Bullies Should Be Punished.

In a cowardly act of unprovoked violence, a volunteer for the Rand Paul campaign participated in an act of thuggery that would have made Hitler's Brown Shirts proud.

While other Rand Paul supporters held down Lauren Valle, a 23 year old activist who'd been demonstrating along side Paul's appearances, Paul Campaign Coordinator Tim Profitt stomped on her head.

From the AP report:

"I'm sorry that it came to that, and I apologize if it appeared overly forceful, but I was concerned about Rand's safety," Tim Profitt told The Associated Press.

A judge will decide whether Profitt should face criminal charges.

Since Valle had protested along side Paul's campaign before without threat to his person, we hope that the judge throws the book at Profitt.  Not only was it an unwarranted attack, it's a subversion of our political process, which is designed to support - if not actually encourage - voters' rights to express dissenting opinions.

Here you can watch as a crazed mob forces her to the ground, and see Profitt stomp on her:

As you can see, it was no accident.  Profitt puts his foot down on her not once, but twice, and shoves her head into the concrete sidewalk.

Rand Paul and his campaign were quick to dis-associate themselves from this scumbag, and with good reason: this an occasion where comparisons to Nazi tactics is all too appropriate. The only thing missing were actual jackboots: the thuggery was all too evident. 

Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton said Profitt's actions were unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

"The Paul campaign has disassociated itself with the individual who took part in this incident, and once again urges all activists — on both sides — to remember that their political passions should never manifest themselves in physical altercations of any kind."  -AP report

While we approve of Paul's follow-up, we must examine the fact that this is the kind of supporter he attracts: we can be willing to accept Paul's assertion that he does not approve of this kind of action on his behalf, but the fact remains that these were his supporters, and their behavior was abominable.

Tim Profitt didn't just beat up one demonstrator; he attacked the fabric of our democracy, and he should bear the full brunt of the consequences of his wanton act of violence.