Novak assault makes Wednesday's WP, with AmericanStranger

[Newsjock]

From Wednesday's 'Reliable Source' column in the Post, no link yet

Taunt! Push! Shove! Quote! Counterquote!

Bob Novak, the pugnacious conservative pundit, may have to answer an assault charge in Manchester, N.H., stemming from an altercation with an activist on primary night last month. The dust-up ensued after Brad Carr, 54, who calls himself ``an independent citizen'' who's against the Bush administration, taunted Novak, 72, a host of CNN's ``Crossfire,'' which was broadcasting live from a restaurant.

``I called him a traitor because of his involvement in the outing of Valerie Plame, which I think is unconscionable,'' Carr told us Tuesday, recounting the Jan. 27 incident, which he reported to police. ``He gave me a dirty look and ignored me, so I followed him outside to a CNN bus (where) I called him a traitor, probably for the fifth or sixth time. ... He turned around and grabbed me by the arm. ... gave me a little shove, cocked his arm back as though he was going to hit me, and then someone from behind dragged him away to the bus.''

Carr, a stocky fellow, slipped on the ice into the arms of self-described progressive activist Mike Stinson, who told us, ``I have a back problem — I don't need to be catching big men.'' Details were posted on the Web site takebackthemedia.com, with these headlines next to Novak's scowling mug: ``Why is This Man So Angry? Bob Novak assaults man in New Hampshire!! Contact CNN and tell them you don't like it!''

[Cleita]

1. Good, it's going mainstream.

Did you have something to do with it?

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Watching Novakula this week, I've wondered what had become...

...of the incident in NH. One thing I'd like to know (from anyone who was close enough to him during the incident): did he reek of booze? He sure does act snockered on XFire...

[NJCher]

3. loved reading this

Can't wait for that link; I'll be salivating when I read it.

Anyone know if there are any pics of this altercation?

Maybe there is a little justice in this world.


Cher

[IkeWarnedUs]

4. more coverage

This snippet is in the 2/2/04 issue of GOPUSA, "Bringing the Conservative Message to America":

New Hampshire 2004: A Republican in a Frozen Land
By Mike Bayham GOPUSA February 2, 2004

<snip>
Following Carville out of the eatery were Bob Novak and Paul Begala. A disgruntled soul decided to vent his angst towards the conservative television commentator, gave him a mild shoe and yelled "traitor!" An enraged Novak turned around and made for his antagonist and began swinging in his direction, literally right in front of the English girl and me. Paul Begala jumped in to separate the combatants and the scuffle ended after a few moments.

more: http://gopusa.com/mikebayham/2004/mb_0202.shtml


Btw, that isn't my typo - the article says the disgruntled soul gave him a mild "shoe". My guess, Bayham wanted to make it sound like Novak was physically attacked, but didn't quite want to lie and say he was shoved.

Hey Symbolman - does Brad need another wittness?

[americanstranger]

5. Slight correction -

Stinson = Symbolman
Waller = Stranger

By the time this happened, I was back in NY looking at 2 feet of snow and doing the news for IEAmerica (BTW - before this story, IEA was the only US news outlet besides TBTM to have given the Novak incident any play at al).

Although I did make the 'Why is this man so angry?' graphic. :)

-as