Don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.
In another red-letter day for the world’s greatest deliberative body, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., reportedly flipped the middle finger to a reporter who kept asking him about his blockage of a bill that, among other things, today resulted in the furlough of about 2,000 Transportation Department employees. According to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl:
“Excuse me! This is a Senators only elevator!” Bunning thundered.
I tried again to ask his reasons for blocking the bill, Bunning said he already explained his reasons last Thursday, when he said he wanted the $10 billion cost of the bill to be paid for, rather than simply adding to the national debt.
“Excuse me!” he yelled. “I’ve got to go to the floor!”
As the doors closed, I asked Bunning if he is concerned about those losing their benefits.
He did not answer. This is all on-camera.
Senator Bunning was even more expressive before the cameras arrived, using a little sign language.
When Senate producer Z. Byron Wolf spotted Bunning exiting his office, Bunning said, “I’m not talking to anybody.” When Wolf asked him to stay and talk to our cameras, Bunning walked toward the elevator and shot the middle finger over his head.
Bunning is on fire lately. On Thursday he hollered out “tough s**t” after Democrats objected to his efforts to block the bill, which also would have extended COBRA benefits and unemployment insurance, and complained that the debate caused him to miss the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game.
Here’s video of ABC’s encounter with Bunning. Sadly, they didn’t capture him shooting the middle finger.
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6 Comments
I can’t say that I agree with the way Senator Bunning expresses his opinion, but I do agree with him. Our government is spending hundreds of billions of (borrowed) money on who knows what. I can’t believe there isn’t 10 billion in pork barrel spending (that at least a dozen other Senators) couldn’t give back from their states Federal Government funded projects. I am sure there is more than enough waste to help those in need.
I thought our elected officials were supposed to make the tough decisions. But I guess you can’t be a career politician and get re-elected if you do what needs to be done. I suppose it is easier to give the people what makes them feel good even if it is with borrowed money. As the public has been deceived so long I feel the truth will be far to painful too take.
Saw on TV, we have all used the festure or worse and we all can only take so much questioning, even though the answer is clear.
Cut some slack…Go after those they have no limit on debt but simply wish to spent. The worse case is spending without planned oversight, the best case, limited but controlled spending within income. Isn’t that what our parents attempted to instill?
Call this coward and let him know what it feels to be unemployed in this economy. Do your part:
Jim Bunning (KY)
Washington, D.C.
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.4343
Fax: 202.228.1373
IM A DEM. mr bunning is right. IT’S TIME TO FIRE ALL SPENDERS IN CONGRESS OF BOTH HOUSES AND HIRE WALL MART TO RUN THIS COUNTRY
I saw the video. He should have called security and had the reporters arrested. They have no right to stick their foot in the door and effectively hold him hostage. It was either the Capitol or the Senate Office Building. Not public property or public area. As soon as he said he did not want to talk they were then tresspassing.
To p curley: Um…congressional office buildings are the very definition of public property. Unless we’re really bad at our jobs and somehow missed Congress being privatized. You can’t arrest reporters for being a pain in the rear to public figures. It’s kind of what we do.