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GOP Congressman Head-Butts Camera Instead Of Answering Question About Foreign Election Interference
Representative Don Young, of Alaska, really didn't want to answer a question asked by activists from MoveOn.org.
The question?
"Is it acceptable to pressure foreign governments to interfere in our election?"
Several other republican lawmakers avoided answering the activists. Others gave confusing non-answers.
But Representative Young's approach was definitely the most baffling.
Rather than a more typical reply of "no comment" when attempts by his staffer to dodge the questions were unsuccessful, Young evidently assessed the situation and decided the only appropriate course of action was to turn around, walk toward the interviewer and head-butt the camera lens while saying:
"There you go."
The video of the conversation is surreal because this is not a response that someone would expect from a seasoned Federal lawmaker.
MoveOn shared the video of the interview in a tweet.
@cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter Watch Republican Congressman @repdonyoung (R-AK) hea… https://t.co/okHadASgvL— MoveOn (@MoveOn)1572546086.0
They also shared a transcript of the conversation, for those who are unable to follow it in the video.
@cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung TRANSCRIPT: https://t.co/lrhPf0opBR— MoveOn (@MoveOn)1572546547.0
Folks were baffled by the Representative's response.
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung Such an odd response all the wa… https://t.co/k8fiNBbO58— Facts Are Stubborn (@Facts Are Stubborn)1572625449.0
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung THE PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE THE STAFFER INTO OFFICE.— KAYLEE BURRIS (@KAYLEE BURRIS)1572561308.0
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung Hell ya way to go @MoveOn !! Ke… https://t.co/bXbiTp4b7D— Just_jennifer (@Just_jennifer)1572548531.0
@MoveOn @hodgman @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung By not explicitly sayi… https://t.co/x3OpDoObXk— Wildcat (@Wildcat)1572623030.0
Some couldn't help but poke fun at the ridiculousness of the situation.
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung headbutt - a damage-dealing Nor… https://t.co/Qr2us1O3OR— pritty in pristiq (@pritty in pristiq)1572566483.0
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung "Asking the same question over… https://t.co/2KK5eKxjc9— Brad Grissom (@Brad Grissom)1572617510.0
@lauraj55 @MoveOn @tllanes @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung He did what… https://t.co/B0iI926qGt— StayDotCalm (@StayDotCalm)1572559693.0
@MoveOn @cathymcmorris @repgregwalden @RepLarryBucshon @RepBuddyCarter @repdonyoung I especially enjoyed watching h… https://t.co/NU7n8r3oKe— mary ann white (@mary ann white)1572560444.0
Some took issue with describing the action as a "headbutt," but their alternative term doesn't make it any less inappropriately aggressive.
Among the other GOP lawmakers confronted by MoveOn, none would come out and condemn the President's actions in seeking foreign interference in our election. Rep. Young's response may have been uniquely theatrical, but his attitude was consistent with that of the other members of his party.
According to Federal Elections Commission chair Ellen L. Weintraub, seeking interference (informational or financial) in an election is completely illegal.
In a formal statement posted on Twitter, she said:
"Let me make something 100% clear to the American public and anyone running for public office: It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election."
"This is not a novel concept. Election intervention from foreign governments has been considered unacceptable since the founding of our nation."
You can view her full message on Twitter.
I would not have thought that I needed to say this. https://t.co/T743CsXq79— Ellen L. Weintraub (@Ellen L. Weintraub)1560467501.0
Representative Young's bizarre response to an uncomfortable question doesn't disguise the fact that he refused to acknowledge the illegality of accepting or soliciting assistance from a foreign government to win an election.
The book Act of Congress: How America's Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn't is available here.