By Sean J. Miller
MESA, Ariz. – In the latest display of the tension that is permeating the national debate, a pair of protesters twice disrupted Sarah Palin’s rally with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday. As the former Alaska governor began to praise the Tea Party movement, a young man shouted at McCain for supporting the bailout.
“Young man, stick around and listen to what we’re going to say, sir, maybe you’ll learn something,” Palin said. She then paused for several minutes while the man, who began fighting with the McCain supporters around him, was forcibly ejected by staff and volunteers. “Someday we’ll realize that John McCain spent five and half years as a POW in efforts to defend our constitution, which gives him the right
,” she said.
Moments later, a second young man closer to the stage began shouting at Palin, which prompted her to retort, “There you go again.”
The man was subsequently ejected from the gym at Dobson High School by campaign staffers and members of the crowd who gripped him firmly by his head and arms. The protesters were not arrested, police said.
Palin quickly pivoted back to her stump speech, condemning the recent reports of political violence. “Violence isn’t the answer and none of us here are going to condone any sort of violence,” she said. “Don’t let this be a diversion, what you see on the news the last couple of days; ‘cause it is a bunch of bunk.”
more Caught on video: Heckler roughed up at Mesa McCain rallyBut just as Palin took the podium, hecklers began to disrupt the former Alaska governor.
Witnesses said one of the hecklers was pulled up by the hair by a McCain/Palin supporter.
As the man -- who said his name is Alex -- was taken out of the auditorium, he is seen in video being tackled by three men, one identified as a police officer in plain clothes, a man in a McCain T-shirt, and another man.
Witnesses say another protestor was also punched by someone in the crowd.
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