Today, union thugs descended on the FreedomWorks office. It was the middle of the day, and there was some excitement outside as all the buses pulled up and people started to fill the courtyard. We decided to go out and show our support for freedom. Intern Steve was quickly suited up.
We wandered around talking to people, and saw the buses lined up on the street. NEA, AFT, SEIU, and CWA signs dominated – a veritable “who’s who” of union thuggery, to be sure. They all had on matching tee shirts and printed signs, as is to be expected.
I was taking pictures and video with my phone, and I heard my coworker getting into a heated exchange with one of the protesters. I turned on my iPhone camera and headed over to film it. They were going back and forth, the protester called my colleague a “little sh*t” just as I walked up, which is where the video starts. Then he noticed I was filming. Here’s what happened:
Basically, it’s ridiculous. I’m a 5’1 female in a dress, and he was standing up on a garden wall above me in the courtyard. He hardly felt threatened. I was stunned, because generally protesters are there to, you know, get their message out. They don’t normally shy away from the camera.
I’m very much okay, and very appreciative of the support from my fellow bloggers and activists today. I am, however, shaken up by the level of sheer hatred I experienced today. The look of fury on his face in the close up is appalling. I had not exchanged a word with him. He didn’t know who I was. He didn’t even know my name, what I do. He had probably surmised that I was with FreedomWorks and that was enough.
This just can’t be tolerated anymore. It’s one thing to be called a violent teabagger. It’s another to be called a violent teabagger while you’re being assaulted. They’ve been comparing themselves to the Egyptians ousting Mubarak. Looks like they’re not too far off, given that they share the tendency to assault women with cameras.
In addition, it’s disgusting to me that the first response I received from the Left was rationalization. “You were too close, respect personal space” and “well he obviously didn’t want to be filmed!” – essentially, it’s the “her skirt was too short” defense. No one deserves to be hit. The concern from a bystander was that “You’ll get on the news, stop it!” Unfortunately for him, he did not know who he was dealing with. I will ensure that this happens.
I was not asking for this. There was no confrontation between the thug and myself prior to this. He had not asked me to put the camera away. I was not as close as the video implies (it was cropped from a vertical iPhone video so it would fit on youtube). I was simply filming a protest, as I have done for the past two years. Amazingly enough, none of those crazy right wing extremists ever hit me.
At this point, I’m grateful we moved to a higher security building last month. For a bunch of violent racists, the Left sure seems to be comfortable threatening and attacking us.
We must really suck as bullies.
I have put up with death threats from these types for years but never been physically assaulted. The day that happens I call a lawyer. The time of letting these thugs off with a simple tongue lashing is over. Only way to TRULY expose their thuggery is to prosecute. This was assault plain and simple and the sheer hatred on his face for a woman he did not know at all is clear. Karma is a female dog and this “gentleman” is not gonna get a good parking space for decades.
That was kinda scary, for me! I read and follow your work. You are a good person and we share many of the same beliefs. My computer is being fixed, has been down for the last day. I see on Drudge that a female conservative was assaulted. I go to Gateway pundit, to my surprise there is the beautiful and talented Ms. Hale as the victim. I couldn’t play the video fast enough. I am glad you are ok, but please don’t put yourself in this position again. We are civil on the right but when they start messing with the women it can take a different turn, I don’t tolerate that in the least bit. I will continue to pray for you. God bless!
You need to press charges against that scumbag.
Glad to hear that you are physically okay.
There are lots of ironies here. One of the biggest is that while the unions say that ending collective bargaining is an attack on the middle class, actually the growth of the tax burden due to the growth of public sector expenditures will bring about an end to the middle class.
None of these union thugs are middle class; all have income and benefit packages that put them will above the middle class economically, and they will use force if necessary to keep it that way, even if it bankrupts the system that they feed off of.
Three terms:
REAP
Simple Assault
Aggravated Assault
Please tell me you called the police, showed them the tape, and had this thug arrested. If not you need to go and press charges.
Tabitha: get a nice pair of spiked boots, with voice-activated blade switches in the toe.
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I’m reminded of a man named Stephen who was killed many years ago for standing up and telling the truth. Those who do evil HATE hearing the truth even if its something as simply as the fact that their greed is hurting those that supply their income. Do not be afraid of that man; respectfully and legally clean his clock. Ms Hale, you are a valliant warrior, keep up the Good work!
Yet Another Vote for “Press charges”.
Tabitha….you should know something. By law…if that CWA member was there at that gathering at the behest of his union…then he, technically, becomes an “agent” of that union…and thus, his actions are same as if the union had done that to you themselves. You can not only have him arrested, you have standing to sue the union….and will win. You must consider doing this. If you don’t want or need the money, donate it. But the way to stop these people from doing this sort of thing is to bring it to their wallets. Make them think twice…three times…about even sending out these people to such gatherings.
Tabitha Rocks!
What a giant walking rectum this dude was.
When the left accuses us of all those things. Its cause they project themselves onto us.
Oh, BOO HOO
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Well, I came over after seeing it on the Fox website, so it looks like he did make the news. MSNBC seems to have missed it.
Not long ago someone called for the rhetoric to be toned down. Its a pity that the guy who talked about unions being ‘threatened’ and the one who called for getting bloody, didn’t take any notice.
I am glad you are OK.
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I stand in SOLIDARITY with Wisconsin’s workers!
(Gov. Walker, David Koch on line 1…)
Another example of Leftist Hatred! You keep up the great work Tabitha!!
Steve
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
I am so sorry to hear that something like this happened. I do hope that you press charges on the man. That being said, I do not believe that this mans politics had anything to do with his behavior.
I will continue to pray for healing for you, and that one day you may forgive the man who assaulted you. I will also continue to pray for peace and civility here in our great nation.
God Bless and peace be with you.
Unions have a long history of violence. Look at how those who have tried to, or have crossed, a union picket line is treated. They are at best called scabs and at worst assaulted. When a union goes on strike the right to disagree with the union ceases to exist. That is not freedom.
I am going to be honest here. Tabitha, you seem very bright and full of promise. My following point is not directed at you but to the men you were with.
For anyone to stand by and allow this is borderline cowardice. The guys that were standing around that didn’t take ANY action to either call the police or restrain the individual is rewarding an act of aggression and actually enabling bullies. This is basic psychology, fear of pain. You have the right to do what you do. But as these people get more aggressive I really hope there is a more just response – call the police and get it documented. Otherwise they will continue to bully others. My 2 cents.
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Tabitha, I am very glad to know of such a person as yourself, courageous, intelligent, capitalist and a Christian. This thuggery is something that will need to be countered in some ways that are very effective. However, a big club may be effective in one respect, I don’t think that’s going to work out in the long run, no matter how much it might feel good at the time.
No, us on the Right are going to have to come up with much more subtle ways that make it very, very apparent that the Left is out of control, lies incessantly, and is NOT the side that the Middle of America should follow, or even listen to.
Time to put together some action plans and imlement them…
Thug, lay charges. I’ll bet he would not do that to a man of my stature.
Mark M. despite what you may read… in WI public workers in unions are not rich. If you think my salary as a state of WI employee of $34k a year before taxes and health care costs makes me rich… I need to move to where you live.
Tabitha… I’m sorry for what happened to you, it is never right by any means for an act like to that occur. I have to say things in Madison have been very peaceful in the true spirit of our government.
As a former Teamster ,That is about what you can expect from the leadership. File charges for battery. I will probably be plea bargained down to assault but that may not make an impression on him as many of these people have a long record ofviolent behavior.
Add “target” to your above list…lol
Thank You for Posting the Vid and showing the World the Real Face of the Left. The Left can be Violent, Immature, and Mob-like next time take someone with you with Some Big muscles that can defend you if you are walking into danger ,( around any Left-wing Emotional Event )with a camera. The Left get emotional and act before thinking and will strike out when they notice someone filming a illegal act like the verbal harassment you friend was recieving. I would not even underestimate thier Get rid of the body mentality. You should recieve Combat Pay!.
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what kind of men do we have in this country who will assault a woman and no man came to help you?i am licensed to carry and he would have been in big trouble had he assaulted you in my presence.you should press charges and sue the bastards.
While acts of aggression and violence are never acceptable and shouldn’t be tolerated towards innocent people, what bothers me as well is that people on either side make a spectacle about it.
People on The Right chant “this is the true face of The Left and they must be destroyed” or “these people hate America and want to spread Communism” etc etc.. It’s just they same as the people on The Left saying nasty rhetoric about the Tea Party.
This is a very small fraction of the population on either side, and while I understand the need to vent about encounters with these people, I think the nasty language and suggestions of violence back are ignorant at best (not necessarily from you but some of these comments).
I may disagree with you on almost everything politically but your writing is great and it’s nice to read intelligent thoughts from a Conservative woman like yourself.
Having read through these comments I find the one who suggests that he be there as a representative of the union and therefore the problem becomes the union’s issue valid. You should press charges against whatever union he was a member of. And another point was made that no men in the crowd came to your defense. That is sad and unfortunate. He should have been belted good. I would have loved to see his teeth fly.
There is no place for this in the public square. This is an absolute outrage. I don’t know what the laws on assault are at public events on private citizens, but where I come from that is assault. And if it were in our state, this punk would be sitting in a jail cell.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Tabitha. Keep up the great work and don’t let your fears ever stop you from doing the courageous work you are doing!
I wish I had been there. Someone should have had your back.
Thanks to the Rush Limbaugh wannabees this sort of talk is sometimes taken at face value.
You have come too far to accede to the demands of the lunatic fringe!
I want to comment to any of those that belong to a Union and feel that the union is an insurance of some sort. I was married to upper management, and all they do is collect, collect, They Enjoy all the money that you collectively give them. I suggest give yourself a raise and quit the Union!
What a coward you are
We’re glad you’re okay. Unlike The Liberal Traveler says, this sort of unacceptable behavior needs to have the light shine upon it – brightly. It needs to be stopped. There is a BIG difference between rhetoric, even ridiculous vitriol, and actual physical assault. Those who engage in this type of behavior need to be exposed, charged and shamed into proper civil discourse.
I’m sure it needn’t be said, but don’t let it discourage your efforts and work.
RIGHT on, Tabitha! And thank you so, so much for your work.
J