Assaulted Canvasser Speaks With Obama
Nancy Takehara, the Chicagoan who was assaulted while canvassing for Obama in Caledonia, Wisconsin, was contacted by the candidate himself on the day of the incident. By the time Takehara had returned home, there was an answering machine message from the campaign. She called the number and Obama spoke to her personally with words of moral support. Takehara said this morning, "All I have to say is Mr. Obama is a wonderful man" who was very supportive.
On Saturday, Takehara was going door to door in Caledonia with another canvasser when she was verbally assaulted and then grabbed by the hair on the back of her neck and reportedly pounded on the head. (Watch a news report here.)
The Obama campaign's statement on the matter was very polite, calling the incident "isolated and extremely rare." In my original post on the incident I came to the conclusion, criticized by some, that "McCain supporters are dicks." Their criticism was correct. Not all McCain supporters are dicks, and I have decided to fall in line with the general sentiment of the Obama camp that the high road ought to be the one taken in response to such lashing out by McCain/Palin supporters.
However, before I commit myself to the nosebleed path, I'd like us all to take a look down the more subterranean one: It isn't hard to imagine what Sarah Palin's reaction would be to a McCain/Palin volunteer being assaulted. It would no doubt sound something like this:
"Some of these people just don't get democracy. They don't get that you have to be accepting of others' right to disagree. That's the American way. But they don't get it. So, like Bill Ayers, they lash out violently at what they don't understand."
Let me just ask, is it not so?
I know this election isn't going to be about who ran the most respectable campaign. But does it not speak to a vast difference in viewpoint over the responsibility of a collective organization to its individual members that the Obama campaign was organized enough to find out what happened to one of its thousands upon thousands of volunteers throughout the country, and that the man at the top of the organization, the candidate himself, before the end of the day, had spoken to the volunteer personally to express regret for what happened to her and offer gratitude for her support?
And that the volunteer in question and the campaign she works for come away, not with the urge to make a federal case out of the event, or to capitalize on it rhetorically, but speak in reasonable tones about getting past the polarization that's developed in our political discourse.
I am still not sure about going up that high road. Because I believe such an event is symptomatic of the kind of political culture deliberately cultivated by the leaders of the conservative movement in the Republican party over the last 28 years.
Which is probably what I should have said, rather than "McCain supporters are dicks."
But, uh, I was in a hurry.
Another canvasser in the carpooling caravan, which met Saturday morning at 7 a.m. at Chicago's Hideout tavern, noted that normally they worked in more working-class parts of Racine, but the particular neighborhood where the incident took place was more upscale by comparison.
The canvasser remarked, "The guy was screaming about Acorn, so you know where he got that from."
He also said the Republicans they had come across were mainly very nice people, and many of them expressed positive feelings about Obama but couldn't support him because he was, in their view, pro-abortion and anti-gun-rights.
The Hideout, which is a performance venue and bar that has often played host to progressive events, has become an unofficial hangout for many of the young folk in the Obama organization.
According to Tim Tuten, who with his wife Katie is the proprietor of the Hideout, about twenty to thirty people have been meeting Saturday mornings to carpool to Racine for the past few weeks. They may be going to Indiana next week, Tuten says, as Wisconsin now appears to be leaning toward Obama.
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From an article on the incident:
Police said the incident remains under investigation and a report, upon completion, will be forwarded to the Racine County District Attorney’s office for consideration of possible charges. Goetsch had not been arrested as of Sunday.
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Ok, I'm confused. Why wasn't this man arrested. Any time you put your hands on another person in an aggressive manner it is called "assault". Assault is against the law. This is a no brainer. If this guy is not arrested, I hope the woman who was assaulted sues the pants off of him and the local sheriff.
This is a isolated incident. I live in Wisconsin and just about everyone is voting for Obama.
No wonder the culprit is pissed.
Actually, I believe it's battery rather than just assault. I also wish the victim would have pressed charges. It's nothing to do with taking the high road. It's just wrong to let him get away with it.
I agree, he attacked the canvasser without provocation, it's against the law, he should be charged and prosecuted and not allowed to get off scot free.
I do wonder how he's feeling right now. Smug and proud? Relieved he got off? Arrogant, figured she was too chicken to press charges?
That first post above telling us we have a gentleman running for president, that got me, right in the heart. Way to go, Barack. McCain would have been belligerent and showing us his hot headed impulsiveness. Palin, just like the author described, and then who knows, get her moose killer rifle?
Hmmm, wonder what McCain thinks of Obama being "soft on crime" now? What would he say about this.
I say Limbaugh, Hannity, FoxNews, Michelle Malkin and the whole gang all should be sued! Is there anyway we can bring a class action lawsuit against these immoral, contemptible people. There is clear evidence that they are inciting violence with their hate-filled tirades. They are clearly putting the public in danger and it must stop!
I know there are some lawyers around here, what say you? Can we and should we sue? I'd love to distribute Limbaugh's wealth!
These peopple are a true example of poverty and depression, and a lack of moral conscienciousness.
I have canvassed here in red Nebraska. I have to say I have NEVER encountered anything like this. Most people either don't come to the door, or simply say I'm voting for the other guy. On the other hand, I have had some people I can't get away from. They want to talk about everything. It is a growing experience for me. Even if I don't agree with them, I can understand their position.
This country wil one day be led by one of the men competing. It's important to know them and find common ground. By the way, what would you like Obama to say about racism? It exists? It's terrible? Then what? Don't let the few pull us away. Do what we do because it is the plan and take no time with the silliness of people who spew nonsense it keeps you from finding the people you can sway.
I hope the guy who attacked her pays for her medical bills and is shamed in public. If he is in a nice neighborhood he works somewhere- his peers and collegues and those who work for him should keep his cowardly acts in mind when dealing with him
Wow, now they're actually attacking people? You know who I blame this on? Fox news, Rush limbaugh (the hypocrite), pat buchanan, and the rest of the rowdy, rough rethuglicans. Every morning they infuse hatred into the ears and minds of their listeners. They scream and wail about the socialists who are trying to steal your money (when these people are fighting tooth and nail to scrimp and save as much as they can, not realizing Obama's plan would help their dum.b A$$es and Limbaugh and his cohorts are only worried about this supposed socialism because it would hurt THEM). They rile up their followers and then you get this kind of behavior from these people. Did anyone hear O'Reilly and his rant on radio when the bail-out was rejected? He was a mad-man on a rampage.
and don't leave Palin out!
For those posters below who seem to be implying this story may not be true because 'Where's the link to the local paper?' - well, here it is.
http://www
++++++++++++++
Nancy Takehara tells WISN-TV she drove from Chicago to help canvass a neighborhood in Caledonia Saturday on behalf of the Democratic presidential nominee.
Ronald Goetsch says he had a heated verbal exchange with Takehara over allegations of voter improprieties in other states and the role of voter registration groups and asked her numerous times to leave his property.
Takehara says Goetsch grabbed her by the back of the neck and was pounding her head and screaming.
Goetsch tells The Journal Times in Racine that he did pull the woman's hair and regrets his actions.
Police say their report on the incident will be forwarded to the Racine County District Attorney's office when it's complete.
++++++++++
You really do need to put the blame where it belongs. And that's squarely on the shoulders of John McCain and Sarah Palin. They are the ones who created this over-heated environment of hate.
They'd rather start a war than lose an election.
yes , i am a canvasser.
every day i meet these angry "folks" at their door or on the phone....
they are out there, and they are becoming more bitter...
we need to be careful...
but we also NEED to be out there, locating the supporters of Sen. Obama...
your local campaign needs you to volunteer to help
GET OUT THE VOTE
they can't reach through the phone to pull your hair.... and words,... they may hurt at first, ... but they are also a great motivator, and the basis of humor at the phone bank ....
that being said ....... stop me if you heard this before....
we need YOU to get U.P. off your blogging butt and canvass your neighbors. find the people who need help getting to the polls, support the people who only hear the lies streaming from their t.v., their radio, their church's pulpit, and from their corner cafe.
we need to be at the polls making sure everyone feels safe to vote, and that their votes are counted
we need to feed the brave souls who will be going door to door on election day to make sure all the Obama supporters are getting to the polls.....
in review...
VOLUNTEER>
right now, today, get on down to your local Obama for Change office .or, your local Dem. head Qtrs.
and just do it........
with your help..... we will win !!!!
OBAMA '08
" . . . the Republicans they had come across were mainly very nice people, and many of them expressed positive feelings about Obama but couldn't support him because he was, in their view, pro-abortion and anti-gun-r
Canvassers confronted with this response should thank the resident for being civil and ask , "Before I depart, could I leave you with this thought. There are issues of concern that affect the health and welfare of all of us, and there are some issues that do not." A variation on that old saw: the good of the many takes precedence over the good of the few.
I don't think taking the high road is enough. The man who assaulted the canvasser should be arrested and charged with assault and battery. He needs to suffer the consequences of his actions. That is what the laws are for. The police should be called and the man arrested, jailed, tried, and sentenced if found guilty.
SC for Obama/Biden
Those that make non-violent revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.
We don't have to sink to this. We are BETTER than this. That is why we support Obama.
Hope Defeats Hate in 2008: (the video giving Repubs heartburn and Dems the warm fuzzies)
http://www
Progressive Jazz (with RantingTommy on piano):
http://ere
Where is the link to the local paper? I would hope she reported this to the police.
http://www
You know, sorry if I'm pessimistic but why was this not in the papers local or otherwise? Where is the link to this story? And I would hope she reported this to the police. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I haven't seen anything credible to report it other than some people saying it happened. If anyone has a link to the local papers where this happened I would appreciate it.
Not only are you pessimistic but you are lazy too. Have you ever heard of Google?
5 seconds to google "Nancy Takehara Caledonia, Wisconsin" brings up:
http://www
http://www
http://www
And many more.
This poor woman must have been traumatized. The McCain campaign if has any decency needs to come out and condone these kinds of behavior but of course they wont its win at all cost for them.
Carol
HEY NANCY!!! I SUGGEST YOU SUE FAUX NEWS AND RUSH LIMBAUGH..
unfortunately, there are "d*cks" on both sides. A BO supporter assaulted a woman in NYC a couple of months ago, and the DA issued charges against him (according to the news). This has no place on either side.
And it has to be confronted aggressively, which has not (yet) happened here. Guess I am not a turn the other cheek guy on this. Bullies have to be confronted. Juvenile behavior has to be corrected. Otherwise, the uncontrolled rage just gets worse. Adolph Hitler is what happens when the bullies are not checked.
Can you provide links to THIS story, please?
Is it on grimmsfair
I live in Detroit, Michigan and am a lifelong Detroiter-I worked at Detroit's Receiving Hospital and am very aware of neighborhoods that require a lot of caution and others that I just don't go into to because if they don't know you, you are a threat! This is not a racial thing, it is a "survival" thing! I, and several of my friends and acquaintances have been very concerned about door to door campaigning in some neighborhoods as it is an open invitation to get seriously hurt! In any case, it is wise to go ingroups rather than singly and even in pairs.....
You realize you're calling a relatively well-off white man in Wisconsin an "enemy" at home, don't you? You know, I'm from Detroit and have also lived in Chicago for the last twenty years and have worked in some of the "dangerous" neighborhoods you seem to be referring to. If you don't have the guts to go into them, don't. But progressive church people and progressive lay people go into them all the time, which is why minorities in cities get the message that Democrats and liberals and those evil "community organizers" care more. They meet more of them.
Rush Limbaugh's recent libel against black people indoctrinating their children to hate America is simply hate-indoctrination in itself and bears no relationship with the true state of affairs. He and his ilk do the same with illegal immigrants -- demonize them racially and economically.
You can tell he's met few if any of the people he's demonized on a personal level. I guess he's too afraid of the Other to interact with them productively. We WE AREN'T.
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