Brickbat: Punchy

Charles Oliver | 11.21.2012 8:25 AM

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar apparently didn't like being questioned about some 1,700 wild mustangs being held in federal holding pens. Salazar threatened to punch a reporter from the Colorado Springs Gazette if he ever asked him questions like that again.

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Mike M. 14 years ago

Wow. If one of these jerks pulled something like that on me, my immediate response would be "go ahead and try it now and see what happens to you."
1. Drake 14 years ago
  
  Most reporters don't seem the manliest types. But yes - I would be funny to see a politician called out when he has a hissy fit.
  1. Citizen Nothing 14 years ago
    
    I almost got into a fight with a homicide detective at a murder scene about two decades ago. Fortunately a radio reporter talked me down, or I'd probably still be in jail.
2. Whahappan? 14 years ago
  
  And then you'd get a beatdown from the SS, or whoever provides security. Like most politicians, he's a cowardly bully, and wouldn't make such a threat without being secure in his backup.
3. Pound. Head. On. Desk. 14 years ago
  
  Wow. If one of these jerks pulled something like that on me, my immediate response would be "go ahead and try it now and see what happens to you."
  
  Actually, I would just look him straight in the eye and loudly repeat the question. Knowing me I would probably also ask if they ever expect a man to be appointed his office.
The Late P Brooks 14 years ago

I can't imagine Salazar saying that to anybody who posed the slightest actual risk to him. I can easily imagine him filing some sort of hate crime charge against him, though.
Tim 14 years ago

Holding pens? That is so 20th century. Why aren't we drone striking them?
1. Ptah-Hotep 14 years ago
  
  Holding pens? That is so 20th century. Why aren't we drone striking them?
  
  Destroys the meat.
  1. Pound. Head. On. Desk. 14 years ago
    
    Destroys the meat.
    
    Isn't horsemeat illegal in the US?
    1. Ptah-Hotep 14 years ago
      
      FTA
      
      Philipps broke a story in September, in cooperation with ProPublica, about a Colorado man named Tom Davis who has purchased 1,700 wild horses from the federal government but can't produce documentation on what happened to them.
      
      Davis is a proponent of horse slaughter, which is illegal on wild horses roaming public lands. For two years, he has sought investors for a slaughterhouse, Philipps' story said.
waaminn 14 years ago

Sounds like a rock solid plan to me dude.
http://www.Extreme-Anon.tk
Tim 14 years ago

Episiarch is out there right now, cutting pasting, hitting refresh. You can here him breathing.
waaminn 14 years ago

Dude seems to be talking a LOT of smack over there.
http://www.Anon-Max.tk
1. Lord Humungus 14 years ago
  
  what kind of smack?
robc 14 years ago

And Obama immediately fired him.

Wait, what?
Fist of Etiquette 14 years ago

Salazar then reportedly was caught on tape saying, "Don't you ever ... You know what, you do that again, ... I'll punch you out."

Salazar's spokesman Blake Androff said Tuesday that, "the secretary regrets the exchange."

"And if you ever ask about the exchange again, the secretary says he will punch you out."

Oliver is conveniently hiding the fact that the incident happened at an Obama event on Election Day. That is to be an insular gathering with no adversarial or non-horse race questioning going on.
sarcasmic 14 years ago

Considering that the guy is part of the federal government, I'm sure that whoever he "punched out" would be charged with felony assault. Just like when a cop has his fist assaulted by someone's face.
Ken Shultz 14 years ago

Those wild horses are probably glue and pet food now.
Enyap 14 years ago

Life imitates the Onion

http://www.theonion.com/articl.....alo,29914/
1. db 14 years ago
  
  Often these types of articles arise from a person's reputation. Is Salazar known for being a confrontational douche?
GILMORE 14 years ago

They shoot horses don't they?

Salazar said he didn't know very much about it but that it was his understanding "there was an investigation being done."

Oh. Well, then everything's OK! We should never be upset as long as more money is spent 'investigating' stupid government ideas.

There is an Equus II lurking somewhere in the back of this story.
Robert Jordan 14 years ago

Life needs a sound track.

Reporter throws shoe at Salazar, Room goes into chaos as "Kung Fu Fighting" begins to play...

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