[aj04]

from the Columbus Post Dispatch:
http://tinyurl.com/y8ha8vg

[Jomar]

the link takes me to the subscription page and not the story ??

https://ezpay.dispatch.com/live/dsi/..._campaign=7805

Ah I found it here-
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...w.html?sid=101

[LindaH]

Thanks for posting this article. The problem is not in attending political rallies, as Mr. Lechter seems to think. But it is scary how easily people can be taken over by a mob mentality, especially when its message is hateful, and say and do things they would never have expected. The growing violence in the health care debate is ominous...

[caldeerster]

What he's really sorry about is he got caught on videotape throwing dollar bills at a disabled person.

Nevertheless, this had a good PR outcome for us which, in the long run, is what's important.

Originally Posted by aj04

from the Columbus Post Dispatch:
http://tinyurl.com/y8ha8vg

[paula_w]

Cal,
But....
do you think it's good PR to know that both sides are issuing threats? I give the guy credit for apologizing and hope he's learned his lesson. The threats have to stop from all or there is no difference in defining the two.

It's getting out of control because the hate is perpetuated, causing momentum and the scenerio is just a matter of choosing your station to listen to. Our country was founded by revolutionaries. How sad it would be to see it fall in civil violence.

paula

[paula_w]

*edit*


looked a little silly with the question marks.

[stevem53]

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...w.html?sid=101

Health-reform rally heckler says he's sorry and scared

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:19 PM

By Catherine Candisky
Columbus Dispatch

Chris Reichert has apologized for throwing dollars bills at a man with Parkinson's Disease during a health care rally last week.




The man who berated and tossed dollar bills at a man with Parkinson's disease during a health care protest 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 of Victorian Village, in a Dispatch interview.

In his first comments on an incident that went viral across the Internet and was repeatedly played on cable television news shows, Reichert said he is sorry about his confrontation with Robert A. Letcher, 60, of the North Side. Letcher, a former nuclear engineer who suffers from Parkinson's, was verbally attacked as he sat before anti-health care demonstrators in front of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy's district office last week.


*edit*
(©2010, The Columbus Dispatch, Reproduction prohibited)

[caldeerster]

Paula:

I don't see where our compatriot with PD was issuing threats. He was peacefully demonstrating - not threatening anyone as far as I can tell. And as far as the larger picture goes, it was the folks on the "no" side of the equation that were demonstrating in the Capitol and calling congressional civil rights heroes the "N' word and calling Barney Frank the "f" word and behaving like ugly bigoted mobsters. Unless I missed it, I didn't see that type of behaviour coming from those who supported HCR.

When I say it was good PR for us, I mean 99% of the media coverage sympathized with the man with PD - not with the people screaming at him.

Personally, I think we need to start doing things like demonstrating in front of the FDA in DC. But that's another topic.

Originally Posted by paula_w

Cal,
But....
do you think it's good PR to know that both sides are issuing threats? I give the guy credit for apologizing and hope he's learned his lesson. The threats have to stop from all or there is no difference in defining the two.

It's getting out of control because the hate is perpetuated, causing momentum and the scenerio is just a matter of choosing your station to listen to. Our country was founded by revolutionaries. How sad it would be to see it fall in civil violence.

paula

[stevem53]

Anyway..Reichert said Bob had every right to do what he did, and also said what he did was shameful..Said he haven't slept since that day.

He made a donation to a local Parkinson's disease group and that starts the healing process

[paula_w]

Cal, I see we were referring to different incidents. I was talking about threats from whoever was threatening him in Steve's article. We aren't at odds with each other about that I don't think.

adding - "that" being that bob didn't threaten."

thanks steve for the article for explanation
paula