Romney in air rage scare
Canada’s Globe and Mail reports that Mitt Romney was the target of an unhinged air rager on a flight out of Vancouver tonight. The good news: He kept his cool and is doing fine. The plane turned around and rid itself of the unruly passenger. No such thing as friendly skies anymore. Geez:
Republican politician Mitt Romney was physically threatened by a violent passenger on an Air Canada flight leaving Vancouver this morning.
Mr. Romney, who has been in Vancouver since Friday for the Olympic Winter Games, did not respond to the attack. Instead, he allowed the airline crew to deal with the incident, according to his spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom.
Mr. Romney, 62, and his wife, Ann, were sitting in Row 15 of the economy section of the Embrarer 190 airplane, waiting for the plane to take off when the incident happened.
The man sitting in front of Mr. Romney’s wife dropped his seat back and when Mr. Romney asked him to move it upright for takeoff, the man became “physically violent.” Another report said that the man tried to strike Mr. Romney.
“Gov. Romney did not retaliate,” said Mr. Fehrnstrom.
Mr. Romney was not injured. The pilot returned to the gate and the passenger and his bags were removed by the RCMP.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Obama’s latest campaign angle: I’ve been saving America from wild Republican debts
May 24, 2012 04:33 PM by Doug Powers
37 CommentsSenate finally passes a budget approves bill striking word ‘lunatic’ from federal law
May 24, 2012 11:22 AM by Doug Powers
191 CommentsStammertime: Jay Carney asked if Chicago protests have soured Obama’s support for OWS
May 23, 2012 07:44 PM by Doug Powers
53 CommentsS.E. Cupp, Hustler, and the four stages of conservative female abuse
May 23, 2012 02:13 PM by Michelle Malkin
142 CommentsPig Maher’s boy Bill Burton mocks my support of Hatch challenger Dan Liljenquist
May 23, 2012 11:37 AM by Michelle Malkin
32 CommentsFree speech blogburst: Show solidarity for targeted conservative bloggers; Update: It’s Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day
May 23, 2012 05:59 AM by Michelle Malkin
61 CommentsJaczko the Jerk: Harry Reid’s sexist crony gets the boot
May 23, 2012 05:15 AM by Michelle Malkin
31 CommentsPalin officially endorses desperate, clingy Orrin Hatch; time to rally around Dan Liljenquist
May 22, 2012 11:32 PM by Michelle Malkin
83 CommentsGOP Senators question upcoming $1 million Hawaiian conference for Ninth Circuit Court
May 21, 2012 03:12 PM by Doug Powers
151 Comments
Categories: Mitt Romney,Politics

Pundit & Pundette
» Patterico's chilling account of harassment

Nice Deb
» The Organized Left Now Stalking Romney
NRO
» Unleash Biden!
NewsBusters.org
» Very Annoyed Matthews Rips ‘Horse’s Ass Right-Wingers’ Who Cite ‘Thrill Up My Leg,’ Calls C-SPAN Host a ‘Jackass’

Gay Patriot
» Second term agenda? What second term agenda?









I am glad he is ok.
I hope that passenger goes to jail, not just for attacking Romney, but for attacking anyone.
I hope we learn more about this guy, and if he knew who Mitt Romney was.The libs are unhinged.
My guess is that he didn’t know Romney. Just another drunk being where he isn’t welcome. People tend to settle problems with violence over the past few years and it’s getting worse. Of course, our society and Hollywood doesn’t help.
Don’t miss is point. Perhaps the attacker was a bent-out-of-shape socialist democrat who was unable to book first class seating.
Any bets the man’s name might be Richard Cranium?
I’m struck that the Romney’s were flying essentially in “coach” on a commercial jet.
Nancy Pelosi should take note of that and change her ugly carbon footprint.
*Zero tolerance is the key in these air rage incidents; Maybe next time, instead of returning to the gate, throw the person out at 20k; Word gets out, no more air rage!
Struck, indeed.
This guy would have been a much better choice than McCain for Republicans, despite some serious flaws (“Romneycare” for starters). I would have voted for him, but that’s probably off the table for the future since he let McCain buy him off (or whatever it was that happened that night behind closed doors).
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
That ugly thing is her face, not her footprint….
Romney should have punched his lights out…would have helped his cred./
Given the limited legroom between seat rows, I cannot understand why airlines allow seats to recline at all. I’ve been stuck behind many inconsiderate flyers who have no regard for the passengers whose personal space they ignore. Good for Romney for speaking up!
Wow. If I had Romney’s kind of money, I’d never fly commercial at all. Ever.
Flying is awful. From the moment you set foot in the airport at the beginning of your trip, to picking up your bags at the end.
Can I get an Amen!
There are only two ways for a rich, powerful Republican bigwig to react to such a situation:
1- Let the hired muscle take care of it for you (because fisticuffs are so beneath you).
2- Produce a ridiculously large handgun and shove it in the miscreants face (just to show that you are indeed Republican).
Take that libs!
It’s got to be a case of another right-winger instigating violence in others. I’m sure Romney provoked his attacker into responding the way he did. This is bound to trigger another Olbermann rant proving that the right is the source of all violent speech and actions. There ought to be a law against conservatives and tea partiers being seen in public so this sort of thing never has to happen again.
/sarc off
Joseph Biden’s motorcade runs over Peggy Fleming at the Vancouver Olympics.
Apparently, she’s ok. But how many accidents does that make for Biden and his motorcade? Joe is a clumsy dolt and his klutiness is rubbing off on all who come near him. We need to put him in a retirement home before any more deaths occur.
Why doesn’t the news show that ten strong men rose from their seats and disabled the assailant?
Is it because people are sheep and won’t “get involved” or that people are just sissies and always allow this crap to take place, choosing instead to “bury their heads in the sand” and pretend it isn’t happening?
Perhaps they didn’t want to get involved because they wanted to be “nice” or even because they did not wish to get hurt.
Nevertheless, when anything like this happens we should see the entire aircraft full of passengers and crew out of their seats and disabling the assailant IMMEDIATELY, without beating around the bush, thus establishing who is in control. The “Hint” would be “Not the thugs!”
The particular type of plane mentioned is a commuter type regional jet … being smaller aircraft most airlines don’t even bother with a “First Class” section … those that do have “First Class” on these planes vary greatly between airlines and seat configuration so usually there are only about 8 or 9 seats in the “First Class” section … unlike the full size Boeing and Airbus aircraft with six seats per row these only have 4 seats per row …
Let’s not be like the DU or Daily Kos, here. Fleming and a couple of others were in an SUV in Biden’s motorcade that was rear-ended by another vehicle in the motorcade, apparently due to the slippery road. You can’t blame everything that happens on Biden.
I wish that I could have been there. I would have had the man shining Romney’s shoes.
You know who this benefits?
Mitt Romney. /Hugh Hewitt.
In related news, Sarah Palin has been taking kickboxing lessons.
Keep it classy, Canada! We are so envious of your sophisticated demeanor.
MM, why not a heads-up alert on your page of when you’re appearing on TV?
James Greenidge
Queens NY
@txvet2 (#19) And why NOT? The marxists blame everything on GW Bush, no?
Anyway, I suspect that anywhere Biden goes, trouble is sure to follow. Or accompany…or even precede. It’s not without reason that Mark Levin used to refer to Little Creep #2 as ‘the dumbest man in the Senate’; Biden alone is dragging the entire world’s IQ down. Too late to go into black-hole theory, but I think you get the point.
By the way…found this on FB; it’s not original:
Just heard that the Obama Administration will be honoring the 43rd President of the United States by naming the gap between the tectonic plates beneath Haiti after him. The area will now officially be referred to as “Bush’s Fault”
Can’t determine what “physically threatened by a violent passenger” actually means in this story. Throw a drink on Mitt? Slug him in the noggin? Maybe raise his voice & slobber all over poor old Mitt? So the guy was drunk, loud & stupid, which is not violent. Possibly scary to most, but then, most people are scared of their own shadow anyway.
This is the era of post partisanship
Was the man in front of him Patrick Kennedy?
Dont get me started on the flying public. There’s a way to behave on flights and most well-traveled flyers know its not polite to recline one’s seat until after takeoff. The guy was either a flying dolt or doing it on purpose.
Canada.
I didn’t know Keither Olbermann was even at the Olympics…
Yes, and captured the moment on your cell!
Romney = class.
Yea, she needs to offer a cell text message service. Something like this, “50 time winner of the The Worst Person In The World award to appear on Fox News Hannity at 9:00PM”. I’ll see if I can find Olbermann’s cell number and get him on the notification list. Maybe when he is doing his live show it will go off and he’ll have another thing to cry and rant about.
***
Everyone knows the stewardesses require Seats UP and Belts on prior to take-off. I hope the passengers sue this idiot and he is put on the No Fly list. But don’t count on it with deranged liberals running TSA and Homeland NoSecurity.
texvet2:
Why not. . .they blame Bush for everything.
Kudafa -
Did CAIR send you out with that idiotic talking point? I ask, because they seem to have their own rules about what’s appropriate behavior on airplanes, and so do you.
O, Canada !
True. I blame Obama.
He asked him to put his seat up for takeoff. That is a law. I personally don’t mind when someone puts their seat back because at 65 I have to change the seat position often to keep my back from hurting.
When someone in front of me drops their seatback after takeoff, I have to start Yoga breathing control.
Otherwise, I’m sitting there staring a hole through the back of someone’s head and seething!
Works for me.
Actually, it would be a hoofprint.
Biden motorcade runs over Peggy Fleming?
Just when I thought I couldn’t dislike Joe more…this happens?
lol
Congratulations to Mr. Romney for keeping his head straight. I have no patience with puffed-up ass-wipes such as this and probably would have ended up in hospital having my fist surgically removed from this guys throat.
I have found that properly placed knees will prevent most idiots from reclining their seats.
Keith Obermann does participate in the Olympics. He is a bronze medalist in the Special Olympics.
I keep trying to think of an alternative response for Mr. Romney, but the words “beat down” keep popping into my brain. Trying to remain civilized in the face of uncivil behavior is more than my psyche can handle. Must be my military background.
ECS
Hey! You have to put your seatback up for Take Off, eh, you hoser!
Don’t you remember the debates? Romney clearly stated he won’t make any defensive maneuvers until he consults the lawyers.
A nice photo op tossing the guy onto the tarmac.
Danish #38. Sure would like to respond, but your post is so devoid of thought as to make any sense. Possibly you live in Camp Snoopy, where a cloudy day is a threat to you. I say again, if the guy was drunk, loud & stupid, that does not make him violent. Later reporting indicated he took a swing at Mitt. Totally different event, & not known at the time I posted.
Rather gallant of Mr. Romney, as the offender was invading Mrs. Romney’s space. I find that kind of behavior quite endearing.
Mitt Romney is 62? Geez, he’s terribly well-preserved!
So which university does this nutball take up space at?
Sorta like Airplane! Lining up in the aisles.