Congressman Etheridge and Accountability

I’ve been retweeting this all morning but have finally gotten disgusted enough to sit down and have my say about it.  Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC2) was captured on video by two students who were trying to ask him his feelings concerning President Obama‘s agenda:

The Congressman took it upon himself to reply in a brusque and ungentlemanly manner more befitting of a bar room brawl reaction to someone making an off-color comment about their sister. Surprisingly enough, he also seems to have gotten away with an assault that would have any one else up on criminal charges.

Of course a press release was issued explaining it and making it all better:

”I have seen the video posted on several blogs,” says Etheridge. “I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction, and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”

That may be a good enough excuse for public littering but it doesn’t quite cover it for an action of this kind from a public representative elected to a national office. Since he has done such a great job in the past I guess that excuses him.

I’m from North Carolina. I am ashamed to believe that a representative from my state can act in this manner, much less brush it off so casually. I want to ask all North Carolinians to join together, express their feelings about this behavior and do everything possible to insure Etheridge is not re-elected this fall to an office he does not deserve.

And while we’re at it, maybe we should ask other representatives on the street what their opinion is on the Obama agenda? Come this fall, it would be nice to know where they stand also. And maybe after this incident we can get a straight-forward answer.  Please bring your video recorder as well as a friend with a second one, you just never know when it might come in handy.