Congressman: Let’s get physical

You gotta figure if then-Sen. George Allen’s thoughtless use of a derogatory term cost him his 2006 race for re-election in Virginia, then U.S. Rep.  Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) must really be toast after he was captured on amateur video gettin’ physical with two videographers who claimed to be working on a student project. According to a number of reports, the incident occurred last week after Etheridge, a seven-term congressman, left a Washington, D.C., fundraiser that featured House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Encountering Etheridge on the sidewalk, one of the men asks the Democrat if he fully supports President Obama’s agenda. Etheridge demands that the men identify themselves and tries to swat a cellphone from one man’s hand. He then grabs the man by the wrist and says, “I have a right to know who you are.” Later Etheridge collars the man around the neck. What was the congressman thinking? It’s still a mystery after his office issued a fairly generic apology in which Etheridge says he regrets his reaction: “No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response.” Hard to believe that’ll be the end of it. The only intrusion most people will see in the video is Etheridge getting inside the other guy’s personal space. Bottom line: Angrily grabbing people on the street — even if you think they’re being intrusive or partisan — doesn’t play well, especially in an election year.

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