To the people who have accepted Chris Reichter's apology:

[apples and oranges]

(Chris Reichter is the right wing tool who threw money at Mr. Letcher)

Do you think anyone, including yourself, is capable of "snapping" and treating a fellow human being like a dog?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Anybody's capable of snapping.

But Reichter's lying through his teeth.

[uppityperson]

2. Yes. It happens. eom

[MindandSoul]

3. I know I couldn't. But. . .I guess it is possible!

[scorpiogirl]

4. Caught on video being an asshole is all it's about n/t

[Codeine]

5. Every one of us is, including you.

Doesn't make it excusable, acceptable, or easily forgivable, however.

[apples and oranges]

7. No I am not, that's why I do not accept his apology

[joeybee12]

6. It's mob mentality...easy to get caught up in...n/t

[Gman2]

8. He snapped alright, just after his address was published.

[Poll_Blind]

12. DING DING DING! You win the thread! Indeed. n/t

PB

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Yes, of course

Why, do you think you are exempt?

[gratuitous]

10. Yes

People change, and maybe facing his own foolishness had a salutary effect on him.

This doesn't mean I'm going to hand over the keys to my house to Mr. Reichter, but graciousness in accepting an expression of regret is never out of fashion. If he reverts to his previous form, I can't control that. But if this really does signal a change of heart on his part, I'm bound to help him as much as I can.

[The_Commonist]

11. Yes, we are all capable of acting like assholes.

I, for one, will accept his apology, until he shows that he is full of shit.
That's the "liberal" thing to do.
He can fool me once, and I'm fine with that, but he won't fool me twice.

[me b zola]

13. Here's my thing about apologies

If an apology is sincere it is backed up with action to make amends. Mr Reichter's donation to a Parkinson's organization should only be the small first step in an attempt to make amends if he is indeed sorry for what he did.

[Uncle Joe]

14. Yes I do and given the right circumstances;

I believe anyone is capable of being brain washed.

I don't know Chris Reichter or what his life experience and exposure has been like, but on the face of it, his apology seems sincere to me and this may have have been a transforming moment for him.

I suppose time will tell.

[kestrel91316]

15. Not like that under circumstances where everyone was in agreement to treat

HCR supporters like shit.....

SNAP, my ass. He's probably a daily or hourly jerk.

[Caliman73]

16. Sure. We are all capable of kindness and cruelty.

Everyone can be pushed by circumstance to act abruptly, in a way that is destructive to themselves or others, which is how I describe "snapped". I have done so. I have then apologized and tried to make amends for the pain I caused. Perhaps the apology is sincere. Perhaps it is damage control for Mr. Reichter, whose reputation must have been significantly damaged by his mistreatment of Mr. Letcher.

As I asked in a separate thread, "Do you think that there would have been an apology had there not been a camera that caught the action and broadcast it nationally?" It is obviously something that we can not know, but my guess is that there would not have been one.

[Robyn66]

17. I don't believe it for a second

No one behaves like that unless they intend to. They don't associate with a group like that unless their character is the same as the group's. This scum bag was identified. That is what brought on his "come to Jesus" moment. He can give all the money he wants (any proof btw?) and he is still a scumbag.

[Brickbat]

18. Yes. I've acted like an idiot at counterprotests.

[seabeyond]

19. no. but then i am better than that. doesnt mean i cannot understand a person getting caught up

in the hate and anger... the mob rule.

i have always defied the dreaded mob rule mentality. from what i understand that is not normal... or average behavior.

i can see a person doing something so stupid. then later seeing it on film and being ashamed

[emilyg]

20. Yes.

[Robyn66]

21. I think its possible

for someone to DO stupid things because of mob mentality, like when people get crazy after sports events and over turn cars and knock down goal posts. But to do something like this to another human being is inexcusable. People should have something inside them that recoils at that kind of behavior. Just joining in and saying sorry later is not ok.

I can tell you that I would certainly never do what he did, although I have done some very stupid things in my life. I would never spit on a person or throw things at them.

[mzmolly]

22. It's not for me to accept or

decline his apology. He's a reprehensible jerk who apologized because he was caught, if you ask me. However, if he redeems himself and becomes an agent of change in this debacle, I welcome that.

[piratefish08]

23. anonymous heroes, public cowards.

these fuckers are never sorry until they're exposed.

[Berry Cool]

24. I don't think people really "snap."

But I do think they fly off the handle and do dumbass things they regret later.

I am giving Mr. Reichter the benefit of the doubt this time.

If he did it two or three more times, then no.

[jberryhill]

25. Anyone is capable of acting impulsively

You have never done anything impulsive or hurtful toward another which you regretted?

Really?