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Kuster Grabs Bass Staffer’s Camera at Biden Event [VIDEO]

WATCH IT NOW: Candidate tracking gets heated in Congressional race.

 
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This tracker video, via the Charlie Bass re-election campaign, as provided to Patch and shown here in its entirety as presented to Patch, without edits by Patch. Bass campaign tracker video.
Photos (1)

Photos

Its her. Listen to the voice.
Videos (1)

Videos

This tracker video, via the Charlie Bass re-election campaign, as provided to Patch and shown here in its entirety as presented to Patch, without edits by Patch.

A video clip of Democratic congressional candidate Ann McLane Kuster grabbing the camera of a staffer for U.S. Rep. Charles Bass, R-NH, at last week’s Statehouse rally with Vice President Joe Biden is going viral on the Internet after it was posted online by NHJournal.com.

The video purported to show a Bass staffer, later identified by the New Hampshire Union Leader as Bryan Klepacki, tracking Kuster while she was talking with former 1st Congressional District candidate Joanne Dowdell at the Biden event on Sept. 21.

Klepacki, while recording, attempted to get Kuster’s attention on a number of occasions before she grabbed the camera from him. Klepacki requested the camera back and Kuster said, “Nope,” before asking Klepacki if he is harassing her.

“I’m not trying to harass you,” Klepacki stated.

“I’ll call Charlie,” Kuster countered, “and I’ll tell him when you can have the camera back.”

As she walked away, Kuster could be heard saying, “F-him.”

The video tracking of candidates has become a popular phenomenon as rival campaigns attempt to catch the opposing side in an awkward, uncomfortable, or embarrassing moment. 

At the Biden event, the vice president heaped praise on Kuster, saying it had been great getting to know her on the campaign trail. 

Bass addressed the video in Salem on Wednesday, calling video tracking of candidates a "sad reality" but also "the way of life" in campaigns. He called Kuster's reaction in this instance "a little bit unexpected."

Scott Tranchemontagne, a spokesman for the Bass campaign, said in a statement that it is "routine" for candidates to ask questions on camera at events about opinions and political positions.

"There are certainly several people that canvass such events with cameras on behalf of the Kuster campaign," he said. "What makes this incident unusual is that the candidate ripped the camera out of the hand of someone attempting to ask her a question, refused to return it, and then verbally insulted him.” 

In an emailed statement, Kuster claimed that Bass sent the staffer to track her at a public event and "nearly hit me in the face" with the camera during a conversation with Dowdell. 

"I briefly took the camera from him and asked one of my supporters to return it moments later," she noted.

Kuster compared it to the "political bullying by Congressman Bass and the House Republicans (that) has resulted in a failed, do-nothing Congress. Bass's political bullying hasn't worked in Washington and I won't let it intimidate me or my campaign in New Hampshire." She said this kind of bullying is "what politicians do to try and save their political careers" in Washington. 

"I am eager to debate the issues with Congressman Bass in a respectful and civil way, but I won't tolerate the Bass campaign’s attempts to intimidate me," she said.

Follow-up: Political experts wonder: Did tracker cross the line or did Kuster lose her cool?

Bass Addresses Kuster Video Flap

Related Topics: 2nd Congressional District, Ann McLane Kuster, Charles Bass, Joanne Dowdell, Joe Biden, NH Journal, New Hampshire Union Leader, Second Congressional District, and Statehouse

News Flash

9:43 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Shows who she really is.

Attached link is includes the video.
http://granitegrok.com/blog/2012/09/i-know-that-progressive-nh-dems-need-to-take-private-property-away-from-other-to-feel-good-about-themselves

Yes it is Granite Grok. That is the site that Democrats Hate. Democrats don't like it TOUGH.

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David Victory

12:53 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

"Quoting from a BLOG is DUMB!" -- News Flash

Tool.

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Oedipus

10:00 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Not the best response to a provocation. She was wrong, he was wrong. Penalties offset, replay the down.

Celia Brown

9:49 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

That's the Kuster we know so well. This video is a good example of her channeling her inner-Shea Porter at public events. This is yet one more nail in her coffin. Going 0 for 2 for this seat ? CLEARLY NOT SOME I WANT REPRESENTING OUR INTERESTS in D.C. As I've said before, she'll be just another bend-over-the-couch rep voting with Obama, offering no accountability and practicing her elitism by speaking only to the constituents who kiss her ass.... Sorry, we still remember the white trash that improperly representing us in 2008 in the U.S. house.....

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Joe A. (Average)

9:52 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Like your momma always told you, if you want something done right, do it yourself!

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Common Sense

11:43 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

"bend over the couch..." and "white trash..."

Nice terminology. Seems like you're reflecting who you are yourself.

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Atlant Schmidt

1:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Patch's sense of what language is appropriate and what language isn't seems to vary from time to time and poster to poster, doesn't it?

> she'll be just another bend-over-the-couch rep
> constituents who kiss her ass
> we still remember the white trash

Joe A. (Average)

9:51 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I would have done the same thing. That would be really annoying.

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Reggie

9:58 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Not very classy of Ms Kuster. No reason whatsoever for her to act in such a manner. I think she should make a public apology.

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News Flash

10:31 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Shock video: Kuster gone wild! Attacks camera man, steals camera

New Hampshire Journal was first to run this story

http://nhjournal.com/2012/09/25/shock-video-kuster-gone-wild-attacks-camera-man-steals-camera/

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Seamus Carty

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Really. Violence is not the answer...

Mike Healey

11:19 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Charlie would have allowed the camera man to perform a proctology exam on him because he is so passive and bipartisan.

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Mike Healey

11:32 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Finally somebody with some testicular fortitude in that seat.

Common Sense

11:42 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

When I read the brief blurb before going into the story, I thought, "If she's D or R, I'm liking her." I have no idea who she is, but I like her style. If you have a gnat in your face, you swat it, not pretend it's not there or kowtowing to said gnat.

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News Flash

11:56 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The 4 Letter Word Campaign Strategy?

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maribeth schonberg

10:20 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

No four letter word, she said literally "F him".

News Flash

12:18 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The No Klass Kuster Kampaign is Krass

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Mike Healey

1:13 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Now you two have so much more in common.

Bob Jean

12:22 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Extreme Republicans believe that when our daughters are being raped they should lay there and enjoy the inevitable. Charlie Bass thinks that when a camera is put into a womans face so close it is ruining the photo, and so close it's an assault, she should just take it.

Annie Kuster is not the type of woman to stand by and find joy in women being assaulted.

Good for her. She deserves to be in Congress! For our daughter's sake!

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David Pittelli

6:05 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A camera is not a weapon. It isn't assault, or any other crime, to point a camera at someone in a public forum unless it touches the person (intentionally). Grabbing the camera from the hands of its possessor, however, is a crime.

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Seamus Carty

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

"Extreme Republicans believe that when our daughters are being raped they should lay there and enjoy the inevitable."

Really? What makes you think Republicans believe this? Most Republicans would support the victim defend herself with a gun.

Reality Geezer

12:36 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I have seen photos and videos of opponents in ads everywhere. I thought it was illegal to use photos of anyone without their permission???????????

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David Pittelli

9:23 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Well you were mistaken, at least as far as public figures in a public forum are concerned.

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Reality Geezer

2:59 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012

David--so what you are saying is that there are different laws for politicians. Is that another GOP interpretation of the constitution and the law, or just your opinion??

Jackson Jones

12:44 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Well done, Ann Kuster. If they are going to behave like children, it i proper to treat them like children. "You can have you camera back after class" was just the right tack to take.

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David Pittelli

9:23 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A teacher acts in loco parentis, and can legally confiscate contraband at school. A political candidate, even in a nanny state, is not legally our parent, and thus it is a crime for her to grab or confiscate a camera even if she does not like the fact that it is at arm's length from her person.

ToolMan

2:03 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Why was she not arrested for theft ?

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Mike Healey

2:21 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Because she didn't steal anything?

ToolMan

2:34 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mike - she clearly says that she took the camera "briefly" - if she did not have permision to take it then it's stealing.

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ToolMan

2:57 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mike - If I took your wallet without permission is that stealing ? Oh but wait if I have a change of heart 15 minutes later and then give it back it's okay.

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Mike Healey

3:14 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

It depends if I call the police and press charges.

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Joe A. (Average)

3:41 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Are the mints at the checkout counter at restaurants free? She is clearly in the wrong, no one is denying that. However, if the camera man had to ask if she felt harrased, chances are she probably was, even if he didn't mean it. I didn't mean to run that red light officer!
If I were being harassed, I would be angry. I woundn't grab the camera, but what if she (female vs. male) felt it was the only way to protect herself? What if he was going to use the camera as a weapon and commit battery on her, and who can say for sure he wasn't going to? That thing has glass in it!! Dangerous!!
Now change the camera with a knife, I would grab that too if I was a little helpless woman and it was my last resort. Or, maybe, he was stalking her. Stalking in NH could result in a felony. I bet, because she is a woman, she could end up pressing charges equally as punishable.

News Flash

3:14 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wow . Starts as Local, goes Statewide and then National (Huffington Post and Fox)

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David Victory

4:37 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

He was in her personal space. He was being a punk and harassing her. She wasn't havin' it. Good for her.

Actually, with NH's "Stand Your Ground" law, if she felt threatened she probably could have gotten away with filling him full of lead, right?

"Annie get your gun" :)

Seriously though, Ann is a very nice lady and she's happy to talk with constituents if she's approached respectfully.

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Michael Herrmann

5:36 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

This video was not edited by Patch, but it was obviously edited by the cameraman and his colleagues. Otherwise we would know what happened and what was said before and after the clip. As the clip stands, it looks like an unexpected but decisive reaction to annoying and intrusive behavior. Only if more footage appears will we know if the stalker--er, cameraman--was just doing his job, or was being an in-your-face annoyance.

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Tony Schinella

5:39 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

@Michael: Yes, to be clear, we didn't edit the video or add the text. Our asst. regional editor picked up a hard copy of the video from the Bass campaign and uploaded it directly to our site since the other one was blurry and pixelated. The statement from the Kuster campaign seems to be in synch with what we see on the 29 seconds of footage.

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News Flash

11:25 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

@Tony
Just providing info that this was a statewide issue and not just on Patch.

Michael Herrmann

7:23 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Tony, I've been trying to figure out who the Bass tracker reminded me of, and I finally have it. You have kids--are you familiar with the Annoying Orange? Just replace "Hey Annie, hey Annie" with "Hey Apple". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIlbekYCPP4

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News Flash

4:36 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kuster lacks temperament for high elective office

Editorial from the New Hampshire Journal

http://nhjournal.com/2012/09/26/editorial-kuster-lacks-temperament-for-high-elective-office/

If you were to tell me that a Democrat congressional candidate in New Hampshire violently snatched a video camera from an opposing campaign’s tracker and shouted “F him,” I would have bet you it was Carol Shea-Porter. Shea-Porter appears so full of rage and utter disgust for anyone who disagrees with her, it is a small wonder she has yet to be the center of a violent altercation while on the campaign trail.

Instead, that candidate was Ann McLane Kuster, the Democrat candidate in New Hampshire’s second congressional district who doesn’t stop trying to convince voters on the stump that she works well with others.

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News Flash

10:37 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Kuster lacks temperament for high elective office

Editorial from the New Hampshire Journal

http://nhjournal.com/2012/09/26/editorial-kuster-lacks-temperament-for-high-elective-office/

If you were to tell me that a Democrat congressional candidate in New Hampshire violently snatched a video camera from an opposing campaign’s tracker and shouted “F him,” I would have bet you it was Carol Shea-Porter. Shea-Porter appears so full of rage and utter disgust for anyone who disagrees with her, it is a small wonder she has yet to be the center of a violent altercation while on the campaign trail.

Instead, that candidate was Ann McLane Kuster, the Democrat candidate in New Hampshire’s second congressional district who doesn’t stop trying to convince voters on the stump that she works well with others

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David Victory

11:58 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

She's a good-hearted person. She doesn't suffer fools, though; nor should she.

Know what else? She uses her real name and puts herself out there. More than we can say for you, right?

Takes no guts at all to spit criticisms while hiding behind a fake name.

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News Flash

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

She acted like a fool, no question about that.

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News Flash

8:01 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

She acted like a fool, no question about that

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Hilltopper

9:13 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Mr. Victory,

"Takes no guts at all to spit criticisms while hiding behind a fake name."

Funny you and the rest of the "Namers" stand fast with these claims against posters that don't share your beliefs or opinions, but yet you are silent with posters that agree with your beliefs or opinions----say like "Watts" or "Oedipus".

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David Victory

12:21 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

@ Hill

I hear you. It's true that many people here on Patch use screen names - from both sides of the political divide. NF has a tendency to relentlessly attack and harass public figures and those running for office - people who have to put their true identities "out there" in a way he/she will not - which is why I made the distinction.

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Hilltopper

12:53 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012

Mr. Victory.

True but the others do too so how can there be distinction?--otherwise "Hypocrisy"

Charles Hatch

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Kuster wrong temperament not ready for prime time, probably will cost her the election.
There are no redeeming qualities to her actions, none.
Strident politicans have zero credibility.

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Charles Hatch

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Temperament is 101 in any venue.
Ann Kuster got her buttons pushed.
Grace under FIRE. Absent.
The position she is seeking is a United States Congressman / woman.
All others need not apply.
Working with others is critical.

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Charles Hatch

8:24 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ann Kuster is not ready for prime time politics.
Her actions indefensible.
Her buttons got pushed and oh well.
Temperament - Gace under FIRE.
She is applying for the job of an United States Congressman.

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Charles Hatch

8:01 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ann Kustet got her button pushed and her actions are indefensible, she may have just lost the election.

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David Victory

12:22 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

4 posts to say the same thing?

Oedipus

10:00 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012

This is not quite as bad as Scott Browns racist henchmen mocking Elizabeth Warren last week. Why is it that Republicans are always trying to childishly disrupt, antagonize and taunt their opponents?

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Atlant Schmidt

1:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

> Why is it that Republicans are always trying to childishly disrupt,
> antagonize and taunt their opponents?

Because some Republicans are, by their very nature, childish, disruptive, antagonizing bullies. And they demonstrate that every day here on Patch.

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Joe A. (Average)

1:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

It's because Republicans are having a hard time handling their own morality issues and crossing them with a choice they wouldn't have made.

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Atlant Schmidt

1:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

I wonder why my comments are stuck in "Pending Approval" state?

News Flash

4:36 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Krazy Kuster is now blaming Bass. How dumb is that.

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News Flash

1:34 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Krazy Kuster is now blaming Bass. How dumb is that

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kelly longo

11:03 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Give me a break. If you are in politics you should be representing all of your constituents, even if they are Bass supporters. The fact that she was extremely rude fior not even aknowledging the staffer calling her name speaks wonders about what she really cares about. She cares about no-one but herself and what her own party believes. She states that she represnts all of the people of New Hampshire, not just Democrats, that is a complete lie. What a lyong self serving poor excuse for a candidate!

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Jan Schmidt

6:25 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Kathy, the man with the camera was not a Bass supporter. The man was attempting to find a vulnerable spot of the opponent of his employer. If he couldn't find one, he'd make one.

The clip is too short to see how long she put up with the attack on her personal space, it is too muddled to hear his words, and all I can see is a woman who was irritated past endurance by the behavior of an annoyingly aggressive male.

Around the world people are taking this kind of thing to court and winning. The behavior of the man was wrong and so was that of Bass and anyone who condones this treatment of any woman.

kelly longo

11:16 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

What a horrible woman! I am a democrat in New Hampshire and she has lost my vote! Thank you Annie for helping me make my final decision on who I will vote for. My family an I were appauled by your unbelievably un-professional behavior! If you can't keep your cool in this situation, how can anyone espect you to keep in in congress. So again, thank you for helping me and my large extended family to vote for your opponent!

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David Victory

12:32 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Sad.

Kelly, in the post above you say "I am a democrat in New Hampshire".

And in the post above that one you say "she cares about no-one but herself and what HER OWN PARTY believes."

So forgive me, but I smell an elephant pile.

Go Annie!

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News Flash

1:01 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

I agree David. Annie should just GO, home that is.

Jack Wana

11:27 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

Kuster lost my vote, just do not need that kind of temper.

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Jan Schmidt

6:26 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

And another person falls for fake journalism...

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Jack Wana

10:20 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Its Ann Kuster that made a fool out of herself.

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Jack Wana

2:45 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012

Fake Politician on the attack. She was the bully.

s. savoy

8:33 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Wonder how many points she dropped in the polls because of this. has to be a lot

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News Flash

9:21 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

Kuster is a second rate politician.

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Hardy Har Har Har

10:54 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

"Kusters Last Stand"

Hardy Har Har Har

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bob

7:24 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012

Her skin is too thin for politics.

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Barry Pietrantonio

8:41 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

This is part of politics now. Get use to it Kuster! Her behavior is unprofessional. She should know this is what politics is like now.

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