For Immediate Release
October 22, 2012
Contact: Kate Monson, kmonson@dfl.org
612.916.2649
Cravaack Campaign Goes to Extreme Lengths to Keep the Public Out of Public Events,
Forcibly Attempts to Take Camera from CD8 Constituent
St. Paul - Last week, Chip Cravaack’s campaign advertised in the Brainerd Dispatch a “meeting with voters”at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter, a 501 (c)(3) non profit community organization. When a DFL representative attempted to attend the event, she was immediately and forcibly made to leave. Then, a man identifying himself as an organizer of the event forcibly assaulted another attendee--one of Cravaack's constituents--in an attempt to take her camera.
Watch a [YouTUbe video embedded below] of event organizers threatening to call the police and then forcing the DFL representative to leave, and a second clip [also embedded below] of the event organizer yelling at a constituent, grabbing her and attempting to take her camera by force.
"It is never, ever acceptable to use physical force to prevent someone from attending a public event," said DFL Chair Ken Martin. "The actions of Congressman Cravaack’s campaign were dangerous and wildly inappropriate. Congressman Cravaack should immediately issue an apology to the constituent his event organizer assaulted and instruct his campaign’s staff on how to treat event attendees with respect."
“What does Congressman Cravaack have to hide? He brags about his constituent services and accessibility, but he goes to great lengths to make sure his supporters are the only ones who can hear what he has to say. Now we can see his supporters are even willing to use physical force to intimidate those who may disagree with him. This is simply beyond the pale. Congressman Cravaack was elected to represent all of the Eighth District, not just the people who are voting for him, and the use of physical force to prevent people from attending his public events is wrong on every level."
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Youtubes and history of this behavior from Cravaack & crew below the fold:
First clip:
Second clip:
Previous instance of Chip Cravaack campaign on constituent / student violence: Cravaack Goons Beat Up Student As PR Branding Exercise+
2:06 PM PT: Looks like there is an update on this here (assault charges filed in Baxter, MN): MN-08: Assault Complaint Filed Against Cravaack Campaign Worker