West Virginia State Senate Candidate, a Veteran, Brutally Beaten

[LongTomH]

Last edited Sun Mar 11, 2018, 12:08 PM - Edit history (1)

From NBC News: West Virginia State Senate Candidate, a Veteran, Brutally Beaten:

Trump is creating a culture of violence among his followers.

West Virginia state Senate candidate Richard Ojeda was brutally beaten during a cookout Sunday — just two days before his primary — and nearly run over with a pickup truck, Ojeda told NBC News.

.............//snip

In an interview from his hospital room in Charleston, Ojeda, 45, a Democrat and military veteran whose primary contest is Tuesday, said he had been at a barbecue in the mountains about 60 miles southwest of Charleston when Porter asked for a bumper sticker.

.............//snip

"That's all I remember," Ojeda said. "When I woke up, my head was on a tree stump covered in blood. Everyone was looking at me."

Ojeda suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face, as well as exterior swelling to his head, he said.

.............//snip

To Ojeda, however, it was clearly premeditated — and it was all about politics.

Citing what he described as the intense poverty, corruption and nepotism that plagues the region — and his campaign for transparency and good government — Ojeda said: "The moment you start asking questions, you become public enemy number one."

"I'm challenging the powers that be," he added.

Edited to add: My apologies this is an old article from 2016.

[Demovictory9]

1. was there an arrest?

[Equinox Moon]

8. Yes, he turned himself in after hanging out in the mountains for 6 hours.

The article (by the way) said a couple people with ATV's tried to stop him after the attack and he got away. I guess he used brass knuckles! Totally premeditated.

So tragic. This degree of trauma will leave Ojeda dealing with its fall-out for the remainder of his life.

That nationality is Ojeda?

[mtngirl47]

12. Ojeda's nationality is an American from West Virginia.

He's a Democrat and a 25 year Army Veteran.

IMO, we need to stop asking the question...."where are you really from."

[Equinox Moon]

13. I was wondering if this was r/t his politic only, or heritage as well.

White supremacist's are busy hurting people.

[phleshdef]

19. He has Mexican ancestry but he is white as can be. The attack had nothing to do with race.

The guy is from the Porter family, a crooked political family in the area that was in thick with Art Kirkendoll whom Ojeda was running against and beat.

[msongs]

2. from may 8, 2016 nt

[Shrike47]

4. Ojeda won and is serving as a state senator. Porter plead guilty to assault.

Porter was sentenced to prison.

[american_ideals]

9. +1 Good guy wins

[phleshdef]

20. Yea but he served hardly anytime at all and he got to plea to lesser charges.

His political family protected him because they put him up to it.

[magicarpet]

5. Jesus Christ... that is real thug politics.

Banged, bashed, and beaten bloody because you had the audacity to be a candidate.

Nazi brown shirt stuff.

[Journeyman]

6. "JFK with Tattoos and a Bench Press" . . .

Richard Ojeda won his primary, then the election, and currently serves in the state Senate.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/02/richard-ojeda-west-virginia-blue-army-one-217217

(If we're going to re-print old articles, at least provide context and the denouement.)

[Staph]

7. Ojeda is running for the 3rd Congressional District seat

to replace Evan Jenkins (R), who wants to replace Joe Manchin.

Ojeda is currently the darling of the teachers, service personnel and all those others affected by the work stoppage of a week ago. The article by Politico, referenced in Journeyman's post above, calls him "JFK with Tattoos and a Bench Press"!

[mountain grammy]

11. Interesting article, thanks.

At least he regrets his vote, but geeeeeze, he voted for trump?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

10. kick

😪

[Equinox Moon]

15. Oooohh that darln' penguin... that looks like it hurt. Poor baby.

[IronLionZion]

14. Sounds like terrorism. Violence for a political agenda.

Jonathan Porter should not get a pass on this for the white reason. This was an attempted assassination.

[Maggiemayhem]

16. I am from WV

This happened a couple years ago and he is fine and the teachers of WV really follow this guy.

[Sam McGee]

17. This article is dated MAY 2016

The article is dated May 2016.

Now, I understand that no one died and left me in charge of DU.

However, we don't do ourselves any good by posting two-year-old stories. Ojeda was elected and is now serving in the WV state legislature.

Makes me wonder about the OP's motives.

[LongTomH]

18. My error! Note to self.....check dates!

[Dr. Strange]

21. Is this Porter character really a Trump supporter?

It sounds like everyone involved is a Democrat.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/america-in-a-time-of-campaign-violence