Al Franken puts the smack down!

[Tmy]

AL FRANKEN KNOCKS DOWN DEAN HECKLER (http://nypost.com/news/nationalnews/16692.htm)

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.

____________________________________________

What a dork. Leave the hecklers to security. Hope he likes being sued.

[Fade]

"Mommy the comedian beat me up!"

[Hexxenhammer]

If it was Bill O'Reilly he would have threatened to shoot the heckler "between the head".

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Tmy
.

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.

____________________________________________

What a dork. Leave the hecklers to security. Hope he likes being sued.

Yeah, that Al Franken is a real bulwark of free speech, tackling a protester like that. But that schlub will do anything to stay in the headlines, even if it's rank hypocricy. I mean Franken, not Dean. Er, on second thought...

[Tmy]

All hecklers get dragged off. It wasnt Frankens place to do that though.


I like how he said that he "used to be a wrestler" HAHAHAHHA!

"Franken takes out the heckler with his No-War Pliedriver! Look out from behind!!! Its Bill Oreilly with his Flat Tax Folding Chair. Frankens bleeding! Oh the humanity!"

[Upchurch]

I like Al, but this is disappointing. I would have been more impressed if he'd heckled the heckler.

[The idea]

Originally posted by Tmy
AL FRANKEN KNOCKS DOWN DEAN HECKLER (http://nypost.com/news/nationalnews/16692.htm)

January 27, 2004 -- EXETER, N.H.
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.

Would he have done it if he was a Bush protestor at a Bush rally?

[VicDaring]

Anyone besides the Post reporting this?

[Globert]

Originally posted by Tmy
"Franken takes out the heckler with his No-War Pliedriver! Look out from behind!!! Its Bill Oreilly with his Flat Tax Folding Chair. Frankens bleeding! Oh the humanity!"


LOL:D

You Should write for MadTV, I got several strange looks from my co-workers for that outburst!

[Luke T.]

"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?

[swellman]

Originally posted by VicDaring
Anyone besides the Post reporting this?

The Boston Herald (http://news.bostonherald.com/election2004/election.bg?articleid=681)

[SRW]

I smell a set up, Franken commits assault and battery and does not get arrested?

[The idea]

Originally posted by Luke T.
"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?
We see it. Maybe he meant "the right of people to not be interrupted unless they interrupted someone else." Anyway, Franken's expressed interest in using a hands-on approach to protect rights suggests that he may have a future in law-enforcement. Then again, maybe not.

[Andonyx]

Originally posted by Luke T.
"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?

I felt the same way when Courtney Love gave a ton O' cash to the ACLU, she went on stage to say a few words, and a bunch of people started shouting about how she killed Kurt...which is weird. But then the ACLU people shouted them down and had them removed...which is completely antithetical to their purpose is it not?

[NoZed Avenger]

Originally posted by Luke T.
"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?

While I see what you are saying, conceptually, I think that there is a point at which shouting someone down -is- in fact, simply a denial of that person's speech, and not an attempt to speak on the part of the shouter.

Of course, that doesn't justify "going all right wing on them," as Mr. Franken might put it.

N/A

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Luke T.
"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?
It is the same contradiction that is inherent in all of our "rights". Your rights only extend as far as they don't interfere with others' rights. If you go to hear a person (who has been invited and scheduled to speak) then you have the right to hear him without interruption by an person who has not been invited and scheduled to speak. The heckler could have gone outside and "free speeched" to his heart's content.

The situation would be essentially no different than having the management throw a person out of a movie theater who insisted on shouting throughout the movie.

Whenever there are conflicting rights, it is a judgment call as to whose rights were preeminent. I think in this case, it is fairly obvious. It is not as obvious that Franken had the right to assault the man, and that could lead to a very big legal deal since enforcement of rights does not fall to everyday citizens. I hope this won't happen, but if it does, I cannot see that the conservatives can get much political capital from defending a jackass, especially in light of what they regard as the proper way to handle non-conservative protestors.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Tricky

It is the same contradiction that is inherent in all of our "rights". Your rights only extend as far as they don't interfere with others' rights. If you go to hear a person (who has been invited and scheduled to speak) then you have the right to hear him without interruption by an person who has not been invited and scheduled to speak. The heckler could have gone outside and "free speeched" to his heart's content.

Good Lord, the gymnastics some people will go through to defend a leftie like Franken. Are you saying politicians are somehow constitutionally guaranteed to speak free from hecklers? I could use that idea to toss out half the Washington press corps.

The situation would be essentially no different than having the management throw a person out of a movie theater who insisted on shouting throughout the movie.

Except a movie theater is a privately-owned establishment with posted rules about conduct. A public rally is neither. If the heckler had been screaming pro-Dean slogans, would he have drawn the same attention? Of course not!

I mean, the issue is not the volume or the venue, it's the content - and THAT'S a free speech issue (in the pragmatic, if not constitutional sense).

Whenever there are conflicting rights, it is a judgment call as to whose rights were preeminent. I think in this case, it is fairly obvious. It is not as obvious that Franken had the right to assault the man, and that could lead to a very big legal deal since enforcement of rights does not fall to everyday citizens. I hope this won't happen, but if it does, I cannot see that the conservatives can get much political capital from defending a jackass, especially in light of what they regard as the proper way to handle non-conservative protestors.

Franken should have shouted him down, as he does with everyone else. Jackasses have first amendment rights too.

And I should also point out your suggestion that the protester was a conservative, when odds are he was a supporter of another Democrat, is more than a tad naive. And it's not a matter of "capital" found in defending a "jackass," it's a blatant case of a "free speech advocate" like Franken tackling a protester, which puts him very close to Limbaugh and his oxcontin in the annals of hypocricy, in my opinion.

Perhaps it's time the liberals acknowledge that Franken is nothing more than a glib glory hound?

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Luke T.
"Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely."

Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?

There is no contradiction.

The right of free speech does not extend the yelling of "FIRE!" in a crowded theater.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Crossbow


There is no contradiction.

The right of free speech does not extend the yelling of "FIRE!" in a crowded theater.

Really, Crossbow, I expected more of you.

The theater example is one of the public good. What compelling public good is there in tackling a heckler?

Using that logic, I would be justified in running over the antiwar protesters who clogged the streets of Chicago. The only way the theater example would be valid is the possibility that Dean would react violently to the protestor... which I must admit seems a viable possibility. He may have murdered the entire room.

No, politicians above all others must deal with hecklers, and the same people who coddle "civil disobedience" like the Chicago-paralyzing protests have absolutely no right to assault and batter a dissenter. It's rank hypocricy, pure and simple. Did Franken ask the man to shut up? To leave? Did he take advantage of his own free speech to settle the situation?

No, he saw an opportunity to put himself back in the limelight, whcih is his only aspiration. There can be no defense of his actions.

[Tmy]

You can if the theater is on fire! Its all time place manner. Hecklers are always dragged away whether its a Bush speech, Dean speech, or one of Jockos AA meetings.



Speaking of set ups, did anyoen see the 16 yr old kid fainting on stage at the Kerry rally? Senator Kerry "Medicine Women" rushed to his aid. Everyone stood around while he checked on the boy. HAHAHA, it looked so silly. In a room full of people i doubt Kerry was the most qualified medical expert. I was wondering if soem doctor was going to let the kid die rather than interupt Kerry's cheesey photo op.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Tmy
You can if the theater is on fire! Its all time place manner. Hecklers are always dragged away whether its a Bush speech, Dean speech, or one of Jockos AA meetings.


But you won't find the bouncers donning the crown of "defender of free speech" afterward. I'm not saying the guy shouldn't have been dealt with, just that Franken has just joined Limbaugh in the big book o' hypocrites.

The bouncers are presumably trained to control without harming and work for (and are therefore the liability of) whichever function is taking place, not some self-appointed voice-of-a-generation. Christ, Timmy, every time I think you've gotten as stupid as a carrot you manage to out-do yourself.

[Tmy]

Originally posted by Jocko



The bouncers are presumably trained to control without harming and work for (and are therefore the liability of) whichever function is taking place, not some self-appointed voice-of-a-generation. Christ, Timmy, every time I think you've gotten as stupid as a carrot you manage to out-do yourself.

Oh I forgot you majored in Bouncing at Michigan State.

To the naked eye I may have gotten stupid, but the naked eye connected to brains woudl have seen how my original post said Franken shoudlve let security handle it!

[SRW]

Originally posted by Jocko



Franken should have shouted him down, as he does with everyone else. Jackasses have first amendment rights too.

And I should also point out your suggestion that the protester was a conservative, when odds are he was a supporter of another Democrat, is more than a tad naive. And it's not a matter of "capital" found in defending a "jackass," it's a blatant case of a "free speech advocate" like Franken tackling a protester, which puts him very close to Limbaugh and his oxcontin in the annals of hypocricy, in my opinion.

Perhaps it's time the liberals acknowledge that Franken is nothing more than a glib glory hound?

The Hecklers were Lyndon LaRouch supporters, LaRouch is a wack job democrat, and that is all I know about him. I do not know if he is a Conservative or liberal.

I think franken was a plant, put in the audience to do something stupid to take the heat off Dean, if Dean said anything dumb. It worked as no one is talking about Deans speach.


;)

[Luke T.]

Maybe Franken was trying to spare everyone having to listen to Dean sing The Star Spangled Banner again...

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Jocko


Really, Crossbow, I expected more of you.

The theater example is one of the public good. What compelling public good is there in tackling a heckler?

Using that logic, I would be justified in running over the antiwar protesters who clogged the streets of Chicago. The only way the theater example would be valid is the possibility that Dean would react violently to the protestor... which I must admit seems a viable possibility. He may have murdered the entire room.

No, politicians above all others must deal with hecklers, and the same people who coddle "civil disobedience" like the Chicago-paralyzing protests have absolutely no right to assault and batter a dissenter. It's rank hypocricy, pure and simple. Did Franken ask the man to shut up? To leave? Did he take advantage of his own free speech to settle the situation?

No, he saw an opportunity to put himself back in the limelight, whcih is his only aspiration. There can be no defense of his actions.

Wow! Hang on there bucko before you weld that snowplow onto your bumper and set the world to rights.

In general, one is permitted to use a reasonable level of force in order to protect people and/or property, so I expect that running down protestors would be considered excessive force.

However, getting a heckler to cease and desist via a tackle may well be considered a reasonable course of action. Perhaps Franken's actions were correct and perhaps they were not. In any case, one needs to actually investigate to make a rational determination instead of just seeing the press account.

[Luke T.]

Originally posted by Crossbow

However, getting a heckler to cease and desist via a tackle may well be considered a reasonable course of action.

That's one for the books. Under what circumstances would it be Franken's job to do such a thing?

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Jocko
Good Lord, the gymnastics some people will go through to defend a leftie like Franken. Are you saying politicians are somehow constitutionally guaranteed to speak free from hecklers? I could use that idea to toss out half the Washington press corps.
No gymnastics whatsoever, and I already said that what Franken did was illegal, as he is not a law enforcement officer. But yes, hecklers can be and often are removed forcibly from rallies. Your suggestion that the press corps are hecklers is a bit disingenious to say the least. It is their job to ask questions. They don't interrupt speeches. Press conferences are a different situation where the attendees are invited.

Originally posted by Jocko
I mean, the issue is not the volume or the venue, it's the content - and THAT'S a free speech issue (in the pragmatic, if not constitutional sense).
No, the issue isn't the content. Had he been singing God Bless America and interfering with people's right to hear the speaker they had come to hear, he still would have not been within his rights.

Originally posted by Jocko
Except a movie theater is a privately-owned establishment with posted rules about conduct. A public rally is neither. If the heckler had been screaming pro-Dean slogans, would he have drawn the same attention? Of course not!
I looked at the article, and it did not say where the rally was held. However, an open invitation to attend is not mean a person can behave any way they like once they get there.

Originally posted by Jocko
Franken should have shouted him down, as he does with everyone else. Jackasses have first amendment rights too.
No, because then Franken would have been interfering with others right to hear the speaker. The heckler should have been removed. I don't agree that Franken was within his rights to try to enforce that.

Originally posted by Jocko
And I should also point out your suggestion that the protester was a conservative, when odds are he was a supporter of another Democrat, is more than a tad naive.
Nowhere did I say the protestor was a conservative. He was a LaRouche supporter, which pretty much is in the loony catagory IMO. What I predicted is that those with scathing criticism for Franken would be conservatives. I think you have made that prediction look very good.

Originally posted by Jocko
And it's not a matter of "capital" found in defending a "jackass," it's a blatant case of a "free speech advocate" like Franken tackling a protester, which puts him very close to Limbaugh and his oxcontin in the annals of hypocricy, in my opinion.
I would say that you fail to understand what free speech is. It does not give people the right to say anything they want any time they want. It does not even say they can do so when on public property. I think if you examine judicial decisions on this matter you will see that this is the case.

Originally posted by Jocko
Perhaps it's time the liberals acknowledge that Franken is nothing more than a glib glory hound?
I think that you should acknowledge that if the situation were reversed (i.e. a liberal demonstrater shouting down a conservative speaker with a popular right-wing personality taking him out) that you would applaud.

[Tmy]

Well if there was no security then I could see him doing somthing. IS the whole crowd supposed to sit on their hands and let the heckler run the show?

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Tmy
Well if there was no security then I could see him doing somthing. IS the whole crowd supposed to sit on their hands and let the heckler run the show?
Ah, the old "citizen's arrest". That's a possibility, however I find it very unlikely that there would be no security at a political rally. Franken should have gone to get security rather than taking matters into his own hands.

[Luke T.]

Originally posted by Tricky

No, the issue isn't the content. Had he been singing God Bless America and interfering with people's right to hear the speaker they had come to hear, he still would have not been within his rights.

Had he been shouting, "Yay, Dean!" like the rest of the crowd probably was, he would have received smiles all around. So it was the content.

[Luke T.]

I hate hecklers, conservative or liberal. Doesn't bother me if they get tackled. It is just that Franken puts on airs that suggest he is more pro-free speech than the average bear. What he did was hypocritical. He wanted to deny one guy the right to free speech so that another guy could exercise free speech. Bogus.

Saying "YOU SUCK, DEAN!" or whatever the guy might have been shouting, doesn't even approach "Fire!" in a crowded theater. It is pure unadulterated free speech that Franken obviously detests as much as I do.

[Grammatron]

At what point does a protester become a heckler?

[Luke T.]

I wouldn't be surprised is Franken saw the same news item I did about the hecklers Dean has been bothered by and decided to to down there and "help out." He may have gotten himself involved in some mental fantasy along the way and acted on it.

As much as I hate hecklers, I at least wouldn't have gotten violent.

[DaChew]

Wasn't the left all in a tizzy not too long ago about reports of the Secret Service cordoning off protesters at Bush events? Now they seem to be supporting the assault of protesters. Maybe I'm wrong.

Incidentally, not only is LaRouche a leftist whackjob (please note that I don't say Democrat whackjob.) but he's also in jail currently. Which makes his supporters not ONLY leftist whackjobs but also guilty of extreme "puting the cart before the horse"ism. They might want to go about the process, as boring as it is, of springing their Prophet from the hooscow prior to insisting to everyone that his is THE WAY.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Wow! Hang on there bucko before you weld that snowplow onto your bumper and set the world to rights.

In general, one is permitted to use a reasonable level of force in order to protect people and/or property, so I expect that running down protestors would be considered excessive force.

Even if a glancing fender does no more physical harm than a tackle? Care to explain your defition of reasonable force, "bucko"?

And exactly whose "people or property" were in need of "protection"? Was this taking place in the Dean family living room, or a public venue? Is an obnoxious loudmouth a "threat" to a politician at a public appearance?

Apples and oranges, dude.

However, getting a heckler to cease and desist via a tackle may well be considered a reasonable course of action. Perhaps Franken's actions were correct and perhaps they were not. In any case, one needs to actually investigate to make a rational determination instead of just seeing the press account.

Yeah, right. Maybe Franken was justified in assualting and battering a heckler. Would it have been justified if someone had tackled Franken while he was heckling Bill O'Reilly? I mean, a professional heckler attacking an amateur heckler seems to be perfectly okay with you.

The only justification for Franken's actions would be if the heckler was waving a gun or otherwise threatening people, and since Franken would be the first to pump up his own heroism, his silence on the matter leads one to conclude that no such condition existed.

Franken attacked someone for expressing himself in a manner he felt was inappropriate. The cup of irony runneth over.

[Jocko]

Originally posted by Luke T.
I wouldn't be surprised is Franken saw the same news item I did about the hecklers Dean has been bothered by and decided to to down there and "help out." He may have gotten himself involved in some mental fantasy along the way and acted on it.

As much as I hate hecklers, I at least wouldn't have gotten violent.

You mean maybe Franken is in the business of keeping Franken's name in the headlines? Naaaaawwww.....

[Luke T.]

Originally posted by DaChew
Incidentally, not only is LaRouche a leftist whackjob (please note that I don't say Democrat whackjob.)

I thought LaRouche was a right-wing whackjob.

[American]

When Jews Attack (http://www.theonion.com/onion3110/foxdefends.html)

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Luke T.
Had he been shouting, "Yay, Dean!" like the rest of the crowd probably was, he would have received smiles all around. So it was the content.
My experience with these things is that people who are supporting the candidate tend to shout at appropriate moments. If someone was loudly shouting "Yay <Myguy>" (louder than normal crowd hubbub) while <Myguy> was trying to speak, I would not be surprised if people asked him to be quiet. If he refused, I would not be surprised to see people get irate.

Besides, it is quite apparent that the guy was trying to cause a disturbance. I believe intent should matter, and I suspect reasonable people would too.

For example, if you met a friend at a crowded theater and he said he had lost his job, it is possible you might say loudly, "they FIRED you? While that would be considered rude and pretty damn stupid, it would hardly be considered criminal.

[Grammatron]

Originally posted by Tricky

My experience with these things is that people who are supporting the candidate tend to shout at appropriate moments. If someone was loudly shouting "Yay <Myguy>" (louder than normal crowd hubbub) while <Myguy> was trying to speak, I would not be surprised if people asked him to be quiet. If he refused, I would not be surprised to see people get irate.

Besides, it is quite apparent that the guy was trying to cause a disturbance. I believe intent should matter, and I suspect reasonable people would too.

For example, if you met a friend at a crowded theater and he said he had lost his job, it is possible you might say loudly, "they FIRED you? While that would be considered rude and pretty damn stupid, it would hardly be considered criminal.

Just so we're clear on the "protection" of someone's free speech, you agree with Bush's security moving protestors to a "safe area" away from the president whenever he gives a speech?

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Grammatron

Just so we're clear on the "protection" of someone's free speech, you agree with Bush's security moving protestors to a "safe area" away from the president whenever he gives a speech?
Yes I do.

[The idea]

Originally posted by Grammatron
Just so we're clear on the "protection" of someone's free speech, you agree with Bush's security moving protestors to a "safe area" away from the president whenever he gives a speech?
A "safe area" is simply an area far from Al Franken. It's for the protection of the protestors.

[NoZed Avenger]

Originally posted by The idea

A "safe area" is simply an area far from Al Franken. It's for the protection of the protestors.

Ok, damnit -- THAT was funny.

[BTox]

When I read this story I was picturing Stuart Smalley in powder blue tights and a red cape... to the rescue!

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Luke T.


That's one for the books. Under what circumstances would it be Franken's job to do such a thing?

Well, since I was not there, I cannot say. However, I found the below story which was posted just about an hour ago which has some details that were not the accounts I saw last night.

First, the police were called after the incident and Franken was not arrested and the person in question has not decided if he is going to press charges or not; this item alone indicates to me that the person did something quite wrong and everyone knows it.

Second, the person in question is a LaRouche supporter and they are well known for being disruptive.

Third, there was more than just Franken involved in ejecting the person in question which tells me that the person was real problem.

Frazzled Franken Manhandles Dean Heckler; Says He was Protecting Free Speech

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2004/january/0128_franken_dean_heckler.shtml

...

The police were called to the scene, but Franken was not immediately arrested for battery. The victim has not said whether he will pursue criminal charges against Franken.

...

The incident started while Dean was speaking when several LaRouche supporters in the audience yelled that Dean was a "liar" and not a real Democrat like LaRouche and Democrat presidential front-runner Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

The eventual victim of the attack by Franken was especially disruptive and drew the ire of the liberal icon. Franken reacted the way he did while the crowd began chanting "Howard Dean" over and over until each of the dissidents were escorted out.

...

"One of the Lyndon LaRouche guys got up and started screaming and yelling," Russert stated on the Don Imus radio show on Tuesday. "The press guy for Dean tried to grab onto him and remove him, and he couldn't do it."

...

PS to Jocko:

You may want to discuss what is 'reasonable force' with a police officer. It sounds to me like you are rather unclear on this subject and I think that some face-time with a real professional could answer your concerns better than I.

[Suddenly]

Originally posted by BTox
When I read this story I was picturing Stuart Smalley in powder blue tights and a red cape... to the rescue!

That's funny. I picturing a killer SNL bit with Franken and Dean as professional wrestlers, with Dean giving one of those raving "wrestler" speeches while his tag-team partner Franken looks on menacingly nodding.

The whole Dean campaign has suddenly gone old-school WWF in every way imaginable. All we need now is a revelation that someone in his campaign is on steroids.

[svero]

In case anyone is interested Alfrankenweb has a rebuttal to the story.

http://www.alfrankenweb.com

Basically they portray the heckler as violent and acting agressively. They say he was already being escorted out by security and franken only attacked him after the man hit him with his elbow and broke his glasses.

Course.. not exactly an unbiased source of info.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Suddenly
That's funny. I picturing a killer SNL bit with Franken and Dean as professional wrestlers, with Dean giving one of those raving "wrestler" speeches while his tag-team partner Franken looks on menacingly nodding.

The whole Dean campaign has suddenly gone old-school WWF in every way imaginable. All we need now is a revelation that someone in his campaign is on steroids.
Don't know if you remember The Rutles (http://www.rutlemania.org/), the absolutely hilarious parody of The Beatles done in 1978. It featured many famous people including Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Gilda Radner and several Pythons. One bit was this Mafioso record producer, Ron Decline, played by John Belushi. He would walk down the hall with his henchmen, who would randomly shove and assault people. The henchmen were played by none other than Franken and his then partner, Davis.

Life imitates art once again.

[Cain]

Originally posted by svero
In case anyone is interested Alfrankenweb has a rebuttal to the story.

http://www.alfrankenweb.com

Basically they portray the heckler as violent and acting agressively. They say he was already being escorted out by security and franken only attacked him after the man hit him with his elbow and broke his glasses.

Course.. not exactly an unbiased source of info.

Here's a link in this story to a New Hampshire paper: http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=32449

Here's how the incident is originally thought to happen:

Heckler interrupts Dean. Al Franken charges the heckler from behind, body-slams him to the ground, and breaks his glasses in the process.

Tim Russert says (on Don Imus) that Dean's press aide tried ejecting the guy, but had problems. The theater manager claims the heckler was elbowing people, "he was screaming. He was out of control," and they had difficulty carrying him out.

The theater manager, Peter Ramsey, also said a photographer had told him Franken's glasses were broken because the heckler had knocked them off.

"I never met Al Franken before. He is now my new hero." -- Ramsey


CNN's story: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/27/elec04.prez.democrats.larouche/

[corplinx]

Wow, I never realized there was such a thing as a "Franken Apologist" til now. Sad.

[corplinx]

If I was at a rally for a guy I liked and someone started heckling him, I might have to dish out a whoopin' myself. I don't see any shame in it. However I do find Franken's free speech explanation contradictory.

Free speech protects you from the government, not from a left hook by the guy next to you.

[Dorian Gray]

Good Lord, the gymnastics some people will go through to defend a leftie like Franken. Are you saying politicians are somehow constitutionally guaranteed to speak free from hecklers? I could use that idea to toss out half the Washington press corps.
Oh really, my knee-jerking friend? Explain Bush's policy of setting up demonstration areas several hundred yards away from where Bush is/will be speaking, and maintaining this area with police and secret service.

Just so we're clear on the "protection" of someone's free speech, you agree with Bush's security moving protestors to a "safe area" away from the president whenever he gives a speech? Crap, Grammatron beat me to it.

Anyway, if someone managed to get up within earshot of the podium and started heckling Bush, there wouldn't be time for a civilian to deck him - secret service would be piling on top of him. And then they'd go after the heckler.

No, seriously, there is no difference ethically between Franken taking a heckler down and secret service taking a heckler down, depending on who is being heckled. Plus, I feel sure that if the guy had been heckling Franken, he would have taken him down verbally.