AL FRANKEN KNOCKS DOWN DEAN HECKLER

New York Post Online ^ | January 27, 2004 | VINCENT MORRIS

[Matthew James]

January 27, 2004 -- EXETER, N.H. - Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean. The tussle left Franken's trademark thick-rim glasses broken, but he said he was not injured.

[axxmann]

Wish he would have tried that with me.

[neverdem]

I haven't read all the comments yet, but IIRC this constitutes assault and battery once you make contact. Making a credible threat like "I'm gonna beat your @ss" is simple assault. I hope AL doesn't have any liabilty insurance for this sort of thing.

[Howie66]

What do you want to bet that the "heckler" was a plant?

Dang, I wish that ol' lard ass would be in an area that I was in. I'd love to have that moron try to make a "wrestling" move on me.

[Ex-Dem]

You're only entitled to free speech if you're a liberal, of course. Or if you're an anti-government protestor (unless you happen to be protesting against a Democrat, that's a no-no).

[grb]

Wouldn't you love to beat the snot out of this guy? I would!

[pointsal]

Why is that assault?
Where is the legal defense fund for the guy Franken assaulted? Where are the cops on this one?

[BushWonGore'sDone]

What is the condition of the heckler? Any head injuries, etc! ???

[Ex-Dem]

Do NOT taunt 'Happy Fun Ball'.

What's the story behind that? I've seen oblique references to it in several places, never knew what it meant though.

[blackdog]

One could make quite a living by shadowing Franken and shouting at liberal icons. The effort could employ an army of ambulance chasers and empty his bank account in a month.

If his presence is related to his radio gig, you can sue the radio station too!

[Missouri]

"I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move," Franken said.

Do you think Franken is ready for the WWF?

[BenLurkin]

Lawsuit city, Bay-Bee!

[xm177e2]

Freedom of speech does NOT include the right to shout other people down.

[blackdog]

So Franken admits he's been trained for violence! I think a restraining order is applicable here. Franken will be the only one doing radio interviews from no closer than 500 feet from any crowd or gathering, or from anyone with a voice.

[hershey]

Hopefully, Franken will get sued big time.

[Pablo64]

"Franken may be a fool, but he's no dummy."

Mmmmm....no. I think he qualifies for both.

[humboldtconservative]

"I'm neutral in this race but I'm for freedom of speech, which means people should be able to assemble and speak without being shouted down."

What?!?!? Is he really that ignorant? He's for one's free speech but against another's? What a dope!

[RunningJoke]

I disagree. I think the possibly of getting a punch in the nose, might deter an obnoxious lout from opening their mouth in the first place. I remember as a wee child, neighbors being more civil to each other and punches thrown at other times.

"Almost without exception, social scientists are telling us that Americans are more violent than in the past. They cite statistics. Yet anyone who observe the goings on in the cities with his own eyes knows that it is not so. The American man in the street is now infinitely less pugnacious, less ready to take offense and hit back, than in the past. We used to fight in the streets, in saloons and on the job. You had to watch what you said lest you have your teeth knocked in. But just now the majority of Americans are afraid to open their mouths. They will not get into a fight no matter what you call them or do to them. They are afraid to get angry."

[luvbach1]

Read all the posts. Doesn't anyone know whether Al was arrested? I assume he wasn't since it wasn't mentioned.

[lelio]

So Franken admits he's been trained for violence!

I think that will be the first, and only, time that sentence is ever in print.

[BenLurkin]

Maybe it didn't really happen . . . just PR flack?