Congressman caught on camera in physical confrontation

Raleigh, N.C. — A video showing North Carolina Congressman Bob Etheridge, D-Lillington, in a physical confrontation with a young man on a Washington sidewalk has sparked outrage among some citizens who are seeking more details about the encounter.

E-mails streamed in to the WRAL newsroom Monday morning after the video was posted on YouTube and BigGovernment.com with the headline: "Congressman Assaults Student on Washington Sidewalk" and "Congressman Attacks Student."

"My God, this man is my representative! A young man is trying to speak with Etheridge on a public sidewalk! PLEASE look at this video!" wrote viewer Christine Chamberlain.

The edited video shows Etheridge walking down a street toward two young men with cameras. One man says: "Hi Congressman. How are you? Do you fully support the Obama agenda?"

Etheridge then asks "Who are you?" multiple times as he pushes the camera away and grabs the young man's wrist.

"Tell me who you are," Etheridge continues as the other man with a camera replies, "We're just here for a project, sir."

The young men tell the congressman they are students, but decline to identity themselves further. One of the men then asks Etheridge: "Would you please let go of my hand?"

Etheridge eventually lets go of his wrist and grabs the man around the neck and then the shoulder as the other cameraman yells "Sir! Sir! Sir! Please!" Etheridge eventually walks away.

WRAL News has tried to get a comment from Etheridge and his campaign, but they have not responded.

For more on this story, stay with WRAL.com and watch WRAL's 6 p.m. News.

Honestly though , both sides really have the power when you compare to us common folk.

I think they forget that they are working for us.

I'd of decked him right in the honker if he'd of grabbed my wrist like that and I asked him to let go.

And then you'd be in jail for 30 years for assault and battery on a public figure. The video would be confiscated and no one would know the truth because our society is so corrupt that not even Batman could save us. We'd look up towards the masked heros and shout "Save us," and they'd whisper back, "No."


Oops, I farted.