Because Unshaven Bleary-Eyed Hotheads Usually Mean Well

In There He Goes Again, Howard Kurtz's online Media Notes column leads with a Kerry Fest but I'm noticing this throw-away line:

Speaking of dumb political moves, check out this video of George Allen's aides tackling a not terribly aggressive heckler.

He's referring of course to agitator Michael Stark. I wonder if Kurtz would be so serene if he were the object of a stunt like this in a bitter campaign where you never know exactly how far the crazies will go. The video Kurtz links to is the local WVIR TV news report, which is fine, as far as it goes. But the CNN video at Hot Air starts a few moments earlier, showing Stark, with a backpack slung around his shoulder, repeatedly bumping into aides around Allen and mouthing off. 

Kurtz doesn't report anything about Stark's background, his blog, the language used there or the blogger's plans to ambush Allen. It's possible Kurtz doesn't know about it yet since the Post didn't report it.

The WVIR clip is valuable for another reason: It shows the future of politics if the media continues to reward aggression. Stark is briefly interviewed to say I still want to know why the divorce records are sealed. Never mind that Allen's first wife derided Stark's innuendo as "baseless" and the stunt as a "cheap shot." Stark provoked a brawl, got on TV, and broadcast his message. It works. 

Comments

[ClubPenguinCheats]

The video Kurtz links to is the local WVIR TV news report, which is fine, as far as it goes. But the CNN video at Hot Air starts a few moments earlier, showing Stark, with a backpack slung around his shoulder, repeatedly bumping into aides around Allen and mouthing off.