Remember the “ Macaca Moment” of August 2006? All Virginians recall the racist slur then-Senator George Allen used against one of Jim Webb’s campaign volunteers. We may have a new moment in which a Virginia Republican self-destructed. And once again it is caught on tape. Check this out, if you haven’t seen it yet:
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Status Quo) stood idly by as one of his congressional staffers whacked one of Democratic opponent Judy Feder’s campaign aides with a metal cane. It’s been 152 years since Rep. Preston Brooks of South Carolina beat Senator. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with his cane on the Senate floor, but perhaps Rep. Wolf is so tied to the past that he has embraced the violent tactics of 19th-century pro-slavery fanatics.
Dare to ask Rep. Frank Wolf a question, and his paid congressional staff gives you a couple of lumps.
For the video, two young men working for Feder's campaign in the 10th District of Virginia went out to Winchester, Va., this past Friday. They were looking to get a straight answer from Wolf on his support for McCain’s health care tax. Okay, let’s face it: They were trying to get Wolf on tape endorsing McCain’s unpopular position on health care. It was not a “Do you still beat your wife?” question—it was a fair question on one of the biggest issues in the election.
They didn’t get answers—but they did get a beating. One of Wolf's staffers struck a member of the Feder campaign team with a metal cane, not once, but twice. You read that right—dare to ask Rep. Wolf a question, and his paid congressional staff gives you a couple of lumps. I’m sure Kim Jong Il would be proud.
One of the things I’ve liked about Frank Wolf is that he has always stood for human rights around the world. He has spoken out against the mistreatment of political dissidents in China, Egypt, Indonesia, and other countries. But I guess for Frank Wolf, human rights stops at the water’s edge. All of a sudden those pretty speeches about human rights go out the window, and the beatings begin.
What exactly is wrong with asking a powerful congressman a simple question? Watch the tape. See for yourself. Feder’s staffers were respectful—they repeatedly called Rep. Wolf “Congressman” and “Sir.” But to no avail.
Wolf's campaign issued the standard politician's non-apologetic apology. They apologized for “poor judgment,” then essentially retracted the apology by claiming Wolf's aide was provoked.
If there was any doubt that Frank Wolf is out of touch, the proof is in that video.
When a self-proclaimed champion of human rights tolerates the beating of his political opponents, you know it’s time to retire.
Perhaps the incident—which has drawn tens of thousands of YouTube viewers—will raise some money for Feder. Apparently she has a new campaign expense: body armor for her staff.