Photo by Dave Maass via twitpic
Editor: Here is a repost from November 2010.
Tonight, as election returns were flowing into San Diego Election Central at Golden Hall, an ugly scene erupted when Popaditch supporters harassed Bob Filner, the Democratic Congressman. Filner had just won re-election against Popaditch in the 51st Congressional District.
Chanting aggressively and calling Filner names, a band of Popaditch supporters corralled Filner and a couple of staffers, in effect pushing the Congressmen and his party close to a wall at Golden Hall. The crowd of Popaditch supporters were chanting their candidate’s name, not in an excited, friendly manner, but in an aggressive, confrontational way.
“Commie!” was yelled, and one tea bagger kept yelling at Filner – not 10 feet away – “Don’t tread on me, Bob! Don’t tread on me, Bob!” Others are heard picking that chant up, and repeating it.
Here are some photos by Dave Maass of CityBeat: http://twitpic.com/33g4fi and http://twitpic.com/33g9yo
Photo by Dave Maass via twitpic
Witnesses reported that the Popaditchistas pushed the Congressmen up against a wall, and some jostling and even “fistfights” break out. OB Rag writer Doug Porter, who was doing a “live blog” of the election with CityBeat folks, and they were all in touch with reporters at Golden Hall, reported:
Angry teabagger Poppavitch supporters back Bob Filner into wall. Little fistfights break out. Mayor Sander’s security rescues Filner. KUSI cameras on scene “see” nothing.
City Beat’s Dave Maass – who coordinated the “live blog” wrote this on Twitter:
I have not seen anything as disgusting as Popaditch smiling as his supporters push Filner and supporters up against a wall.
YouTube video posted by Kinsee
Popaditch is a local Tea Party politician. He sets up his tents at each tea party rally, touts their support and actively seeks their endorsement. He has lost tonight – Filner has 60% of the vote -, but Popaditch’s behavior and the behavior of his supporters tonight reflect the Tea Party stance: if you don’t agree with us, get out of our way -even if we don’t win the vote!
The heavy undertones of violence and aggressive shown tonight towards Filner – a sitting Congressman – should make us all think about what the Tea Parties represent.
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
Angry thugs. Lovely.
Welcome to the American Lebensunwertes Leben.
So glad I voted for Filner!
Congressman Bob Filner has done more than anyone has ever done for his district. Why would anyone vote for a wicked and evil loser? Oh, right, a bunch of losers!
Congressman Bob Filner is a real Angel who is always watching over his constituents.
Too bad. Kind of ironic to see links to Filner’s own assault incident from 2007 on the same page as that video, though.
I wouldn’t say that he’s an angel, but Bob Filner is certainly more tempered than Popaditch was on the panel (KUSI?) last night. I don’t think that we need such behavior and attitude at the national, state, OR local level. Civility must be maintained and if, as reported in this article, Popaditch was egging the crowd on through facial expression and his encouraging behavior, then we are grateful to those voters who chose Filner rather than Popaditch.
Well, Congressman Bob Filner’s victory has given us a reason to celebrate with wine tonight at home. This is exciting news!!!
And as for Popaditch’s supporters… Deal with it!!!
Who was treading on whom? Despite their rage, people need to remember that this is still a democracy, and act in a civil way toward their opponents. Intimidation, harassment and violence don’t help anyone’s cause.
I was there last night and this video and pictures don’t even begin to the story of how aggressive, angry, loud and physical Popaditch and his supporters were. Popaditch kep getting close to Filner and encouraging his supporters to heckle, yell and intimidate Filner and his supporters. I was purposely pushed and shoved by no less than two 30-40 year olds. At one point, KUSI was interviewing Filner on the floor of Golden Hall and an SDPD sergeant had to ask Popaditch to take a few steps back away from Filner because his supporters were picking fights with the Filner supporters. Popaditch argued at first, and then complied. After the interview, the KUSI anchor turned around and lectured the Popaditch crowd about civility to no avail.
So, did Susan Davis lose? I can’t seem to find a current list of everything.
no susan davis won handily
I am glad that Susan Davis won. I like both Bob Filner and Susan Davis.
we now have video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO66Z3Fj7ME
Posted it above, thanks Doug.
The Popaditch crowd made up of a bunch of idiots, along with Popaditch, they all need to enroll in a “anger management” course. Hope that helps them…
In the meantime, let’s just celebrate with Champaigne the good news!!! We still have Congressman Bob Filner, who has earned this victorious win.
I like the anger management idea for all bullies.
http://www.10news.com/news/14152443/detail.html?rss=sand&psp=news
lol, cheers!
I remember the name calling and lies used by Popaditch in his campaign. This is why he lost. This will also keep him from ever winning anywhere. This is why I support and will continue to support Rep. Bob Filner. He took the high road. I will celebrate with wine too.
I’m not really fan of either. I didn’t vote for Popaditch, but as a retired military vet who never experienced on the ground combat, I do have a certain respect for him because of what he went through despite his unrelenting hatred for people like me (liberals who served in the military), so I just kind of feel others should as well. I did vote for Filner, but I’m not happy about the way he lied about Popaditch’s voting record. In my book that doesn’t make him a lot better. I guess I’ve just come to the conclusion that all people who serve in a public office are not the most honest people by the very nature of politics.
You don’t need to be a fan of either to see reality. Mr. Popaditch is a retired military vet who never experienced on the ground combat and yes we do respect that. But for him to be respected as a Politician, (honey) he has to earn that respect and what he did after losing to our Congressman. I have NO respect for that!!! And I am SOOOO glad he lost!!!
As for Popaditch’s voting record – It is a bad record, his own wife has a site on that, with excuses about why he didn’t vote on those years… Bob Filner didn’t lie about
that, maybe a little exaggeration but there is a difference between lying and exaggerating… (Which we all exaggerate all the time)
That doesn’t compare to the lies Popaditch said about our Congressman while on his campaign. Mr. Popaditch doesn’t have what it takes to be our Congressman, his behavior after losing proves it!!!
I’m happy he didn’t win either. As I stated I didn’t vote for him. I did actually vote for Filner but that that to me was the lesser of two evils. I feel Popaditch deserves from respect because HE IS a boots on ground combat. That’s an expirenece any one who’s never expierenced cannot imagine. That’s all. You’re right, that dosn’t make the person qualified but I will still give him a bit of credit for going through that.
I support our troops and I support Bob Filner.
I don’t support Popaditch and I have no respect for someone who encourages all that hate and anger. I don’t care if he was a Marine who had fun while killed human lives in Iraq. ( From his crappy book)
What makes you think he “had fun” killing human lives? Talk to some vets and ask them if they “had fun” killing.
As a vet who never expierenced boots on ground combat I will always have a certain respect for those who do, I really take issue with those individuals with no military expierence caring more about whether or no the veteran “enjoyed” the war or whether or not he/fhe took part in killing innocent people. That just crawls under my skin. Thank God most people don’t think like that.
Goatskull, you have all my respect, and you are right, I have no military experience, I would have loved to join the military when I was young and in High School ROTC, but that was just High School, any one can join that. Being legally blind limited me from ever joining. and I don’t believe veterans ever “enjoyed” the war or taking part in killing innocent people. I am sorry for allowing my post to come out that way. Popaditch’s behavior is just the reason why I would never vote for him in any future elections. Being in the Armed Forces won’t be a reason enough for me to ever chose him.
I meant to say being legally blind was one of the reasons I never joined. NOT “limited” (Lol)
Understand and thank you for clearing that up. I respect your viewpoint. And just so you understand, even when I was in I never looked down on those who never joined. Hell I even made a point to have mostly civilians friends with no mil expierence just so I could keep my sanity when not a work/duty. I only take issue with those who are overly judgemental which like I said most are not.
You’re responding to one person who is talking specifically about Popaditch, who has glorified killing on his crappy page. Don’t get into over-expanding what they said.
You are right, I know he didn’t have fun, but he really likes talking about that on his book. Point flat I don’t respect a bully like him just because he served in the Armed Forces. The way he behaved after losing the elections really disgusts me. I am even more disgusted by the supporters who were yelling at Rep. Filner “Jew”…. Totally disgusted!!!
more video c/o Dave Mass & City Beat http://lastblogonearth.com/2010/11/04/more-popaditch-footage/
I am so sick of the right-wing Republican slant on KUSI!!!
Look who owns the network. The owners are right-wing. That’s why they continue to have Duncan Hunter the senior on all the time.
I never did care about Popaditch, and I don’t like what he did after losing the elections. It was WRONG!
YES!!!!! I am honored to have Rep. Filner still in office. Bob Filner works very hard all the time from mornings to late nights and is always there when he is needed.
I remember when Mc Cain lost to President Obama. Mc Cain didn’t act like this, even when his supporters tried to “boo” President Obama, Mc Cain didn’t allow that.
Popaditch should had followed Mc Cain’s example when losing the elections.
He made a fool of himself instead.
There is more video from the incident here. I didn’t take this video but I was there. At about 1:10, there are at least three guys yelling at Filner, and I think what they are yelling is “JEW.”
That is so hateful and when someone asked Popaditch “What is wrong with Filner?”
Popaditch replied “He lied” and when he was asked “About what?” Popaditch says “About me” and then he was asked “What did he say?” (LOL!!!)
Popaditch replied: “Mmmm” (LOL!!!)
Popaditch behaves like a elementary kid who likes to pick fights.
Popaditch is a “BULLY” and a cry baby after losing… “He lied about me”
“He lied about me” “About my voting record…
How pathetic!!!
I am Jewish too. It is wrong to go calling people names. That is wrong! They need to educate themselves and grow out of all that hating era. This is the kind of stuff that Bob Filner stands up against. He fights for human rights all the time and that is the kind of man we need to stand and fight for us.
Sorry, my link didn’t embed. Here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheStarNewsVideo#p/a/u/1/rOeRGjkC42g
I saw this and talked with an eyewitness who saw Popoditch himself shove Filner. She was so alarmed she called police. Popoditch was leading a mob of angry thugs. He should’ve been arrested. This sort of violence and intimidation must not be tolerated in a democracy.
A similar thing happened at the Busby-Bilbray debate. Bilbray thugs surrounded Francine and started pushing inward, screaming and bullying her. The Chamber leader was so alarmed he interceded to escort Francine to her car.
I suggest Dems hire someone to videotape them entering and leaving major events in the future so that this thuggery can be caught on tape and the perpetrators prosecuted.
CityBeat has a good portion of this on tape and has posted info from others who corroborate what occurred.
Yes – I talked to her about five minutes later, I think, if it was the same person. She was still shaking.
mg – is your friend willing to talk to us? Could you contact us via our email: obragblog@gmail.com
Glad poopaditch lost. He never had a chance anyway.
It turns out that the Popoditch experience was taped by a white supremacist supporter and edited and posted at youtube along with a “call to action” : http://bit.ly/bHhXj5
THIS is what we’re dealing with. Thanks to Dave Maas for staying on this.
Sorry, I meant to reply to you, I don’t quite have the hang of this “commenting” thing yet.
Pretty ironic. While not a big metal fan, I honestly do not think Bruce Dickenson and Co would even believe in this stuff. Also the IRA? The dolthead who posted this video obviously has no clue that the IRA are a very far left leaning group but hey, let him wallow in his stupidity and ignorance. It makes for some laughable entertainment.
I know, pretty freakin ironic. And funny almost, if it wasn’t taken so seriously by those who think they should go into armed rebellion when their guy only got 40% of the vote. But hey, Hitler & Co only had 32% when they seized power.
White Power types are not usually noted for their massive brainpower.
I don’t think Maiden would be too friendly to their message either, give “Run To The Hills” a listen…
AHA! I knew it! If you watch the video I posted from the Star-News, there are at least three guys screaming “JEW” at Filner. I had a feeling that the Aryan Nation types were in on this – nice to have proof. Ugh.
Those stupid idiots, I saw the video and you can hear them yelling all types of disrespectful names. The idiots did yell “Jew” They are stupid idiots.