ABC News producer Asa Eslocker has been following the money in Denver during the Democratic National Convention. He had an unexpected altercation with the Denver Police today and was arrested. The Police Department refusing to say anything to ABC News about the charges. Read about what happened and we have the video here.
ABC’s The Money Trail has apparently decided to not drink so much Koolaid at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week and instead worked on an investigative piece geared at finding out where the money is coming from that is paying for the DNC and, for that matter, for Barack Obama’s campaign. The investigative piece was taking a look at elite donors and corporate lobbyists who are wheeling and dealing at the convention.
The common man and woman apparently had not been informed that the la de damn da Brown Palace Hotel owned the sidewalks in Denver, and could have the Police throw your fanny out into traffic on a whim, for whatever reason they deemed appropriate.
While Asa Eslocker and his camera crew were attempting to do the job they are paid to do, they were approached by a cigar chompin’ Police Sgt, who had his own entourage of 5 officers. They were informed they had to leave. Sgt. Cigar Chomper then placed his hands around Mr. Eslockers throat, twisted his arm behind his back and pushed him into traffic. Then he apparently remembered he had handcuffs and that might play better than letting a citizen get hit by a car to eliminate the pesky problem of truth telling.
I can’t help but wonder who came up with this brilliant idea, and why they thought it necessary. I mean these uber rich Dems surely wouldn’t be hiding anything, right? Surely they would be at the Brown Palace Hotel with their own wives and husbands, correct? It’s not like John Edwards was hiding there.
The big secret couldn’t be about money changing hands and political promises being made in return. Barack Obama has built his whole campaign on not doing that sort of pandering and doing favors for lobbyists with fists full of money. So surely that’s not the reason to manhandle and arrest reporters who get too close. Surely not!
Is this the ObamAmerica we could look forward to if he is elected? One where reporters ‘disappear‘ if they report too much?
Oddly, the video shows other people being allowed to use the sidewalk without being thrown in traffic. Oddly, no other police officers are heard yelling “You’re lucky I didn’t knock the f..k out of you” at Joe Citizen.
Asa Eslocker’s was released later today on a $500.00 bond.
Can’t wait to see this episode of how free speech can be quite harmful to your health. Not to mention your wallet.
Asa Eslocker – Video
ABC Reporter Arrested
August 27th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Who added the “money money” hip-hop to the news report above? Very subtle, but I wonder what the motivation was to do that?
And the “socialist” label at the end– does it even make ANY SENSE? He’s not doing enough to stop corporate influence (fascist if anything) and yet he’s somehow a socialist?
Do you guys know what these words even mean?
W
That said, the lobbyist stuff going on is bullcrap, I agree. I’m sure the GOP convention will have none of that. Oh sorry, they’re running the McCain campaign.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
This reminds me of what happened to those Russian reporters who broke the story of Putin’s affair with the gymnast who is one of ‘Putin’s Babes’ and called the ‘most flexible woman in Russia’.
The day after they broke the story they disappeared and their newspaper was shut down.
Well, come to think of it … we don’t know what happened to them.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hmmm…let’s see..yesterday, the Obamassiah wanted the DoJ to help him silence some truthful ads, today Asa gets tossed in the street like a used cigar..tomorrow it could be…..???
Wonder whatever did happen to those poor reporters in Russia.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
No telling Jo – I’ve never seen another report about it. They were just gone.
I think that you are right – we could expect more of that under the ObamAmerica. Scary thought.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
American dictatorship was forged in 2000.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
well the police state is finally coming to corporate media.
alternative media has been suffering this type of overpolicing for years.
I do not agree with an officer pushing soneone in the street and then arresting them.
This is ridiculous!
Hopefully people will start to realize we are in a police state where police are protecting the Elite and people who actually are covering the news are treated like violent people.
I guess photos and video and public sidewalks are now arrestable offenses.
check out some local or alternative news sites and whats been happening outside of the cbs nbc abc world.
You might just wake up and be shocked at how much you do not know.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:41 am
for real?
….I thought Denver was in the USA..when did they rename to Demobamerland ..I know I have missed news being out of the country but I missed that
August 28th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Freedom of Speech?
I am astounded by the ignorance that surrounds free speech, The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled towards maintaing the integrity of the First Amendment. In fact it has called the press “The fourth branch of government”. For those Conservatives railing against the “Liberal Reporter”, remember ABC broadcasts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and more Conservative voices. Would you want them shoved into the street too? All Conservatives, Liberals and Americans rely on freedom of speech. As far as the police, I think they’re in need of some basic civil rights education. They didn’t violate some obscure rule known only to those who it’s important to, they shoved the FIRST AMENDMENT, along with the reporter, into the street! THE FIRST! What’s up with that? They have a tough job yes but we don’t give the hard working postal worker a pass after they shoot up the place do we?
As far as where the reporter was standing, the sidewalk, here’s what the U.S. Supreme Court ruled about that. I think it’s even simple enough for a thug to understand.
The more that a sidewalk or street resembles other sidewalks or streets, the more likely it is that courts will consider it a protected public forum. For instance, the Supreme Court found that the sidewalk surrounding the Supreme Court building itself was a public forum because it was indistinguishable from other sidewalks in Washington, D.C. Grace, 461 U.S. at 179 (“The sidewalks comprising the outer boundaries . . . are indistinguishable from any other sidewalks in Washington, D.C., and we can discern no reason why they should be treated any differently.�).
We need to demand that the police learn to respect the citizens, we’re the ones who have empowered them and we actually have the ability to disempower them. They work for us, as much as they may not want to admit it, we’re their bosses. Let’s get that straight.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
The mug shot of ABC Reporter posted here
http://www.ersnews.com
August 28th, 2008 at 8:39 am
What an easy job Asa has. I bet that he is glad he was not assigned to follow the money trail of Bush et. al. Had that been the case a lot worse would have been done to him by now than just getting his arm twisted by a cop who probably doesn’t even know who he is. Old Asa would probably be out of a job and permanently blacklisted.
Really, JoAnne, you make me sick. We are coming off of eight years of an Administration that has done everything in its power to squash any criticism in the media, that has threatened the careers and even the lives of news people. Why don’t you put up something about THAT?
Well, I know why….
August 28th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Did you eve WATCH the video of the incident? Almost everything you’ve written about the incident is incorrect. Now, one has to wonder if the whole purpose of your relating the incident to your readers was to influence them. The desciptive verbage really does set a negative tone. YOU are the perfect example of why it is necessary to read and view several sources on just about any topic, subject, etc. Maybe, just maybe, you should review the video again, but do it sober and then immediately jot down your thoughts before you have a cocktail.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Oh good grief Ed ! Please, please, point me in the direction of the MSN that has not blatantly lied about and criticized this administration at some point. Even Fox smacks them around at times.
You libs don’t make me sick…I just feel sorry for you. All those rose colored glasses must have left y’all blind, or you would be able to see that a well trained puppy could lead this nation with more skill than Obama will acquire in the next 50 years.
ps…passing virtual Alka Seltzer to Ed .
August 28th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Deecee…check the edited and unedited versions of the altercation. People can and do see a situation and perceive it differently.
Why would anyone say anthing postive about the police acting like Obamabot thugs ?
Now you just run a long and finish that case of cheap beer ya just started on, then curse Bush & Co., burn a flag or 2 and you’ll be all better.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
So you admit that Fox News is biased. Thanks for that, JoAnne.
As for Asa being arrested, we are not seeing what came before or after. Was he told to leave, but ignored it? Why is it that when a demonstrator at a Bush rally get roughed up, that’s OK, but this is not? I and millions of others know who Asa is now; I am sure that he is happy about that.
As for a puppy to lead the country rather than Bush/McCain…gee…I think I will take the puppy. Thank you.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Why is there a bunch of sex crap at the bottom of my screen, Right Pundits? Cutest College Roomies? Like older men?
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Ed…you must have had to around the block and make quite a few wrong one way turns to miss my point.
Also, I didn’t say Fox was biased. I said I have see them smack this admin. around a few times, the same way they do Dems, Dem lites, Rino’s, the Green Party, blah, blah. The other stations show nothing but contempt for Republicans, 24/7, 365. THey smell a tiny bit of discontents like Code Pink and that worthless piece of crap that disgraces the name Mother, Cindy Sheehan, and exploit it. Then everyone gets hysterical and absolutely no one wants to list to reason.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:25 am
And Ed, I have no idea why that ad is there. I find it offensive, too. I’m fairl;y certain RP is not targeting porn mongers.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Please get your facts straight if you want to be regarded as a reliable source.
You state:
“Sgt. Cigar Chomper then placed his hands around Mr. Eslockers throat, twisted his arm behind his back and pushed him into traffic. Then he apparently remembered he had handcuffs and that might play better than letting a citizen get hit by a car to eliminate the pesky problem of truth telling.”
Anyone watching the video will see that the reporter was pushed into the street by a big burly officer – not Sgt. Cigar Chomper, as you state. He was arrested later across the street by the cigar-chomping officer jerk.
If you can’t watch a VIDEO and report the facts, how can we believe anything else you say?
August 28th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
JoAnne, you should be careful. I cannot imagine anything worse than losing a child. I have two–safe so far, thank God.
You said:
“Even Fox smacks them around at times.”
Allow me to paraphrase:
“Even though Fox is biased, even they say something negative about Bush from time to time.”
As for Asa, he’s OK. Millions of people know who is now who didn’t before. They did him a favor. If I go and protest at a Bush rally and get cracked over the head by one of their goons, then all I come away with is just that: a cracked head.
(Now you are supposed to say, you’re head is cracked anyway, or something like that. Being Witty 101.)
August 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I have been looking at this. This is seeming more and more fishy to me. The one cop smoking a cigar while conducting an arrest seems esp. fishy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were some sort of set up. If Bush et. al. can orchestrate a war in Russia to make McCain look good, they could certainly do something like this!
McCain has said there will be some sort of big new surprising ad or development released tonight during Obama’s acceptance speech. I will be waiting to see just how much lower they can go….
August 28th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
If Bush et. al. can orchestrate a war in Russia to make McCain look good, they could certainly do something like this!
To make matters even worse – Bush is sending another hurricane to New Orleans. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t make another levy give way and try to destroy the city again.
What does he have against New Orleans anyway?
That Bush et el sure are smart. They can do anything!
August 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
You can contact the Denver Major and City Council. Details are here:
http://www.denvergov.org/ElectedOfficials/tabid/37896/Default.aspx?skintab=Elected%20Officials
If you find this objectionable, tell them.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Beth, where I live we have known all along that Bush and company sent those horrid blizzards our way just so almost everyone’s roofs would cave in last winter. However, the more sane of us realized he was just showing his impartiality after the Katrina storm he created.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
The MUG SHOT .. of ABC Reporter Arrested in Denver
Where it was first posted
http://www.ersnews.com/
August 29th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Could you be a more partisan hack?
What the hell does any of this have to do with the election?
Fact: George Bush and pals have been the worst thing that has happened to the United States since Vietnam. And he put us in the position we are in. Enjoy your look back to the peace and prosperity we had under Clinton, you partisan hacks.