Georgia Sen. Chambliss Knocks Over Camera When Asked About Lawsuit

The pressures of the runoff election and the continuing questions about his ties to a large, scandal-scarred sugar company seem to be getting to Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Asked by a reporter whether a lawsuit involving deaths at an Imperial Sugar plant -- a lawsuit in which Chambliss claims he has senatorial immunity from testifying -- were making his chances at reelection harder, the Georgia Republican responded by knocking away a nearby camera.

The video, put out by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is another chapter in a bizarre but brewing saga that could very well affect the outcome of the Senate race.

In February 2008, an explosion at the Imperial Sugar Factory in Savannah, caused largely by combustible dust particles, killed 14 workers and injured 40. The whistleblower who brought the issue to light came before Capitol Hill to testify on the matter. Chambliss sat in on the hearing, though he was not part of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. He was accused by his opponents of verbally harassing the whistleblower. Moreover, Chambliss continued to oppose a new combustible dust standard at the plant even after the explosion. Finally, when families of the victims filed a lawsuit, the Senator refused to give evidence or testimony, citing Senatorial immunity, which doesn't actually exist.

Imperial Sugar, which has funneled a moderate amount of donations into Chambliss' coffers, has defended the Senator's conduct as appropriate.

Comments

[Gifts]

Investigate the Owners, Joint Agreement for the trade with Mexico. I doubt the Senator could be the one to blame at this point with the little amount of investigative reporting the Media has done.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_n21121034

[Gifts]

In my opinion, Sugar Fire is somehow connected to trade agreements, difficult to pin it on this one guy. Just because you push cameras in someones face doesn't mean that he is responsible. It would be very interesting to do some investigative reporting.

Either present a connection or not, connect some dots at least. It is worth looking into the security company that was used at the Sugar Plant or the owner of the plant. Again, if you have something to present the story has legs, otherwise, cheap political hit.. Drive by Obama Media?

[castlerider]

The very fact that he defends the Sugar company in even the slightest manner shows a very questionable level of integrity, if you ask me. We're talking about people's lives here, and not just one or two... 14.
What's the matter with you? These workers mean nothing to you either, right? He had NO BUSINESS getting involved! He could have kept his big mouth shut, but he showed where his interests are! Just like he showed where his bread is buttered.
It's obviously not just your opinion, but hate' radio's as well.

[fairness4all]

Cheap political hit?

A sitting U. S. Senator pushing a camera into someone's face is acceptable to you?

Never mind his involvement with the lawsuit or with Imperial Sugar, this is NOT acceptable behavior for a U. S. Senator or even a senatorial candidate. This is assault, plain and simple, and should not be tolerated!

It's obvious that there's something Chambliss does NOT want us to know or to even talk about.

This incident reveals his personality and his preferred M. O. - react with violence instead of open and honest dialogue.

[Oonagh]

Irrespective of trade agreements .. it is not normal for a Senator to shove a camera into a man's face... it is pretty thuggish..­.. but of course he was not a gentleman either when he ran against Max Cleland for that seat ..

[Revolt916]

He's a thug.

[riafern]

Ga is different ,will need another kind of game to win it ...most people need to be contacted in person and cajoled into understanding the issues ..not like rest of USA ...I will agree with that ...but still with a little better strategy it is winnable ...need more agressive campaigning ...need out of state volunteers ,so local ones like me can do door to door and community meetings ,debates etc ..
we need some good brains to dedicate time & effort in Ga ...we need your help
Call local offices ...all it will take is getting out our supporters ...

[riafern]

common Americans ,lend us a helping hand ...call local offices .see if they need help making calls .so we georgians can go door to door ...we are being outnumbered ...the old folks who are really grumpy that Obama won are drving their voters to the polls ,we need help
You should see the scowl on most of their faces...
if anyone is interested pls call 2294311056 in south Ga this is a dem majority areas ,your help will make a difference whether I sit and make calls or go out door to door /distribute flyers ...most people do not know about runoff
This is your chance to stop blaming all Georgians and helping make a difference
we need young & the not so young to take interest in this run off

[troika]

Hey Georgians, come on folks, please pull this one for Martin. Heavy forces form the party should go and campaign for him. Let us all unite to expel Saxby Chambliss. One last chance to make it 59. Lets get it done.

[riafern]

To Roshni
If every dem thinks of leaving Ga to the good old boys ,why would we need to even run in an election here ...we need dems here and more importantly we need like minded people to keep tabs on what happens here all the time ..if we ignore places like Ga then we are too be blamed for creating safe havens for the likes of Sarah Palin etc ...
work hard ,keep a watch ...Ga is part of USA ...it may take time ...but we need every one's support.
Pls take a spl interest in this run off ...it really matter for all of us ..yes for our children too
imagine a dumb candidate from Ga for president ......reme­mber Sarah Palin rose with no opposition in Alaska ...Ga is just like that ....help by making calls ,doanting ...and do not make it seems like Ga is only our problem ...it is a part of this country ...it is everyone 's problem now
Pls help ....Local no for campaign office is 2294311056 ....help Martin = help for Obama ....

[riafern]

pls help making calls ,pls pay attention we are outnumbered ,these people will try to defeat Martin as they are mad Obama won....pls help we have this weekend to get people to vote early ...in South Ga last day is wed ...then again we have to remind people of dec 2nd election day ....pls help ...
Local office no is 229 4311056 Speak to Ken KIng (organizer for Obama ...now Martin )

[riafern]

pls do us a favour ,somebody pls make a good video with this lawsuit & how saxby reacted and post it on you tube ,get people to view it ,maybe we can get people to make calls in this crucial period ..
Pls check Jim Martin website & call local offices to make calls this weekend ,while we go knocking on doors locally
From an active volunteer in South Ga ...

[riafern]

Pls help by phone banking ...call 2294311056 this is Martin /Obama office in south Ga ,a democrat strong hold ,pls help them get people aware of run off esp the early voting and dec 2nd elections
Pls help ...we are out numbered ...by hateful Saxby's supporters ...
If we get help from other states ,then local volunteers can go door to door ...
HELP

[jwb]

"You can take it away now," seems like a fitting epitaph for Sen. Chambliss' career.

[beantowner]

I'm crossing my fingers for Georgia, but I'm not confident. I'm in the middle of Arizona, so I'm familiar with the "little blue fish in a big red pond" thing, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Repubs are up-in-arms over McCain's defeat and, therefore, pushing for Chambliss in a big way. But Chambliss is scum, and it's truly unfortunate that this man represents ANYone. It'll be a travesty if he's re-elected.

C'mon, Georgia! COUNTRY FIRST.

[1lalady]

Saxby Chambiss is your everyday racists republican. Can't you tell by his reaction? They are so use to
getting their way. I hoe the people of Georgia sends him a message, that fear and racisim has no place in these UNITED STATES anymore.

[Grannysue]

Gee wonder how much money and graft good ole boy Chambliss got from the owner of that Sugar Factory? What a piece of crap this guy is, yet the morons in his State will probably re elect him.

[Twinkie]

The relatives of 40 people could probably pool enough money together to have 'something' done to, er... about this Chambliss guy

[Cybersquirt]

"the Senator refused to give evidence or testimony, citing Senatorial immunity, which doesn't actually exist."

We've seen this before... what a prig. Buh-bye!