Daughter of Billionaire GOP Donor Sheldon Adelson Pushes Democracy Now! Staff, Seizes Camera at RNC

[highplainsdem]

Source: Democracy Now

When Democracy Now! senior producer Mike Burke attempted to interview billionaire casino magnate and Republican donor Sheldon Adelson inside the Republican National Convention, a woman identified as Adelson’s daughter grabbed our video camera, tried to take it into a private suite and then threw the camera to the ground. While Adelson’s daughter first accused Burke of hitting her, she later came out of the suite to apologize. The incident was caught on tape, shortly after Burke questioned another billionaire GOP donor, David Koch, as well as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele. Burke files a report and joins us to describe what happened. [includes rush transcript]

-snip-

AMY GOODMAN: Loud noise was the sound of Democracy Now!'s video camera hitting the ground. Just moments after our senior producer Mike Burke attempted to question the billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a woman identified to the Democracy Now! team as Adelson's daughter grabbed the video camera from the cameraman, Hany Massoud, then attempted to take the camera into a private suite. She then dropped the camera on the ground. Our senior producer Mike Burke joins us to describe what happened. Mike, explain.

MIKE BURKE: Well, we were up on the fifth floor of the Tampa Bay Times Forum. This is the site of the Republican National Convention. And Hany Massoud, our cameraperson, and I—we spent most of the day walking along the hallways where the corporate suites are, you know, trying to find politicians and campaign donors and various other people to speak with. Near the end of the evening, we were walking down the hall, where we see Sheldon Adelson, who of course has played a critical role in this year’s election. He’s already donated tens of millions of dollars, first to Newt Gingrich’s campaign, then to Mitt Romney’s campaign. And so, we attempted to ask him a question, and we got two questions in.

And then what happened, it just—it really shocked me. A woman that was standing right behind Sheldon Adelson, who we later learned that apparently was his daughter, she stopped and then forcibly pushed herself back into me, where I lost my footing. And then, from there, she went over to Hany Massoud, our cameraperson, and actually grabbed the camera. And we were—she was only about two or three feet away from the suite where they were going to be watching the convention speeches. And she attempted to go into the suite, into the door, with the camera. Hany said something along the lines of, you know, "What you doing? This is our camera." And then, at that point, she drops the camera on the ground, and you heard that sound. She goes into the suite, and there’s some commotion outside. We actually have some audiotape—I mean, it’s videotape, but it’s from Hany’s camera. And at that point, we weren’t sure if Hany’s camera was broken or not. And we actually still aren’t sure. I mean, it was—it forcibly fell on the ground. But we have some tape. I think it’s important to hear. It’s a little bit unclear at times who is speaking, but there’s two times in this tape where Sheldon Adelson’s daughter comes out from the suite and actually apologizes to us. And this, of course, is after several—

-snip-

Read more: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/8/30/daughter_of_billionaire_gop_donor_sheldon

---

Full video and transcript at the link.

The incident starts about 10 minutes into the video.

[gopiscrap]

1. What do you expect from the brown shirt party?

[alp227]

12. And if a Democrat's kid did this to the Fox News camera crew

"DNC bad behavior" would be blaring all over the news the next morning. But I wonder if anywhere other than the really liberal media will cover this incident.

[freshwest]

46. Violence is always their first response to being confronted. Well said, gopiscrap.

[Warpy]

2. Low class, just like her daddy

They might know how to cheat people out of enough money to make them rich, but that money will never buy them class.

[Tikki]

3. Why in the hell is she upset?!!

LOSER...


Tikki

[Javaman]

13. They were trying to pull off daddy's mask. nt

[wordpix]

35. Daddy gives 10's of million$ to repugs, you might expect someone wants to get an interview & ask

him why he's supporting such a lying bunch of thieves.

[Zoeisright]

4. Repukes are thugs, bullies, and cowards.

And that becomes more clear every day.

[avebury]

5. Why didn't they call for the police?

Assault
Theft
Destruction of property

Why didn't they insist or pressing charges?

[Iliyah]

6. I am surprise that Adelson a Jewish American

supports such radical ideals, I guess he forgot how WW2 unfairly treated his people huh. Now he is basically spewing that same type of hatred on certain races here in America, and feels his money is more superior than life itself. That is probably one of the reasons his alleged daughter did that. The Adelson are superior and will not accept questioning from peasants.

[Stewland]

47. If you knew the history of Zionism

Zionist history is full of seeming contradictions. At its core Zionism has elements that are nationalistic and racist. Most people are not aware of the whole story of Zionism. Albert Einstein tried to warn fellow Jews about Zionism and its evils because he saw it as being like nazism. Yes ,Adelson is one of the elites and the elites got out of Europe during WW2. That the elites actively worked with Fascists in Germany ,Italy and Spain is brushed aside. There is much to know than I can share here. You can do a lot of reading on this subject. It will surprise you.

[karynnj]

51. No, it is the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, repair of the world, that he forgot - if he ever learned

it.

This value, similar to the Jesuit Catholic value of social justice, is a core value of Judaism and likely - along with the history of Jewish in the labor and civil rights movements, that may explain why most wealthy or comfortable Jews vote mostly for Democrats.

He very clearly has NOT forgotten the Holocaust. In fact, that is likely the root of his version of Zionism which excuses ANY action of Israel - even if the action is against the long term survival of Israel as a Jewish majority democracy.

Peter Beinart, who in the past has mostly annoyed me because of his neocon (or near neo con) positions in the early 2000s, has written a book that explores exactly this. His description of the problem is very good and made me understand more thoroughly the Republican roots of AIPAC. More pertinently, he speaks of the problem of the that generations of American Jews being too focused on the Holocaust to the detriment of teaching Jewish values. (His concern is that Zionism will lose the cream of young American Jews. I consider this to say very positive things about the real values of these young Jews.)

(OT There are two really good chapters on Obama's relationship with a very liberal synagogue and the roots of Netanyhu's militant views.) So, while I completely disagree with most of his recommendations and, in fact, his goals, the explanation of the political/lobbying Jewish groups the contrast of the young generation and the Adelson generation, and these chapters make it a really good book to read if you are interested in this.

[drm604]

7. Sounds like a mugging.

If the description is accurate, at a minimum it has to be assault. They should file a police report and have the woman arrested. Certainly building security should have evicted her.

[Enrique]

8. the creepiest thing for me...

is that, unless I missed it, no other reporters are up in those hallways. Why wouldnt they be? All those big shots. I keep hearing how secretive the Koch brothers are. Well, theres David Koch. If he is so secretive why is no one (except for Democracy Now) trying to talk to him? All the media is down covering the scripted stuff, what is the point of that?

ps I think it is cute that the DN reporter had a hard time with Sheldon Adelsons name. When he asked Gingrich about him, I think he called him Shitstain Edelstein.

[StrictlyRockers]

9. She is an entitled brat who doesn't know how to act in public.

She's spoiled and privileged, and hates to have anything about her questioned.

[Poll_Blind]

10. Sheldon Adelson, the third member of the GOP presidential ticket for 2012:

PB

[wordpix]

36. nice pic, PB, love the art work

[HughBeaumont]

11. Isn't this an assault, and petty theft?

WHY IS THIS ALLOWED WHEN THE WEALTHY DO IT???

It really IS a class war being launched by the wealthy. They're some paranoid fuckers.

[kas125]

14. She should have been arrested. If you or I had pushed a reporter and attempted

to steal a camera and then threw it on the ground, we'd be hauled away in handcuffs.

[DonCoquixote]

30. Considering that htere are so many cops

That even Tampa restaurants are going broke, where the hell are they for this. This girl should be in Orient Road Jail, like anyone else who did assualt and battery. They would fix her REAL quick.

[wordpix]

37. she's probably no "girl" since Adelstein's 80 y.o. - could be 50 or so - pic of her anywhere?

Last edited Thu Aug 30, 2012, 09:13 PM - Edit history (1)

[firehorse]

15. she needs a rubber room and better meds

[Solly Mack]

16. Did you notice Rove speed walking away?

[Cleita]

17. Last time the Democracy Now! crew, including Amy, were arrested when they were reporting on

protests outside of the last Republican Convention. Poor Amy. It doesn't seem long before the jackboots come out with these cretins whenever real journalists are around asking questions.

[Tom Ripley]

18. Did Daddy's Girl learn those moves in the IDF?

[StrictlyRockers]

19. I liked the part where she threatened to hit the reporter.

Such class!

[Stewland]

20. We become that which we condemn

Given this law of mind it is not surprising that a Jew could become Nazi like. I look at Zionism and the actions taken on its behalf to prove this point. True forgiveness as taught in Buddhism and A course in Miracles is the way to stop a vicious cycle.

[sakabatou]

24. ...

[JDPriestly]

31. Hate speech is against DU rules.

Your post assumes that Jews are like NAZIs and then states that is not surprising. Surely you do not intend to slur Jewish people in that way.

Do you really think that Jews are less forgiving or more Nazi-like than say Christians or others?

Jews are members of a religion, perhaps arguably an ethnic group.

Any human being can be rigid, overbearing, "Nazi like."

If you want to do ethnic, religious and racial stereotyping, why not point out how extremely generous Jewish people can be and how much charity they do in the communities in which they live. I am not Jewish, but I am offended by the bashing of Jewish people that I see on DU. The US is the country that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and makes war all over the world. Not Israel.

Please.

[Stewland]

42. You over reach

This is an example. I stand by the point that Zionism is Nazi like. Many similarities in both mind sets.

[Stewland]

45. Not all Jews are Zionist but all Zionists identify with Abrahamic beliefs

The similarities between Nazi and Zionist views are that both mindsets allow for the mistreatment of those deemed less than. In Nazisism it's the Jew that is not part of the Master race. In Zionism it's the Jew that is part of theChoose people. That over six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis is true . That a people called Palestinian have been subjected to harsh and unjust treatment by Zionists is also true. One just needs to look objectively at facts to see that it's true. Sheldon Adelson is a self proclaimed Zionist. This is a fact. That he uses his influence and money to persuade public officials is obvious.

[byeya]

48. Definately agree with you. Thanks for having the courage to post.

How long will the US foreign policy be led around by Likud?

[JDPriestly]

53. I think this is really shamefully biased and over-simplistic:

"it is not surprising that a Jew could become Nazi like"

That was not a statement about Zionists. That was a generalization about Jewish people. It is, in my opinion, out of place on DU.

Replace the word "Jew" with the word "Christian" or "Muslilm" or "Buddhist" or "atheist" or some other group. The statement and the idea behind it are really inappropriate.

Jews are not a group with uniform political beliefs, and the political beliefs of Jewish people are not determined by their Jewish affiliation.

This over-generalization reveals a prejudice that is apparently so accepted on DU that people don't even notice it. Sorry, but I have to point it out.

Historical events can influence how people react to things.

Many Holocaust survivors became very, very tolerant and loving because of their experiences. Very few became embittered and angry. Israel is not seeking vengeance on the Palestinians. It just wants to be accepted as a country. That does not make Israelis NAZIs.

[karynnj]

52. care to look at the history of Sri Lanka?

You are comparing the idealist version of Buddhism as seen by their teachings to the worst elements of Zionist Jews.

Sri Lanka shows both sides of this. There are incredibly kind, good people - some of whom we met when visiting our daughter at the end of her study abroad there where we met the family she lived with for three months. Yet, it is clear that the Tamil Hindus are second class citizens. (Obviously the savage Tamil Tigers are also bad.)

[Lunabelle]

21. The one percent once again steps on the rest of us.

Typical behavior from a spoiled beotch.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Thugs.

When they have a semblance of self-control, they violently prevent stories from getting out.

When their self-control lapses, they tell the truth as Akin, Tom Smith, Ted Cruz and Gabriela Mercer have.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014211633

[penndragon69]

23. The Jack Booted Brown shirts

are out in full force enforcing loyalty and obedience
to the New Fourth Reich dictatorship.

[The Wizard]

25. theft is a crime

according to the Bible and the Code of Hammurabi.

[Smilo]

26. No amount of money can make up for breeding, respect for others

and plain old courtesy.

My Mum always said "breeding will out" - and it looks like Adelson's daughter has no breeding and was raised as a gutter-snipe (a person of the lowest class).

[DonCoquixote]

29. be careful with breeding

The term is used by many to mean bloodlines, as opposed to being raised right. There are many peasants who have more manners than the addelson brat ever will, and many blue bloods that have no class (se.. Harry, Prince of England)

[Smilo]

32. Bloodlines is correct and that is what I meant........

you can have royalty being ill-mannered and the street urchin being well mannered.

Being raised right has nothing to do with status or which family you were born into - as this story shows.

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Another Shanda fur de Goyim.

[Liberalynn]

28. I kept hearing the word

"privacy" being tossed around by the Adelson aide.

Hey when they are literally trying to BUY the Presidency, Adelson and his brat of a daughter aren't entitled to it! If they don't like the spot light they should leave it and take their money with them.

[wordpix]

40. I heard, "she's a private citizen" - yeah but Daddy is buying an election so it's no private matter!

[nanabugg]

33. I feel a suit coming on big enough to stop the fundraising for at least one year! nt

[wordpix]

38. We can only hope

[wordpix]

34. more good behavior from the 1%. Grabbing the camera is theft & deliberately dropping it

is vandalism. So I hope Democracy Now files charges, esp. if the camera is busted

[PA Democrat]

39. Fascinating comment by one of the staffers on that video.

I believe it was one of Adelson's people who was asking the Democracy Now people to just drop the entire issue by saying something to the effect of 'you know he (Adelson) is paying for all of this.'

These people are disgusting.

[wordpix]

41. "he [Adelson] is funding all of this" - what is "this?" The entire convention?

The reporter says this at the end of the interview with Amy but I didn't really get what he was referring to by "this."

[PA Democrat]

43. Adelson has stated that he is willing to spend $100 million to defeat Obama.

Maybe "this" is the election of Mitt Romney?

[wordpix]

44. that's another possibility I thought of, too

[jillan]

49. Spoiled little brat!

[Blue Owl]

50. The GOP -- a bunch of peanut-throwing, knuckle-dragging mouthbreathers...

...who find deep meaning from a demented senior citizen talking to an empty chair...