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

[DocJerome]

No class.

[bubbuh]

Well, shades of Lester Maddox...Hope it doesn't work as well for Chambliss.

[CaptD]

I hope every voter in Georgia gets to see this over and over again.

(Another Senator that thinks they are above the LAW and able to claim Senator privilege!)

Then don't forget to VOTE IN GEORGIA'S SPECIAL ELECTION Dec 2, 2008; tell all your neighbors!

Maybe then Georgia will have something in common with Alaska!

New Senators!

[aztekclub]

I was a NewsPhotographer for 23 years... Doing that type of camera grab is legally assault. People seem to think that's standard practice.. but usually you warn them to not to touch the camera then if they do it again, it's assault.

[BigHeadTodd]

Cowardly. He's the stuff that is UNDER the slime a slug leaves. Somewhere in Georgia, Max Cleland probably smiled if he saw this.

Do the right thing, Georgia. DUMP CHAMBLISS!

[GwenElle]

We're trying, really trying!!

[kcgeezer]

Chambliss is scum and those who voted for him are idiots. How they can support someone like him shows a total lack of morals.

[Jezdukowski]

Here in Georgia, if there's an "R" next to their name, that's all they need to vote for them. With apologies to all critical thinkers and intellectuals here, this state is chock full of m o r o n s.

[olephart]

Republican draft dodger Saxby Chambliss compares decorated veteran Max Cleland to bin Laden in attack ads to win Senate seat in Georgia in 2002.
Representatives of the non partisan voters’ league declare Georgia voters are essentially “too dumb to vote”. In surveys taken on current events and events from the recent past, the League of Voters found that a majority of Georgia voters were uninformed or misinformed on over 80% of the topics surveyed. The one common thread was that these voters predominately got their information from Fox News and many were regular listeners of Rush Limbaugh. As an example, over half identified Saddam Hussein as being responsible for the attacks on 9/11. A similar number identified Barack Obama as a Muslim and believed he was not an American citizen. Though all surveyed reported their income as less than $250,000, a majority believed Obama’s tax plan would raise their taxes. One confusing outcome was that the vast majority believed it was not legal for the Government to spy on citizens but supported the right of security agencies to tap phones and intercept e-mails to fight terrorism.

[proudem]

As a former Ga. resident of 21 years and a recipient of a degree from the University System of Ga., it truly amazes me as to why they continue to vote repub. But alas you are correct, if their is an "R" next to their name, Georgians feel compelled to vote repub. Most of the dems I know are from other states.

[mistlesuede]

I know that Thanksgiving week is going to be busy for folks and with the runoff right after it will be tough. I hope and pray that the good people in Georgia can win this one for Martin. I can't stomach Chambliss and never could after what he did to Max Cleland.
This is going to be a nail biter if the Obama voters that came out November 4th can get out and vote again.

[donklinestiver]

Looks like and acts like a drinking alcoholic......

[Jezdukowski]

He's certainly got that "Map of Ireland" nose.

[CaptainVideo]

This scandal makes Chambliss vulnerable. There is now a good chance of defeating him and moving closer to the 60 vote majority in the Senate. If you have not yet contributed to Martin you need to do so. The site is located at the following address:

https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19359

[lumber]

Sadly, I live in the state that claims Saxby. I think the entire 47% that voted for McCain must live here. Can the state of GA really be that stupid?

Yes we can!

When the Senate Intel cmt. finally got down to looking into whether the White House manipulated the Iraq intelligence (WMD), Saxby skipped the hearing to go play golf. A key component to the health of the rightwing is bad education and we are amongst the worst.

Don't hold your breath for Jim Martin.

I apologize:-(

[FebM]

thats why we (GAs) rank 48/50 in education just 2 places ahead of Palin Kingdom...... sad, thats a ranking a lot of people would rather cling to

[livingfree]

No, we are not stupid. Stupid is just in control and won't get out of the way. The more light that is shine here in Georgia, maybe and then maybe we could really be free of this hell. We need all of your help because I don't see how McClain won Georgia. Votes are not being counted here.

[lumber]

No, my county went for McCain about the same as it went for Bush in '04. While I am enthused by the growing blue elsewhere, you guys are going to have to make up big for us - the people in my county are the perfect recipe of stupid and selfish - a GOP dream.

Not that I won't go after Chambliss with the same vigor I did McSame.

Hope you're right - I'd glady be wrong about this one.

[scjk67]

i live here in s.c. and just donated $10 to martin!!! com'on georgia kick cham@ss out!

[kjstjohn]

Thank you! We Georgians need help from the good people in the other 49 states to get rid of this colonic excretion.

[MaybeMilo]

I love watching these guys self destruct - but the Democrats need to be mindful it doesn't happen to them: Absolute power corrupts...etc....

[djgonebad]

GOONS!!! When will they learn? The 21st century is here, get on board. But better yet, let them congregate in the South and wither away.

[TomFox]

Wait a minute...I'm from the South and I hate this kind of knuckle-dragging behavior. Isn't there someplace else we can ship them off to? How about Alaska...why should this crowd have a monopoly on the South's natural beauty.

[Nikola Tesla]

I hear Guantanamo is nice, Limbaugh and Oh Really? say its just like Club Med.

[livingfree]

We are trying our best to get that old hateful none producing behavior out of the south that steals elections year after year.

[stlrfan]

Redneck Georgia loves this kind of bar fight politics. Chambliss will win by 6 or 7 points.

[ggmome]

Those days are OVER! Americans are sick of those who see secession, and want our Country to be United again... This divisive behavior is dead!

[winchestereast]

would be very very sweet indeed to see chambliss held accountable for what appears to be protection of a company where workers died and others were horribly maimed in a fire which may have been totally preventable - the whistle blower claims to have been reprimanded for pointing out safety violations and there had been a prior fatal fire in another facility - why was chambliss present at the hearing - it wasn't his committee - good luck to jim martin - good luck to the great state of georia