“Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?,”

[trumad]

<snip>
Moreover, one of the widely circulated videos of the incident was filmed with his own camera. As he pushed his way toward the microphone to put his questions to Senator Kerry, he handed his camera to Clarissa Jessup, a student he didn’t know, and asked her to record him.

Then, just as his diatribe was heating up, he turned to Ms. Jessup and said, “Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?,” according to the police report.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/taking-sides-in-a-tasing/?hp

[Squatch]

1. That was very prudent

When there's the possibility of interaction with the police, having it on film is a good idea. Why do you think cops have dashboard cams now?

[BOSSHOG]

2. His actions appear very rovian, slimy to the hilt

[babylonsister]

3. That doesn't matter one bit to many on DU; can't let the truth interfere. nt

[fishnfla]

4. ready for his money shot

daddy's lawyer will frame it in his office

[onehandle]

5. The "prankster and self-promoter" was putting on a show.

What a tool.

[JDPriestly]

15. That does not make a difference.

He was exercising his right to free speech. He should have followed the rules, and the university had the right to impose rules. But, the police officers initiated contact with him out of fear because he seemed excited and was not complying with minor rules such as his place in line and talking too long. Had they let the situation progress, the crowd would have booed him into compliance with the rules. There would not have been mob violence, just group accord that would have made him become quiet. I was in a similar situation just recently at a political event. The police over-reacted. They initiated the physical conduct and violence, and it was inappropriate. It takes very good judgment and confidence and good organization in a police force to handle a situation like that. These officers panicked, and made a mistake. The kid was offensive, but not that offensive. Besides being offensive is protected by the First Amendment. There was lots of "offensive" in your face conduct at Saturday's D.C. rally, but the people were not tasered or even arrested for it. They were only arrested when they crossed a very prominently placed police line. There was no police line in Florida. The young man was talking. He disobeyed minor rules and only slightly. He did not do the equivalent of crossing a police line. The police approached him. He did not approach them. There was no indication he was going to attack anyone. He just spoke loudly.

[pacalo]

6. He is a major first-class jerk.

I read on DU last night about how he bragged about heckling Ken Griffey, Jr., that heckling is a hobby of his.

[jgraz]

9. Lucky the police tortured him, then

How DARE he ask the Senator an uncomfortable question!

[pacalo]

16. Forget about wasting your sympathy on this self-proclaimed professional heckler.

"Did you film that?" after he rushed from the back of the room, ahead of everyone in a long line, to push himself in front of the microphone.

Read this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1837251

[jgraz]

20. It has little to do with sympathy and a lot to do with democracy

So in your world, we can taser the people we don't like? I must have missed that clause in the 1st Amendment.

[jgraz]

7. You can always just watch the video yourself

I've watched several of the videos that were made and did not see him say that. And even if he did, SO WHAT? Which part of him asking a friend to videotape him earned him a tasering while a U.S. Senator stood around with his thumb up his ass, making jokes?

[EST]

13. I'm starting to believe it ain't gonna penetrate.

As you and I agree, it doesn't matter one damn bit what he did or said or made arrangements for.
What matters is not anything he said or did, or might say or do; they had him totally in control and the taser shots served the same purpose as an angry cop who wants to punish the alleged offender. It was just the same as a "fuck you, I'll teach you not to run" foot into breaking ribs or some other beating that pissed off cops sometimes like to administer. They took into their own hands a part of the rule of law that they have no business with and decided to torture him.

In this case, nothing else matters.

[Warpy]

8. Phil Parlock

'Nuff said.

[Virginia Dare]

10. Hmmm, I smell a law suit....n/t

[fishnfla]

12. smells like a Birmingham booty call eom

[OzarkDem]

11. Anyone engaging in protest today

should make certain there is someone taping the events. Its a dangerous world out there for peaceful protest. The news media is no longer objective and can't be counted on to report abuse.

Escalation in violence against protesters by police and counter protesters makes taping and photographing events an absolute necessity. Its a sad state of affairs, but accurate.

[NoPasaran]

14. He wasn't engaging in protest

He was being a fucking jerk. His actions demean every real political dissenter. He's not a hero, he's a scumbag.

[EST]

19. One man's jerk is another man's political activist.

Political activism has no effect at all and is worse than useless unless it makes people uncomfortable. It doesn't do any damn thing at all until somebody is irritated and pissed off.

The entrenched powers try to piss off, marginalize, irritate, and harass the activists until they are so disheartened and ineffective that they quit. Activists, of whatever stripe, are doing the same thing in reverse. Anything else is nothing but a tea party.

I really wish you'd re-think your position.

[NoPasaran]

22. This jerk is as much an "activist"

As the "Brooks Brothers Riot" gang that shut down the Florida recount in 2000 were "concerned citizens".

[jgraz]

21. And who decides who's a jerk and who's a protester?

Right now, it's George Bush. Are you OK with that?

[L. Coyote]

17. Just maybe they will let him watch videos in jail. Time to move.on DU!

[lateo]

18. So.

What is your point. He wanted to document the event. You wouldn't?

[trumad]

23. Yeah--- and pigs fly