Now this is the way, New York style, to let a sleazebag know that he is not wanted! Disgraced, misogynistic Queens, NY politician, Hiram Monserrate, a recently expelled NY State Senator now trying to win back his seat by doing a Lieberman, has gotten not quite the public show of approval that he probably and arrogantly expected.
The New York Daily News has this report.
Hiram Monserrate faced off against his chief political rival - and a boisterous audience - Thursday night during a Queens debate.
Monserrate, who's fighting to win back the state Senate seat he was booted from earlier this year, was booed as he introduced himself during the debate against Democratic Assemblyman Jose Peralta.
and it gets even better!
A school safety officer even had to quiet one outspoken person interrupting Monserrate, who's running as an independent on the 'Yes We Can' ticket, as he touted his legislative achievements.
Then several others drew lipstick slash marks on their cheeks, a reference to Monserrate's misdemeanor conviction for cutting his girlfriend's face with a broken glass in December 2008.
While I wouldn't normally condone Teabagger style disruption tactics, Monserrate's complete loss of credibility no longer warrants his being treated in a respectful manner. It's up to him to quiet these crowds. Clearly he is not winning too many people over.
The Daily News also has some comments. These pretty much say what lots of people are thinking about this sleazebag.
Why would Monserate subject himself to such humiliation? Because he a sociopath.
Monserrate needs a job that does not involve serving the people (who dislike him) and working with others to make a collaborative decision. So that leaves him few possibilities.
Monserrate's claim now is that "one incident does not negate 25 years of service." Again, he is trivializing his crime of domestic violence. All decent Americans have progressed enough that domestic violence is seen by us as completely unacceptable. Even though the violence we see Monserrate committing against Giraldo in the video is not a sexual attack, that violence is as unacceptable as would be rape. Decent, civilized men do not in any situation drag injured women away from ringing a neighbor's doorbell for rescue. What we see Monserrate doing is as bad as rape. That's what he has to get through his head. That decent people view what he did as being as unacceptable as rape. You don't do the one act of violence any more than you do the other and expect to be viable as a political candidate.
Queens voters when you step in the voting booth think of your mother, your sister, your daughter and don't vote for this punk Monserrate. He's a disgrace who should be locked up behind bars. Don't deny it Hiram. We all saw the videotape. How dare you assault an innocent woman. Punk.
Another point Monserrate needs to get through his head is that enough people know enough about domestic violence and the abuser/victim relationship to know that in this "incident" as he calls it, the victim was not slashed by accident. The video segments before and after the slashing show Monserrate engaging in typical abuser fashion. A mountain of indirect evidence shows that he is guilty of slashing. The judge at sentencing noted, this is not a case where the defendent has been found innocent; it's a case where according to the law, and according to this one judge's interpretation of the law, it was not possible to find Monserrate guilty of the felony assault. By staying in front of the public as a political candidate, Monserrate reminds everybody that he is an unrepentant domestic violence offender. There is no reason for anybody with a scientific understanding of domestic violence to suppose he would not abuse again.
Monserrate is toast, thank goodness!
WNYC also has a radio report, if you want to actually hear a bit of heckling!
Finally, thanks to Lipris for this link.