

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:49 PM

Question for Andrew Breitbart: knowing what the msm and liberal reaction would be, why wait to post the original videos the first one published was compiled from? I really respect Andrew’s work, but that strikes me as foolish.

ProfessorMiao on June 14, 2010 at 5:49 PM

Everytime I watch this clip, I can’t help but think of Longshanks saying: “Who is this person who speaks to me as though I needed his advice?” Than throws the kid out the window.

– Portlandon

Ha! I love that scene! Then punkazz Eddie Jr. pulls a knife on the old man and gets his butt kicked! haha

They didn’t say in the movie how Edward the 2nd died … his wife overthrew him and had him killed by red hot poker up the backdoor! OUCH!

Tony737 on June 14, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Maybe they can’t as they are talking to the judge concerning the Congressman?

upinak on June 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Are they? I honestly have not read much more than what HA has posted on this today.

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:51 PM

The more I see & think about this, the pisseder I get. As though politicians, in general, couldn’t get any lower on my scumometer. This “public servant” is in DIRE need of being torn a new one.

dts-01 on June 14, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Maybe passing bills the he doesn’t read that will bankrupt this country, along with all of his graft, greed, and corruption has finally effected his conscious and he has been having nightmares of millions of pissed off tax payers chasing him through the streets to steal his soul…

THAT would explain a lot!

Seven Percent Solution on June 14, 2010 at 5:52 PM

Was he demanding identification papers? – d1carter

“Who are you? … Ve haff vayz to make you anzwer zee qvueztion, yah?”

Tony737 on June 14, 2010 at 5:54 PM

Can’t wait to see their anger after they lose 100 seats this fall. They’re all bent out of shape just contemplating what’s in store for them.

Awwwwwww.

Sorry that you’re Commandant isn’t working out for you.

fogw on June 14, 2010 at 5:54 PM

Why haven’t two clearly media savvy students come out with a statement? Surely they know the attention this has gotten. Weird.
Bee on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Why should they? Is there some legal requirement that dictates that anyone questioning an elected rep on a public street needs to ID themselves (and subject their lives to twisted scrutiny by the predominantly Dem-supporting media)?

Would Etheridge have held that apologetic press conference if the camera lied?

Nichevo on June 14, 2010 at 5:56 PM

Am I the only one who thinks this is bad enough that the congressman should be forced to resign?

I find this alarming.

capitalist piglet on June 14, 2010 at 5:57 PM

The kid looks freakin’ scared, he should take some self defense lessons, a simple twist of the wrist would have put him in the dominate position.

Tony737 on June 14, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Helen Thomas had no comment!!

Dire Straits on June 14, 2010 at 6:00 PM

This kid would have been within his rights to knock this congressman on his ass. If it would have taken this turn what would the congressman be saying about it now?

Pelosi delende est on June 14, 2010 at 6:01 PM

Nichevo on June 14, 2010 at 5:56 PM

In light of the Nathan Tabor assault, I’m just curious about charges being filed and what the back story is. Not accusatory or invasive, just curious. They were obviously interested in making a tape of his response but probably didn’t anticipate violence. I’m simply surprised that they haven’t said anything.

Bee on June 14, 2010 at 6:01 PM

I’m still confused.

Is it WHO are you – or – WHOM are you

I thought I heard both.

poppieseeds on June 14, 2010 at 6:01 PM

If someone restrains you that long nobody would blame you for popping the guy hard .

CWforFreedom on June 14, 2010 at 6:02 PM

Now that I’ve watched it a couple of times, his eyes look puffy and tired, like he has had a long day had been binge drinking. had been playing Beer Pong with bare-chested WH staffers. Poor fellow.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

FIFY

trapeze on June 14, 2010 at 5:36 PM

FIFY..FIFY..

The War Planner on June 14, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Observation: The Trolls are conspicuously missing from this thread.

CWforFreedom on June 14, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Had I been in the kid’s place this certainly would not have been nearly as effective a video. That is because the kid showed remarkable restraint and civility.

Me?

The congressman would have been eating the sidewalk.

kurtzz3 on June 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Kids
Next time you want to ask questions to a Demoncr@p
carry pepper-spray for your protection
You don’t know what they’ll do to you

macncheez on June 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM

I bet starting today Democrat Etheridge will not walk in public again, but rather be chauffeured door-to-door in a limousine and have a bodyguard ALL at taxpayer expense.

albill on June 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Observation: The Trolls are conspicuously missing from this thread.

CWforFreedom on June 14, 2010 at 6:03 PM

I haven’t seen much of them in a couple of days.

Dire Straits on June 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Obama’s kick-ass hate speech incites violence. I think we should censor Obama.

Daggett on June 14, 2010 at 6:05 PM

The kid should have said the magic words..DON”T TASE ME BRO!

Dire Straits on June 14, 2010 at 6:06 PM

News stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, etc.) and even leftwing blogs (TPM, for example, calls their edited video clips “Fresh CUTS”) edit packages, videos and stories for your viewing all the time. They leave a whole mess of B-roll on the cutting room floor where you and prying eyes will never see it. Only they could see it, and they’d choose to let you know about it if they felt the need to do so.

Gatekeepers.

Never seemed to bother the left before their politicains and political buddies (ACORN, et al.) got caught doing things in UNEDITED videos so that everybody could see for themselves, in virtual real time, what actually happened. Without a worthless talking Democrat bobblehead to “sign off” on the story at the beginning and end of the package.

And, of course, it isn’t like Micheal Moore didn’t make and entire feature-length crock-u-mentary using these same tactics (after which he was rewarded with the opportunity to sit with Jimmy Carter as a guest of honor at the 2004 Democrat Convention).

Or Macaccagate – a liberal activist stalking George Allen for a snafu.

Or the antics of lunatic Kos blogger Mike Stark, who prided himself on crashing through security detail to yell in the faces of GOP politicians for the cameras, and then posted and boasted about the violence inherent in the system on Daily Kos for all of his friends, with MSNBC presenting this as “news.”

The left correctly sees this as an adoption of their tactics. They know it when they see it, and they know that it works and that it’s powerful.

And they don’t like it.

Good Lt on June 14, 2010 at 6:07 PM

A couple of “why” questions:

Why does this jerk not have charges filed against him yet?
Why is he not pressed about his insistence that he has a right to know who someone he just assaulted is?

anuts on June 14, 2010 at 6:09 PM

I’m simply surprised that they haven’t said anything.
Bee on June 14, 2010 at 6:01 PM

There haven’t been any charges filed; the video, and the apologetic presser is its own reward for these kids. I’m not surprised at all.

Nichevo on June 14, 2010 at 6:09 PM

Am I the only one who thinks this is bad enough that the congressman should be forced to resign?

I find this alarming.

By GOP standards, yes. By Deemocrat standards, is there EVER a time or circumstance when a resignation is in order?

It should be alarming. It is a bellwether for our new baronial class.

Ragspierre on June 14, 2010 at 6:10 PM

Now that I’ve watched it a couple of times, his eyes look puffy and tired, like he has had a long day. Poor fellow.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Maybe he just got through reading the table of contents of the health care bill.

tommer74 on June 14, 2010 at 6:10 PM

Everyone should grab a video camera and go ask the closest white Democrat politician this same question. It will be interesting to see if a pat answer develops for this question. I’m sure the Democrats and the Democrat media are working hard to formulate this pat answer because this is an extremely troublesome question for its simplicity and lack of nuance.

Buddahpundit on June 14, 2010 at 6:10 PM

bill = law

tommer74 on June 14, 2010 at 6:10 PM

What this video demonstrates to me is the fear and loathing the Dems have of being branded with the “scarlet letter” that comes with stating support of Obama’s policies. That kid’s question would have been innocuous to them 18 months ago.

swash_plate on June 14, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Where is our resident legal expert, crr6, to tell us there is nothing to see here.

chemman on June 14, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Another example of hate fostered by the D-Party!

chickasaw42 on June 14, 2010 at 6:12 PM

Don’t hug me, bro.

faraway on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

hilarious…..I love it!

tommer74 on June 14, 2010 at 6:12 PM

I just read about the apology. If the young man thinks it is enough than let the congressman be. (now the idiots who automatically defended the behavior-have at it )

CWforFreedom on June 14, 2010 at 6:14 PM

Don’t hug me, bro.

faraway on June 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Thread over man. Thread over.

Ugly on June 14, 2010 at 6:14 PM

I have my fingers crossed that the assaulted kid is a member of GOPRIDE to make the story go just a bit further.

myrenovations on June 14, 2010 at 6:15 PM

The Congressman needs a distemper shot and a valium.

joe btfsplk on June 14, 2010 at 6:16 PM

Don’t know about District of Columbia statutes but here in Texas…that’s a Class B Assault…maybe Class A if the kid can show bruising and if the cell phone wasn’t returned… theft or even what might be classified as a “strong arm robbery”. Have to ask my police consultant. If those guys are really students and not junior aides on a mission…this had better get referred to the local PD.

TexasEngineer on June 14, 2010 at 6:17 PM

TexasEngineer on June 14, 2010 at 6:17 PM

Up here in Michigan:

Michigan Assault and Battery,Domestic Violence Law, Laws:

A. ASSAULT AND BATTERY [MCLA 750.81]
Michigan Law defines a criminal assault and battery as an attempt or offer to do bodily injury with a present intention and ability to do so. See above. Assault is an attempt or threat, with unlawful force, to inflict bodily injury upon another, accompanied by the apparent present ability to carry out the intent if not deterred by another. A threat coupled with present ability may be considered an assault. Battery is the actual physical harm.

B. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT/ASSAULT AND INFLICTION OF SERIOUS INJURY. [MCLA 750.81a]
Any person who shall assault another without any weapon and inflict serious or aggravated injury upon the person of another without intending to commit the crime of murder and without intending to inflict great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or the state prison for a period of not more than one year or a fine of $500 or both.

C. FELONIOUS ASSAULT [MCLA 750.82]
A felonious assault is an assault with a dangerous weapon without an intent to inflict great bodily harm. Any person who shall assault another with a gun, revolver, pistol, knife, iron bar, club, brass knuckles, or other dangerous weapon, but without intending to commit the crime of murder, and without intending to inflict great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felonious assault.

D. ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO DO GREAT BODILY HARM LESS THAN MURDER. Felony [MCLA 750.84]
Any person who shall assault another with intent to do great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, not more than ten years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000.

E. ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO MAIM. Felony [MCLA 750.86]
Any person who shall assault another with intent to maim or disfigure his person by cutting out or
maiming the tongue, putting out or destroying an eye, cutting or tearing off an ear, cutting or slitting or mutilating the nose or lips or cutting off or disabling a limb, organ, or member, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than ten years or by fine of not more than $5,000.

Ugly on June 14, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Looks more like the result of a long glass than a long day, to me.

At least he apologized…3 days later…after the video went viral.

DarkKnight3565 on June 14, 2010 at 6:20 PM

hey Leftist trolls…

since it’s broad daylight, and the Congressman comes up to THEM (they do not block his path), ask yourself WHY is he asking who they are?
- Will his answer change depending on who they are?
- Will he make up his mind as to whether to even answer their question based on who they are?

his utter DISDAIN for the American people is evident

Justrand on June 14, 2010 at 6:21 PM

DOJ on the case in 3…2…1

winston on June 14, 2010 at 6:21 PM

What this video demonstrates to me is the fear and loathing the Dems have of being branded with the “scarlet letter” that comes with stating support of Obama’s policies. That kid’s question would have been innocuous to them 18 months ago.
swash_plate on June 14, 2010 at 6:11 PM

That sums it up, exactly. An innocuous question, asked on a public street by a suit-clad student exercising his First Amendment rights, results in assault by a member of the anointed DC Dem establishment.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Nichevo on June 14, 2010 at 6:22 PM

And what would the media reaction be if they were BLACK and the congressman was a Republican?

barnone on June 14, 2010 at 6:23 PM

Comment pages: 1 2