At a campaign stop in Charlottesville, Virginia, staffers for Senator George Allen (R-VA) beat up Mike Stark, United States Marine, University of Virginia Law student, and blogger for Daily Kos.

The issue which gets neglected due to the unseemly and easy-to-sensationalize behavior of Senator Allen’s staffers (and which Stark tries to raise before being assaulted) is Allen’s apparent history as a bully. Allen’s sister, Jennifer Allen, explains in her book Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach’s Daughter,

Possibly hoping to embarrass Senator Allen about similar abuse Allen may have committed against his first wife (the divorce records are sealed), Stark approaches Allen after the speech but is physically barred by Allen staffers. Dismayed, Stark says

Stark is then shoved by one male staffer who tells Stark to leave the building. Stark tries to ascertain whether the staffer has the authority to eject Stark, and the staffer replies he is not a part of the Omni Hotel staff and proceeds to beat Stark with the assistance of a second staffer who places Stark in a headlock. Stark resists defensively (he does not fight back, attempting only to elude his assailants) and shouts at Allen

The first staffer then responds, "Aw, now you’re getting personal” and throws Stark against the corridor’s windows and to the floor. Stark maintains his composure and replies, “I didn’t touch anybody.” Stark stands and the first staffer tells Stark, “You need to move on out of here, now,” shoving him one last time as the second staffer, arm encircling Stark, pushes Stark toward the exit.

Before leaving, Stark says, “If the hotel asked me to leave, I’d leave” and the first staffer (off camera) responds “You getting personal?” Just before exiting, Stark asks “Did he [spit on his first wife]? What do you know?” The second staffer says, “I know he’s a good man” and the first staffer shouts, ”I know you’re a punk!”

The video is a tough break for Senator Allen and his rapidly southward-bound reelection campaign. Stark is composed and respectful. He only asks to speak with Allen and he does not fight back. Allen’s staffers behave atrociously and commence assaulting the peacable if resistant Stark. All the while, Stark clearly states he desires only to speak with his elected representative and that he is confused about why he is being physically abused.

However, my tentacle-wagging at the Senator Allen’s ill-mannered henchmen staffers is not what Allen should worry about. What the Allen campaign needs now is to understand that his thugs cheerleaders have physically assaulted an ex-Marine who from all appearances understands how to put together a lawsuit. In a letter to the Charlottesville-area NBC affiliate, WVIR, Stark states

Trick or treat, Senator Allen. Trick or treat.

Boingboing post: “George ‘macaca’ Allen’s staff beats up blogger at campaign rally”1

Wonkette post: “Allen Staffers Beat Up Blogger, Nation Celebrates”

WVIR article: “Incident at Allen Campaign Stop in Charlottesville”