Jim Bunning Offers Middle Finger to Reporter

[True_Blue]

Source: CBS News

ABC News asked Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) about his decision last week to block the short-term extension of unemployment benefits and other measures that expired on Sunday.

Two thousand federal transportation workers were to be furloughed without pay and federal reimbursements to states for highway projects halted Monday as a result of Bunning's decision to block legislation granting a short-term funding extension to a variety of programs, including the Highway Trust Fund. Bunning complained that the legislation wasn't paid for.

Bunning angrily rebuffed ABC when it approached him as he was getting onto an elevator at the Hart Senate Office Building. (Watch above.) Bunning told reporters to step out of the way because "this is a senator only elevator" to the Senate floor and said he had already explained his thinking.

According to ABC, when one of its producers saw Bunning leaving his office, the senator said "I'm not talking to anybody." He then "walked toward the elevator and shot the middle finger over his head."


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/03/01/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6256349.shtml

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Wow! Apparently he doesn't feel that he needs to explain to reporters why he wants to cut off millions of people on UI or leave thousands jobless.

[crim son]

1. I don't understand why this is acceptable.

Why would anybody want this kind of person to represent them, somebody who is not content with using words but must accent them by making an obscene gesture?

[MUAD_DIB]

15. There are hateful people that think that the senator is doing the right thing.

I'm sure that they believe that the unemployed don't deserve an extension or a lifeline: thinking that they are lazy.


What short-sightedness.

[Lorien]

19. The people that stand behind him prefer politicians who are "wrong but strong"

over those who are right but perceived as weak. Just another reason why Dems need to define their principles, then stand behind them all the way!

[Ken Burch]

20. I don't think Kentuckians back him anymore

That's probably why he isn't running for re-election(and it's a seat that a tough-talking working-class populist Dem could take if the DLC would get out of the way and let one be nominated).

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. The man ain't with it

There's not a brain cell left.

[deminks]

3. Video of the elevator encounter here

unfortunately, they were not filming when Bunning flipped them off.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/angry-jim-bunning-blows-off-ab.html?wprss=44

(snip)

According to the network producer Z. Byron Wolf, before the camera crew started filming Bunning gave them the middle finger.

(end snip)

[patrice]

4. Only the wealthy matter. Everyone else's problems are their own fault, so they deserve to suffer.

:sarcasm:

[arbusto_baboso]

5. Make no mistake: Bunning just flipped off all of America. CALL THE SONOFABITCH!

Flood the bastard's phone lines:

Washington office: 202-224-4343
Kentucky office: 859-341-2602 or 800-283-8983

[secondwind]

6. his mailbox is 'FULL' at the Wash. D.C. office...I just called the SOB from the Caribbean.

[arbusto_baboso]

7. Good on ya'. I'm calling as soon as I get my PM break at work.

[UpInArms]

8. we pay for that elevator

and his obviously does not go to the top.

[BeatleBoot]

9. He gets "Senator Only" Health Care, too.

Dickhead.

[rpannier]

10. I'm upset by his holding up the appropriation

Not upset he flipped the finger to a reporter.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Can the clown be recalled? (nt)

[totodeinhere]

12. It is well known that Bunning has a screw loose. But there is blame to go around.

I also fault the Dem leadership in the Senate for letting this happen. There are methods that they could use to shut Bunning down if they wanted to. They have the votes but they don't have the balls to use their power aggressively. Meanwhile, the American people continue too suffer.

[Mendocino]

13. Maybe it was his one finger fastball?

BTW I heard he is the director of his own foundation and receives $180,000 yearly for about 50 hours of work.

[classysassy]

14. The elevator is for senators

their staff and hookers only.Some of the outlandish perks need to be abolished.Limos,private gym,cafeteria,ornate offices,huge staffs,and accepting bribes from big business.

[high density]

16. I think we should immediately eliminate funding of senator-only elevators

That includes canning the bouncer guy running the thing and cutting the power to it.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Democrats rip GOP senator for blocking jobless benefits extension

Democrats rip GOP senator for blocking jobless benefits extension
March 1, 2010 8:06 p.m. EST

Washington (CNN) -- Top Democrats tore into one of their Republican counterparts Monday for blocking an extension of unemployment benefits that would provide assistance to millions of jobless Americans.

The Senate adjourned last week without approving extensions of cash and health insurance benefits for the unemployed after Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, blocked the measure by insisting that Congress first pay for the $10 billion package.

Bunning, who is retiring at the end of this year, said he doesn't oppose extending the programs, he just doesn't want to add to the deficit. Democrats claim the bill is an emergency measure that should not be subject to new rules requiring that legislation not expand the deficit.

As a result of the Senate's inaction, many jobless people starting Monday were no longer able to apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy.

"The irony of all this is we're out trying to fill that (financial) hole created by the (recession) which cost 8 million people" their jobs, Vice President Joe Biden said. "At a time when so many families are in so much pain we shouldn't be shutting the few valves of relief. ... We should be opening that spigot a little wider not shutting it down."

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/01/jobless.benefits.bill/index.html?hpt=C1

[TomCADem]

18. The GOP Is Getting Cocky With This Tough S*&t Platform

John Kyl is now running around spreading Welfare Queen, Part II propaganda in anticipation of Republican control of Congress. Thus, after saying they will solve unemployment, the GOP will stab the unemployed in the back for being worthless and seeking government handouts.