Healthcare reform activist bites off fingertip of 65-year-old man, authorities say [Updated]

Authorities today are searching for a healthcare reform activist who they said bit off the fingertip of a 65-year-old man during a fight at a MoveOn.org rally in Thousand Oaks. 

[Updated at 5:16 p.m.: A previous version of this post reported that the activist had bitten off the finger of a counter-demonstrator. Authorities now say that only the tip of the man's finger was bitten off, and that the 65-year-old victim told them he was not demonstrating at the time of the fight.]

“It all started with their difference in philosophy over healthcare reform,” said Senior Deputy Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

The incident occurred about 7 p.m. Wednesday at a “We Can’t Afford to Wait Vigil” organized by affiliates of the activist group MoveOn.org, which drew supporters of President Obama’s healthcare plan, Buschow said. The rally also attracted several counter-protesters, he said. 

[Updated at 5 p.m.: During the rally at Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive, near the Oaks Mall, the suspect and William James Rice got into a heated argument and began fighting, Buschow said. Rice, of Newbury Park, punched the suspect after the man called him an "idiot," Buschow said.

At that point, one man bit off the the tip of Rice's left pinkie finger, Buschow said.

Rice then drove himself to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, about a mile away, Buschow said.  A witness picked up the detached fingertip after the suspect spit it out and drove it to the hospital. Buschow said doctors told the victim that they could not reattach the fingertip because of the high risk of infection.]

Ilyse Hogue, director of political advocacy and communications for MoveOn.org, called the incident “a regrettable act of violence” in a statement released this morning.

“While we do not have any more facts about what happened than what we saw in press accounts, MoveOn condemns violence in all forms,” Hogue said. “We support the Ventura County sheriff’s investigation into the situation. It is in our firm hope that this event does not detract from the tens of thousands who were out peacefully making their voices heard for health care reform and a public option.”

Authorities said they are looking for a white male in his late 40s or 50s who was last seen wearing black shorts and a black shirt. 

“We’re still trying to figure out who was the aggressor,” Buschow said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at (805) 494-8201.

—Ruben Vives

Comments

[Ben Johnson]

I call BS! The LA Times knows exactly who the agressor was and has yet to update its story to reflect that it was a pro-Obama, pro-government option, pro-healthcare reform activist who bit off the finger of a 65 year old man. It's all over the radio and I am sure you can interview plenty of people who will make themselves available for quotes. The fact that you only have quotes from MoveOn.org is telling. What happened to giving both sides of the story? It is a shame that we cannot count on our local paper to report facts simply because it conflicts with their leftist agenda.

[Don]

Had I seen that occur (biting off of a finger), I would have assumed that was a act of mayhem, and would have shot the assailant DEAD.

[jt]

maybe if people stopped pointing fingers at each other, one won't get bitten off!?

[anonymous]

I heard a first hand account of this incident on the radio by "Scott" from Thousand Oaks who saw the whole thing and called in to share the story.

The Obamacare supporter, who was on the side of the street with other supporters, came across the street toward the anti-Obamacare crowd and singled out an elderly man and proceded to "get in his face" about his views. The Obamacare supporter then pulled the old man out into the street, unprovoked I might add, and then bit the old guys finger off while the old guy was just trying to get away. The old man then shuffled off toward a hospital.

The person giving this account,"Scott", then went out into the street and found the old man's finger. He and some others called 911 and the dispatcher gave them the location to the nearest hospital which she said would be thier best bet for finding the man. They rushed over and were able to find the old man and provide him with his finger. Scott then went back to the scene to wait for police. He gave the police the entire account and they tried to find the attacker amongst the Obamacare supports, but he had fled by then.

[james]

20 bucks says the victim was wagging his finger in front of the guy and was warned to stop several times. i bet he deserved it.

the anti-reformers do not know how to have a discussion about this topic. they have to get in your face anytime they are trying to make a point.

just shows how ignorant and how intolerant they really are as people.

[Norman Rogers]

What a sad commentary on our political discourse. Somewhere, an ambulance is still being chased by three lawyers and a blogger.

[Mr. O]

Oooh, finger food :)

[h]

I hope the injured guy had insurance.

[Schooner131]

The only thing that's 'regrettable' is that anyone considers MoveOn.org and valid organization. It's funded but a non-American thug, George Soros, and exists only to ruin this good country. Perfect example of what's on the side of this administration.

[Ret345]

More hired thugs and extreme left wing psychos who believe in threats, violence and anarchy?? A "Move on to Communism.org" member??? Why am I, a Latino female, not surprised?? Wake up Los Angeles.

[Lance Manco]

Mabye he was hungry; when you find the guy, give him some foodstamps.

[Dave Taylor]

Gee, it's a good thing the guy was 65 and had Medicare. Otherwise, he might not be able to afford getting his finger reattached.

[Gary Plumbley]

I think it is very interesting that an event that the facts of an event that happened yesterday cannot be verified. The reason for that is because the Obama hired thugs,moveon.org, were the agressors and assaulted the Obama protestor. You did however make the unsubstantiated claim of "tens of thousands" of Obama healthcare supporters. Journalists? Not hardly.

[Monica]

Where are the Liberal Democrats now?!?! If it had been the other way around they would be SCREAMING at the top of their lungs about the "mobs"... I am sickened by this behavior, and worse yet I am sickened by the behavior of our politicians that only scream out when it is on behalf of "their own kind"
Screw Obamacare and all its backers!

[mike]

Who uses a pinky to point with anyway??? I guess the biter doesn't believe in the first amendment. Why does the left try to stifle free speech. The liberals of the 60's were all for it. I guess fascism is taking root in left leaning politics.

[fpp00]

...he got it re-attached. it's a good thing the guy didn't swallow. I wonder if he left for protest on a empty stomach?

[FactFinder]

It's always the left that are the teroorists and prohibit free speech. Pretty soon the police will begin to round up the dissidents.

[Chris]

maybe if people stopped pointing fingers at each other, one won't get bitten off!?

Posted by: jt | September 03, 2009 at 10:50 AM

----------------------------------

Yeah, that's really funny. Did you come up with that all by yourself?

[plantation slave]

they will be stabbing each other next. this has gone toooo far. the obamacrats need to ditch this healthcare proposal

[George]

So far the only violence taking place across the country at these events has been on the Obama side of the argument. What does that tell you??? As if you didn't know.

[TheFinkOfSalem]

Don't TASTE me bro!

Is cannibalism an Alinsky tactic?

[Catbird]

I always thought Obamacare was cannibalistic.

[Douglas W. Hall]

“It all started with their difference in philosophy over healthcare reform,” said Senior Deputy Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. ???? Oh yeah, that's how they would word it if it was the "ObamaCare" supporter who had his finger bitten off. Give me a break. Do you left wing stenographers really think we are this stupid? The sleeping giant isn't just awake. He is ready to get down to business.

[dave]

Interesting how carefully the LA times writes this. In fact, the "agressor" was a pro obama manufactured astroturf paid for protestor, and the person attacked was against obama care. Just in case anyone who reads this biased, leftist propaganda rag are interested in knowing the actual facts.

[Edgar Allen]

The Ventura Star does have an account that differs from "Scott's" version.

[MarkFu]

Brilliant, jt. In your twisted world, I suppose it includes pointing pinkies. How many have you bitten off?

[Giff57]

Good thing the old guy had health insurance to cover his injuries (alongside 85% of Americans which bumps up to 90% when you count 18-25 year olds who don't want it-- like I once was-- and another 5% who are older and simply choose not to pay for it and rather pay for their new flat screen or some other inane purchase-- so for the other 5% who would benefit from tort reform, we duke it out because our government wants to get their grubby little paws into the lucrative health care arena), this whole Obama situation is just waiting to explode. Vote this joker out in 2012...

BTW-- I thought all you MoveOn.org trolls were vegetarians, why eat fingers? I guess he was probably getting the munchies...

[Brian Ross]

You know if it was the Anti Obama activist that did the biting, that would have been your Headline Ruben! You make it vague enough just to imply otherwise!

[Baronpilot]

Times, please confirm that post by anonymous down there, because it sure sounds like one-sided Tea Bagger testimony.

I'm having a little trouble imagining the scenario that anonymous is describing. Is that why he is, ahem, anonymous?

[Slaughter]

Go to http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/ for a completely different story. This blogger says she was there and that the guy whose finger was bitten off threw the first punch.
The biter had crossed the street to confront him, and they got into an argument, then the bitee decked him. They scuffled, and the one guy bit the other guy's finger off. Not cool.

[Lynne]

I wonder what would happen if this man contracted HIV from the man he bit? Who would pay for his medical costs?

[Urso]

I wonder if this will turn out as true as that McCain/Palin campaign worker who went all over the news spreading racist vicious lies that she had been attacked and savaged by a black Obama supporter who carved a backward B on her face... like you'd expect to see if someone had done said act to themselves while looking into a mirror... which as it turns out is exactly what little miss Fox-News-Darling-turned-exposed-attention-hungry-liar did. I wouldn't be shocked at some kind of self-mutilation tactic being used by health care reform opponents in order to tarnish and discredit the supporters' demonstrations. Quote this "Scott" all you want; I'm not interested unless you saw it first hand. Anyone can spread uncorroborated hearsay.

[politickybitch]

I like how you left out that the anti-reform man punched the man in the face and knocked him to the ground. That's how he lost his finger. A government run insurance program called Medi-care has re-attached his finger.

Liberal media my a$$.

[Jeff]

“We’re still trying to figure out who was the aggressor,” Buschow said.

Let's see, who could the aggressor be? The guy who ran from the scene or the guy who's MISSING A FINGER?!!!!!

Deputy Buschow, here's a clue: unless the guy missing the finger stuck his pinky in the other guy's mouth and then forced his jaws closed, the one doing the biting is the aggressor.

[Michael Kennedy]

"just shows how ignorant and how intolerant they really are as people.
Posted by: james"

Yes, James. Everybody points with their little finger. Don't you ?

What a clown.

[Douglas W. Hall]

((((maybe if people stopped pointing fingers at each other, one won't get bitten off!?))))

Yeah, jt. And maybe if you brainwashed hemp smoking zombies wouldn't burn the U.S. flag, you wouldn't get a nightstick in your ear. It's the same logic. Sound good, moonbeam?

[Ronnie]

The moral of this news story is: If you can't win the argument, then start biting.

What a freak.

[Thomas]

The press was saying that Anti-Obooba heathcare protesters were comming to the protests armed, now you know why!
An armed protester is a polite protester.

[Ryan]

Yet another act of violence instigated by Obama's speech in June:

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said at a Philadelphia fundraiser Friday night. “Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

[John]

The liberals of the 60's also called our soldiers fighting communist terrorism in Viet Nam, baby killers.

Then in 1973, they legalized baby killing.

Now, they want to legal murdering their parents.

[Philip Saenz]

It will be far worse if the Democrat Party passes Universal Healthcare. Long waits, frustrations, more fights.

[vjames]

More proof that the left wing nuts are the neanderthal bigots of the 21st century... and where is the outrage from the so called 'intellectual' leaders in public office and the media who would attempt to capitalize on this if the finger was in the other mouth?

[Ron Cornelius]

Typical lib reaction, and also the reaction of little children on a playground. If you can't argue facts, reason, or common sense, then resort to name-calling and violence. It's amazing that so many people in this country subsist at the liberal level of pure ignorance.

[Dave]

Rumor has it the guy is not being considered for an Obama Zar position on staff. Obama is rumored to have uttered that he needed someone who nobody would point fingers at.

I hope the people who elected Obama are proud of the country he is creating (as opposed to the one he is tearing apart).

Good work!

[Greg]

People, this is what we are up against—a bunch of animals, Marxists, haters. They do not have America at heart. If you happen to be a Democrat, beware of who is taking control of your party. You may not have much in common with them. Republicans are getting pretty close to having to reckon with this in their own party. George Washington: "The love of party will be the downfall of this nation". We'd better start shunning the freakshow and start reconnecting with the serious people who are REALLY looking for good and for peace in this nation. The minority of hate-filled crazies are the loud ones being heard and placed in offices at the moment. Clean slate.

[DRH]

@james - who "wags" their *pinkie* finger at anyone? For that matter... even if fighting breaks out... what kind of animal bites off a finger?

[jzelouise]

The post by anonymous dated 9/3 10:51 am is a cut and paste that is exactly the same on half a news sites or blogs that I've seen this morning.

[Jason]

Where was PETA?

[Jill]

James wrote: "20 bucks says the victim was wagging his finger in front of the guy and was warned to stop several times. i bet he deserved it."

You sir, are mentally ill. Get some help.

[LLinLa]

“We’re still trying to figure out who was the aggressor.”

An alleged eyewitness who actually found the severed finger and located the hospital where the amputee went, related on radio that the Health Care advocate charged across the street to confront the elderly gentleman then got directly in his face hurling insults. A struggle ensued at which point the elderly gentleman was bitten by the pro-Obama supporter.

I contend that a later aged person that was singled out as the possibly "weakest" link in the protest and attacked by a "compassionate and bipartisan" Obama supporter could be considered at fault because he disagrees with the President. Just like the other "Nazi" sympathizers and "Astroturf" loons on the Right, the 9 digit indivdual was dealt "justice" in a Progressive sense since dissent is evil while physical assault is the appropriate means to the ends to reign in ignorant, clueless Americans that like to think for themselves.

MoveOn.Org did apologize. Now if your organization would value Truth as much as Public Relations, that might mean something.

[GetItRightGiff]

Check your facts, giff...The victim is over 65, and was treated under MEDICARE (aka Government Health Care)...ironic, no?

[logan]

The issue we are facing is not liberal vs conservative. It is Progressives vs the rest of us. The progressives are the far left of the liberal (democratic) party and progressive does not mean progress the way they will try to tell you. Progressive means progressing towards marxism, towards fascism, towards communism. This is evident in the way Pelosi/Reid, and the CA Rep who praised even Fidel Castro have bullied and degraded anyone who opposes their views. Someone please ask the Democratic leadership (all progressives not just liberals) what happened to their mantra "Dissent is Patriotic"?

[DR]

Oh you hear from a first hand account from "Scott" then post anonymous as your name and expect soeone to believe that crap. It figures for a hate filled anti-Obama led around by the nose republican.

[Douglas W. Hall]

GetItRightGiff ...

You are so brainwashed and addled from your tye dye t shirt fumes that you automatically assume that since the victim was 65 he was treated under Medicare. Wher on earth in this story do you find that. An enormous amount of people are actuallu self sustaining and pay for insurance themselves. At 65 and even later. It's shocking I know Mr. fact checker dude.

[Philip]

Response to James:

He said -
"20 bucks says the victim was wagging his finger in front of the guy and was warned to stop several times. i bet he deserved it.

the anti-reformers do not know how to have a discussion about this topic. they have to get in your face anytime they are trying to make a point.

just shows how ignorant and how intolerant they really are as people. "

A man deserves to have his finger bitten off for disagreement? I don't care if Hitler is waving a finger in front of my face, I still wouldn't bite it off! Not to mention that this was an elderly fellow! By the way, you are assuming that this was done, and then you have the gall to call this man intolerant?

The "anti-reformers" as you call them, (I prefer to call them patriots), do indeed know how to have discussions. It is the progressives that respond to discussions with violence. This is not the only case. Need I remind you of the African American conservative who was attacked, unprovoked, by union thugs? This is going on all over the place.

It is the progressives, lead by those in political power who are actively intimidating, abusing, and in some extreme instances resorting to physical violence!

Enough trying to defend this thug who attacked an elderly gentleman! If you want to have open discussions, fine! But stop with the personal attacks, ok?

PS - You do realize that the Constitution is NOT a "living document," and you do know what socialism is, right? Come on, when Putin (a former KGB agent) warns the United States about it's destructive path down socialism, you'd think people would listen... nope...

[RougeNeck]

I hope that he gave him the finger!

[David]

Tell me someone has a video! Oh please, oh please! We can't let these union thugs and ACORN soldiers get away with violence.

And to the poster that says the man deserved it, that just goes to show what barbarians you people are.

Read the bill for crying out loud! You don't even know what you are rallying for. You think we are just against reform, think again. We don't want this bill. Read it and you will understand why, then you can come to our rallies.

Grow up, do your homework before slinging insults and biting off appendages.

[Robert]

This messsage is for both sides of the issue. You have to look out for each other, no matter whom casts first stone, Do not let those in your assembly be singled out like the man was as posted above.
If this aggressor had be addressed by a UNIFIED assembly when he strolled in odds are he would have strolled back out.
If he chose to continue his aggression he could have easily been subdued by a UNIFIED assembly until authorities were engaged.
It is understood by all that there is a heightened sense of urgency and passion regarding these issues. The facist and socialist are battling for complete control of America and the Americans are fighting for their freedom and country. There will be unavoidable conflict, but this situation was avoidable.

[Commute Woman]

"We're still trying to figure out who was the aggressor"
I'd say the guy with the finger in his mouth!!!!

[Greg]

I have to rate this story thumbs down.

“We’re still trying to figure out who was the aggressor,” Buschow said.

I find his remark offhanded. Given the handiwork of the aggressor "Buschow" should have easily fingered the culprit. If the younger man was handled the situation properly, he would have hung around and handed over his testimony to the police. Instead of dialing the digits to the police, he made an underhanded escape after cutting off the conversation and handing out a fist full of suffering.

Seriously, the guy who bit off the finger is a hateful coward who committed a heinous attack on an old man. It does not take a genius to see that whatever the old man did, he did not deserve this.

Greg

[Evander Holyfield]

Who knew... Mike Tyson was an ObamaCare supporter

[Tyrone]

And they have the nerve to call the right wingers "extremists? A liberal kook bit the finger off of an elderly man!!!! Talk about mental cases.

[zdude]

>>

Yes very ironic, because he is over 65 there is not other real option other than MEDICARE because the last time the government established a government option, the others all went away... Exactly as Obamacare intends for this next step.

Sad because the poster seems to have no clue that part of the issue.

[gloria]

Let me get this straight... Democrats, liberals and those who support moveon.org have long been associated with protests movements. You know, the kind that throw things through windows, trash parked cars and especially in Oregon, will block bridge enterances at rush hour for more media coverage.
A man in his sixties, protesting from a distance has another get in his face and then take off his pinky finger and he gets mocked?
Now that the democrats are "organizing" their "mobs" for counter protests... I'm willing to bet the violence is just beginning. What else happens when you put two opposing sides together? Civil unrest. Is this the "change" you promised the country, Mr. President?

[Tim]

As a Thousand Oaks resident, I'm astounded.

First of all, this is a VERY conservative area (it's a short drive on the "Military Intelligence Memorial Freeway" to the Reagan Library). How Moveon found more Obamacare supporter than the anti-Obamacare crowd is beyond me.

Second. This place is SO mellow that it's a daily struggle to keep your eyes open. Where did they find people in Thousand Oaks that actually have that sort of passion?

Third. Where in the world did the finger-biter come from? Not T.O. I'm sure. Had to have driven up from the San Fernando Valley, or he's one of the "Dudes" from Malibu.

Accolades to "Scott" who found the old man's finger, got it to him, and then waited for police. Scot's obviously a local, and I'm glad to see that there was one sane person out there yesterday.

[Jim]

"James" below makes me laugh; so it was the victim's fault because he, you know, dared to used his finger against someone much more enlightened (and now bloody-mouthed) than him.

The arrogance astounds, but does not surprise.

[Jack]

Ironic,

I'm sure the old guy has health care and will pay for his finger to be re-attached.

Move on.Org wants everone who has a job to pay for it.

Move On.Org should pay....as well as a nice law suit.

[Dan Eastwood]

Despicable - and unfortunately all-too-typical of the violent behavior of those who've been trained to expect they are "entitled" to be taken care at the expense of others.

Politicians who tell these violent children that they are willing to steal from others to keep these children re-electing them, should be dropped off in the Marxist country of their choice where they can thrive.

Isn't there anything in our Constitution to prevent this robbery? Whoever on the courts chose to look the other way and allow this behavior obviously did not anticipate that the end result of their 'kindness' would result in this type of violence or worse.

[Marcia]

Reading the response from James just makes me sick! This is a heated topic and tempers flare. NO ONE has the right to bite off the finger of another!!! Let's just hope that this poor fingerless man is employed by Whole Foods, so he can make use of his medical insurance. That reminds me, I'm out of organic humus, so I better head to Whole Foods now that those hippies aren't clogging up the aisles.

[bob]

Can I have the finger? I would like to put it in some chili at Wendy's

[Matt]

Good thing Obama care hasn't passed. At 65 some government panel may have decided that reattaching a finger to someone at the retirement age wouldn't be covered.

[Indepedant Thinker]

"... i bet he deserved it."

What a bunch of hateful, violent, Obamatrons. If you disagree with what someone says... well, they deserve to be mutilated. You Obamatrons are SICK people.

[Samuel]

This imbecile who bite off this other man's finger should definitely be arrested for his violent act. It is clear to me why this perpetrator is for obama's health reform because he obviously is too stupid to find a job for himself and gain health insurance that way. Maybe there's a reason why health care should be offered to those who can afford it. It's sort of like Social Darwinism. People who can afford it are more fit to survive and thus live longer. Idiots like the man who bites off people's fingers, can die an early death if all I care. It'll make the world and the US a safer place for our fingers.
Samuel

[Josh]

And the administration and the DHS continue to claim the right wing groups are the crazies? Are you kidding me?

[Doug Markell]

Was the Old Dude INSURED?

[Lance Morrison]

Yeah--bussed-in union thugs and Move-on 'wonders' who was the aggressor.

My 'finger' to Move-on is my song Barractologist @

www.conservativemusiconline.com

[mike]

It should all be on traffic camera video tape. If not, he was probably a paid protestor by Obama and record of him may exist there. This guy should be caught within 24 hours

[raymond]

James - be careful. You appear to be inciting violence with your comment that the counter-protester "deserved it." The only sensible thing in your pathetic comment is that you apparently understood that the counter-protestor was a "victim." Good for you to even understand the basics dynamics of this event. With that knowledge; who or which group was likely to have been an "ignorant" or "intolerant" fashion? Once you've figured that out, you'll be ready to join the CIVIL SOCIETY.

[john]

I'm sure the counter-demonstrator is glad that he id old enough to have medicare.

[Andrews]

The bankrupt la times calls this criminal thug a"healthcare reform activist"??
Someone took a picture of this happening ,please contact the authorities.

[mbanks]

If people stopped pointing fingers? Would you say that, if this is the case, biting off said fingers is an appropriate reaction?

It's politics! Differences of opinion build social capital.

This proves, however, that the man backs his opinions much more emotionally than logically (a common trait among both wings), and it has lost this man the right to be taken seriously.

[Joe]

The "Moveon Demonstrator" was obviously a plant from one of the Health Insurance supported groups. I mean, if they will let you die by not paying for your needed care, they would think nothing of biting off an old man's finger.
Definitely a plant from the anti's

[RS]

Ummmm...it was his pinky. I don't think he was wagging that in the other guy's face. This is thug behavior. He just "happened" to walk through a counter-protest? Oh sure. He also just "happened" to confront an aggressive 65 year old guy. You figure it out.

[Michael]

Yeah the guy was waving his finger at him...his pinkie finger, are you that stupid and desperate to find a way to blame the right. You progressives are all the same, nothing but cowards and thugs. You don't want to hear any one's opinions but your own and will re-act violently if you don't get your way. I hope the media does not hide this story, the American public needs to know the hysteria and the violent actions of this group. The FBI should be investigating this group.

[Jim]

The democratic party is being used by radical socialists. This is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. The enemy is within and you all are to blind to see it. Get off the political party they versus we dribble. Wake the hell up! BOTH parties have failed this country and as such are rightly to be blamed for their failures. But dont let allegience to a party taint or block your view of truth or reality. They want us to be divided so we cant see what they really are doing. When a President asks the media, artists (NEA) etc to dissemniate his message or influence YOU then we are on our way to facism. Get it yet?

[Postmodern]

When Mike Tyson knew that he wasn't going to be able to beat Evander Holyfield, his mind couldn't handle that reality, so he freaked out a bit off part of Holyfield's ear.

Now that liberals are realizing that they are in a no-win situation with this health care fiasco, their minds can't deal with that reality, so they are biting the fingers off of senior citizens.

[mike]

Is anyone really surprised? The surprising thing is that it is being reported.

[isy marcus]

Brought to you by George Soros. Hey commie....are YOU gonna pay for this? Since it was probably YOU that sent his guy to bite off the other guy's finger!

[MikeL.]

James says "he deserved it" [sic]???? Who's the violent one? So if James' kid keeps looking at me I have the right to slap him because I told him to stop??

More like MORON.org. Charter member I'm guessing.

[shockedItellU]

Did he bite off his "right" or "left" finger? I too, hope he has insurance.

[Carl Naquin]

It's going to get ugly, the longer we go without killing this whole stupid socialism thing.Let's have Medicare and Medicaid cleaned up of all fraud and managed in an efficient manner before we let the government ruin the best health care system the world has ever known.Sometimes it takes more than finger pointing and yelling to get through the thick intolerant skulls of liberals. Obama has the entire economy in the toilet and his hand is on the lever. Those are the fingers that ought to be chopped off before he pulles the handle

[Edward]

Both sides of this argument sound like pathetic whimpering vermin if you ask me. Stop pointing fingers at each other, at politicians, at insurance companies, and start blaming the greedy scumbags who've created this mess: doctors. I used to hate insurance companies, because they are very greedy and you cannot count on them at all to do anything but try to destroy you, but after seeing a doctor charge my insurance $5,650 for removing a small cyst on my arm, I realized that doctors are the problem. Even with insurance I have to pay $830 for something that could've been done by a regular M.D., in a regular office, for a few hundred dollars, even with outrageous markups. This system is absurd, broken, and a complete slap in the face of decent, hardworking Americans. I blame the doctors.

[OG]

If this would of happened in San Francisco, something else might have been bitten off.

[John]

What was that guy's finger doing in his mouth? Was he pulling on this guy's face? I'd bite off anybody's finger if it was in my mouth... Generally speaking one does not grab a hand and start chewing on digits.... Get real!!

[Connie]

The biter needs to go to jail for a long time. Anyone who could bite someone's finger off is capable of doing much worse. He may have infected the old man with anything. If my finger got bitten off by one of those wackos, I would not ask to have it reattached.

[Julia Canipelli]

I heard the story told by Scott who was the bystander who found the finger and took it to the injured man at the hospital. From what I heard it sounded like the Move On.Org person picked out the weekest person in the crown and picked a fight with him pulling him off the sidewalk and into the street where the altercation occurred.

This does not surprise me as to the pro helth care reform group of Moveon.Org. It has been evident in other situations where those who are against Health Care Reform have been accosted by the group. I witnessed a person being elbowed by a pro health care supporter.

This is crazy ... What happened to fredom of expression/freedom of speach. Has the Obama taken that way too?

[dyinginla]

....hope the guy with his finger chewed off had his rabies shot.....

[Roger H Frost]

So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

NAS©

"And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.

Geneva Study Bible

{5} And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

(5) There are three sorts of men in the Church: the one sort fall from Christ whom they do not see; the other, according to their God given position, bestow the gifts which they have received from God to his glory, with great pains and diligence; the third live idly and do no good. As for the first, the Lord when he comes will justly punish them in his time; the second he will bless according to the pains which they have taken; and as for the slothful and idle persons, he will punish them like the first.

The right of representation and self-determination was one of the primary reasons for our Constitution. All our founders were ministers of the Word of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Word is the proven absolute truth. The standards the founders set in place were not there own but inspired by the cohesive gospel truth. The Bible is proven to be truth through scripture interrelated by each of the 66 books of the Holy Scriptures. Our Nation has been guided by the Providence of the Sovereign God of the Universe. This nation is the only government that has not changed forms of government. The Mayflower Compact, the Monroe Doctrine, The United States Constitution, and The Bible are interwoven with each other.

They are a road map for all those that choose to follow. How will you use your free will? Jesus says; "To lose is to gain".

1 John 4: "Perfect Love casts out fear”

The Tea Party Movement is no different than the American Revolution, the Christian Revival Movements of 1735-42, The Prayer Movement of 1857, and 1900; that is seen as The Holy Spirit enveloping God's believing creation to awaken his children to the truth.

God Bless You

[gimmeyourmoney]

The man literally was ging the guy the finger

[martinfrosa]

So many comments, so much ignorance. Some have commented that the older gentleman has Medicare and so he can be treated but others can't because they have no insurance. By U.S. law, no one can be refused emergency treatment at a hospital, whether they have insurance or not. This law was passed during the Clinton era.

Get a little bit informed people.