Claude Parrish, Part 2: "Here, Jonathan, Rub My Shoulders."

Today, in our continuing series on God's gift to California politics, Political Muscle brings you the story of Jonathan N. Harris and Board of Equalization member Claude W. Parrish.

Colleague Evan Halper passed along this gem about Parrish, Republican candidate for state treasurer, which is based entirely on a scene in Parrish's government office on April 26. The events are replayed in delicious detail in a workers' compensation claim filed by Harris, an administrative assistant in the office, and by a "Threat Assessment Report" produced by security at the Board of Equalization.

The scene begins with chief deputy Marcus Frishman, Harris and a frustrated Parrish complaining about "all these events that people want me to attend." He warns Harris that nobody represents Mr. Claude W. Parrish at public events.

"Look Mr. Harris, the last person who wanted to go out in the field is no longer here. Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"Yes, sir. You are the board member."

"Yes, I am and don't forget that."

They then turn to discussing a constituent's problem concerning a Social Security card. Harris says he has kept his original Social Security card, and this fact somehow excites the boss. Here is the rest of the scene, according to Harris' account in the documents:

"At this point, Mr. Parrish looked down on me with wild eyes, grabbed me by the shoulders with his thumbs on my clavicle and his fingers over my shoulders and said, 'I have my original psychiatric release papers. Can you believe that?'

"While saying this, he starting pulling me into him and started rocking me back and forth. He then pushed me so hard that I flew backwards off my feet approximately two to three feet into the wall, hitting the thermostat. I did not stumble backwards. I was actually lifted off my feet by the force.

"Shocked and in disbelief, I exclaimed, 'Ouch, you hurt me!'

"Marcus asked, 'Jonathan, are you OK?'

"I replied, 'No, he really hurt me!'

"Marcus then said, 'Too bad you can't give yourself a back massage.'

"Marcus then said, 'Mr. Parrish, Jonathan gives great back massages.'

"Mr. Parrish then sat in the far chair next to the window in Marcus's office and said, 'Here, Jonathan, rub my shoulders.'

"Feeling forced to comply with Mr. Parrish's orders, I placed my hands on his shoulders. At that point, I felt a sharp pain radiating down my back.

"I said, 'This is stupid, you really hurt me.' I immediately withdrew my hands.

"Mr. Parrish said, 'What are you going to do? File a workers' compensation complaint or sue me? This is great. I'm not taking this.' He then started to leave Marcus's office."

Harris did, indeed, file a workers' compensation claim but not a lawsuit. We tried to reach Mr. Parrish, and he has not answered e-mails and phone calls. Frishman declined to comment on the facts of the case.

On June 20, the chief of the Board's internal security and audit division wrote a "Threat Assessment Report" of the incident. She cleared Parrish. The report stated: "It remains unclear if Mr. Parrish pushed Mr. Harris, or if Mr. Harris backed away into the thermostat. Based on witness statements, it appears the incident took place during a brief episode of innocent fun related to the subject matter under discussion at the time.... We do not believe Mr. Parrish poses a threat of physical harm to BOE employees."

It should be noted that after the alleged incident, Parrish turned to Harris and said, according to his statement: "You have been working really hard. You should go home 10 minutes early."

(Photo: AP)