Playground behavior

After I watched this video, I realized that I needed some context. The best article I could find was from the Charlottesville Daily Progress. I used that article to construct a rough timeline of the events that led up to the video.

1. Jon Taylor RSPV'd to Cantor's event on the senators website.
2. He parked his car, which contained a campaign poster for Cantor's opponent Rick Waugh, at a meter in front of the coffee shop.
3. Taylor then entered the coffee shop with three other Democrats.
4. The coffee shop owner asked Taylor and his friends to leave and they refused.
5. Police officers arrived and asked the men to leave. They refused.
6. The police officers threatened to arrest them for trespassing.
7. The police chief quoted Taylor as saying "Then arrest me."
8. What happened afterwards was caught on video by Taylor's son.

Cantor won't comment on the incident, but one of his campaign consultants called Taylor a thug. I think that this campaign consultant is not helping the situation.

In this incident, it appears that poor planning by Cantor's staff gave Taylor the impression that he could attend the event. Taylor says that he decided to attend the Cantor event because he wanted to debate him. His belligerent behavior implies that his actions may not have been that peaceful.

I've been watching members of both major parties demonize each other since 2004. This is dangerous behavior because it eventually leads to acts of violence. One side will antagonize and the other will respond badly with violence. Both types of behavior are immature.

The man who taught me not to demonize the opposing party was Congressman Dennis Kucinich. I did some local videography and canvassing for his 2004 presidential campaign.

Sadly, Kucinich and other politicians who can "agree to disagree" seem to be in the minority.

Daily Progress Article