Ex-Hostage Walks Off-Stage at Ohio Debate

[CottonBear]

Thursday October 21, 2004 8:16 PM

MARIETTA, Ohio (AP) - Former Mideast hostage Terry Anderson walked out of a debate in his state Senate campaign, angry over his opponent's use of a photo of him with an official of the Hezbollah guerrilla group.

Anderson, a Democrat, faulted a brochure from Republican Sen. Joy Padgett that says he suggested shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorism that ``America's enemies have reason to hate us.''

Anderson was chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press when he was kidnapped in Lebanon by Iranian-sponsored terrorists in 1985. He was freed in 1991.

At Wednesday's debate, Anderson declined to answer the first question, instead making a statement of protest and then walking out.

<http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4567032,00.html>

[Walt Starr]

1. My wife grew up in Marietta

This sickens me.

[TryingToWarnYou]

16. My family on my Mothers side is all from there...

Marietta is such a cool town.

[jdots]

2. you won't find coverage of this on cnn or fox

a change is gonna come

[CottonBear]

7. He was a hostage for 6 years.

My god. These people have no shame, no compassion and no ability (or desire) to learn from history. Anderson is a brave man. He actually returned to Lebanon to confront his former captors. He could have continued to live a quiet, private life post-captivity, yet, he is running for public office. That Padgett woman is just awful. Stupid and awful.

[joefree1]

31. RATE THIS STORY ON YAHOO

Maybe not on CNN but it's out there and it's got legs.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041021/ap_on_el_st_lo/former_hostage_debate_2

You have given the news article Ex-Hostage Walks Off-Stage at Ohio Debate a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 4.23 with 45 vote(s).


Seating now available in the Smoking Section:
Politics, humor, death and the Devil - http://www.eDiablo.com

[Kolesar]

32. 4.5 with 66 votes eom

[molly]

54. 4.31 with 355 votes

[stellanoir]

3. don'tchya just love

how only the Brits tend to cover this kind of stuff. . .not.

[Cocoa]

4. Joy

[jayfish]

6. Those Damn Muppets...

get better every decade.

Jay

[Carolab]

8. Figures

fat white Repuke--why are they all so UGLY and hateful?

[Sabriel]

15. Um, what does her weight status have to do with anything?

Aren't we the same people who oppose the repubs referring to MM all the time as "fat"?

[WI_DEM]

26. I have noticed a difinite anti-fat sentiment among some on DU

That this woman is overweight is not the reason why she is running a negative and vile campaign. But then on a progressive site like ours it is a bit disconcerting to see all the posts which label some women as cunts or whores.

[cubsfan forever]

59. I completely agree

what does ANYONE'S appearance have to do with this? We need to keep to the issues.

Professor 2

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[prayin4rain]

55. Everybody has "issues", fat people just have to wear theirs around for

everyone to see. My sister is chubby and of course she has issues, and everyone can see that. I am not chubby and of course I have issues, and it is not brought to mind by looking at me. "Every fat person has issues" is a silly thing to say in my opinion.

[Love Bug]

58. I'm a "fatty" who takes exception to what you said

If I have any "issues" it is with judgemental people who assume they know all about me because of my weight.

Be careful--someday you might become what you don't like.

[takumi]

18. Looks like she's eaten one too many "Almond Joy" candy bars!

[UpInArms]

19. this woman was badly misnamed -

should have called her "Nasty"

[Bandit]

35. Hmmmm

[Spiffarino]

45. Sent her an email

"For shame" is how I ended it.

She's ugly on the inside and it shows through. What an evil weed. I hope Terry can pull her out of the statehouse.

[semillama]

5. Typical republican slime

although I wasn't aware Terry Anderson was running. I hope he gets elected. Padgett sounds like she's completely munted.

[henslee]

9. Thanks for link Cotton Bear. I advise all to spread this story via

media blaster.

[CottonBear]

14. You're welcome henslee.

Excellent idea. I'm a newbie and still need to learn how to use the media blaster.

[henslee]

25. pretty easy, just be sure to use BCC feature on your email program.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Isn't it amazing, what 'offends' these people? The idea that the

US could ever do something 'wrong' is offensive, but not the the actual things that we do!!

[2Design]

17. same as them beating their wives and having sex with their

children - they are against it except in their own house secretely - they hate themselves and oppose what they are doing

[Supersedeas]

60. when the truth stares them in the face, they react with rage

[davidinalameda]

11. this is a freaking state senate seat

I grew up about an hour north of Marietta in West Virginia--the whole area has gone wing-nut

[mongo]

28. "the whole area has bone wing-nut"

Not really. But the xtian zealots, and RW'ers have the biggest mouths here. You would be supprised at the support for Kerry in this district.

[Hawkeye-X]

12. I met Terry Anderson 9 years ago

He's an amazing man. I'm glad he's running for state Senate.

Hawkeye-X

[llmart]

30. My daughter and I saw him speak at her university campus......

and yes, he is an amazing man. Glad he's a Dem and hope he wins.

[triguy46]

13. They have no sense of shame

In their Orwellian world, up is down, good is bad. This is so bizarre. I cant take much more of this.

[UpInArms]

22. Welcome to DU triguy46!

:hi:

Glad to have you here :)

Orwell is definitely spinning in his grave. He just predicted it 20 years early.

[CottonBear]

23. Anderson looked at Padgett and said,

“I have one word for you Senator: Shame.”

Anderson apologized to the League of Women Voters and the audience. He then said he will not appear again with Sen. Padgett.

“This is a new low in attack politics in Ohio , which cannot be condoned by any responsible person,” Anderson said. At the end of his statement, he walked out of the debate.

<http://www.terryandersonforohiosenate.com/mailerpressrelease.php>

[Synnical]

20. Anderson Press Release

http://www.terryandersonforohiosenate.com/mailerpressrelease.php

Padgett Uses Photo of Anderson Kidnapper in Attack Mailer 10.20.04

Opponent Sinks to New Low in Attack Politics Misusing Image of Hezbollah Captor to Imply Anderson Is Soft on Terrorism

Terry Anderson, Democratic candidate for the Ohio Senate 20th District, sharply criticized his opponent Sen. Joy Padgett for the new low in personal attacks she reached this week in her campaign. In a campaign brochure mailed across the Southeast Ohio district, Padgett and the Ohio Republican Party published a photo of Anderson confronting one of his kidnappers and implied that he is soft on terrorism.

“The man in this photo and his brothers were the ones who kidnapped me, chained me, blindfolded me, and beat me,” Anderson said in a statement at a debate in Marietta , Ohio on Wednesday night. “They held me for seven years. And I had the guts to go back to Lebanon to ask him why, and whether he could admit that was wrong.

“Now, my political opponent sinks so low as to use my former captor to try to get herself elected,” Anderson continued. “Some things are more important than politics and more important than winning at any cost.”

The advertisement carries a photo of Anderson interviewing the secretary general of Hezbollah, leader of the pro-Iranian Islamic party in Lebanon, which was responsible for kidnapping him and holding him hostage for seven years. Anderson was the longest held American hostage in Beirut until he was finally released on December 4, 1991.

“I have spent 13 years trying not to hate, trying to learn to forgive , because I am a Christian, and I am required to do so,” Anderson said. “And my opponent wants you to believe that makes me soft on terrorism. She demeans my profession. She demeans my family's pain.”

“Ask my daughter how she felt not to have a father for seven years because he took one chance too many to tell the truth, to do his job,” he added.

Anderson said he has focused his campaign on the issues of jobs, education and health care.

“I have attacked my opponent's record,” he said. “I have attacked the failed policies of the inept Taft administration. I have never attacked her personally.”

Anderson looked at Padgett and said, “I have one word for you Senator: Shame.”

Anderson apologized to the League of Women Voters and the audience. He then said he will not appear again with Sen. Padgett.

“This is a new low in attack politics in Ohio , which cannot be condoned by any responsible person,” Anderson said. At the end of his statement, he walked out of the debate.

[BlueNomad]

21. That's the Rove-ian

strategy. Take a person's actual strength and piss on it, rip to shreds, tear it down and mutate it into something suspicious, suspect or perverse. It's sickening and appeals to the bottom dwellers of society who have their own vast limitations. The same was done to Max Clealnd, John McCain and Senator Kerry. The good news is some people now recognize this for what it is, evil smearing and they reject it vehemently.

[henslee]

24. I'm sending this story and the ohio flu shot story to Arnold. Maybe

he wll think twice about biting off more than he can chew.

[mtnester]

34. No not Arnold - send it to Maria - pronto

I am serious as a heart attack, send it to her, tell her this is why Arnold needs to stay home.

I am also forwarding this to the Kerry camp and as many news media (national) as I can.

Appalling

[WI_DEM]

27. It is deplorable what they are doing to Terry Anderson

and yes it is interesting that this story gets coverage in the UK but nada here.

[demokatgurrl]

29. Nothing is beneath them. I TRY not to hate repubs,

really I do but goddam it, have they NO SHAME???? Yes, they have no shame.

[Bullshot]

33. I met Anderson shortly after he was released as a hostage.

As a journalist, he sees both sides of an issue. As a hostage, he saw a perspective only a handful of people have seen and would never want to see. For that Miss Piggy clone Joy Padgett to imply that Anderson is providing comfort to the enemy is another example of the shallowness of a Republican's brain.

[matt819]

36. Despicable

These people are beneath contempt. This man was held hostage for 6 years and still has, what would you call it, integrity, strength, fortitude, guts, to confront his former captors in an effort, undoubtedly, to deal with his demons as well as understand why what happened happened. And this despicable excuse for a politician has the gall to impugn his honor and integrity. It makes me sick. :puke:

[Tight_rope]

37. Good for HIM...."YOU GO BOY"!

[coreystone]

38. My Brother-in-law was one of the journalists (AP) who questioned ...

Terry Anderson during the initial televised "press conference" upon Anderson's return.

I shake my head!!!!


:crazy:

[Gold Metal Flake]

39. Your post resulted in a donation. Thanks for posting the story.

Give a little, folks.

[CottonBear]

46. Incredible.

I had no idea. This was my first LBN post. I am pledged to contribute to the DCCC. I'm not wealthy, yet, I have decided that I will increase my donation. I have been so concerned about my local congressional race that I have not kept up with other races. This story made me so angry and sad. I remember ,being in college and as a young graduate, reading about Terry and his ordeal. His release, ALIVE, was a miracle, a ray of light.
He is a true hero.

[RainDog]

40. ...sounds like what the Republicans did to Max Cleland

they are worthless. is this what they have to do to win because they have nothing to offer but fear and trash talk?

here's her phone number:

614/466-8076

here's her email address:

[e-mail]

She owes the man an apology. She owes the state of Ohio an apology for bringing such shame to them by her low down tactics.

god, I hate Bush Republicans.

[coreystone]

41. What is the difference between patriotic journalist POW's and..

those Honorable soldiers that the "right wing" has ascerted Kerry as being "unpatriotic" in the Congressional hearings of 1971 ??

[happyslug]

42. Here is the Local Newspaper Article on the Event:

Here is the Marietta Times Article of the Event:
http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/1021202004_new03debate.asp

Here is an AP Article from the Zanesville (Ohio) Times-Recorder Article of the event:
http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/news/updates/9603.html

[Toucano]

43. The original piece

And other threads about the incident.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1126496

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=172x3105

[Chiyo-chichi]

57. Is Dan Rather running for something?

And do you vote "No" on a candidate in Ohio or do you vote for either Anderson or the Nutjob?

[RFKHumphreyObama]

44. Terry Anderson has more honesty, integrity and courage

in one second of his life than Joy Padgett could even contemplate having in an entire lifetime. I have closely followed Mr. Anderson’s story since I was eight or nine years old and he was a hostage in Lebanon and I have always been touched by his courage, bravery, valor, compassion and his strong sense of social justice and empathy for the downtrodden and the persecuted throughout the world. He is truly a great American and my profound admiration and respect for him just increases by the day.

And Ms Padgett has the nerve to accuse him of being "childish" by walking out of the debate. By resorting to such perverted and despicable tactics to smear a wonderful, honest and generous person, Ms Padgett is revealing a lot about who she is and why she doesn't deserve to continue in her present position.

[NashVegas]

63. Fear Loves This Place

It takes an amazing amount of courage to confront someone open-handedly in these times. In Anderson's case, the courage to face just his own nerves in that situation must have been immeasurable. People, especially competitive people, who would rather sweep their shit under the rug are terrified of people like Anderson. You size yourself against them and just can't measure up, can you?

[yardwork]

47. I grew up in eastern Ohio and I predict that this will backfire

Ohioans value independence and truthfulness. They don't like people telling them what to do and they hate liars.

I doubt that Ms. Padgett was raised to act this way. She learned this behavior from Karl Rove and I predict that she will find out that it doesn't work in Ohio.

[CottonBear]

48. Please note that Padgett was never elected to office.

She was appointed to fill a vacant seat. This puts her in an even more shameful position.

"Padgett, a former teacher, House member and director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia, was appointed to the seat earlier this year when the incumbent resigned to take a job with the governor. "

[DeepModem Mom]

49. kick

[GRLMGC]

51. She comes off looking like a jerk

I hope this backfires. Its incredibly ugly and if these kind of tactics work on people, then I have very little faith in them.

[Skinner]

52. I'm disgusted.

Some of these people have absolutely no shame.

[henslee]

53. here is Padget flyer, story snip and 3 links for easy emailing

Total B.S. this this is being ignored by mainstream.


Here is: an excerpt from the Guardian article, a link to it, a link to 2 more local articles, and a link to the flyer itself.

MARIETTA, Ohio (AP) - Former Mideast hostage Terry Anderson walked out of a debate in his state Senate campaign, angry over his opponent's use of a photo of him with an official of the Hezbollah guerrilla group. Anderson, a Democrat, faulted a brochure from Republican Sen. Joy Padgett that says he suggested shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorism that ``America's enemies have reason to hate us.''

Anderson was chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press when he was kidnapped in Lebanon by Iranian-sponsored terrorists in 1985. He was freed in 1991. At Wednesday's debate, Anderson declined to answer the first question, instead making a statement of protest and then walking out.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4567032,00.html

http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/1021202004_new03debate.asp

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/news/updates/9603.html

[Laelth]

56. After what they did to Max Cleland down here in Georgia ...

absolutely nothing the right wing does surprises me any more. The moral high ground is getting us nowhere. We will have to fight fire with fire ...

... and that saddens me.

-Laelth

[Kimber Scott]

61. "America's enemies have reason to hate us."

No shit?

Seriously, though, is this statement really that hard to grasp? Your enemies are usually people who don't like you. When somebody doesn't like you, they usually have a reason. The way an enemy chooses to act upon that dislike is the point that is debatable, not the FACT they have reasons.

Why can't people stand back and take a look at their reasons? Ponder them. Debate them. Justify, or deny, them and then work at finding a solution that will reduce the enemy-hood in the world?

Instead, we get, "They hate us. Let's kill them."

I will never be an apologist for a terrorist, but we need to focus a lot more energy on future terrorists, if we are ever to win the "war on terror" and that means living up to the standards "justice for all." Hypocracy in U.S. foreign policy needs to be obliterated.

[CBHagman]

62. Part of what's most disturbing re: current GOP mind-set.

They seem to want to boil everything down to airstrikes, troop deployments and speeches (before carefully screened audiences, of course) about how "they" hate us "for our freedoms" and of course we'd all better vote Republican or get killed.

Doesn't anyone see the history and/or the bigger picture? Why do we have to rely on one anonymous member of the CIA (the author of "Imperial Hubris") to point out that U.S. policies draw hostility in the Middle East?

Padgett sounds like another in the parade of mindless, opportunistic, short-sighted types who seem to have a lock on power in the GOP. The sooner we get beyond this type of stupidity and opportunism, the better.

[Javaman]

64. This is the same type of bullshit

that the repukes used against Max Cleland.
Their motus operendi is: if you can't get them with facts, dazzle them with bullshit.
They are the lowest form of scum on the earth.