Virginia Dhimmis Getting Physical With Visitors

Congressional staffer denies pushing visitor UPDATED!
By: J.P. Freire
Associate Commentary Editor
11/05/09 9:53 PM EST

A heated exchange during a visit to the office of Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., led to a staffer putting his hands on Teri Christoph, executive director of Smart Girl Politics, in order to get her to put her camera down, reported Jillian Bandes of TownHall.
In a phone interview with The Examiner, the staffer, press secretary George Burke, said that claims that he had "pushed" Christoph were untrue. When asked about the report in TownHall, he replied, "Is that a reporter? Some right-wing blog?" Yes to both questions, but was the claim true?

"She came in and whipped out a camera. Staff people told her, 'we don't want you to use a camera in here.' I put a hand on her shoulder same way I put on my daughter's and of course she said that she was going to the media," he said.

The scuffle started when Christoph joined a number of Connolly's constituents in his office. A younger staffer was distributing pens to enable them to leave a message for their congressman. Christoph, Burke said, had started "badgering" the staffer, preventing him from being able to further help other constituents.

"Voices were raised, so I came out of my office and told her politely to put away the camera," he said. "I didn't even ask her to leave. Just to put away the camera."

I asked what the policy was about having cameras in the office. "Only credentialed media. And I'm sure you know about the rules in the House regarding credentialed press," he replied. Were media cameras allowed into the office? "Yes, throughout the day." But what was the impetus about having her remove her own camera? "It was a decision we made. There was no reasoning behind it."

Burke said that Christoph was the only problematic constituent. "Others came in and were certainly very spirited, but it was a good discussion overall."

Asked about Connolly's decision on the health care bill, Burke insisted that the congressman will not "make a final decision until he sees the final product." The congressman's district, the 11th district, is the wealthiest in the nation as measured by median income. Touting Connolly's achievements in increasing surcharges in the bill to prevent higher taxes, Burke said, "We want to protect the interests of small business, and what we've been fighting for is to relieve them of that burden."

Will he actually read the bill before voting on it? "He has read most of it, he's gone to briefings on it, and he's got several of his staffers reading it. He's not going to commit
to it until he sees what new details are in it."

UPDATED: Christoph posts her account and video:
Christoph provides a detailed post on her blog of the encounter in Rep. Gerry Connolly's office this afternoon, as well as a video of the minute or so immediately before Connolly aide George Burke firmly placed his hand on her. The video makes clear that Christoph was polite and calm, at least during the captured portion of the encounter.

Not Mine, But I Wish It Were

From a fellow Viriginian who is in the trenches doing what needs to be done:

Many of you are rightly concerned about the proposed slavery legislation. It is NOT healthcare. Healthcare is about helping people prevent disease, and getting treatment when they need it. It is not about mandating coverage, mandating taxpayer dollars for abortion, or allowing the IRS to look at your finances to determine your eligibility for treatment, or decide what treatment you can have.

NOTHING in any of the proposed "reforms" are constitutional and not a single provision will improve your health. Sorry, Dems. Health begins at home, not in D.C.

Our strategy is this: Keep the message simple. Focus on the core issue.

We will not allow the Democrats, leftists, and their ilk, to put a ring in our nose.

We will not allow them with their 500+ amendments to distract us from our core message.

We will not hit the phones 500 times a day and waste our breath. We know that they are watching....that's why the bill has been delayed. (Oh yeah, some crisis).

Our core message is quite simple:

1) the federal government with its byzantine regulatory system that squeezed OUT insurers and refused to enact sensible tort reform legislation created this mess. The FDA is a joke.

2) That created obscene drug prices, defensive medicine, and limited the choice of insurers for private citizens. All that equals higher costs.

3) Therefore the creator of the problem is the least qualified to solve it.

Keep calling your alleged representatives and keep your message simple:

1) No mandatory ANYTHING from the Federal Government. It doesn't have that right.

2) Demand genuine tort reform- that will reduce costs on several fronts

3) Get rid of legislation that limits the amount of health insurance companies, and that limits genuine competition. The general public will still be protected against fraud and malfeasance.

4) Promote- without tax dollars- healthy lifestyles that are known to prevent chronic degenerative disease.

5) Eliminate the ceiling on deducting medical costs and preventative care on income taxes for individuals.

6) Get the Federal Government out of the health care business. If states want it, they have the Constitutional right to pursue it.

7) Let the Congress pay for its own health care. Better yet, get rid of Congressional perks that encourage an eternal political class.

This can be done with simple bills. ALL of the above will significantly lower health care costs and increase the overall health of people. All of the above will actually increase your liberty.

These are times when we do need to be alert. These can be scary times. Yet, we are growing stronger everyday. More and more people are waking up. The flame of liberty is getting stronger in people's hearts. We are having an effect. We are changing the conversation.

Don't let those who would enslave you with their doublespeak and their warnings of dire consequences frighten you.

Take hold of the truth.

Stand for liberty and for your children and grandchildren.

God Bless America (She needs it).