Ok. So what exactly are we doing here today re this apology?

[rosesaylavee]

Let's stop and think this thru. The Ohio guy (Chris Reichert) has apologized. He says he's ashamed for his actions. He is starting to make amends. Says he's afraid by the publicity. He's not a leader of any group, not politically active. And yet I see threads here that list his personal information. What do we hope to accomplish by hounding this one guy? So Tea Party people are misinformed. No surprise there. But hounding this individual will surely draw like minded numbnuts to the Tea Party.

Let's consider what OUR anger is contributing to this incident. We have a lot of power here on DU - let's use it to sway groups who are in the wrong.

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/25/copy/what-i-did-was-shameful.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[gateley]

1. Who's the Ohio guy? nt

[Posteritatis]

5. The one who went off on that Parkinson's patient, I believe. (nt)

[gateley]

12. Oh. Well he SHOULD apologize. Especially to the Parkinson's guy. In response

to the OP, I've heard that any of us can get caught up in mob mentality. I remember hearing a fine, upstanding citizen who, when the power went out in NYC, said next thing he knew he was smashing out a window and running down the street with a TV in his arms.

Although this was hardly such a stressful situation, and he's got three strikes against him for being anti-HRC (:7) if he came forward and apologized that's admirable. I bet he's getting shit from his family and friends and has to face his co-workers.

I agree that we can't stoop to their level in retaliation. It accomplishes nothing and diminishes us as caring people.

[rosesaylavee]

6. Chris Reichert

The man from Columbus OH who threw money at the man with Parkinsons over the weekend.

[Mojeoux]

36. He Wasn't Alone

That other blow-hard guy, that was telling the "Parkinson's guy" (who was a scientist) to go beg in another part of town, he needs to come out and apologies to that poor man too.

Did anyone notice the man with the baby? I read the shame on his face as it occurs. He didn't say anything good or bad, but IMO that little one (maybe subconsciously) reminded him about the fragility and the vulnerability of humanity.

He knew those guys went too far.

[Kaleva]

2. Don't know the stroy behind this but gave a rec anyways.

[slingsam]

3. This needed to be said

Thank you........we must not......descend to their levels...

[lonestarnot]

4. "We have a lot of power here on DU"

:rofl:

[rosesaylavee]

7. Yes. We do.

We are read fairly widely from what I understand and what has been said here over the past decade. But glad I could make you laugh. That's something.

[gkhouston]

32. Verily and forsooth. Those who defy us are taunted again a second time.

:rofl:

[Orsino]

43. Tons more than this poor fool of a 'Bagger.

And we would be wrong to use it even to threaten him with the possibility of violence.

[Posteritatis]

8. Yeah, taking it to the point of digging up contact information is over the line IMO. (nt)

[Shell Beau]

9. I am not sure if the other man forgave him or not, but

if he did, then I refuse not to. Life is too short to be angry at everything forever. I hope he learned something and can better himself. We'll see.

[gateley]

15. I heard the man with Parkinson's on the radio the other day -- he seemed

less irate than the rest of us. He forgave him.

[jotsy]

10. It is so rare that folks like this come to a spot where they admit a misstep,

I think there's a chance the opposition (that would be us) would do itself better to applaud his realization, rather than resort to right wing tactics like publishing his personal info with the intention of sending negativity his way.

I will hope that it's trolls who are peddling that here as a means to punish him for his betrayal of being after reflection, a remorseful man of humility who has found the responsibility of compassion.

[rosesaylavee]

13. I think there is a lot of reason for anger on both sides of this ...

but who's going to be big enough to move on first? I would like to think we would be...

[EOTE]

23. I would not use the word humility to describe this man at all.

Yes, he's apologized for what he did, but he only did so after he saw the enormous shit storm he caused on the internet and probably feared for his life. I don't believe that this man should have to fear for his life, but I also believe that the man has rightly suffered for what he did. His apology and donation are him trying to put out the flames and nothing more. I believe it's entirely in his own self interest.

[rosesaylavee]

27. I think it's his self interest concerning him too...

Sometimes, that's the only way someone can learn something new, gain new insight.

[EOTE]

29. That sounds about right.

So while his apology and donation might be a good first step, I have no idea whether his apology is genuine or not. Only time will tell if he's learned something from this or is just trying to get the mean people on the internet to stop saying bad things about him.

[jotsy]

30. Point taken, and well made.

I guess I should have said it's what I hope he discovered a sense of, but self interest has that way of being the guiding factor.

[UTUSN]

11. 1) No hounding, but 2) NO forgetting. Most apologies are WORTHLESS.

The way that guy went off did not come out of nowhere. It came from something he has thoroughly believed.

So he's sorry now? Fine. What's to say that tomorrow or whenever he will decide to reverse himself about not attending political events again and about this apology and about reviving what he said?

No forgetting.

[rosesaylavee]

16. Ok. But you will remember the offense of this one individual?

What I am saying is he's just one guy and doesn't merit this kind of white hot anger. Changing him will do nothing for us.

[UTUSN]

19. Joe the Plumber was "just one guy." Quitter PALIN is just one other one. They just don't go away.

This dude has the potential to be another one.

[rosesaylavee]

24. But he's not yet.

[UTUSN]

44. Which is why (I repeat) NO fogetting. HooKAY, I guess we're about done with the

hair-splitting and angels-on-pinheads-counting sessions!1

And for the other reply saying that these Plumbers & Quitters HAVE gone away and would go sooner if we didn't talk about them: Uh, Quitter hasn't gone away. and the Plumber did his damage when it hurt the most and can always come back. They all can come back. That's the point of NOT FORGETTING. It's called knowing history so it won't repeat.

[Toasterlad]

39. Actually, It Seems Like Joe the Plumber Finally HAS Gone Away.

Palin would too, if we all stopped talking about her.

[Codeine]

14. Everybody has a douchebag moment now and then.

I imagine it's more of a lifestyle choice for this particular teabagger, but whatever.

He's apologized, been forgiven by the person he targeted, and hopefully learned a little something, if nothing more than "Keep your damned mouth shut." Good enough for me.

[Quantess]

17. Apologizing is the least he could do.

So, he's rash, impulsive, says and does things in anger without thinking it through. But at least now we know he isn't a completely vile person.

I congratulate him for not being the scum of the earth.

[Naturalist111]

18. Just a ploy and you all are falling for it

after all the teabagger rallies and hate speech for months if not years, no reports of the spineless Dems doing violent deeds. The rightwingers get nailed for their hate and this comes up, shot fired, Republicans getting harassed. Good God, can't you see your being played like fools?

[rosesaylavee]

20. No. I don't see it that way.

If he represented a group, I'd be all over him. But he's not. He's just the neighbor of some goof who said let's go yell at a rally.

[Naturalist111]

26. My bad

posted in wrong spot. Darn browser refresh!

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. Well said.

He's not the problem. The mob in which he took part, and the liars which feed their flames of hatred are the problem.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. I'd love to snark at him, but he's doing what is right

He's owning up to what he did, and attempting to make amends. I wish all those who stand up and speak against equality would apologize for their actions and for the speech they have endorsed by others.

[Naturalist111]

25. He has to prove that his

thinking has changed and that is done by time. Don't fall for it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. What am I doing today?

I'm not getting suckered by phony apologies.

That's what I'm doing.

[rosesaylavee]

31. That's your choice and a fair one... but I would rather be suckered

by a possible lie than hound an individual who may be honestly trying to make amends. And he holds no power, is the leader of no group. He represents no one but himself.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

33. I wouldn't.

Even if he meant the apology, it doesn't make up for what he did.

The guy's still a dick, regardless of the apology.

And no, he's a typical teabagger.

[Luminous Animal]

35. So, you know him personally then?

Yes, indeed, he did a dickish thing. I've done a few in my lifetime. For the most part, it was an opportunity for deep reflection and thorough self-criticism. I do believe I've become a better person in the process.

[gkhouston]

34. I have my doubts as to the sincerity of his apology but I don't condone posting

his contact info. Or using it. That's just shitty subhuman behavior and there's no excuse for it.

[Toasterlad]

37. I Wouldn't Have Known That Anyone Had Listed His Personal Information If You Hadn't Told Me.

How about we just ignore him, and let him live with the consequences of what he did? You can take all the fucking responsibility for the jackassery of the right (following Obama's example of what he calls "bi-partisanship"), but kindly leave me out of it. I'm not the slightest bit responsible for his assholery, and I don't care the slightest bit what happens to him.

There's a difference between fanning the flames of violence, and not giving a shit what happens to stupid, bigoted people. I haven't seen anyone on DU guilty of the former.

[walldude]

38. While posting his address is just plain stupid

this guy ought to just STFU. He's not "politically active" but he's at a tea party rally throwing dollar bills at a handicapped man and yelling "you're on the wrong side of town"? Yeah I'm sure he's real sorry... sorry the whole world saw what a prick he is.

[guitar man]

40. leave him a flaming fudge bag

and be done with it :evilgrin:

[LynneSin]

41. Any threads that contain personal information of this guy should be deleted

We are above the Tea Party.

We did our job - we made the video viral and exposed this guy for what he was. He has to explain to his children why he does such hateful things.

Job done!

[Orsino]

42. NO hounding, please!

He may be a deluded tool of the GOP. He may be a coward and a bully. He may only be apologizing because the anonymity he counted on has evaporated.

Let's not stoop to their level. Expose his action in the media, sure. Question him on just what he thinks he did, and why he now says it was wrong. Learn from his answers, and thereby discourage further cowardly bullying.