Things got heated at a Harvard Institute of Politics event on Friday, with Manchin himself squaring up

During a Harvard Institute of Politics event held on Friday morning, a man described by some outlets as a security guard and by others as an aide physically chucked a young protester out of the room after the individual confronted Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., calling him “a sick f**k.”

In video of the incident posted to X (formerly Twitter) by a group called Climate Defiance, which the protester is a member of, they write, “BREAKING: we just called Joe Manchin a sick f**k. We humiliated him in front of a herd of Harvard elites. He squared up. We held firm. Barbaric murderer, hideous fiend, he torches humanity and laughs.”

As witnessed in the clip, Manchin took visible offense to the protester’s heated words, standing up from his chair in what looks to be a defensive stance just prior to the aide/security guard stepping in to handle the matter on his behalf, placing both hands on the protester and shoving him to the ground.

  • voracitude@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Ah yes, the tough politician’s greatest nemesis: being called mean names by kids one third their age. Big Manchin’ Joe was rightfully scared for his life.

  • Neato@ttrpg.network
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    9 months ago

    I hope the protestor can sue the crap out of him. Police should be arresting what is clearly battery

    • MrFunnyMoustache
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      9 months ago

      This is much worse than just assault, because it’s also an intentional act of battery, which is a potential felony charge in Massachusetts.

      • RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        They should throw the book at this person. (Period)

        Where are all the front page stories about all the people threatened by Trump supporters. People are leaving congress. People are threatening court workers.

        It gets mentioned, but not nearly commensurate with the frequency.

        This is not whataboutism. Put all the bastards in jail. Quickly.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Always a good sign when elected officials hide from their constituents rather than, you know, stop doing awful things that said constituents rightfully abhor…

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          you can’t win everyone and some people are nuts

          Sure, but the people who are nuts tend to be the cops and right wing agitator counter-protesters, not pro-palestinian protesters who just don’t want their government to sponsor and provide political cover for genocide.

          • DontRedditMyLemmy@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            I agree Biden is 99% wrong on Gaza. It was disgusting months ago. I don’t have words for the immorality at this point.

            But, independently, what does he have to gain from public appearances?

            • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              what does he have to gain from public appearances?

              Well since he’s technically a public figure running to retain a public-facing job and his fascist opponent already has a whole propaganda schpiel ready about him being out of the limelight to hide how he’s literally crumbling to incoherent dust from age, not being seen in public would seem inherently problematic if you ask me…

              • DontRedditMyLemmy@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                You have to ask yourself: why does the alternative seem disadvantageous to him? He knows more than we do about his costs/benefits than we do. Again, not defending anything about him besides his self-serving calculus.

                • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                  9 months ago

                  why does the alternative seem disadvantageous to him?

                  Because he doesn’t want to face any tough questions or people who don’t worship him.

                  He knows more than we do about his costs/benefits.

                  Not really, no. Dishonesty and a lack of transparency is not the same as superior knowledge.

                  Again, not defending anything about him besides his self-serving calculus.

                  It’s sounding more and more like that’s EXACTLY what you’re doing 🙄

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              Biden’s unwillingness to use the bully pulpit is why his supporters have occasion to lament that he doesn’t get credit for all the good things he’s done.

    • Krono@lemmy.today
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      9 months ago

      The Biden campaign is back to its winning strategy of hiding in the basement.

  • Hegar@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    I feel sorry for whichever harvard minion had to invite joe machin to speak without also calling him a sick fuck.

    How could anyone stand near that professional bribee without at least calling him a sick fuck?