A conversation about economics outside a New Hampshire polling place ended with a teenage Turning Point activist getting slapped. Apparently, asking someone to explain his preferred tax policy was more than this particular discussion could handle.
Rainer Vesey appeared on Fox News alongside his brother, Asher, to describe Tuesday’s confrontation with 70-year-old Stephen Redic, who was later arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges.
According to Asher, the brothers were handing out buttons and stickers when they offered Redic an “I voted” item after he finished voting. What followed was not exactly a quick exchange of pleasantries.
“It ended up into a place where he pulls out his phone, and he’s like, ‘Hey, I’ve got something you guys might appreciate, and I want to read to you.’ And it was this five-minute-long essay about economics.”
Asher described their discussion as a “very cordial, calm conversation,” although he said Redic sometimes “got very passionate and loud.” Rainer said he pointed out the increasingly aggressive tone.
“I even called him out on it at one point. I was like, ‘You’re getting a little bit aggressive,’” Rainer said.
According to the brothers, the conversation turned to Elon Musk and taxing the wealthy. Asher said Rainer asked how much taxation would be enough, using a hypothetical in which someone with a trillion dollars lost half to taxes. That was a debating example, not an established statement about Musk’s wealth.
The brothers said Redic repeatedly responded that he did not know. Rainer then challenged whether he knew much about the subject, and the exchange escalated. A demand for a specific number apparently did not improve the mood.
“That’s where you see the clip where he’s like, ‘You are being rude.’ He said, ‘You don’t know who the f I am,’ and got in my face and gave me a backhand to the jaw,” Rainer said.
Rainer still managed a joke afterward: “Some people have said that I’ve got kind of a sharp jaw, so I think the better question is, you know, maybe check in on him to see if he’s okay. Maybe I hurt him.”
“We’re definitely pressing charges,” Rainer said. He also reported receiving death threats after advertising a church movie night featuring a film about Young Washington.
“This has gotten out of hand,” he said.
Political disagreement is part of public life. Physical violence is not a substitute for an argument, and neither is threatening people over a church movie night. Citizens should be able to volunteer, discuss taxes, and disagree without wondering whether the next response will be a hand to the face.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
