recognized?

September 16, 2004 12:11 PM

Reason's Julian Sanchez thinks he's found the guy who was caught on ABC News kicking a protester at the Republican convention, whose identity has been the subject of much speculation on blogs like TalkLeft. But does this kind of thing have the potential to create the Internet's Richard Jewell?
posted by transona5 (58 comments total)

Sounds like patriot boy jumped the gun. I assume he's prepared an apology to Deryk Schlessinger?
posted by dhoyt at 12:57 PM on September 16, 2004

Look at this guy - he's got a shaggy head of hair and no tie... he's obviously a Democrat double agent.
posted by wfrgms at 12:59 PM on September 16, 2004

My question is, now that he's been identified, is he going to be charged with assault?
posted by fenriq at 1:10 PM on September 16, 2004

except that what this person is accused of is assault or battery, not a terrorist bombing.
posted by thebigpoop at 1:10 PM on September 16, 2004

Oh, oh! How about hair pulling in this thread.
posted by rough ashlar at 1:11 PM on September 16, 2004

the link (http://mail1.campusphilly.org/articles.nsf/frontpage/495ABAEF263C079C85256EEB0069AB19?OpenDocument) in the text "denounces here" is busted. Anyone know what it says?
posted by internal at 1:23 PM on September 16, 2004

nice link, ra
WTF's up with Laura Schlessinger's family?
I don't know, but they should maybe try calling a self-help show for advice. Them people are experts.
posted by Busithoth at 1:23 PM on September 16, 2004

I assume he's prepared an apology to Deryk Schlessinger?

dhoyt, you do realize the last sentence of your own link reads "Or maybe he isn't; some of our crack investigative team are agitating for additional resources before confirming," right?
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 1:26 PM on September 16, 2004

If it's the same kid, he's a member of a blog:

http://ksfp2004.blogspot.com/
posted by keef at 1:28 PM on September 16, 2004

Why doesn't this stuff get reported more? Of course FoxNews reported on the war protesters who destroyed a 9/11 memorial. That's the only thing they reported on about the protest. Why does the phony outrage seem to beat out the stuff that is really outrageous?
posted by Bag Man at 1:29 PM on September 16, 2004

err, I can't really exactly see that he's kicking anyone.
posted by xmutex at 1:31 PM on September 16, 2004

Here's the article that campusphilly.org pulled (which internal mentions above).
posted by jpoulos at 1:35 PM on September 16, 2004

Why indeed?

I sure do hope Sanchez has ID'd the correct person, or else the purported criminal has been really smeared.

Yup, it sure does look like him - and that raises an interesting question : assuming a sample group of oh, say - maybe several million males who might be of approximately the same height, age, etc. (that's merely a wild guess and likely is way off) - how many in the group, if any, would be "dead ringers" (at least visually and at this level of resolution) ?

None ? One? Ten? Twenty?
posted by troutfishing at 1:38 PM on September 16, 2004

Of course FoxNews reported on the war protesters who destroyed a 9/11 memorial. That's the only thing they reported on about the protest. Why does the phony outrage seem to beat out the stuff that is really outrageous?

Bag Man, I'm not denying that the behavior of the hair-puller or the kicker guy isn't deplorable, but destroying a 9/11 memorial is deplorable as well.

This is a major league handicap in activism of all kinds today, on both the left and the right; the false perception that if someone is on our side politically, then asshole-type behavior is somehow OK. Or "understandable." Or was actually done by the "opposition."

People of all political persuasion behave like complete dicks at times, especially when they get overheated about something. To deny or equivocate about that is to lose credibility.
posted by jonmc at 1:40 PM on September 16, 2004

But anyway-- people have been kicking people since time immemorial. To act like this is some crazed atrocity, outrageous, or even a Slightly Big Deal is embarassingly silly.

If this is what you get ouraged about, maybe you need some perspective.
posted by xmutex at 1:43 PM on September 16, 2004

Any true patriot can see that he wasn't kicking that girl, he was liberating her.
posted by Ty Webb at 1:44 PM on September 16, 2004

But anyway-- people have been kicking people since time immemorial.

I fail to see what that has to do with anything.

To act like this is some crazed atrocity, outrageous, or even a Slightly Big Deal is embarassingly silly.

I agree with that, but I don't see anyone calling this an atrocity. It's just a bunch of wankers (myself included) who are trying to find identify someone who committed a crime. It's as much about playing with the internet as it is about partisan politics.

Here's a question, has anyone identified the protestor?
posted by jpoulos at 1:51 PM on September 16, 2004

xmutex, given the background of the Republican National Convention, I'd expect to get thrown to the ground and kicked too. Doesn't make it any righter though.
posted by fenriq at 1:51 PM on September 16, 2004

But that video doesn't even show he's kicking someone. He sort of looks like he is, but he also looks like he's trying to get his balance. As far proof goes this video is worthless.
posted by xmutex at 1:54 PM on September 16, 2004

Bag Man, I'm not denying that the behavior of the hair-puller or the kicker guy isn't deplorable, but destroying a 9/11 memorial is deplorable as well.

jonmoc,

The point is that the protesters destroying the 9/11 memorial was the only thing that was reported about the protest. This is a usual tactic of the right-wing, impugning the worst conduct of a few on the left to every person on the left to gain votes. Not to mention that I don’t recall FoxNews citing a source for the story. Frankly I think it was simply made up or invented by citing FoxNew's favorite B.S. source of: "some people say."

I was not condoning such action, but it got big play, but when there is a documented action by a right-winger no one really reports it all.

Yes if such a thing did happen, it is deplorable (I doubt it did happen because such a thing is extremely craven for any American, even for a Republican. However, I guess kicking people is an ok expression of right-wing political ideas). However, let's hear about the hundreds of thousands of lefties who protested peacefully and the bad apples on the right.

Like I said, where is the real outrage?
posted by Bag Man at 1:56 PM on September 16, 2004

When everyone rioted at Woodstock '99 and started looting and raping, videos were analyzed and arrests were made. Same thing with those bastards in Central Park during the Puerto Rican Day Parade a few years back. Though not the same in severity of the crime, it's clearly the same technologically, and therefore would be more than enough of a standard to make a legal case.

This is enough to question the guy. If it's him, it's enough to arrest him for assault and battery.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 1:56 PM on September 16, 2004

you do realize the last sentence of your own link reads...

Uh, yes, and do you realize the first several sentences read,

"Young Republican identified ....Our intrepid agents...have figured out who this brave young man is. Yes, the aspiring GOPer who kicked a female protester while she was subdued by only three Secret Service agents, then manfully denied his actions to a French television journalist who had the audacity to challenge him...It's Deryk Schlessinger (in an April, 2004 photo). And he is his mom's kid."

I'd say that's pretty suggestive.

Let's say you stumble onto a website like patriotboy's one day and there's a picture of you juxtaposed right next to a raging asshole, and the words, "Young Head-kicking Democrat identified, It's XQ!". Something tells me you'd be screaming libel, hate-crime and ever other (understable) invective at this total stranger who'd obviously decided you were guilty before proven innocent. Just putting someone's photograph in the context of a story like that without any text is still pretty unfair.

Hey, the Schlessinger's are shitbags, to be sure, but are you really defending someone publishing pictures of a man who might be the culprit, along with thoroughly suggestive, misleading text? C'mon. What is it we were saying about hyperpartisanship over in the CBS/Rather thread?
posted by dhoyt at 1:59 PM on September 16, 2004

"purportedly kicked a female protester"

looks like xmutex's mum, sister and daughter are fair game for a kicking by all the grown men around then, as it's not "even a Slightly Big Deal". When he's not looking, o'course.
posted by dash_slot- at 2:00 PM on September 16, 2004

Speaking of Repugs and their compassionate conservativness...

Dead Soldier's Mom Arrested: GOP crowd responds with "Four More Years!"
posted by EmoChild at 2:03 PM on September 16, 2004

Bag Man, the words "fake outrage" implied that anger over destrying a 9/11 memorial would be somehow "false." * Your second comment makes it clear that's not what you meant, which is commendable, but you can see how it woulda been misinterpreted.

Look, I think this kicker (whoever he might be) and the hairpuller both deserve to be charged with assault and get a thorough ass kicking. I'm just tired of people who think moral fiber is dependent on political position.

*FWIW, apparently in California somebody did desecrate a 9/11 memorial. Probably just idiot kids, but they need to be taught a lesson, too.
posted by jonmc at 2:10 PM on September 16, 2004

These Republican girlie-men need to be taken aside by the members of their own party,and have the crap beaten out of them. Then their faces should be displayed on the internet, like Uday and Qusay.
posted by Faze at 2:13 PM on September 16, 2004

I'm just tired of people who think moral fiber is dependent on political position.

Who said that?
posted by adampsyche at 2:15 PM on September 16, 2004

you do realize the last sentence of your own link reads...
Uh, yes, and do you realize the first several sentences read,

Uh, yes, and you do realize that the posting attribution line reads, "posted by Maddi" - one of the rare posts on that blog not by the General.

Of course, those in charge should be held responsible for all the abuses of underlings, right?
posted by soyjoy at 2:23 PM on September 16, 2004

Uh, yes, and you do realize that the posting attribution line reads, "posted by Maddi" - one of the rare posts on that blog not by the General.

We weren't arguing which poster on Patriot Boy implied it. We were discussing whether or not it was a loaded thing to imply. When I said earlier, "I assume he's prepared an apology...", I meant "he" the poster, not "he" Patriot Boy.
posted by dhoyt at 2:28 PM on September 16, 2004

Eh, you white boys all look the same to me.
posted by gyc at 2:35 PM on September 16, 2004

dhoyt: Except what you really said was: "Sounds like patriot boy jumped the gun. I assume he's prepared an apology to Deryk Schlessinger?"

The "he" clearly refers to "patriot boy".
posted by crawl at 2:37 PM on September 16, 2004

The "he" clearly refers to "patriot boy".

No, Patriot Boy is the name of the blog, not the implied "he", though I see why my hastily-written sentence suggested otherwise. Whatever. Point made, point taken. It's still some shoddy blogging.
posted by dhoyt at 2:44 PM on September 16, 2004

LMFAOSFHIFPM. Thanks Ty.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:48 PM on September 16, 2004

Like I said, where is the real outrage?
All over the Internet when it happened and the weeks that followed. Thought for sure the video would be posted here the day after it happened.
posted by thomcatspike at 3:08 PM on September 16, 2004

ill bring the kerosene
posted by Satapher at 3:15 PM on September 16, 2004

hurting people is pretty bad, but destroying stuff? thats unforgivable!
posted by Satapher at 3:19 PM on September 16, 2004

The photo Julian Sanchez linked to was cropped: here's the original. One of the commenters at Eschaton did a side-by-side comparison. [both via this Eschaton thread]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:29 PM on September 16, 2004

>But does this kind of thing have the potential to create the Internet's Richard Jewell?

If the police did their job maybe people on the internet wouldnt have to resort to doing their job for them.

As far as the "i dont see him kicking her" comments go, its pretty obvious and witnesses at the event saw it. Its not like someone found this videotape underneath some boxes in their attic.
posted by skallas at 3:48 PM on September 16, 2004

> The photo Julian Sanchez linked to was cropped

Yep, I was wondering why they were pointing to a girl. The source pic is from the ntu website. Hey bloggers, if you've got an incriminating photo or somesuch, try hosting it on your own.
posted by skallas at 3:50 PM on September 16, 2004

Image leeching is not only rude, it's dangerous. Sanchez is lucky they didn't replace it with goatse.
posted by Potsy at 5:45 PM on September 16, 2004

*puts on his kickin' boots*

Oh, wait. I'm not supposed to do that, am I?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:04 PM on September 16, 2004

It appears Patriot Boy has already decided to be judge, jury and executioner on this one--he's bombarding the alleged kicker's blog. Anyone have concrete proof the ksfp4 blogger = the kicker seen on TV?
posted by dhoyt at 7:59 PM on September 16, 2004

I think the woman in that photo is very attractive.
posted by ParisParamus at 8:26 PM on September 16, 2004

That's pretty childish of Patriot Boy. Why doesn't he call the cops instead. It would at least be more productive.
posted by gyc at 9:13 PM on September 16, 2004

It appears Patriot Boy has already decided to be judge, jury and executioner on this one--he's bombarding the alleged kicker's blog. Anyone have concrete proof the ksfp4 blogger = the kicker seen on TV?

Right, and I'm sure CBS hasn't recieved any calls or mass e-mails from partisan leaning websites about their confidence in their position either. Hell, I'm a liberal and I'm not going to pretend that a bunch of liberals can be as much a bunch of overreactive twats as right-wingers is a suprise.

Like I said with the CBS stuff, a bunch of people saying "it looks like it" isn't "proof." So attacking this guy's site is wrong. That said: assuming the kicked woman filed charges, then this is a lead to an open criminal investigation, and police have a job to do. This is enough to merit politely giving a knock on our potential Pele's front door.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 10:38 PM on September 16, 2004

You mean Scott Robinson, who is a junior at Wharton, and who can be contacted at [e-mail] ?

I think reciprocity demands a metaphorical boot in the head... in this case, a letter to those who oversee school disciplinary actions, and to the school newspaper, cc:ed to Scott himself, of course.

Sounds fun?!
posted by insomnia_lj at 12:00 AM on September 17, 2004

look out dhoyt, i think you're about to be called a republican for having a differing view.
posted by bob sarabia at 12:40 AM on September 17, 2004

ID Party!

Ok then, anyone know the guy in the black shirt? How about the screaming woman wearing the cap?



Three-year-old Sophia Parlock cries while seated on the shoulders of her father, Phil Parlock, after having their Bush-Cheney sign torn up by Kerry-Edwards supporters on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at the Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va.
posted by dand at 6:27 AM on September 17, 2004

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a Cole Haan stamping on a human face - forever." --Young Republican Intern.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:36 AM on September 17, 2004

dand, For three election years running, the man in that photograph with the crying little has claimed he was harassed by Democratic supporters. Others are claiming that the man to his left is actually one of his sons.
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:32 AM on September 17, 2004

...crying little girl...
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:32 AM on September 17, 2004

Wow! Thanks, dand, for introducing us here at MetaFilter to that photo / family!

When I said earlier, "I assume he's prepared an apology...", I meant "he" the poster, not "he" Patriot Boy.

dhoyt, I really don't care much about this, but it's entertaining how you just keep digging yourself in deeper -the poster is a "she," not a "he."
posted by soyjoy at 9:34 AM on September 17, 2004

I'm just tired of people who think moral fiber is dependent on political position.

So am I, that's exactly why I don't vote Republican.
posted by Bag Man at 11:25 AM on September 17, 2004

I don't vote Republican either, Bag Man. But there are Republicans (less and less these days admittedly) who I can disagree with but respect as people of integrity and there are people whose politics I agree with whom I think have no integrity.

All I'm saying.
posted by jonmc at 12:33 PM on September 17, 2004

jon, I'm beginning to get the feeling you're disillusioned with the left. Do you wanna talk about it, maybe?
posted by jpoulos at 12:59 PM on September 17, 2004

Yes, jon. Spill them guts.
posted by adampsyche at 1:14 PM on September 17, 2004

jpoulos, actually what I was trying to say was the opposite. That when two people who disagree can recognize eachother's integrity rather than imputing evil ulterior motives, then just maybe construstive dialog can take place.

I failed to communicate that. That's probably my own fault. I'll stay out of political threads from now on. And musical threads. I'll just pop up and belch occasionally.
posted by jonmc at 1:33 PM on September 17, 2004

A Republican family attended the rally to show support for the Bush-Cheney ticket. Phil Parlock, a Barboursville resident and strong Republican, said his family was accosted by some Kerry supporters.

"We do it peacefully and quietly to show respect. And, we don’t want to get kicked out of anything," Parlock said.

After standing on the tarmac with the Kerry supporters, Parklock and three of his children moved down to the airport road near a parking lot exit.

With Parlock were sons Phil II, 21, and Alex, 11, and daughter Sophia, 3.

Parlock said a Kerry supporter yanked a Bush-Cheney sign out of Sophia’s hands, making her cry. As they stood along the road later, someone threw the ripped-up remains of the sign at them as they passed.

Of course this fails to mention that dissent is unwelcome at Bush events and what happened here is minor compared to Republican lend disrespect. If Kerry support so much as gets into a Bush event that person gets booed by the masses and then arrested for "trespassing," not to mention the fellow who was fired for heckling Bush or the guy who was fired for having a John Kerry bumper sticker on his car. Oh then there is the Dixie Chicks and Linda Ronsted (sp.?). Republicans can't have it both ways, otherwise its well, just the ulitmate bunch of phony outrage.

I agree with jonmc, their is less and less integrity, dialog and respect for difference of opinion in the political process to day.
posted by Bag Man at 3:23 PM on September 17, 2004