I will only supply a video clip from local news KTUU (I suggest visiting Palingates for the complete story):
I would just like to say that what makes this interesting is that Joe Miller's security team tried to enforce a private-party arrest but the real police would not honor it. It is funny that a self-proclaimed Constitutionalist candidate like Joe Miller would try to arrest journalists from asking questions - whatever happened to that freedom of the press those guys love so much?
From the Alaskan Dispatch - home of the reporter - here is what all the eyewitness accounts determine what really happened - not Miller's delusion:
- Two or three bodyguards told Hopfinger to stop asking questions and to leave the building.
- Hopfinger continued to ask questions while apparently videotaping the candidate.
- Bodyguards told him that if he persisted they would arrest him for trespassing, but refused to identify themselves to Hopfinger.
- Hopfinger asked why he was trespassing, as the event was at a public school. Seconds later, he was then put in arm-bar and later handcuffed and sequestered at one end of a hallway for at least 30 minutes. He was told, "You're under arrest."
- Anchorage Police arrived on the scene shortly after.
I find this story interesting because of the rise of the right-wing "citizen journalist," like idiot investigative reporter wannabe James O'Keefe, and the conservative approval of what amounts to guerrilla "journalism" and blatant propagandizing - again, read Palingates because they detail the mindset of Palin's supporters and their opinion of the events that took place.
I am also reminded of the numerous claims coming from the right alleging leftist thuggery and biased media. Miller's campaign is a perfect example of the contrary - it appears most of the violence has its roots with the intolerant right-wing fringe that Miller is a part of...
You need to go to biggovernment again. They have a post about a Democrat candidate who refused to answer questions posed by a neo-con ambush journalist. Their hypocrisy is simply amazing.
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