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

[rick majors]

Some of you people are sick. MoveOn comes out with this inane statement of not condoning violence, and just look at how many of you on this post are in favor of it. Calling an old man that get's his finger bitten off "lucky" that he had medicare, or saying that he deserved it. You liberals will stop at nothing, not even terrorism, to get your agenda through. You claim the opposers are the intolerant ones, and then shout this man down for disagreeing with you and blame him for getting his own finger bitten off. Who are the intolerant ones. You claim to want to help the uninsured, but if you look into your hearts I think you'll see what I see, you just want it YOUR way, and you want to control the rest of us and our wealth. Thank goodness we still have the middle of this country to keep you leftists balanced and outnumbered.

[WeThePeople]

Just by reading the headline I figured it was an Obama supporter...It's no surprise that liberals have an 82% higher rate of illiteracy than conservatives!!!

[Joe S.]

Typical leftist.

[Dumb Lemming]

Because of this, I no longer remember that corporate insurers are screwing us all over. It feels good.

[Bigglesworth]

This statement from MoveOn is utterly ridiculous! They have been promoting hatred unlike all but a few outlets, and this is the inevitable result of it. When the first town hall meetings began, angry citizens voiced their concerns, only to be painted as organized groups by groups like MoveOn and Huffington and MSNBC. The reality, which these media groups have understood all along, is that the citizens were just angry, but the minute the MoveOn-type thugs started showing up, THAT'S the minute the violence began! Very few people are fooled by MoveOn and their ilk being the only ones guilty of the very thing they accuse the other side of. It's the same as the people who conveniently criticize FoxNews with no example or proof, while news stations like MSNBC are guilty repeatedly of the very charges that were leveled against their opposition. None of it really matters anyway, because what MoveOn and all their friends have done is simply to win the battle and lose the war. Obama and all the liberals had an unprecedented opportunity to leave a great name and legacy, but instead they all went wild and destroyed their future with the enormous Independent open-minded populace of this country for decades to come. THEY have guaranteed that Obama will be a one-term president and that all of the Senators and Congressmen will be tossed as soon as possible, as thoroughly as possible. Americans will NEVER allow these jack-booted thugs to tell anyone what to do in the long term. By being selfish and uncompromising, and by being completely deceitful, MoveOn and their friends have done more damage to their causes than they can even begin to realize!

[Robert J.]

"tens of thousands" ??? you included this shill's false claim in your article as though it was a given...as if it was understood to be a trivial statistic that wasn't even in question. It's an outright LIE! Your organization is a disgrace to real journalists

[Chris]

Is this the new selling point for proponents of Obamacare?

"Obamacare; Because if one of our guys bites off your finger, you'd wish you had it"

[Rich]

politickybitch,
First of all, you don't even have the GUTS to put your name on your post and maybe I'm ignorant but how in the hell do you lose a finger by punching somebody. Please explain. Oh yeah but you can't there's no holes in your belly so you can't see the outside world. PS. hey monica I found all the leftys they're eating fingers since they can't shop at whole foods anymore.

[QUESTION_AUTHORITY]

SOYLENT GREEN FINGERS?

[cc]

Whoever the IDIOT was that said the man might have deserved it for 'wagging' his finger in front of the other should be permanently removed from this site. There is NO and i mean NO excuse for what that individual did. I don't care how heated the debate got or how strongly they might have felt. To excuse or condone that action displays your complete and total ignorance. You are pathetic.

[wheeljc]

WOW! Talk about 'biting off the hand that feeds you'!!

Obama came into office with more good will than any president — at least since JFK. It has been squandered, and will take a lot of time and effort to rekindle the support — if at all. Just note Gallup; Zogby; Rasmussen; and even Real Politics average polls! It is now a matter of TRUST -- or lack thereof!!

One of Obama’s major problems is that he delivers way too many speeches, but NOTHING OF IMPORT HAPPENS – in fact, they get worse!! He seems to not listen to the American people – just like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. WHY SHOULD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LISTEN TO HIM??

TEAM OBAMA IS AFFLICTED WITH ‘FIRE, READY, AIM’ SYNDROME!

They fire before they are ready; and forget to aim until they see they missed the target.

This is true of their:

*Cabinet selections: tax cheats, and the attorney general calling us cowards

*Stimulus Package (are YOU STIMULATED YET??)

*TARP additions (WOW — what a deficit trick! What will happen when China quits lending us money?)

*Appointment of near three dozen czars – some with dubious backgrounds and motives. Where is Congressional overwatch??

*Foreign Policy miss steps (the UK did not even think enough of us to seek council before releasing a terrorist responsible for PAN AM Flight 103. We lost 180 Americans!! What good did Obama’s apology tours do for our status in Europe??)

*Cap & Trade (Where will US jobs go with this giveaway? China? India?)

* …and who can forget his Professor Gates moment, followed by his beer reconciliation?? At “teachable moment??” What did you learn??

*Cash for Clunkers (when will the dealers be paid????)

*and Health Care Reform! (Are you really willing to turn your and your families health care over to this bunch -- who relishes crises?? Do you really know what Obama wants in a health care bill?? Do you really know what it is going to cost you and your children in the out years??)

*Hinting that they are planning to restrict freedom of speech (fairness doctrine) and control the Internet

*Additionally, this crew is making major errors in policy in Afghanistan. The Obama 96 Hour Rule (turning over captured prisoners to the Afghans within 96 hours of capture) is going to cost lives. If Obama is not committed to WIN, then we should come home and not waste lives. This will be Obama’s Vietnam, because it is OBAMA’S POLICIES!! The Taliban must be laughing their heads off!!

*And now – before perhaps his biggest speech of his administration on Sep 9, he will be talking to school kids on Sep 8!! Curious at best! The problem is, there is a lack of trust of his motives!! What will he say, and why now?

*And for each goof, the response is: “Well, this is what George W. Bush left us!” Is he simply not up to the tasks at hand? That refrain is now a reminder that we made a BIG, BAD, MISTAKE IN NOVEMBER 2008. This is the most arrogant bunch I can remember, and I am 70+, and WAS a supporter!!

They simply FAIL TO PLAN! Then, blame their shortcomings on someone else — usually the bad hand ‘Bush handed them’. This crew is really making the James Buchanan Administration appear to be geniuses!

[NRA]

Too bad there wasn't any guns at the anti-socialist government rally! Can anyone say self-defense?

[PA]

"the anti-reformers do not know how to have a discussion about this topic."

And the side that bites of fingers does, right? I will keep this in mind next time I encounter an Obama brownshirt.

[Jay]

[quoted from the moron below]
"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."

Are you a complete and utter moron? THE FREAK BIT A 65 YEAR OLD MAN'S FINGER OFF!!!

Who is it that is ignorant and intolerant? An old man wagging his finger? Or the man that BITES IT OFF!!!

You are an imbecile!

[Gollum]

Yesss..... that's right precious, we bites the fingerses off!

[melody, Snohomish, WA]

It is obvious the vast majority are making comments, without putting much thought into it. The health care reform that the President is trying to create is economically truthfull. For most American families, the price of healthcare is eating up any extra money they may have left over. The charities can only help so many. Are you willing enough to pay the bills of your neighbors if a health crisis strikes them? Are you willing to pay the premiums for your neighbor. Are you willing to pay higher taxes if the state has to take on more responsiblity for covering the bill for people who have no health insurance? What about those of us that are paying sky rocketing premiums. We are looking at a total collaspe of the economy, due to lack of insurance here in America. Which is totally a slap in the face. And as far as biting off the finger, it was probably being wagged in the face of the biter, where it should have not been. No excuse for the biter, but the old guy was probably annoying him. Many of these people are the republican plants. Just like death panel palin!

[Sicko Liberal Pigs]

Why does it not surprise me that the "my rules" must rule fools on the left would become violent? Three-year-olds bite because they have yet to learn how to express their angry. It sounds like this idiot needs to go to preschool to learn sensible ways to handle his angry. I hope they find him and FOX investigates him to the hilt.

[chris kundert]

Since we are the ones (those with jobs) who will be stuck paying for insurance for those who are too lazy to work, maybe the Obama supporters should remember to
"not bite the hand that feeds you"

[bob]

So people "deserve" to have a finger bitten off? I cannot believe the victim is being attacked! I wonder what other forms of physcial abuse/violence James would support? I'll bet he'd deplore this act if it were perpetrated on a Gitmo detainee! I suppose the Obamacare supporter proved his own tolerance by biting off another man's finger?

[jl]

Really classy people, these welfare babies who are to lazy to work, but have time to commit violence against lawful protest! Obama is not gonna make his devious plan work!

[richard]

(james)- Wasn't it obama who said to get in their face. Just asking?

[RepubADem]

I was a democrat. I am now an independent leaning toward Republican. I am appalled at the violent, sarcastic and "CONSERVATIVE" nature of the new democrats. Yes I said conservative. A liberal believes that 'I may not agree with anything you say but I will fight to the death to allow you to say it." A conservative says if you try to say anything I disagree with I will try to kill you or in this case bite off your finger, or shove you or knock you down etc. The new democrats are very CONSERVATIVE. Do as they say or get a union thug on your doorstep.

The new democrat President even tried to get anyone’s email if they disagreed with him. This is just how bad the new democrats are.

[Contango Joe]

Does anyone else feel just a tad disturbed at the MoveOn job title of "director of political advocacy"? Very 1984, very communist, very propaganda laden! That title alone shouldn't have any place in American culture today. It suggests subterfuge and darkness. MoveOn is a very very distasteful group of people. Decency among people died when these groups came on the scene. I would be ashamed to have anything to do with people and groups who thrive on division and deception and power hunger and selfishness like this. These are the elements of a weakened American that I will be voting against perennially from this point forward.

[more now]

Who knew Mike Tyson supported Obamacare?

[M]

MoveOn.org, and Obama supporters, do not want a debate. They don't have any facts. When you talk with them they get angry, call you names, or attack you.