A member of the Atheists of Florida, Michael Middlebrooks, reported on the AoF Forums that he was assaulted by Governor and Senatorial Candidate Charlie Crist of Florida.
Michael reports, “Then when I told Charlie that I did not believe in God he turned beat red and ripped the sticker off of my chest. He did a 180 to start shaking other peoples hands, and turned to scream over his shoulder that he feels sorry for me.”
You can view the original thread here.
AAI’s entry on it is here.
Rob Curry of the Atheists of Florida plans on demanding an apology from Crist.
Posted by Blair Scott
Oh, how the crickets will chirp on the right wing if this gets any major news coverage. Oh, how the crickets will chirp.
You gotta be kidding… Removing a campaign sticker from a lapel is an “assault?”—and merits “major news coverage?” You people get kookier every day.
But then again, anyone who spells the vegetable with an ‘a’…
no what is kookie is praying for no hurricanes in florida…there are so many layers of stupidity and arrogance associated with this act….
its an assault to the individual and an insult to me….you and your ilk are embarrassment to the human race jcc….governors do not put their hands on anyone for any reason less personnel defense or safety….
so go validate your dumb beliefs somewhere else – you kook
personnel = personal
Eaaassssy fella’s. Everyone just settle down.
jcc…using the word “kookier” only lets me know that the right wing holy trinity is probably doing your thinking for you (Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh). However; this isn’t really “assault”. Legally speaking it is…I once did 30 hrs. community service and six months probation for ripping some buttons off a guys shirt trying to pull him out of his car in a road rage moment I’d rather forget. I don’t know that I would make a federal case out of it though…lessons the real problems atheist’s face.
Charlie…you need a hug or something. Not to mention I don’t know that it’s arrogance as much as a reactionary defense mechanism triggered by someone challenging his intentional ignorance. Got ten bucks says Crist can’t give the foundational theological truths of his faith if pressed beyond Jesus died, and the preacher said so. Crist is an intellectual “pop warner” in an NFL world. No trick plays necessary to take him out…just sound offense and defense. Trust me…he doesn’t have NFL talent.
conformnolonger:
Yeah, sorta like the same way Soros, Huffington, & Matthews does yours for you…oh, hold on—a fax on how to respond to you is coming in now from Beck…
And
only lets me know that “stability” is something you should probably not list on your résumé.
Geeezz jcc! Mine was funny…yours was just hurtful. Not to mention that you missed that I sort of supported your point…silly person. As far as who influences my thinking you’ve got it all wrong. It’s really more like Owens, Kierkegaard, and Origen.
I’m sorry if I offended…just thought it was a funny. A little drop in, in the midst of sound debate and the sharpening of the mind. However if you feel it necessary to unload on me I would gladly be the sounding board you need within this format. That is my sacrifice to the world so that noone else has to be subjected to your Palinesque onslaught.
Two things to learn here jcc 1) Never enter into a land war in central Asia 2) and only slightly less known, is never throw the heat in an intellectual debate with a sober irishman…going going GONE!!!
(conformnolonger has taken artistic liberties with the iconic film the pricess bride. Know that this is not theft but an homage)
This coming from somebody who
A. Hangs out @ a blog 100% antithetical to his POV,
B. keeps copies of every thread on his HD,
C. obsessively combs the archives, & last, but not least,
D. communes non-verbally w/an invisible friend
that’s pretty rich.
no settling down here conformnolonger….and I get all the hugs I need…..everyday….
I think we need to chomp at every battle….none of them are too small…
A sitting Governor from the great state of florida assaulted an individual…the governor technically abused his power….and fuck with an individual’s constitutional liberty…. I have a lot of respect for the bill of rights that are currently being pissed on by people like crist….we should not except this belligerent conduct…
Charlie:
Dude…seriously? Your right. Technically speaking according to the letter of the law this “could” be intepreted as assault. The truth is that this would be laughed out of court if it were brought before a judge if it were “any” two people…including these two.
My point is these are not the battles to go all in about. Outraged that a constituant got disrespected? Sure. Trying to get any tread out of this to further being recognized with equality and without discrimination within the culture under the rule of law? No. This is 5,000 dollars worth of energy and angst for a 10 buck crime. There are better in roads here…that’s all I’m sayin’.
I know that my point of view is not the norm, but I take Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach to heart. I realize his worldview isn’t in line with this sites POV, but the pragmatic approach to discrimination is sound. Seriously. Do you think you would get more yardage out of angry interaction with the likes of Crist. Or, a calm, cool headed, well read person in the political arena picking him a part according the founding documents that set the foundation for law in this country.
This is not the greatest nation on the planet…but the founding fathers laid the foundation that it could be. Be outraged, but don’t pursue with rage. Raise the bar for public debate…not hate. I believe that’s how long term change with stamina occurs. Just my humble opinion
I hear ya conformnolonger….and a calm well thought out position on bigger issues maybe a better way to go…
yesterday I got back to my home at 6 pm after being away 48 hours for business….I got out of my vehicle with a good stretch and appreciation for the coming spring and then those stupid electronic church bells began to ring….I wanted to rip their loud speakers of the roof…I am at least a quarter mile away from this property tax free club….
I dont think I should have to put up with this….they are arrogant to assume everyone in ear shot appreciates their noise….every day at 6 and 3 times on sunday….is this issue too small for me…
thanks for your constructive comments…
Conformnolonger:
Oh right…elitist barbs like
are knee-slapping hysterical.
Whoa, getting an exact dose of your own medicine is “hurtful?”… poor baby. Seriously, you gotta grow a thicker skin if you wanna play in this sandbox.
Really? So, how does it feel to have someone make an assumption about you?
I just love feigned magnanimity from pompous egoists.
OMG, that sounds exactly like something I’d say.
Probably like the rest of us who’ve passed under that kaleidoscope you fancy a microscope – bewildered as you shout “Eureka!” when the arrow misses the broad side of the barn.
Battery, more like, so I disagree with the word choice in the letter. However, that said, this could very easily be argued as a hate crime as Crist allegedly committed a violent act against a religious minority in reaction to Mr. Middlebrook’s profession of atheism. While it was a mild offense of battery, that he did it in reaction to his god being question, and considering further that he’s supposed to be a representative of everyone by being a governor and not just those who share his religious views, I think he should do much more than a half-baked apology assuming he does that much.
@conformnolonger
jcc trolls everyone. You could say you agree with him entirely and he’ll find half of a sentence you said to misconstrue into some horrible affront on his masculinity or intelligence.
Dear jcc:
Dude…the “hurtful” comment was meant in jest as well. Just playful jabbing. Generally you can tell when my comments turn serious because they begin to address the issue alone minus the jab. The jabs are just for fun.
As for the thickness of my skin…I’m fine…but thanks for the heart felt concern. See what I did there? Went from serious to joking in two sentences flat. Maybe you just needed to see the ebb and flow of my posts diagramed? So for the sake of future posts I will consider the matter closed. See…did it again. One sentence that time. I’m like the Gandolph of serious to satire.
I would love for you and I to become email buddies though. So if you would like to have a chat on a more personal level…you know…to really get to know me, here ya go. lkkwmjharris@yahoo.com . We should chat. Love to all…
The only way Crist could have fucked up any worse would be if he pulled a firearm and shot the dude. Ripped off a sticker, yelled some stupid shit, and stomped off in the crowd. The only network that will be quashing this story is Fox. Even they won’t care what Sarah Palin’s opinion is.
NeoWolfe
I wrote on my hand…..”In case of hurricane, Pray, cross off, get out of way”
[...] « Did US Florida Governor Charlie Crist assault an atheist? [...]
This isn’t a story. At least not a positive one. Unless there is clear video with clear audio this won’t stick. Not to mention that even if there is I don’t know that it’s positive. Seems antagonistic. Atheists don’t need a “don’t taze me bro” moment for the media to spin. Post-adolescent angst run amuck. You want to have political clout. Find an atheist who shares the core values of small government, capitalism, and believes that the words “right to life…” are a legal foundation to this country and you begin to get your point of view taken more seriously. The only way to undo “Protestant Christendom” is from the inside. Don’t chuck your friends from the group when they don’t buy in to every point of view. Church and State have no business together…neither side benefits, because they are aiming for two seperate functions to two different ends. Let Bill Maher be Bill…but for religion to quit guiding policie you need William Buckley…who was not a fan of the religous right. Then those of us who want people simply focused on being kind to the poor or giving an addict a place to sleep can help keep their eye on the ball. Thanks.
Good points but i would argue right to life is already the legal foundation there being no mandated abortion.The other thing i would add is that what is called capitalism in USA today isn’t really capitalism.At any rate i think you make very good points.
Find an atheist who shares the core values of small government, capitalism, and believes that the words “right to life…” are a legal foundation to this country.
Here I am. That’s me!
Can you imagine if Mr Middlebrooks had declared himself a jew and then crist had ripped the sticker from him and screamed “I feel sorry for you!”? abe foxman of the adl would have had his arse kicked out of office in 2 seconds while screaming purple faced about anti semitism. Why cant the nonreligious, at 15% of the population, muster a fraction of the power of jewish interests who represent less than 2% of the population?