Man who threw money at Parkinson’s patient calls behavior ‘shameful’

[Botany]

Source: Columbus Dispatch

The man protesting federal health-care legislation who berated and tossed dollar bills at a supporter with Parkinson's
disease last week says he is remorseful - and scared.

"I snapped, I absolutely snapped, and I can't explain it any other way," said Chris Reichert in a Dispatch interview.

snip

"He's got every right to do what he did, and some may say I did, too, but what I did was shameful," Reichert said.
"I haven't slept since that day."

snip

"I made a donation (to a local Parkinson's disease group), and that starts the healing process."

Read more: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/25/copy/what-i-did-was-shameful.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

---

This is what happens to you when you listen to Glen Beck, Rush, and Fox
and are too stupid to know that they a lying to you.

From the article Reichert learned of the anti health care rally "from the
radio." Radio station 610 WTVN pushes hate big time, has people call in and
say that President Obama's real name is Oh Bambi, and has News Max as one
of their sources of information for their news.

*************************

We have seen this kind of anger before.



Little Rock, AK 1957

[Tippy]

1. Exactly right

"This is what happens to you when you listen to Glen Beck, Rush, and Fox
and are too stupid to know that they a lying to you."

[olegramps]

199. "I'm really sorry that they identified me. Shit, I thought I do this and never get ID. "

That's what he is sorry about. He went to the tea baggers rally to join in with the rest of the racists bastards and got caught on video being his normal asshole self. Cry me river, asshole. Now he thinks he can throw a few bucks to cure the man's illness and suddenly be redeemed. Fuck him and horse he rode in on.

[raebrek]

202. Did I miss something?

I didn't see where it said he listened to any of those folks. Did I miss something?

[babylonsister]

2. Typical rethug; do the deed, then apologize. I'm sorry, but I

do wonder how remorseful he really is. :eyes:

[ret5hd]

6. the ONLY thing i will say in his favor is that it wasn't one of those...

non-apologies (i'm sory if my actions offended...) that so many repugs use.

[tsstranger]

50. Unlike most al off the Teabaggers, etc,,,,

At least this guy has the courage and the balls to say he was wrong.

[Kajsa]

66. +1

n/t

[rambler_american]

196. As you say. n/t

[cascadiance]

136. And I'm thankful he did. It shows there is hope to overcome this propaganda BS

... that is fueling this sort of racist violent crap. If enough of them get revelations like this guy did that they've been "snookered" into acting against their own and everyone else's interests, perhaps many of these bums will step back from the brink, and we can isolate and put away the hardened and unreformable criminal thugs!

[SemperEadem]

177. I'd have been more impressed with him

had he had the requisite filter in place that would kick in and function when he approached the crossroads of acting like he really is and acting like someone with some god damn hometraining.

[northzax]

182. a mob is a dangerous thing

people lose all sorts of inhibitions in a mob, only to regret them later.

[The Wielding Truth]

160. Yes. It was heart felt. I think that a lesson was learned. He must not

listen to the Hatemongers.

[Tracer]

7. I think he actually sounds truly sorry.

He never used the weasel phrase ... "IF anyone was offended...".

However, he can never really take it back.

[daleanime]

19. True, he's has to live with that for the rest of his life...

hopefully it makes him a better person, at least one less likely to follow the mob.

[WhiteTara]

38. the torturer is the one who loses

their humanity. He should volunteer for Hospice. Giving money is easy.

[heliarc]

114. He's still throwing money at the problem...

I might catch some heat for this, but I strongly believe that most Charitable giving in the form of cash has always been a way for the guilty to feel better about themselves.

Thankfully the money is still useful, even at the current rate of inflation.

[jonthebru]

170. Part of what you say is right,

But were you going to Haiti to actually give money to people or help on scene?
Sometimes all our money contributed together can do a lot of good.

This guy suffered from mob mentality, blind hysteria.
Not much different than the "fog of war" or the teenyboppers yelling for the Beatles or Elvis. Damn, those were the days.

Its better to make your own mind up and not get sucked into the right wing fog, or any other fog.

Will this guy learn? Will anyone else?
Who knows.

[Ticonderoga]

63. Exactly right.

His entire character was defined by those few seconds. He may overcome eventually, but a few words and a few bucks just isn't going to take him there. The guy is still a fool.

[MajorChode]

107. He's sorry for being exposed as an asshole

He's sorry for having to live with reporters shoving microphones in his face asking him to explain his asshole behavior. THAT'S what he's genuinely sorry about. Had the video not gone viral, he would have gone about his business and never felt any remorse about anything.

[peace frog]

139. So he hasn't slept since he was identified

as the attacker? GOOD. Live in fear, asshole.

[Christa]

192. + 1. nt

[pundaint]

112. I, having no standing to issue forgiveness, accept him at his word, and invite him to consider if

Progressive principles might be the best way to move forward.

[lumpy]

153. Interesting that he said he was afraid; of repercussions I guess.

That probably had a lot to do regarding his apology.

[skepticscott]

214. He did however use the weasel phrase

"I just snapped" Did he stay "snapped" for days and days afterwards? If not, why was his "apology" not made as soon as he got over being "snapped" and realized what he had done? A truly sincere apology is not offered as a result of pressure, now is it? Nor does it have to be rehearsed and crafted to include all of the right code words, as his clearly was.

[Old Time Pagan]

34. I do hope you'll be careful

The hate hole is an easy one to slip into. There are many frightened people in our country right now. Things are changing rapidly and the illusion of stability they've spent their lives nurturing is being stripped away from them. None of are at our best when we're terrified.

I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they prove to me that they are truly hardcore idiots. Sometimes I get burned, more often than not I'm pleasantly surprised. I commend the process to you, chances are you'll sleep better at night if you lift the burden of judgmentalness (is that a word?) off your shoulders.

Peace and respect

"That may not be the world we live in but that's the way I chose to live in it."

[babylonsister]

39. "The illusion of stability they've spent their lives nurturing is being stripped

away from them"??? Says who, limbaugh, beck, hannity? I find it disgraceful these folks have no inkling how to think for themselves. They are willfully ignorant and like it that way.

As for my comments, do a bit of googling, especially state reps. There have been loads of comments made and graphics distributed against the current president and then retracted with a 'just kidding' excuse. That too is disgraceful, yet keeps on happening.

[boppers]

190. Stability was always an illusion.

The same people were shattered by 9/11, traumatized by the recession, shocked by Virginia Tech...

They live in a mentally disconnected world, and when their bubble is burst, they're shocked by what they find.

[kag]

102. "judgmentalness (is that a word?)"

Nope.

[pundaint]

108. Fie on your dictionarial judgmentalness

[pundaint]

105. Nicely said.

[SemperEadem]

178. nope

There are many frightened people in our country right now.

That's not an excuse and I'm so sick and tired of hearing it. Being frightened is no license to act an ass. It's not even a justification.

the illusion of stability they've spent their lives nurturing is being stripped away from them

That "stability" was based on them maintaining a 1940's paradigm for societal position; it meant that blacks, other minorities and women had no rights and only white males did. Now, if that is the "stability illusion" to which you refer, then they should be afraid; it should be stripped away because it was counterfeit from the start. The foundation was false, therefore the construct is always compromised.

[mudplanet]

41. Oh, hell. That's why "mob mentality" is so dangerous. He apologized

and indicated that he has a conscience. Good enough.

[babylonsister]

44. Mob mentality? No, reality. They all apologize sooner or later after they get

their digs in. This took but a few minutes...


GOP activist DePass apologizes after joking on Facebook that gorilla is related to Michelle Obama
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/06/14/2009-06-14_pol_gorilla_is_related_to_first_lady.html

Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_buck16.3d67d4a.html

Republican Rep. Wilson heckles Obama, apologizes
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/09/republican_rep_wilson_heckles.html


GOP Congressman Apologizes for Calling Obama 'Boy'
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/gop-congressman.html

Snohomish County GOP pulls "$3 bills" smearing Obama from fair booth
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008140846_fair27m0.html

[Lifelong Protester]

98. I couldn't agree with you more.

Since when is "I snapped" an excuse? It seems to be THE excuse of the hour.

[NNadir]

188. +1

[Ken Burch]

42. Well, he's remorseful that he got caught.

n/t.

[Kajsa]

68. I think he is remorseful.

Most teabaggers I've seen would NEVER admit
they were wrong, even if they knew they were.

[skepticscott]

158. I doubt he truly is sorry

As others here have posted, how likely is it that he would have apologized if his behavior hadn't been on display for the whole world to see? Not very. You can bet that he still feels the same way he did before, but I'll wager that his family, his friends, his coworkers and everyone else he knows were treating him like a pariah, just as he deserves, and a gushy public apology (which someone else certainly advised him on) was the only way for him to relieve that.

[northzax]

183. well, sometimes it takes seeing yourself through someone else's eyes

in this case the camera, to realize how shamefully you are acting.

[Frank Cannon]

193. Most teabaggers are pathetic fucking cowards

And like all bullies, they will fold like a soft taco when they're subject to public ridicule and humiliation, just as this loser was. Rest assured that he feels the same way he did the day he was caught on video.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

69. It worked for the pedophile priest in Wisconsin. So,

shouldn't that work for GOPers? After all, they are closer to god than anyone else.

[stray cat]

71. as if progressives never act in a shameful matter and are remorseful?

I for one have acted in a way that shamed me - and I don't think its unique to this guy or myself

[babylonsister]

73. Who said that? Not I. But we're not talking about Dems in this thread,

at least I'm not. Don't know where you're coming from.

[raccoon]

74. self delete nt

[Caliman73]

109. I have to agree

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but my take on it is this: Would there be an apology had the cameras not been rolling and had this man not been seen on national television doing this? Somehow I doubt it. The guy was caught and shamed. Perhaps he is sorry, but the use of words like, "I snapped" and then how he said that some people might see what he did as justified; those kind of statements put his sincerity into doubt for me.

To me, a sincere apology should be an acknowledgment that the behavior was wrong and hurtful without ANY equivocation or attempt at justification. Plain and simple: "What I did was completely wrong and has no justification. I ask you to forgive me and I will do what I can to make amends for the pain that I have caused you. I am sorry".

[still_one]

117. He didn't have to come forward, and obviously it bothered him enough to

donate to the Parkinson disease foundation

I doubt his politics have changed, but I do believe he is remorsful for treating another human being the way he did

That is what mob rule does

[Voice for Peace]

140. according to Gibran

"you cannot lay remorse upon the innocent
nor lift it from the heart of the guilty.
Unbidden shall it call in the night,
that men may wake and gaze upon themselves."


or.. the tv may show them to themselves,
and they will see how awful they are,
and feel horrible.

[Political_Junkie]

159. Agreed,

and love that you quoted Gibran. :)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

152. He's just remorseful that he was made a disgrace on national TV..

if he had not been on caught video he would sleep just fine.

[Saturday]

3. An example of mob rule. nt

[SusanaMontana41]

82. When Reichert denounces other teabaggers for such tactics I might believe him.

"Reichert said he did not read Letcher's sign and did not realize he had Parkinson's until reading news reports."
So now teabaggers are so blinded by their hatreds and fears that they can't read?

"The confrontation, Letcher said, exemplifies how political debate in America has been reduced to name-calling, with winners often determined by their volume alone, and antics that do little to help resolve complex issues such as health-care reform."
He's partly correct but generalizes too much. I don't see Democrats/progressives behaving like thugs.

I hope no harm comes to Reichert or his family, just as I hope the teabaggers won't harm our elected officials. But I'm not holding my breath on the last one. The mea culpa of one teabagger does not an attack of conscience make for this hate-filled movement.

[sabrina 1]

116. I have seen Democrats behaving like thugs ~ they are

more careful about how they go about it, regarding attacking minorities or the disabled, but all partisans are capable of such thuggery and to think otherwise, is foolish. I used to think that is was only on the right that such bullying behavior would be seen, but I was wrong.

I give him credit for having remorse, whatever the reasons. The next step would be to distance himself from the elements that influenced him to act in such a way.

Rush Limbaugh mocked Michael J. Fox on the air claiming he was just acting to get attention for liberal causes.

I hope that he realizes that when you look up to people like that, you sink to their level. And I hope his words and what happened to him, will make a few others think about who they are influenced by.

[SusanaMontana41]

151. You've seen an organized group of progressives behave like thugs?

When?
Not necessarily disagreeing with you, but not agreeing with you, either. I want proof.

[sabrina 1]

165. What I said was that I have seen

'democrats', not 'progressives' acting like thugs. The actual meaning of the word probably doesn't apply, but the common usage describes the behavior of people who bully, threaten and attack others, not necessarily physically.


Having witnessed 'democrats' tactics of smearing falsely, vicious name-calling, even a recently and tragically dead young liberal activist, condoned by one of the so-called biggest 'liberal' blog owners, and lots lots more over the course of a few years, dispelled any notion I had that we are the 'good guys'. The only difference I see is that these 'left' bullies focus on other democrats, while the right goes after the left.

I, like you, never expected to see such behavior. But ruining, or attempting to ruin the reputations of others simply for political advantage is a form of violence, especially for those who are the targets of it.

I know now that while violence and hateful rhetoric is predominantly associated with the right, human nature being what it is, it isn't smart to assume that it doesn't exist on the left also.

[SusanaMontana41]

205. Thanks for calling me stupid. That was nice.

You still didn't give one concrete example. I'm tired of holding my breath waiting.

Have a nice life. I suspect we agree on most things political. I'll bet you're a nice person, too. Damn shame.

[olegramps]

200. Could you provide some cases of Democrats acting hateful?

[SusanaMontana41]

206. No, she can't.

I've asked for specifics. Her answers are in generalities; no proof whatsoever. That makes them non-answers.

She's probably a very nice person, though.

:hi:

[JDPriestly]

150. Being able to resist the mood of a crowd is a test of integrity.

We all fail that test from time to time, no matter who we are or how committed we are to peace and justice.

We cannot know what is in this man's heart at this time, but he has apologized publicly without conditioning his apology. I, for one, accept his apology and hope that he will continue to think about why he made this mistake. But, let's be fair, in a democracy in which we enjoy so much free speech, any one of us can get carried away by the mood of a crowd.

We should see this as a warning to ourselves to maintain respect for others when we speak and act no matter the setting, no matter what the people around us say or think.

[SusanaMontana41]

207. Appreciate your post,

but you're rational. I haven't seen a lot of rational behaviors from the terrorists/teabaggers. They're the ones who really need to read what you wrote here. Reichert, who found his conscience, could be a positive spokesman for change, if he wanted to be.

I'm waiting for the GOP leaders to apologize for stirring the pot.

[Doremus]

4. Well at least he sounds more sincere than the usual "If I offended anybody, blah blah" nt

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Maybe he'll be part of the small percent who wake up?

It can happen, says I with cautious optimism.

[SusanaMontana41]

208. Sure hope you're right. eom

[theoldman]

8. People get pumped up by lies, not by the truth.

Think about this the next time someone tells you something you want to believe.

[vaberella]

9. He sounds sincere, but I'm still disgusted. n/t

[butterfly77]

10. Yeah,We believe that shit.Not!

[Dream Girl]

11. He'll probably be threatened for apologizing.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

70. I'd give it 10 seconds. No more than that.

[anachro1]

12. Nonsense

He's pissed he got caught doing this.

[Mike K]

65. "Got caught" doesn't apply. He wasn't trying to hide anything.

I agree with others here who feel Reichert's remorse is genuine and who understand that his conduct was a textbook example of the kind of mob psychology that facilitated the rise of the Third Reich.

What we're seeing in the teabaggers' behavior is a classic psychosocial phenomenon. It's dangerous and it should be dealt with very aggressively -- before a monster arises from it.

[olegramps]

201. They go there rallies with a predisposition and are only revealing it.

[chrisa]

13. Notice how it's all about him.

He has to "heal." He hasn't "slept a day since."

Typical pity-party, feel-sorry-for-me nonsense. :nopity:

He's sorry that he got caught.

[WinkyDink]

14. I don't know; no insincere "apology" I've ever read used the word "shameful." That's meaningful.

[Uncle Joe]

23. I agree.

His apology seems sincere to me.

[Botany]

28. If the victim wishes nothing bad happens to him that is good enough for me.

Letcher said he hopes no harm comes to Reichert, although he's not sure what to make of his latest remarks.

"I'm touched by his donation to the Parkinson's Society, but you can't just buy your way out of this," he said.

Letcher said he still views Reichert as "calculatedly cold and angry."

[anachro1]

89. Shameful

was used to extend his fifteen minutes of fame. Now he gets to confess on Oprah or something. Make a little cash.

[skepticscott]

189. I have no doubt

That the "apology" was carefully scripted, as any public apology like this is anymore, and that he had help from someone who knew all the right buzz words. He did not do this out of true remorse, but to try to take some of the heat off himself for being exposed to everyone he knows as someone capable of such shitty behavior.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. This man is a joke. He got caught that is why he really is mad. Bastard

[bbernardini]

16. On a side note, whatever happened to that woman making the ugly face in the Little Rock picture? nt

[Botany]

25. Moved to N. Carolina and was elected to Congress

or maybe not :rofl:

[Bozita]

32. Might have been Ohio.

[mindfulNJ]

29. Her name is Hazel Massery

She actually apologized to Elizabeth Eckard (the young woman being heckled) years later on Oprah.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Massery

[xxqqqzme]

103. Thank you. Every time I see that picture,

I wonder what became of that girl? Did her blind hate continue to destroy her life? I knew about Elizabeth Eckard and others from a PBS program on the anniversary of Little Rock.

[Enthusiast]

17. 610 AM is pure hate.

It never ends. This does real harm in the community.

[AnneD]

18. Everyone does stupid now and again.....

I hope he seeks out and apologized to the poor man and never does that again. I am pissed at the hypocrisy of the GOP expressing dismay that legislators are being threatened...but when you call someone a baby killer on the floor of the Senate, and egg on these teabaggers....these mock apologies are not enough. I have said all along that this condoning of these behaviours would come back to bite them in the butt. It is easy to stir up a mob, but once they get going, it is hard to control. Beck, Limbaugh et al should be taken off the airwaves, fined heavily and or their license revoked for hate speech. I don't find it entertaining for a minute. The FCC really need to crack down on this.

[vduhr]

64. You know, I never thought of that.

If that type of hate speech was on network television, in sitcoms, etc. they would be shutdown by the FCC. Why is it that Beck and Rush are allowed to continue on the radio, which can be picked up by everyone (including children), allowed to continue. Is there a way that we can complain to the FCC that we are offended by the hate language? Maybe we should flood their phone lines with complaints.

[abelenkpe]

129. Yes!

I completely agree. It's ridiculous that TV stations were fined heavily for a wardrobe malfunction yet there is no punishment for spreading easily discredited lies and promoting hate and inciting violence. We should form a petition or arrange to call and write reps and the FCC. If FOX news or radio stations that pump out hate shows were fined for inciting violence or hate speech they would stop. They are a media business and all business understands is the bottom line. A few fines would go a long way to restoring more reasoned debate.

[femrap]

20. k and r

That Reichert dude sure has created some nasty health Karma for himself.

[Ken Burch]

47. If Reichert has a "list" this probably takes up about thirty numbers on it.

[old mark]

21. The right is composed of the KKK, American Nazis, White Supremacists,

Militias, and people who listen to them and believe them. ALL of them claim to have god on their side, and all claim to be doing what they do for America.
They also have pigs like Rush and Beck and the like who are in it only for money and power.

Sad group of people, really, but no less dangerous for that.

mark

[think]

22. Everyone makes mistakes

Whether I will ever agree with the man on politics or forget what he did I will still respect the man for owning his mistake and attempting to make things better.

Lord knows I've made my fair share of mistakes......

[NotThisTime]

56. Not that kind of mistake, nobody with a brain does what he did

[Zoeisright]

87. Nuh-uh.

That isn't a 'mistake'. It's unforgivably rude, crass, and immoral behavior that springs from a fundamental flaw in that man's nature.

[crim son]

97. I agree.

I've been spat on while protesting and though it made me furious I didn't turn violent or even rude - and I have a temper. There are some lines decent people don't cross, IMHO.

[beac]

132. His mentioning that "some say" he had a right to do what he did reveals the truth.

He isn't a damn bit sorry for what he did. He's sorry he got caught.

[petronius]

204. I interpreted that the other way - it sounds like the "some" are other teabaggers,

and he's saying that he disagrees with their supposed position that his actions were legitimate speech.

I think this is a sincere and well-stated apology, and it's possible that this guy has taken a look at himself and not liked what he saw. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt...

[Frank Cannon]

194. A mistake is when you forget to pick up milk at the grocery store.

This was no "mistake". This guy is a hateful asshole. He only regrets being caught as one and subsequently subject to national ridicule and humiliation.

[blondeatlast]

24. He forgot to add: "I apologize to anyone who might have been offended."

Maybe he really does have a bit of a conscience.

[The_Commonist]

26. All right, Chris. That's a step in the right direction.

I personally think it's best to take the man at his word, and give him the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe he was caught up in the mob mentality, and thought he was being cute.
Until he proves otherwise, I'll believe him when he says he is remorseful.
That is, after all, the "liberal" way to respond to him now...

[The Wizard]

27. His behavior was seen by millions

many of whom probably knew him. After a few days of getting the cold shoulder or possibly admonishments he felt the need to make a sincere apology without the qualifying "if I offended anyone."
Abusing the sick and infirm is offensive to all but a handful of antisocial Republican miscreants. Unfortunately a handful of miscreants have seized the GOP. It must be terrible to wake up everyday in a bad mood. Dick Armey's parents must be proud of their miscreant. He's a reflection of the immoral values they instilled in him.

[secondwind]

30. MOB MENTALITY. This guy got "caught up".....I hope to God we don't have a real

problem on our hands, with all those nutjobs out there (3 million strong are armed to the teeth according to a recent interview with a nutjob.)

[YOY]

31. Wonder if someone confronted him about his behavior.

A loved one. A boss. Even a teabag "leader" who dislike the negative PR.

If not then I suppose he may be sincere.

I really hope he is sincere...but the garbage that gets dumped in their brains in lieu of real information...

[OrderedChaos]

33. He didn't even read the sign

The fact that he said he popped off and didn't even read Mr Letcher's sign is very telling. I find his apology not to be sincere. He was only apologizing after his rant went viral and out of fear that it would affect the rest of his life. Sorry, I don't buy it. I do hope that nothing bad happens to him or his family because of this event, and I do feel that he made the correct decision to not attend anymore political rallies if he can't keep his anger in check.

[WhiteTara]

35. Beck's hate speech is reminiscent of the Rwandan

radio speech before a radio owner brought in the machetes and the massacre began. I bet many woke up one morning and said "OMG, what have I done?"

[Joanne98]

36. He's a liar.

[kestrel91316]

37. Translation: an important family member or friend or perhaps employer saw

the clip, was able to identify me, and I got in BIG trouble for it. THAT'S why I am apologizing.

[babylonsister]

52. That's most likely what happened; he got caught! nt

[CTyankee]

96. Makes me thankful for youtube! nt

[calimary]

80. Wouldn't surprise me. I'm sorry - the cynic in me goes directly there.

Trying to be forgiving here...

Trying REALLY HARD.

But not trusting. He's sorry NOW. What happens at the next rally then, or the next time he turns on glenn beck? Or the next time he sees a poor person begging by a freeway onramp? Or the next time he's with a bunch of his little "friends" in the teabagger movement and they start trash-talking based on the lies THEY heard and swallow, whole, from glenn beck?

Hard not to be a little bit hard-assed about these people, knowing their mindset and their gullibility and what some WILL give into their lower demons and do. And as long as beck and limbaugh and the rest of the hate-radio types are on the air, allowed to spew without consequence, we WILL see more of these. Because the rest of 'em haven't been caught (and undoubtedly shamed by somebody important to them).

[Frank Cannon]

195. I've heard that the guy works in sales

I'm sure his employer was happy about his newfound "fame".

[closeupready]

40. It's good that he is contrite and making an effort to change.

For that, I applaud him.

[mod mom]

43. He's one of the handful of Republicans in Victorian Village. I hope his neighbors

remind him of how despicable his actions are. Just like a Repuke-throw $ at a problem & hope it will go away: "I made a donation (to a local Parkinson's disease group)" Maybe he should consider volunteering with patients suffering from Parkinson's and learn a real lesson.

[ColesCountyDem]

45. Appropriate reaction to a sincere apology = mercy and forgiveness, folks.

Let's not become like them.

[yellowcanine]

48. Except as far as I can tell he hasn't apologized directly to the victim. But maybe that will come.

He needs to apologize to the man face to face in public in that the insult was face to face in public.

[vduhr]

67. Absolutely!

When Tiger Woods, or any other celebrity has done something, they always end up publicly apologizing. Let this guy do the same.

[ColesCountyDem]

172. I don't disagree, but I also don't believe we should reject or condemn what he HAS done, either.

Like I said, let not be like them, shall we?

:hi:

[yellowcanine]

180. Yeah well as far as I am concerned it is not a "sincere apology" until the right person gets the

apology. So I am not condemning or rejecting - I am going to WAIT and SEE. I am not trying to be or not to be like them or anyone else. That is my personal standard for apologies. The apology needs to be to the person who actually was wronged and if it happened in public face to fact the apology needs to be in public face to face. It was a big time public wrong. It needs a big time public apology, not a mailed in apology.

[daggahead]

46. So, he's basically admitting he has no self-control ...

... which seems to be a trait among the `baggers.

[frylock]

49. "I've been looking at the Web sites," he said. "People are hunting for me."

this is the reason for the apology, right here. someone posted a comment on the original dispatch article stating that this guy sells medical equipment, and that the talk internally was that people he worked with would out him. i hope he is scared.

[CTyankee]

99. This was his "kick in the pants" moment.

I once asked a therapist friend what makes people change. She chuckled and said "A kick in the pants!"

She was right. I've only awakened to certain realities (e.g. ending a bad marriage, having to go back to finish a degree, having to quit smoking) as a result of such kicks.

His apology probably saved his job and maybe even some social shaming. He certainly wasn't a poster boy for his employer, that's for sure. And maybe he has friends or relatives who have Parkinson's and could shun him. I know I certainly wouldn't want that on my conscience or on my reputation...

[zbdent]

51. "I'm remorseful."

because it was caught on film, and now people realize how big of a dick I really am ...

[TZ]

53. I'm glad he apologized

90% of teabagging douches wouldn't give a damn, I think.
He also donated money to a Parkinson's group which in my mind whatever his motivations IS a good thing.
Seems like maybe this guy learned something too? Maybe he'll grow up.

[skepticscott]

209. He wouldn't have given a damn either

if his behavior hadn't been plastered all over the Internet. This was a forced apology, make no mistake, and as all such, highly artificial and suspect in its sincerity.

[Ka hrnt]

54. To quote Alexander Pope,

"To err is human, to forgive divine."

[LynneSin]

55. I can sum it up quite nicely why you snapped

Because you're listening to too much hate radio/hate TV/hate right-wing screeds.

Because you're being told to "Reload and Take Aim" by right-wing screeds who thinks it's nothing but harmless words.

Because you watched as Rush Limbaugh made fun of Michael J. Fox and probably laughed your ass off at it (MJF has Parkisons).

The donation is a nice start but if you want to make a change - turn off the hate radio & hate cable news. Read the bill and understand what exactly this HCR is going to do. Use your brain instead of being one of the mindless sheep who bleat what they are told by the fat pigs.

THINK!

[rasputin1952]

57. Not that it means much, but my thoughts on this...

I believe this man honestly feels remorse for his actions on that day and I believe he learned a lesson in tolerance. While the act itself was rude and uncalled for, I cannot think of any reason to continue to hold this against him if he has honestly tried to rectify it.He is an individual of character if he came out publicly to speak about how he feels. I cannot say that of the others in that video, they remain anonymous, and most likely are cowards. This man has tried to atone for his behavior by donating to a charity for Parkinson's, I don't see this as a "buy off", I see it as someone who is trying to make right a wrong he committed. He has apologized to his victim, to me, if it is sincere,(and I believe it is), that should be enough. One other thing, his personal acts should not reflect upon his family, his wife and children had nothing to do with what happened, anyone who would vilify them is far from anything noble.

We've all done something we can be ashamed of, even though this is someone caught up in a terrible situation, at least he has the fortitude to stand up and be accountable. Just my 2 cents.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

62. rasputin, you gotta read the comments section!

I just read and posted a crucial snip downthread, with the link. Verrrrry informative!

Mr REICHert's action that was caught for all to see was just one isolated fragment of his performance.

I thought he sounded sincere too, (although the pic under the flag seemed a little opportunistic --apparently that's typical of that local rag; Pro-conservative), until I read the comment.

[Gormy Cuss]

72. +1

This man didn't just say that he apologized, he called his actions shameful. Apology accepted.

[TEXASYANKEE]

92. Well said.

The man apologized and is remorseful. I think we should move on.

[rosesaylavee]

130. Agreed... let's move on.

He's apologized. He's not a mover/shaker. Hopefully he's learned a lesson but he leads no one. Apology accepted.

[sui generis]

58. it's mob mentality

he had some kind of endorphin high that the enemy of all that was good had a face and was accessible.

We do that here on DU too - to each other, all the time.

[Gman2]

59. His act wa not an Oh Snap, His being sorry was. His address was published.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

60. If anyone thinks the creep is sincere, read this comment to the article

BuckeyeKelly replies to commenter Paul Sites, who wrote:

Mr. Reichert I agree that what you did was somewhat out of line , but what this man was doing was also out of normal porciedure...

My Prayer for you Mr. Reichert is that you remain a caring person and that you continue
to get involved in politics , because you , and people like you are our only chance to
survive as a NATION.

BuckeyeKelly replies:

<snip>

So quietly sitting at a protest is "out of order?" Quiet civil disobedience helped move this country forward in terms of civil rights, ending wars, and getting far more people to hear your side of an issue than screaming. Furthermore, Reichert was not innocent except for the moment caught on tape. He was pacing the crowds, whipping people into a frenzy shouting disrepectful language at the top of his lungs. He was the ringleader, not a momentary lapse in judgment. "People like you areour only chance to survive as a NATION." God help us all, liberal and conservative alike, if more people like him are going to "save" our nation. It's alright to be angry, to disapprove of pending or actual legislation. I remember hearing for 8 LONG years that if I didn't agree with our President I was not a patriot. That I was un-American. I should LEAVE the country if I felt the need to openly disagree with my President and Congress. People got arrested for wearing Pink t-shirts in the Congressional viewing areas. Yet, elected officials can be spit on, threatened, verbally abused outside and on the floor of Congress and this is supposed to SAVE our country?


.......

So clearly, BuckEye was at the rally and saw Mr. REICHert-wing's antics.

The rest of the comment is here--scroll down to see Paul Sites' delightful post, then scroll a bit further to see BuckeyeKelly's trenchant response: http://www.topix.net/forum/source/dispatch-politics/TH0EUOINR3QAUUEPU

[rasputin1952]

93. Yeah, I can see that he was acting like a ringleader...

but still, maybe he actually feels remorse, hope so anyway...:)

If not, he has to live in his own hell...;)

[BlancheSplanchnik]

187. true -- one can hope, for his sake

at the same time, there's a certain satisfaction in catching and publicizing them in their lies.

hrmmm... good point too, let him live in his own hell! Better for my blood pressure too, after getting it public, if I can't do anything more to help the cause of truth (the cause of Truth... feels like there should be a musical stinger with that..... :P )

[BanzaiBonnie]

61. When we put a human face on suffering

SOME people can feel and understand. That man may be approachable.

Others are not and will continue to be inflamed by the likes of Beck and the rest of the riff raff.


I really want a bumper sticker that says: WWJD? Care for People!

[cynatnite]

75. I hope he's truly remorseful. n/t

[hulka38]

76. It's called, how do I salvage what's left of my reputation

professionally and socially.

[No Elephants]

77. He was whipping up the crowd, ffs. I hope that was one big donation.

[Moostache]

78. Apology accepted, Captain Needa...

Never a Darth Vader around when you really need one...

On a serious note, if he is sincere, his later actions will speak for themselvees. If he is not, he will lace up the jackboots and "stay involved". This is actually a man in a unique position (IF he is sincere) to speak out and to reach out to the many others who are truly misled and deluded by what they are being fed from their media viewing.

[Zenlitened]

119. Well said.

...if he is sincere, his later actions will speak for themselves. If he is not, he will lace up the jackboots and "stay involved". This is actually a man in a unique position (IF he is sincere) to speak out and to reach out to the many others who are truly misled and deluded by what they are being fed from their media viewing.

:thumbsup:

[hulka38]

79. If there was a wing nut bigot rehab clinic, he'd be checked in.

[vduhr]

81. I question his sincerity because of some of his remarks.

"I made a donation (to a local Parkinson's disease group), and that starts the healing process."

...and that starts the healing process? For whom? Himself? Is he going to apologize to the man he yelled and threw money at?

"I wanted this to go away, but it won't, and I'm paying the consequences," Reichert said.

I wanted this to go away, but it won't? Isn't that admitting that he got caught, so that's why he's apologizing?

"I've been looking at the Web sites," he said. "People are hunting for me."

Another reason to wonder if he really feels remorseful or just apologized to save his butt.

[stranger81]

91. +1. This joker just sounds sorry that he got caught. [n/t]

[4lbs]

83. He hasn't slept since that day? Yeah, sure.

If that is true, then he should truly look like someone who hasn't slept in over a week.

Frazzled hair, bloodshot eyes, bags and dark circles under the eyes, droopy eyes.

Not a good look for someone in his line of work: sales. More specifically, medical device sales.

Would you buy from someone that looked like that?

[CTyankee]

101. "Where do I know you from?" LOL!

I can see it now, he's paid a sales call and someone looks at him and says "you look familiar..." and it's downhill from there.

I love it!

[bonnieS]

84. A healing moment

would be for this guy to appear on TV apologizing to the man with Parkinson's directly and explaining how mobs influence genuinely good people like himself to act against their own values. It would take a lot of courage for him to do that.

How come so many of us at DU know this is not just interesting behavior by extremist jerks, but the reappearance of fascism here? I am waiting for a full scale examination of this by one of our liberal commentators, instead of stopping at praise for people like Barney Frank and how they handle such offensive behavior in the course of their day.

[Zenlitened]

121. Totally, totally agree. This needs to be addressed in-depth.

...How come so many of us at DU know this is not just interesting behavior by extremist jerks, but the reappearance of fascism here? I am waiting for a full scale examination of this by one of our liberal commentators, instead of stopping at praise for people like Barney Frank and how they handle such offensive behavior in the course of their day.

[olegramps]

203. I don't think genuinely good people attend hate rallies.

I lived in the South during the Civil Rights demonstrations and I know many of the white people who joined in the mobs attacking the Civil Rights demonstrators. Believe me that not a damn one of them lost any sleep over their vicious evil behavior. My parents were so disgusted with it that they arranged for a transfer to Northern Universities. I have many relatives that still live in the South and they are just as racist today as when they first indoctrinated with hatred.

[RoccoR5955]

85. Apology REJECTED!

Sorry, that's no excuse. You are an adult, and should have better self-control. What makes you think that saying that you are sorry, then throwing a couple of bucks at the problem will make it better? What makes you think that people will actually buy your story? Are you only apologizing because you were personally identified, or would you have made your donation any way?

[Zoeisright]

86. Good. I'm glad the bigot hasn't slept. Maybe it will adversely affect his health

and he won't be able to get treatment for it.

That may sound heartless, but I don't care. People like that have to suffer to learn something.

[nini]

88. sometimes SEEING yourself act like that is shocking

maybe that's what he saw and is sincere. Maybe he's just covering his ass. I don't know since I don't know the SOB. The fact he could do that in the first place says volumes about him though. Must suck to see the dark side of yourself the way he did.

[judesedit]

90. Chris Reichert deserves our respect for his honesty. That took a lot. of courage. Just goes to show

what can happen to normally thoughtful, rational people when they become mired in negative group think. Beck, Palin, Limbaugh and every other person inciting hateful crimes should be fully prosecuted, so others will think twice before instigating violence. Actually, they are no better than Charles Manson. That is exactly what he did with his followers. Thank God 80% of the people in this country are sane, civil and intelligent and know right from wrong. Hopefully that 80% is also armed to the teeth in case the need arises for self defense. Can you just imagine where we'd be today if that greedy hypocrite and that greedy witch had prevailed in 2008 ???? It makes me shudder just to think of it.

ALL DEMOCRATS BE SURE TO GET OUT AND VOTE. TAKE OTHER DEMS TO THE POLLS WITH YOU. WATCH FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR AROUND VOTING MACHINES WHILE THERE AND DOCUMENT IT. ORDER ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HOMEBOUND. SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO USE THE INTERNET TO FIND THE FACTS, INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO FAKE NEWS. THESE NUT CASES MUST BE STOPPED.

[Duer 157099]

111. Sorry, no can do (respect that guy)

As I posted below, his apology only proves that he's not a sociopath, and that's hardly cause for respect.

And I strongly disagree that all "normally thoughtful, rational people" are likely to behave as he did under those circumstances. It's the gross *exception* in fact, that people do such things, no matter the circumstances!

Of course, it's normal behavior for sociopaths/psychopaths. But those are also the ones who cannot feel remorse.

So he's not a sociopath. Big whoop, give him a medal. He's still an asshole of major proporations.

[SemperEadem]

179. no thanks. I'll keep my respect.

had he exercised better judgment leading up to that moment when he threw money at a man silently protesting, then I would give him a wider berth. But that is not the case, from eyewitnesses to his actions. He acted disrespectfully and it wasn't until he was met by the consequences of his actions that he puked up a half-assed apology.

I respect the person who disagrees, but can disagree without being disrespectful or contemptuous of those with whom they disagree.

[nolabear]

94. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but would his behavior been okay

if it HAD been someone "looking for a handout"? The assumption that you can abuse a person who asks for help or compassion, even if you believe things about them that you dislike, is petty and mean, and that's an attitude that there is far too much of today.

[DirkGently]

95. I know that picture

... and it has been running through my mind repeatedly in seeing the Klan-style Teaparty tantrums of recent weeks. The ugliness and rage and stupidity and fear and ignorance in that woman's eyes is shown so clearly ... and it's the exact same look we're seeing now. These ARE the same people who take to the streets on every progressive issue, be it Jim Crow or women's suffrage or healthcare. These are the people who blow up little girls in churches.

It's not a basis for either panic or escalation on our parts, but everyone needs to stay awake and pay attention. This is the old American evil, and it never takes defeat gracefully.

[Raschel]

100. There goes the "he's a liberal plant".

[Duer 157099]

104. Here's a perspective to consider

Ask yourself whether you can imagine yourself doing the same thing this "man" did. Do you have it within you to do what he did? (I don't mean the apology, but his behavior towards the PD sufferer.) Let's even remove the issue of PD from the scene, let's just say the old fellow was homeless. Could you do what he did? Ever? Under any circumstance?

I could certainly relate to the shame and remorse he felt afterward, but anyone but a sociopath would feel that.

I absolutely cannot relate to, even in a so-called "mob mentality" setting, behaving that way towards someone, anyone, just sitting quietly with a sign. NO.MATTER.WHAT.

So, I view the apology simply as a sign that he's not a sociopath, but that's all.

"Kudos for not being a sociopath, Chris!"

But you're still an asshole deep at heart. There's no disputing that, your actions have already proven it.

[Zambero]

106. Caught up in a mob-style frenzy

It causes humans to suspend their better judgment and engage in regretable behavior. And the goading by Glenn Beck and others beyond the fringe is partially responsible. Some of the perpetrators in these acts may indeed regret their behavior after the fact. Hopefully this individual is sincere in admitting what he did was wrong. If so, he's doing the right thing in coming forward.

[caseymoz]

110. I've never heard of anything like this.

Really, the old segregationists from Little Rock and elsewhere, were there every any reports of them apologizing? Years after segregation went through? Did George Wallace ever apologize?

This guy has done it, and very soon after the offense. Maybe he's scared, but maybe the fear told him exactly how disgusting his actions were. And, he called his actions "shameful." He might have just waited for this to blow over.

He says he didn't read the sign. It really amazes me that he could be in such a state that he didn't, or perhaps he isn't actually literate?

He's not going to any more political rallies. It's another nail in the coffin of the teabagger movement. This and other shameful episodes. I don't see them lasting after this.

[craigmatic]

113. maybe too much talk radio/faux news makes you crazy

maybe they are being brain washed

[Zenlitened]

125. I think it's really that simple: People who plug themselves into the RW hate-feed...

...end up with minds that are flat-out poisoned.

They are manipulated with relentlessness, precision and passion.

They are fed lies, denied crucial facts, flattered and validated, excused of all responsibility...

...and supplied with scapegoats for every last thing that's wrong in their own disappointed lives.

A graphic I made in 2008:



A crudely-drawn image, I admit.

But what I mean to say is: This is a powerful social phenomenon being re-enacted before our very eyes, and we need to take it seriously.

[mzmolly]

115. I'm glad he's realized his behavior needs adjustment. Perhaps these people

are learning that their cultish, dangerous group think is destructive?

[MUAD_DIB]

118. I'm tired of hearing excuse #17.

"Well I just went crazy!"

Question: What is he going to do to remedy the situation?

Answer: Probably not much if anything.

[MrMickeysMom]

120. He "perceived him as an agitator", eh?

Perhaps this remorseful "man" will begin to "perceive" things differently from this point.

When I see how out of control people like this idiot get, I try to use the reason, "It's got to be what most people do when they attempt to 'pile on' during a frenzied moment of tea-bagging assholery."

This is why every single one of us is CAPABLE of behaving in the same manner.

This is why every single one of us HAS to live as the better example, no matter how fucking hard it is.

Pretty soon someone's gonna have that same remorseful moment after beating the shit out of somebody they "misperceive"!

[CountAllVotes]

122. how much did he "donate"?

a buck fifty for laughs? :mad:

:kick:

[kanrok]

123. He seems sincere

He manned up.

I'm sure he feels ashamed and sorry for his actions.

I wonder why the other knucklehead isn't apologizing?

Could it possibly be that he hasn't yet been identified?

In any event, no matter what the motivation of Mr. Reichert, he took responsibility for acting like a putz, and will have to live with this for the rest of his life.

I hope he actually learns something from this.

[Time for change]

126. I agree

It takes courage to admit that you did something shameful. Hopefully this will make him a better person.

[boycottfaux]

128. Crocodile Tears

He's only sorry he was caught and filmed behaving like a POS!!

[Mike K]

135. As Nini has indicated, I tend to think he is responding -

- to being visually confronted with his behavior, which is a powerful revelation. Imposed introspection has a powerful effect on anyone.

We see what we do from inside (subjectively). When we see what we do from outside (objectively), which is how others see what we've done, the effect can be cathartic, as it appears to be in Reichert's mia culpa.

So you might be right that he's sorry because he was "caught." But not only because he was caught. Having had an objective view of what he did I believe he's genuinely sorry for that ugly behavior.

[liberation]

148. I don't think "taking responsibility" means what you think it means...

... attributing deliberated actions to a simple "lapse of reason" is one of the most insincere apologies one can make. Taking responsibility would imply either do something to right the wrong he did, or at the very least putting forth a sincere mea culpa. The whole "I snapped, and I can't explain it any other way" tries to make himself the victim. He can explain very well why he said what he did. But he chose not to.


As per usual conservative approach, he is just sorry he got caught. He will never address the real reasons of his actions, ergo nothing has changed...

Saying "oops, sorry" is the easy part, actually doing something to mend the outcome of his actions... that is the hard part, and what actually constitues taking responsibility for one's actions.

[ejbr]

124. I give him credit for getting a grip...n/t

[hyphenate]

127. Someone is going to snap one day

and it won't be currency but bullets they're using. And with that crowd, it won't be just once that it will happen.

[Mike K]

131. That kind of extreme violence is inevitable -

- when the type of mass hysteria being generated by the neo-Conservative talkers gains momentum. Right now the source of the energy behind this potentially violent movement is the inciteful rhetoric coming from Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly, Malkin, Bachman, Coulter, Palin, et al.

[WileEcoyote]

133. I think this is great!

Imagine that asshole's surprise to find himself the demon on D/U!

This is all good sport. I'm lovin it.

[AzNick]

134. Obviously he's faced outraged reaction and is trying to save his skin

This idiot knows that if he does not do a public 180, he's going to face some serious backlash, including loss of work & friends and all that goes with a tarnished reputation.

[SlingBlade]

137. Yea. AFTER HE GOT EXPOSED !

[intheflow]

138. Best part of the link was he said he's never, ever going to another poitcal rally.

God, if only we could get all the Teabaggers to jump on that boat!

[DesertDiamond]

141. I hope this wakes him up enough to see what the hatemongers are doing to his mind,

and tell his teabagger friends. And hopefully, he will no longer be a teabagger.

[Mike K]

162. I think that's a good possibility.

[brewens]

142. "I'm sorry I got caught!" I hope he gets fired from his job.

I heard he was some kind of medical equipment salesman.

[LatteLibertine]

143. Since I didn't hear his tone

or see his demeanor when he apologized, I'm not going to speculate on if he was sincere or not.

I'm fairly good at "reading people" and haven't had the opportunity in this case yet.

It is possible for people to grow and change. Calling him out and condemning him was the correct thing to do.

Not everyone in the Tea Party is a lost cause. IMO we should stay aware and look for opportunities to reach out to some of them. Some of them aren't a part of the GOP machine that is driving the Tea Party and are rather being manipulated by it.

President Obama said change wouldn't be easy and that's exactly right. Often it's going to be slow, painful and messy. We must persevere. If we just concentrate on the fringe we might miss the fact that the United States is growing in the right direction. Eventually, folks stuck in the past will be left behind. I would certainly like to afford them every opportunity to evolve along with us.

[Steve20]

144. wow

Disgusting

[JohnWxy]

145. "I snapped, I absolutely snapped, and I can't explain it any other way," - this is how 'the Big Lie'

works. Hitler said: if your going to tell a lie, make it a big one and keep repeating it. People will think if they keep hearing it, it must be true.


Thanks to the Corporate media echo chamber continually repeating the Republican lies about "death Panels" and a Government "take-over" of health care, many who do not really stop to THINK, believe this crap and go nuts over non-existent chimeras.

That's how it works Reichert. YOu were a pawn, a sucker. Just what the Republican party counts on to win votes.

but if the media would just place "product warning" statements out there with these ridiculous, baseless fantasy threats .... with a little fact checking it would be harder for the Corporate Lobbyist party to victimize light headed people like Reichert.

Of course, since the media is either owned by or fears the Right, that's not about to happen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Recommended.

[MissDeeds]

146. Bull

He's not remorseful for what he did, only that he was outed for it and is fearful of retribution. These creeps have no shame; their only concern is for themselves. No way would a decent, compassionate, thinking person do what he did in the first place. Too little, too late. I'm not buying it. :thumbsdown:

[Lost-in-FL]

147. Cry me a river...

I hope it follows him for a long time. What HE did is wrong. Words and actions count.

Did he personally apologized?

[tilsammans]

149. I'm glad he came forward

He sounds sincerely contrite. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[alp227]

154. Good for Reichert. Now what about those who instigatie the hate?

I mean, Michael Savage never apologised for saying that autism is a fraud and is mostly because of "a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out." Has Glenn Beck ever retracted any misinformation from his radio show or chalkboard-obsessed TV show?

[indy legend]

155. I guess some are just a better person than I am.

I've been trying to understand and reason with these f*#ktards for years. I'm done forgiving and done trying to understand.I don't care how sorry he is. I'm tired of these right wing bastards who live their lifetime of greed, selfishness,and hate and then when exposed they all of a sudden have their "come to jesus moment." He says he's scared. I hope the SOB is as cared as the millions of people out there where who had a serious illness and knew they were going to die because they could not afford the care they needed. I hope he spends the rest of his days feeling as helpless as the families of those dying people felt. I hope the rest of his life is a long, miserable painful existence ending in dying alone and scared. It's God's job to forgive him. Not mine.

[HughMoran]

156. Glad to hear he hasn't slept since

Perhaps he's not as rotten as he appeared to be that day. Then again, if he wasn't caught on camera...

[lumpy]

Thanks to video, it is difficult for people tp get away with their

hateful acts these days.

[lib2DaBone]

157. Not hard to understand why he snapped when caught up in Mob Violence...

.. there are lots of people sitting in prison becasue they "snapped" and killed someone.

Turn off Rush Limbaugh... put down your Glenn Beck T-shirt... now back away from the radio... slowly...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

161. I'd like to see him deliver his apology personally

Then I'd like to watch the two of them sit down and discuss their differences of opinion in a civilized manner...no name calling, no accusations, no mindless "you obviously drank the kool-ade" cracks that serve no purpose other than to insult.

But that won't happen.

[CLANG]

184. To the Goddess

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[DCKit]

163. Perhaps he'll end up awakinging a few more. It's the best we can hope for. n/t

[peaches2003]

164. Tough $hit, Asshat

He hasn't even begun to redeem himself. 6 months in jail and 6 months working community service in a Parkinson's ward in a nursing home may be enough time for him to think about it and appreciate what P's patients go through and how their life is a living hell. My father and his family all suffered from Parkinson's for over 20 yrs each and my brother and I have every reason to believe we could be next.

This crap w/ Parkinson's started when Rush said Michael J. Fox was just "pretending" and no Repug admonished him. When are the Repug politicians going to apeak up like human beings?

[abq e streeter]

166. he sounds sincere to me. No way to really know; but it really does sound that way.

Not that my opinion matters one bit, but I personally am ready to, at least tentatively ,welcome Mr. Reichert back to the civilized world.

[demigoddess]

167. after he gets caught on tape, he's sorry, just like a second grader!

when are we going to see adult behavior??

[Fire1]

168. Talk about a piece of shit!! Reichert is the poster child. n/t

[TK421]

169. Really? Well, he ought to be ashamed

I'm suspicious of this turn of feelings though....

[marias23]

171. Mass Psychology

I think this guy got caught up in Fascist- style Mass Psychology. You know who was good at this and we must watch out. I think his contrition is real.

[1American]

173. money thrower

See the connection between the tea party, fox news, sarah palin and glen beck AND the republican party? Obvious, isn't it!

I also see a similarity between the tea party and the nazi party of germany during the thirties--unfounded accusations, guilt by accusation, name-calling, truth torturing. It seems it is just a matter of time that they organize a midnight torchlight march against democrats, the new jew in their lexicon.

The right-wing radicals have totally distorted and basically destroyed the republican party. I cannot see a two-party system composed of the democratic party and the tea party. That would be the most disastrous thing to happen to America.

I know that there are many democratic women who still think highly of sarah palin because she is a woman apparently trying to buck the male-tendency in politics. That would be like saying that glenn beck should run for president just because he is male.

This guy is following the same line as other publicity hounds..repent but not really.

[DL in SoCal]

174. The guy might have figured it out

It's just possible that Mr. Reichert has had a moment of painful personal epiphany.

If so, he should be supported and encouraged.

It behooves us to be less judge-y than the TeaBaggers and assorted GOP knuckle draggers.

[BrklynLiberal]

175. The two adversaries in that classic picture eventually reconciled.

http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=721

Eckford was awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as were the rest of the Little Rock Nine and Daisy Bates, in 1958. In 1997, Elizabeth Eckford shared the Father Joseph Biltz Award (presented by the National Conference for Community and Justice) with Hazel Bryan Massery, a segregationist classmate who appears in the famous Will Counts photograph, and during the reconciliation rally of 1997, the two former adversaries made speeches together. In 1999, President Bill Clinton presented the nation’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, to the members of the Little Rock Nine. She is currently a probation officer in Little Rock and is the mother of two sons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Massery


Hazel Massery (born Hazel Bryan) was a student at Little Rock Central High School during the 1950s. She was depicted in an iconic photograph that showed her shouting at Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, during the integration crisis. In her later life, she would attempt to make amends for this and briefly became friends with Eckford.

In 1998, Massery told The Guardian, "I am not sure at that age what I thought, but probably I overheard that my father was opposed to integration.... But I don't think I was old enough to have any convictions of my own yet." Later in life she changed her mind; she had thought of Martin Luther King as a "trouble-maker", but realized "deep down in your soul, he was right".

In 1963, having changed her mind on integration and feeling guilt for her treatment of Eckford, she took the initiative of contacting Eckford to apologize. They went their separate ways after this first meeting, and Eckford did not name the girl in the picture when asked about it by reporters.<2>

By 1998 she was working with young black mothers-to-be and minority students, in part to make amends for her past actions, as well as because she was irked by being permanently represented in the media by a single photo. However, as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of Central High's integration, Will Counts wanted to take a second photo symbolising reconciliation; Massery agreed and was reintroduced to Eckford. The two swiftly became friends, spending time together to the point that she joked she was Eckford's chauffeur.<3>

[SemperEadem]

176. he didn't snap. He allowed his true nature to have its head

what he showed when he threw that money at that man was who he was, unfiltered. He didn't expect his performace to be on a continuous loop on the cable news programs nor the subsequent fall out--and THAT is what he is sorry about. A few dollars to the Parkinson's foundation doesn't go nearly far enough to heal the cancer at the heart of his wretched soul.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

181. I will always respect someone who can admit to being wrong.

Regardless of their initial position.

[Xipe Totec]

191. +1

His apology seems genuine.

This is not the usual "I'm sorry, but..." non-apology we've come to expect from the right.

[Frank Cannon]

197. But he doesn't really admit to being wrong

He says that "some people say he had a right to do what he did". In poker, they call that a "tell".

[lunasun]

185. bullshit big time scaredy cat bullshit

as always..only sorry because he got caught & ""hasn't slept a day"" because his identity is a known along with his location

Otherwise under the shroud of anonymity he'd carry on like all his other bullshit brothers in hate

He was holding an "I'm AFP " sign now he sez he is not affiliated with the tea party or AFP...makeup your fucking mind were you lying about the sign you were holding or lying to cover your ass now bullshit
My neighbor made me go bullshit bullshit because he knows his name is out there and now he realizes there are consequences to what he did and what he chose to represent He tried to deny at first then decided he better bullshit to save his ass .........>> Don't fall for more bullshit pukes like this .They hang up the phone and go back to their old ways just a little more careful to stay behind the curtain or in the shadows next time


When approached by a reporter this week, Reichert would not acknowledge that he was involved in the confrontation on March 16 featured in a Dispatch video that drew an emotional response from viewers across the country.

The next day, he contacted The Dispatch and acknowledged his participation.

"I wanted this to go away, but it won't, and I'm paying the consequences," Reichert said.

He said he's fearful for his family after reading caustic comments about his actions on the Internet.

"I've been looking at the Web sites," he said. "People are hunting for me."
.....so now you have to bullshit =If he had any balls he would stand by his true beliefs whether people were gunning for him or not now.:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Historic NY]

186. Let him stew...he made his bed..

[Unca Jim]

198. I don't know...

that he experienced remorse at all is encouraging.

Not that he isn't still a total douche, but remorse is a good first step.

[skepticscott]

210. He experienced fear, not remorse

Fear upon finding out that he couldn't do what he did with anonymity, and that there were real-life consequences to his behavior. His wanting all of this to go away does not for a moment equate to genuine remorse. No one who watched this guy can imagine for a moment that his "apology" would have been forthcoming if his name and face hadn't been on every computer screen in the country. If he had been able to stay anonymous, he'd be reveling in the praise of his teabagger allies right now, not groveling for absolution.

[Unca Jim]

212. Oh, please...

neither one of us can see into this guy's heart. He seemed somewhat sincere to me, insincere to you. That is all.

[skepticscott]

213. It has nothing to do with "seeming"

I didn't see his apology and have no wish to. What is undeniable and completely independent of anyone's subjective judgement of his mental state is that he did not come out and apologize until AFTER a lot of pressure was put on him for behaving in such a despicable way, which automatically calls the sincerity of his "apology" into serious doubt. Add to that the completely lame justification that he "snapped". Did he stay "snapped" for all of those days preceding his "apology"? If what he said and did at that rally was such a deviation from the way he usually is, why was his apology not forthcoming as soon as he unsnapped and realized what he had done? My original point remains undisputed: We would NEVER have seen this apology if he had been able to remain anonymous.

[wordpix]

211. better not be any counterprotests when the 2nd Amendment rallies occur Apr. 19

some of those guys will be packing

[BlueIdaho]

215. Not fucking good enough, not even close.

This piece of shit owes that poor man an apology, in public. He was stupid enough to insult him in public - so that's where his apology belongs as well. He still thinks money fixes everything. Yeah - a donation to sooth my guilty conscious? Well, that's just not good enough. he owes more than money - he owes a sincere amends.