What did the thug actually say that was so damaging?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/17/rob-ford-has-rare-cancer.html
Interesting you use the word "damaging"
Since you don't know what he did, based on the reaction and news reporting, you would think he actually did "damage" where in fact he did an idiotic thing that basically hurt no one, maybe it "offended" someone, in today PC fueled world, that's just as bad as committing an actual crime...