Cops Confiscate Cameras at Ohio Congressman’s Town Hall

Congressman Steve Chabot could give Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci a few pointers about doing quick backflips.

Less than three days after Chabot prohibited the use of cameras at a supposed “town hall” meeting in North Avondale and used the services of a Cincinnati police officer to stop offenders, the congressman is rescinding the rule for future sessions.

CityBeat reported on Chabot's Big Brother-style tactics in this week's issue, even though the Chabot staffer who enforced the rule never responded to our request for comment. We also criticized the congressman for not letting residents directly ask him questions, instead only accepting queries that were written in advance on paper.

But Chabot's staffer, Jamie Schwartz, told The Enquirer Wednesday that both of those rules would no longer be in effect at future town hall meetings. The reversal comes after Chabot's tactics received national attention via the ThinkProgress website and other political outlets on the Internet.

Chabot's next town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Westwood Town Hall, 3017 Harrison Ave.
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It seems he has seen the error of his ways! :D
 
Actually no one is commenting on what is most ominous in this story: Congressman have no authority over local or state or even Federal police. Why did they do as he requested? Someone among them must have known it was against the law. It is not the grandiosity of politicians that make tyranny possible. It requires the cooperation of large numbers of people who will say later they understood nothing and were merely doing their jobs.
 
sparrow6224 said:
Actually no one is commenting on what is most ominous in this story: Congressman have no authority over local or state or even Federal police. Why did they do as he requested? Someone among them must have known it was against the law. It is not the grandiosity of politicians that make tyranny possible. It requires the cooperation of large numbers of people who will say later they understood nothing and were merely doing their jobs.
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Agreed. I would like to know if the cops were on duty, or at an off-duty gig. After the Tucson murders, we are going to see more cops at political events. But, they absolutely must be kept from doing someone's partisan bidding.
 
[OT reply to OT item in OP]

[OT reply to OT item in OP]

memphis said:
In fact, neither Obama or the Republicans control the economy. It is controlled by a Federal Reserve that has doubled the monetary base since last August.
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So "the economy" doesn't extend beyond the borders of the United States.

Thanks for clearing that up for us.
 
In rather strong contrast to how things work over here. Though Police are evident, they make absolutely no attempt at stopping tourists or us locals taking pictures of the aftermath of the Oslo bombing. However the Labour youth party have kindly requested that the press not take and print pictures from the island Utøya, where most of the killings occurred in order to limit stress to those left behind. Which has been respected, at least the Norwegian press. The British press were all over the island the moment the police released it from being a crime investigation site.
 
Only in America would cops and congressmen be more concerned about confiscating cameras than guns at town hall events. You have to pry my camera from my cold, dead hands. Take that! Such foolishness. No wonder the level of discourse here has descended into the sewer. We should be embarrassed.
 
Who are these people?

Who are these people?

Politicians, I hate them!

Republcrats and Democrans alike!

These are the same people who brought you 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bank Bailouts, BP oil disaster, Fukashima coverup (radiation in USA) , Economic Derpession, Dollar devaluation by design,etc,,,.

Cameras in many cases do not lie. And those who do lie hate cameras!!!! It is only natural!!!!!
 
Time for a recall!

I would have asked three things.........

What if they said you could shoot Jews, I'm a Jew, would you shoot me? Just following orders today are we officer? Did you remember the end of a few good men, the marines who followed the order for the Code Red still went to jail because they didn't protect the weak?

I might end up in Jail but I would have have a whole LOT of folks on my side.

Just remember all, this is how it started back in the '30s. Little steps, it started with little steps.

B2
 
amen to that.

BillBingham2 said:
Time for a recall!

I would have asked three things.........

What if they said you could shoot Jews, I'm a Jew, would you shoot me? Just following orders today are we officer? Did you remember the end of a few good men, the marines who followed the order for the Code Red still went to jail because they didn't protect the weak?

I might end up in Jail but I would have have a whole LOT of folks on my side.

Just remember all, this is how it started back in the '30s. Little steps, it started with little steps.

B2
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We (the people of the United States) are allowing ourselves to be the live lobster in the pot of cool water and the heat was turned up a while ago.

Phil Forrest
 
Police man doesn't know if it is against the law or not (His words) he just follows the orders....

ICH HABE ESS NIGHT GEWUST
 
Went to his FB page (seriously out of date) and reported the page that is offends me or my friend :angel:
 
robklurfield said:
Only in America would cops and congressmen be more concerned about confiscating cameras than guns at town hall events. You have to pry my camera from my cold, dead hands. Take that! Such foolishness. No wonder the level of discourse here has descended into the sewer. We should be embarrassed.
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Don't feel bad Rob ... you gave us McDonalds after all! :D
 
They had no legal right to do that. **** them. This is why I keep saying on here you need to press the issue to make sure your rights are protected. Even more importantly than rights, just the freedom to document.
 
Most people see a policeman doing this and figure he knows the law so they go along...
What happen to the old saying "Question Authority"...
If they stop you from doing what is perfectly legal...hit them where it hurts the most...$$$
 
I'm surprised that some Law Firm hasn't taken this case on Pro Bono...
But then that cop was probably Union...
 
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