April 11, 2005
Opinion:
This is unacceptable
By Jack GrantI don't particularly care for Patrick Buchanan or his politics, but it is completely unacceptable to throw pies, salad dressing, or anything else other than words at him or anyone else. From CNN.com:
Michigan (AP) -- Commentator and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cut short an appearance after an opponent of his conservative views doused him with salad dressing."Stop the bigotry!" the demonstrator shouted as he hurled the liquid Thursday night during the program at Western Michigan University. The incident came just two days after another noted conservative, William Kristol, was struck by a pie during an appearance at a college in Indiana.
After he was hit, Buchanan cut short his question-and-answer session with the audience, saying, "Thank you all for coming, but I'm going to have to get my hair washed."
The demonstrator, identified by authorities as a 24-year-old student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was arrested and faces a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. He was released on a $100 cash bond, pending his April 14 arraignment.
"He could have faced a felony assault charge, but Pat Buchanan decided to not press that charge," university spokesman Matt Kurz said.
Buchanan's visit had evoked controversy on campus because it fell on the birthday of the late Mexican-American labor leader Cesar Chavez. Buchanan favors tighter controls on immigration.
The idiot assaulting Buchanan is lucky that he wasn't charged with felony assault. He should have been.
The food throwing so far seems to be exclusively at speakers on the right side of the political spectrum, presumably from assaulters on the left. While it may seem humorous to those on the left, I repeat, this is completely unacceptable.
Unfortunately you've hit on the very reason it continues to happen. The fact that the people who do this are given - at most - a slap on the wrist and sent home with the admonishment "don't do that again". Whereas, if we were to walk up to someone - any stranger on the street and assault him in this manner... we'd be in jail with charges pending. Until that changes - we will continue to see prominent people being assaulted in this manner. Whether or not you agree with someone's ideals - is not an excuse to physically assault them.
Posted by: Teresa at April 12, 2005 05:25 AMI think I understand why Buchanan decided to not press the felony charge, but I agree with you and Teresa that he should have. Until these idiots face real penalties for their crimes, it will continue. Each one who gets away with a mere slap on the wrist emboldens the next idiot.
Posted by: Dash at April 13, 2005 08:51 PM





