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James48

(4,427 posts)
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:39 PM May 2016

West Virginia state Senate candidate, a veteran, brutally beaten

Source: MSNBC

West Virginia state Senate candidate Richard Ojeda was brutally beaten during a cookout Sunday — just two days before his primary — and nearly run over with a pickup truck, Ojeda told NBC News.

Jonathan Stuart Porter, 41, was in custody Sunday. State Trooper Zachary Holden told NBC News he was being held on suspicion of malicious assault, malicious attempted assault and felony destruction of property.

In an interview from his hospital room in Charleston, Ojeda, 45, a Democrat and military veteran whose primary contest is Tuesday, said he had been at a barbecue in the mountains about 60 miles southwest of Charleston when Porter asked for a bumper sticker.

Ojeda, who said he has known Porter since they were kids, placed one on the rear bumper of Porter’s truck. Then Porter asked for a second one on the vehicle’s front grill.

“That’s all I remember,” Ojeda said. “When I woke up, my head was on a tree stump covered in blood. Everyone was looking at me.”

Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/west-virginia-state-senate-candidate-veteran-brutally-beaten



Violence against democrats.
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West Virginia state Senate candidate, a veteran, brutally beaten (Original Post) James48 May 2016 OP
Weird. "he has known Porter since they were kids" MH1 May 2016 #1
Wonder if Porter is part of the "nepotism"? 7962 May 2016 #3
"Known" != "Liked" Ready4Change May 2016 #8
Nearly run over should be attempted murder, IMO 7962 May 2016 #2
This would be national news, leading the story for the day if it was a Repug. lark May 2016 #4
I agree... ReRe May 2016 #5
True! nt Duppers May 2016 #6
Strange story! red dog 1 May 2016 #7

MH1

(17,573 posts)
1. Weird. "he has known Porter since they were kids"
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:44 PM
May 2016

Could this be more a local feud sort of thing than a "violence against Democrats" thing?

After reading the article, Ojeda doesn't think so, but it might be more a specific policy approach (er, corruption) than a party thing:

Aside from a brief comment about the brass knuckles, Holden said, Porter refused to talk to authorities. A motive for the assault remained unclear, he said.

To Ojeda, however, it was clearly premeditated — and it was all about politics.

Citing what he described as the intense poverty, corruption and nepotism that plagues the region — and his campaign for transparency and good government — Ojeda said: “The moment you start asking questions, you become public enemy number one.”


IF he's right - IF - it's hard to imagine that Porter decided to do this all on his own. Hmm.
 

7962

(11,841 posts)
3. Wonder if Porter is part of the "nepotism"?
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:46 PM
May 2016

doesnt want his golden goose taken away?
All speculation for now. Hopefully there will be a followup story

Ready4Change

(6,736 posts)
8. "Known" != "Liked"
Tue May 10, 2016, 05:05 PM
May 2016

I can think of people I've known, but not been in agreement with, or felt safe around.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
2. Nearly run over should be attempted murder, IMO
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:44 PM
May 2016

The guy must be nuts, since they've known each other for years!

lark

(23,061 posts)
4. This would be national news, leading the story for the day if it was a Repug.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:51 PM
May 2016

Since it's a Dem, crickets.

ReRe

(10,597 posts)
5. I agree...
Tue May 10, 2016, 03:08 PM
May 2016

... my son asked me if I heard about this yesterday evening. It was hard to believe since I had been on DU all day and night for days. I guarantee you it was political. Back-country political, which is right-wing political. There's some strange psychology going on in the hills. I know, I lived through it for a while. There's almost no figuring it out, either. Hope a sharp investigator gets the case and his hands on the perpetrator.

red dog 1

(27,771 posts)
7. Strange story!
Tue May 10, 2016, 04:27 PM
May 2016

I wonder what Porter's political leanings are?

I hope he gets serious jail time, and not a "slap on the wrist"

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