Under what I think is a highly questionable category of "CELEBRITY FEUDS," TMZ has an article titled "Mitt Romney's Alleged Attacker -- Major Rap Star" which claims that the guy involved in a violent airplane altercation with presidential aspirant Mitt Romney was rapper Sky Blu of the group LMFAO.
In a video interview (called a "confessional"), Sky Blu describes the incident as a physical assault by Romney:
According to a video confessional from LMFAO's Sky Blu, it all started when he leaned his seat back while the plane was still on the tarmac ... and Romney, who was sitting behind him, started yelling at him to put his seat back up.
Sky Blu claims Romney then reached forward and grabbed his shoulder ... so he slapped the Presidential wannabeen's hand away. Shortly after, authorities boarded the plane and escorted Sky Blu off the flight ... and the other member of LMFAO got it all on tape.
On Tuesday, Romney's spokesperson said Sky Blu became "physically violent" when asked to put his seat up ... but the spokesperson never mentioned whether or not Romney puts his hands on him.
Sky (a Democrat) says it was an "unfortunate situation" and he's sure Mitt (a Republican) is a "nice guy" ... but not someone he'd vote for.
I'm skeptical about Sky Blu's claims, because (unless the other reports are incorrect) he seems to have added the claim of Romney grabbing him by the shoulder after the incident.
But never mind what happened! To many people, all that matters is that this was violence directed at a Republican (and therefore good). Over at the HuffPo, twitterers and commenters are praising Sky Blu for his act of violence towards an evil Republican. Here's a sampling from the Twitter gallery:
CrookedCabbie: Shout Out To Sky Blu Of LMFAO For Smacking The Shit Out Of Mitt Romney In The Airplane!
djJealous: One of the guys from LMFAO got kicked off a plane for fighting with Mitt Romney! Loves these dudes even more now.
nextseason: The Mitt Romney vs. LMFAO plane fight is my favorite thing to happen so far in 2010
electricFICTION: Mitt romney is an asshole...oh, that's right, he's a republican. That would explain everything. Goooooo sky blu of lmfao :) your my hero!
LauraR: RT @Natron602: Mitt Romney got into a fight with a dude from a rap group called LMFAO? WTF? --- Serious? I hope he got his ass kicked!
It is quite obvious that while they might assert that Romney started it, they really don't care. They're just delighted that a Republican got pummeled.
Mittens tried to throw his weight around and got checked. Then he cries about it. Typical republican p***y.
I'm assuming the asterisked letters are "uss" and not "ans" but there's no way to know for sure.
The next one intrigues me in light of the "ick" factor, because as I discussed in an earlier post, the latest leftie meme is that the conservative political mindset is driven by disgust!
I find him repellent on every level--off the charts on the ick factor. I can't believe the police just took Romney's word for it and ejected another passenger. Bleh! Which airline was this?
If a conservative expressed personal disgust over "Sky Blu" (as many people would because of his, well, less than "couth" physical appearance) it would be called proof positive that conservatives have mental problems according to the latest "research" (and probably evidence of racism).
In fact, that mindset is precisely what commenter "MrGoodStuff" sees:
Mit was upset because a minority who looked to be of middle to low income dared to put his seat back in the presence of a white republican well-off (by raping the middle class) arrogant couple.
The following comment made me wonder whether there might have been a profit motive behind Sky Blu's outburst (if not the video release):
I am personally buying their album as we speak. You must support people who are willing to smack off the oppressive white hand of the republican party.
Romney is such a big liar I definitely believe the rapper. There is nothing that this guy wouldn't lie about. Too bad the guy didn't land the punch.
Romney denies ever laying a hand on the man, and his spokesman says that Sky Blu never made his present allegation earlier
According to video taken by one of Blu's travelling companions and cited by TMZ, the incident was sparked when the musician, who was sitting in front of Romney's wife Ann in the economy section of the plane, moved his seat back.
Romney allegedly shouted at Blu to put his seat back. Blu claimed Romney then reached forward and grabbed his shoulder, so he slapped the 62-year-old Republican's hand away.
Authorities then boarded the plane and escorted Blu off the flight.
Former Massachusetts Governor Romney's spokesperson Eric Fehrnstrom claimed Tuesday that Blu became "physically violent" when asked to put his seat up but never mentioned whether or not Romney put his hands on him.
Fehrnstrom said: "Governor Romney did not retaliate."
After hearing of the incident, the pilot returned the plane to the gate and had the passenger and his bags removed.
Romney was not injured.
Well, there must have been plenty of eyewitnesses, and it is very likely that the airline investigated the incident immediately after it happened. I might be wrong, but seems to me that had Romney started it by grabbing SkyBlu as the latter now claims, the other passengers would be speaking up. I also find it hard to believe that a guy like Romney (who is smart and wants to be president) would actually grab a passenger on a plane because he wouldn't put his seat forward. Sure, the latter is rude behavior, but grabbing him would be an act of political insanity. Considering how touchy air travel is right now, it would also be personal insanity. If I grabbed a passenger for refusing to put his seat forward, I would expect to be arrested on arrival, and I'd probably never be allowed to fly again.
Not that rational analysis matters to people who revel in acts of political violence when they are directed against Republicans....
I hope this doesn't represent a new direction in politics.
MORE: I don't know why, but I added links to the above comments. Probably evidence of my mental illness. Libertarian blogger OCD or something....
AND MORE: Glenn Reynolds raises the question of whether Romney might have subjected the rapper to a "Vulcan Death Grip."
DEATH GRIP?
Really?
Without getting into a detailed analysis of the pressing moral questions involved (and I am sure there must be some), I'm reminded of a vintage Charles Addams cartoon.
(Many an analyst would say that Romney's "death grip" is about as effective.)
MORE (2/22/10): I don't know how this post managed to become depublished, but it did, so I have just restored it. (I suspect an inadvertent scrolling glitch did something to the "post status" box.)
posted by Eric on 02.19.10 at 10:20 AM
Comments
Romney, one of the most prominent Republicans to support abortion, gay rights and universal healthcare.
I guess that's not enough, he has that evil R after his name.
My friends that are both gay and socialist actually like him, so maybe it's not everyone just the internet crazies that want to judge and assault people based on a label, I hope. I like to think sometimes there is hope for humanity.
plutosdad · February 19, 2010 10:44 AM
It's been a while since I've flown, but aren't seats to remain in the "upright" position until after take-off?
Anyway, as close as the rows are in economy, only jerks recline their seats anyway. I'd be happy if airlines didn't even offer that option.
Plutosdad is right, this doofus admits that he put the seat back while the plane was still on the tarmac, a clear violation of the safety rules. Seats are to remain upright during takeoff and landing.
That rule, by the way, is for the safety of the passengers BEHIND him, so that they can get out of their seats more easily in the event of an accident on takeoff. Romney was entirely within his rights to complain about this.
Nikonman · February 19, 2010 3:27 PM
This guy, whatever he is, is full of it. No way would Romney grab at him. Puh-leeze. I'm no Romney fan but come on.
To be fair, plutosdad, the guy is also a hardcore neoconservative.
Char · February 19, 2010 6:15 PM
"To be fair, plutosdad, the guy is also a hardcore neoconservative."
- - - -
You have no idea what "neoconservative" means, do you?
bobby b · February 19, 2010 6:49 PM
bobby b, "neo-con" means, "person I disagree with" anymore.
For a while it meant someone who supported the war in Iraq, but now just means "a meanie I don't like."
So Romney can be a neo-con to one person and a Rino idiot to another.
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Don?t bang your head!
Romney, one of the most prominent Republicans to support abortion, gay rights and universal healthcare.
I guess that's not enough, he has that evil R after his name.
My friends that are both gay and socialist actually like him, so maybe it's not everyone just the internet crazies that want to judge and assault people based on a label, I hope. I like to think sometimes there is hope for humanity.