Head-Stomping Rand Paul Supporter Also a Campaign Donor

[Joanne98]

Things got a little rough ahead of a debate in Kentucky last night.

Videos show Tim Profitt, a supporter of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul, stomping on the head of MoveOn.org activist Lauren Valle, after several other Paul supporters physically restrained Valle and threw her to the curb. According to the Fox affiliate in Lexington, police plan to charge Profitt (pictured right, in dark shirt) with fourth degree assault, a misdemeanor. Valle, meanwhile, suffered a concussion and multiple sprains, according to The Plum Line.

Profitt was not just any supporter. He was the Paul campaign's Bourbon County coordinator. And he is also a campaign donor, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of federal contribution records.

Profitt contributed $1,900 to Paul's campaign last year, the Center's research indicates. His wife, Carolyn Profitt, is listed as contributing $500 a few days earlier.

In August 2009, Carolyn Profitt contributed an additional $100, according to the Center's review of Paul's campaign finance documents.

On these forms, Tim Profitt's employer and occupation are listed as "not employed/retired." Carolyn Profitt's occupation is listed as "cafeteria manager" for the Bourbon County High School.

Profitt today apologized for the incident, telling the Associated Press: "I'm sorry that it came to that, and I apologize if it appeared overly forceful, but I was concerned about Rand's safety."

In the aftermath of the incident, Paul and his Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, both condemned the violence.

"I was shocked to see video footage of a Rand Paul supporter stomping the head of a woman outside the debate last night." Conway said in a statement. "We can disagree on issues, and I don't know what preceded the incident, but physical violence by a man against a woman must never be tolerated. It is my hope that steps have been taken to ensure this kind of thuggish behavior never happens again in this campaign."

The Paul campaign also said it was dissociating itself from Profitt, banning him from campaign events. It's unclear whether that includes plans to return Profitt's campaign contributions.

"The Paul for Senate campaign is extremely disappointed in, and condemns the actions of a supporter last night outside the KET debate," the Paul campaign said earlier today. "Whatever the perceived provocation, any level of aggression or violence is deplorable, and will not be tolerated by our campaign. The Paul campaign has disassociated itself from the volunteer who took part in this incident, and once again urges all activists -- on both sides -- to remember that their political passions should never manifest themselves in physical altercations of any kind."


Representatives of the Conway and Paul campaigns could not be reached immediately by OpenSecrets Blog for comment about Profitt's donation.

For her part, Valle has not made any known campaign contributions this cycle.

Federal law requires all contributions exceeding $200 to be disclosed by politicians.


http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/10/head-stomping-rand-paul-supporter-a.html

[somone]

1. Somebody should identify his employer/source of income

for a civil lawsuit, of course.

[Joanne98]

3. His wife works at Bourbon County High School

[sufrommich]

6. A retiree and a school cafeteria worker voting for a

republican, they seem to be stomping on thier own faces too.

[Mimosa]

2. I watched news on this

That guy should be arrested and charged. If he'd stomped on her a few inches over she could have been paralysed!

[peacebird]

4. how is this a misdemeaner? It's violent assault that left her with a concussion.

[Tesha]

5. He's a Republican (+/-).

[oasis]

7. From this day foward, "Ruined Paul".

:puke: