Congressman John Mica of Florida got caught on camera at the Republican Convention and he apparently did not like it. The Orlando Sentinel reports that he was coming from a meeting with Tom Delay and some lobbyists. The video shows him trying to hide from a camera and then head-butting it. His hoodlum associates join in.
Take a look at open government.
Mica later told the Orlando Sentinel that the head butting was all an amusing misunderstanding.
Mica's version as dutifully reported by the Sentinel (a Tribune Compay property):
OK, I've now tracked down John Mica and seen the video. And I have to say: It's pretty funny ... You know, in a I'm-sooooo-glad-that's-not-me kinda way.
Interestingly, though, Mica seemed to find the whole thing kind of amusing as well. To hear him tell it, he had no clue who it was trying to film him. He said he'd been warned that some protesters were trying to get in the way of people going to he event -- and that's who he thought was trying to stop him. Or at least he didn't know who it was, since he said that the camera man didn't identify himself (which I think the video confirms) and that the head-vs.-camera incident was not his fault.
"I was the innocent victim," he said with a smile. "That guy almost knocked my hair off."
That may be the line of the convention.
Still, I asked Mica if he was sure he wasn't just trying to duck questions about attending an event for the embattled Tom DeLay. Mica responded that he didn't even know DeLay was just going to be there -- that a friend had asked him to attend, and that DeLay was one of three people being honored. Still, Mica said he wasn't embarrassed about being with the indicted former House leader, since DeLay has yet to be convicted of anything.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/...
WDBO.com reports that the reporter was with ABC News.
John Mica Headbutts ABC Reporter
http://wdbo.com/...
Mica's opponent in November for Florida's 7th District seat in the US House is Faye Armitage. http://www.fayeforcongress.com/
Mica ain't funny. He's a thug. And he needs to go.