I do hope the DA's office is contacted.

I am sure this whole thing is gonna help No on 8, so lets hope it is followed through on. I just saw the video on the news, that is some damning evidence.

On a completely different note, this is some funny shiz.

http://www.facebook.com/inb...>www.youtube.com/watch

Yes, the video shows Mettler punching and kicking at someone who is partially obscured, but if the news is correct, both sides were being antagonistic. It was reported that the No on 8 side defaced Yes on 8 signs and Mettler was attempting to retrieve those signs when the person attempted to stop him. Not exactly non-confrontational there. Mettler should not have resorted to violence, but it is not as if he went and randomly attacked a No on 8 supporter.

Granted, but I was told the altered signs were brought from the No on 8 side, which would mean Mettler had no right to remove them. Even if they had originally belonged to the Yes on 8 side, they left them there after they walked across the street to protest and set up camp. Whatever the case, punching someone is not warranted for such a small bit of agitation. There was no provocation from the 21 year old, he was simply putting his hand over Mettlers to prevent him from removing the sign.

Granted he shouldn't have put his hand over Mettlers, but when you are a public official you should know better than to hit anyone, let alone a someone half your age.

Its really hard to preach intolerance from a position of Christ, when you are punching people, no matter how confrontational people can be.

First of all, let me say that I am a proud NO on 8er!  I was part of a group that was participating in a NO on 8 visibility rally down the street at Stine and Ming when we heard the news about Ken Mettler.  Several of us decided to come on down and lend support to the cause at Stockdale and California, and what a kick in the pants!  Y'all are fabulous out there.

Now, let me add some observations.  Was Mettler provoked?  There are arguments that will say so, but honestly, if someone is saying leave it alone, that's mine, then let it go.  In the grand scheme of things, if someone is die-hard Yes on 8, he or she is going to vote that way, regardless of a sign.  A few signs with the yes changed into no are not going to confuse an informed voter who has done the research and knows which way he or she is going to vote.  And if that sign really is enough to make someone confused so that s/he accidentally votes no rather than yes, frankly, that person is too stupid to vote anyways.

This is not to say that there was no provocation going on tonight.  I have to urge people to remember to remain calm!  I have no problems with shouting NO ON 8 even louder than they can -- we even drowned out their bullhorn.  Go us!  I see no prolem with cheering and waving when one of our many supporters waves, honks, and or gives us the thumbs up.  And hey, to the couple of guys who drove by and showed us their wedding rings, WOO HOO!  Congrats!  Now as I've said before, grab a sign and get your butt out here! 

I do think that the police were right to try to separate the groups.  As much as I hate what they are saying, if we are honestly in favor of civil rights, then we HAVE to acknowlege their right to say their piece.  The best we can hope for is that Prop 8 is defeated.  If not, however, all is NOT lost.  The proposition IS in violation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and one day, just as with black/white marriage, the Supreme Court will recognize that civil rights are NOT a voting issue.

In the meantime, as Dr. Martin Luther King urged all of his supporters continually, please keep your emotions under control.  Do not fight back, even when provoked.  If they want to take your signs, let them.  They can not take your conviction or your spirit, and signs are pretty darn easy to make.  Let's keep the peace out there, folks.

Solid points Kerrie, violence of any kind is not acceptable, but unfortunately it happens. With such a difficult subject, emotions are riled up and people get out of control. I saw the tape and I saw that those people were no fan of Mettler, they were not hiding it. However, to punch or kick anyone, especially when you are trying to come from a position of religious compassion, is always going to be a bad move.

I have spent my life being called some of the most clever names in the world and I never punched or kicked anyone, I usually wrote them down as insults to call my friends!.... which is probably why my friends hate me.... If I can handle a childhood of names, Mettler should be the stronger as well.

Whatever the case, all the name calling in the world doesn't validate a grown man punching anyone. We all need to remain clam, rational and ahead of the game. Provoking people is usually a way of getting them to lose their cool and do something stupid that they will regret. I am sure Mr Mettler is going through that as we speak.

And you are right, this is far from over. This very well may the start of a federal ban on marriage discrimination. I can only imagine the day that comes into play, those in favor of this ban are going to feel foolish for opening that can of worms.

Spartan, I am with you on the idea that there is no provocation for punching someone in the face (OK, well, we can debate about self-defense later!).  But be careful attacking Christianity and the God made me do it defense.  The defense is going to be -- and according to the updates I've already seen on the Californian here, already IS -- provocation and the idea that he was attacked first.  Um, try again, Mr. Mettler.  Grabbing someone by the hand to stop him taking something away from you is NOT assault, and it is not provocation for hitting and kicking someone.  You'd be better off simply saying that you made a bad decision in the heat of the moment and that you're sorry.  But go ahead and take the tack you're taking, please!  All it does is make you look stupid.  Of course, I don't want to help that side...  Um, never mind, sir.  You were provoked.  Absolutely.  That's your story, and you're sticking to it. 

Ha ha. I say we let them try and sort this mess out. Whatever reason they use to defend their actions they still have a "family values" campaign chair punching someone half his age. Whether it was an act of god or provocation, the man just took a steaming dump on his credibility.

I like to think its an act of god. Although I don't believe in god necessarily, i like to think gods on our side and moved Mettler to make an ass of himself to further our cause.

Quite the unbiased source.  Having been acosted more than a few times while out supporting the YES on Prop 8 side, I can more than vouch for the unruley and immature actions of the "NO on Prop 8" kids out on the corner.  Just last weekend, I was assaulted along with my friend by a group of these hoodlums.  These people that attacked Mr. Mettler, usually partake in smoking marijuana, drinking, and defacing "YES on 8" signs.  I've witnessed it, as I've been in the middle of it all.

You aren't fooling anybody Spartan,  I'll always remember when I was in the presence of you "NO on Prop 8" ,"Anti-America" crowd, I'll remember being told that my cousin who died fighting in Afghanistan, "deserved to die" and was "most likely a homosexual."  Classy.  These same people who stated, "America hasn't done snap! for me" are now trying to say they are innocent and didn't attack Mr. Mettler.  I wouldn't believe a word out of their mouths.   You can even hear in that video provided, "Hit him"  "Old man is going to get his ass kicked" 

P.S.  That doesn't help your accusations ;]

YES on Prop 8.  NO on attempting to drag Mr. Mettler's name through the mud.

Uh... what does that have to do with a grown man punching someone half his age? If I shouted "kick his ass" would you punch someone? Are you incapable of controlling your own actions?

I am sorry that you were supposedly accosted by the "no on 8" side, but its safe to say those words never turned to grown men punching kids. Remember, it was this silly movement that decided to come to California and start mandating who can marry who,. You are not the defenders here, you are the aggressors.

I am sorry you lost someone in the war, does this make you more American than I? I have lost two of my childhood friends in Iraq and they were both gay, the funny thing is they were under the impression they were protecting our rights. It seems they died to protect your right to remove rights from others, that my friend, is un American. You can convince yourself that you are protecting marriage, but you don't get the liberty to be called a true American, when you are anything but. The KKK also supports this prop... you have some real great company there, considering they are such a "pro American" group.

This "anti America" nonsense is for simple people who lack the ability to step out of their shoes and understand how their actions affect others. It isn't 1943, this patriotic nonsense doesn't work anymore. Especially considering all your Yes on 8 signs were made in China.  Cheap bastards maybe, but real Americans, no.

The idea that you have convinced yourself that stripping people of their rights is the "pro American' thing to do is utter nonsense, how delusional do you have to be to consider an attack on the constitution to be American?

Young kids spouting words is much different than the Chair of a "family values" campaign punching people. What does smoking weed or drinking have to do with anything? Are you a Quaker? Are people not allowed to do what they want with their bodies? Will you legislate that next? Ted Haggard was snorting drugs and screwing men, while he was preaching to the mindless sheep about the sins of homosexuality. Not very "family values" oriented, does that mean he isn't an American?

You are more than welcome to try and deny us our civil rights. You are welcome to watch your churches money be spent on fruitless campaigns and pointless amendments and you are more than welcome to realize history is not on your side. When all is said and done, marijuana and drinking are the last thing you need to worry about. The gays are coming to town my love and we aren't going anywhere.

Learn to love thy neighbor and respect their civil liberties or spend your life fighting a battle you wont win. God is tired of you using religion to punish people and she is pissed.

 Check out this discussion

Having been present at the protests tonight myself along with Spartan, I can tell you all that yes, there was definitely a small amount of tension within the air.   Both sides felt their voices needed to be heard and neither was thrilled to be sharing the public platform of a street corner.  However, all in all, the protest was quite peaceful.  Unfortunately, Mr. Mettler's actions disrupted that peace quickly.  All witnesses to the event stated that Mettler clearly was in the wrong here.  The young man who was accosted by Mettler did not brag or embellish the events and all stories reported and discussed, line up with one another.  Sadly, despite descriptive accounts, witnesses, news reports and a publicized video recording, some individuals feel that we are stuck in the middle of nothing more than a childish game of finger pointing and name calling while the real issue is being ignored.  That being said, shizzzz!  That ol' fool's goin' down after he laid the smack down on that kid.  Shooooot.  Hmmm...was that too urban?

By urban, do you mean black?

And by black do you... hey.. where's my wallet?

All that hippy bongo playing, tie-dye and long hair.... that was either video from Woodstock or Berkley... WTF?

Sadly not all social activists have great taste in music or clothing. Yet, to be fair... the yes on 8 people dressed like old white folks who haven't shopped anywhere but Macys in years. I cant tell you how many short (and I mean short) jean shorts I saw with men wearing socks with their sandals.....ewww

Plus the video couldn't have been from Woodstock, I think Mettler would have been to young to be punching random people. That and they didn't have video back then... or did they.. hmmmm...

A few years back,Measure E was over-turned by an L.A.Judge and L.A. continues to transport sludge into Kern County...Prop 8 was voted on years ago..and once again Judges overturned the peoples votes....do you really think it's worth working yourself up into a lather over something that's going to be overturned in some courtroom someday....so much for the power of the people's vote...

 These people that attacked Mr. Mettler, usually partake in smoking marijuana, drinking, and defacing "YES on 8" signs.  I've witnessed it, as I've been in the middle of it all.

HAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAHAHAAAAAAAA

HAHAAAAAAAHAHAAHAHAAAAAAAHAHAAAHAHAA

ROFL

ps. if that were actually true I would TOTALLY wanna hang out with these guys, but it isn't.

psspsp. I have been so tempted to just walk around and put a H in front of the 8. Has anyone else seen this done?

I would offer more to the argument but to be honest I have a really hard time even taking the yes on 8 people seriously enough to converse with them. It is like they are stuck 50 years in the past, and regardless of anything they do they are now obsolete. Time will wipe them out, and prop 8 wont pass obviously.

Disgusting behavior. Completely WRONG. Doesn't matter if the other side was trying to provoke him. You don't resort to violence. That is not how a civil society resolves its differences. That is not how to behave in a functioning democracy. That is not the way of Christ. For someone who claims to be a community leader, it's doubly wrong. He should step down. He's just set an appallingly bad example for every citizen in Kern county and every kid in KHSD.

  Tridge --  "Time will wipe them out"  Where is Sodom? 

As clearly shown on the video, Mr. Mettler's jacket sleeve was covering his WWJD braclet at the time he failed to turn the other cheek.

I've stated several times that I would not get a picket sign and join a mob to express my views. For several reasons.

Yeah, I know, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech...also means freedom to be stupid.

RE: the children.  Both sides could learn from this.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

dcs...   any place where a woman can show her ankles in public.

Tridge --  "Time will wipe them out"  Where is Sodom? 

Where are any number of mythical towns?  Where's Atlantis?

I believe it would be difficult for anyone these days to walk away when being pushed and threatened with "gonna get his ass kicked" comments.   Being a Christian doesn't mean not being a man.  Just ask Goliath. Problem is we are all having our diffences shoved down our throats on issues we shouldn't even be voting on to be honest with you.  Until we stop focusing on our differences and realize we are all people on this planet and we are all human beings and that if we don't start coming together and working together, no matter what our beliefs, then we are doomed to repeat history, ie. The Roman Empire.  Let us not forget the sexual immorality and debauchery that was occuring during Rome's heyday in the day of Emperors.  That's real history (in case you don't believe in the Bible).  And if you do believe in the Bible and God's word, then you know what it says about same sex marriage.  You can't believe some and not all, if you truly believe it's God's word.  If not, then you are left to whatever fate you have dealt to yourself.  I am a believer in Christ.  I don't hate you if you're not, I love you, but I hate the sin that is within you.  That's my belief.  If you think differently, that's ok, I still love you and pray for you, but I don't want to fight you.  But that changes when you get in my face and threaten me with violence.  I'm still in this world, in my flesh for now, so I am still susceptable to things of this world.  It's up to me how I deal with them.  Whether to let my spirit rule, or my flesh.  Whether or not you support prop 8 or not, it's time to forgive and remember, we're all here together! 

Tough Love? You know, spare the rod spoil the child sort of thing.

Mettler is an upstart limited by his lack of genius: foolish dink. "You shall know them by their fruit." 

"I guess people are only worth protection if they are on the correct side of the debate and family values involve a good punch once in a while. Its hard to run a campaign on compassion and Christian values, when you are punching 21 year old kids in the face."

 --virgil 

"Where's Atlantis?"

I heard it sank into the sea....

--virgil

Mettler should step down after his actions. It doesn't matter who said or did what, he has no business acting like that as a Kern HS Trustee. It is way beyond innapropriate for him to even be out there protesting, let alone kicking and taking swings at people (and stealing signs). What is going on with the people elected to make rules for our high schools? They should not be involved in protest activities like this. Mettler obviously has a serious problem with ethics, as well as a temperment that has no place in our educational system. Does he think what he did was right? He probably does. Should he go to counseling to control that volatle temper and violent tendencies? Definitely.

What kind of message does this send to the kids?

I'm not even getting into the discussion on the reason for the "incident" but I can't help laughing at the constant mention of a "21 year old kid" like he was a helpless babe being beaten by a bully.  A whole lot of 21 years olds out there have made multiple tours of Iraq and still millions of others have served in the military of this country and could clean  Mettlers clock with no trouble.

21 years olds regularly brawl in bars, marry and have children.  Now all of a sudden this mean old man is picking on one of them.  You guys, come ON, you can't have it both ways.  Are they kids or are the men?  Why don't you ask THEM?

"What kind of message does this send to the kids?"

Hm...I suppose similar to the kind of message sent with drug sniffing dogs and respectable police officers as a way of reducing truancy...and marijuana on  campus(s)

--virgil

Oh Nancy,

A grown man, elected school trustee, high profile; A christian value toting fist duking politician...He's ridiculous...pathetic.

--virgil

 In the video you can clearly hear "whoop his ass"

The kid probably started the scuffle. Parents must be real proud , he looks like a real winner.

"when your attacking people half your age."

If the kid grabbed, hit, shoved or ?whatever FIRST why does the fact that he's 21 have to do with it? NOTHING.

21 years old is NOT a kid!!

"The kid probably started the scuffle"

..and, Mettler was going to finish it, by god!

--virgl

 I really don't care what was going on.  But I'm sure that anyone of you would have defended yourselves just as he was probably doing.

Because this yes/no is a heated situation OF COURSE BOTH sides are gonna cry foul! just to make it worse than it really is.

Exact reason why politics make me vomit! Stupid people gathered to prove they are more RIGHT than the other guy. Neither side make any sense, emotional ding dongs doing more to harm their causes than help.

Morons plain and simple.

"But I'm sure that anyone of you would have defended yourselves just as he was probably doing."

What...? He can't use his words?

--virgil

Politics turns molehills into mountains, and we're reaching Mount Everest size with this one folks.  No one is pressing charges, let it be.

Ken Mettler is a political divider in a time when the majority wants unity.   Unless he changes his politics, he will self-destruct.  

One correction. Bibo said: "Being a Christian doesn't mean not being a man.  Just ask Goliath."     The last time I checked, David was Jewish.

Oh virgil.  There you go again..reading something into my post that I didn't say.  Where did I address Mettlers behavior?  I don't approve of anyone punching anyone.  That tactic has never solved anything.

If you'll go back and carefully read what I said.  I was referring to the referring to the 21 year old as a kid.

heh...spam codes are so funny..this one is PA USA

"The last time I checked, David was Jewish."

Not even Jewish, yet.

And, charges should be filed as may be warranted. Why not?

I mean, after all, in Kern town where crime is measured in the number of commitments to the county jail. 

This is perfect especially for those who want to see the idea of tough love in action...Mettler was not wrong? Well, I would say the burden of proof is on you to show exactly where the "molehill becomes a mountain".

--virgil

 I was referring to the referring to the 21 year old as a kid.

Nancy,

By doing so I interperted you to mean dismissing the incident because a 21 year is able to defend himself against Mettler's ravings.

Sorry about that! Thanks for making yourself clear.

--virgil

No problem virgil.  I just know that most 21 year olds would be highly incensed if someone called them a "kid." 

 Virgil.

I wasn't refering to the guy using only words. Come on...

He say's he only "grabbed at the signs"... Ooooo k.............

Anyone noticing posts don't show up on the comments page for a while after being submitted?

Yeah Nancy, I noticed that.

I think it's because even the site has to SIGH and MOAN before it posts another comment about these issues....

(causing the delay :-)

Virgil, we must respectfully agree to disagree.  Common sense tells me what is a mountain and what is a molehill.  People who steal or deface the other sides signs (and this applies to both sides) are clearly in the wrong.  I deplore their conduct but I don't view the offense as being worth the effort to catch and jail them.   Someone shouting obscenities at demonstrators from a car is violating Penal Code Section 415, but unless people are physically endangered I see no use in pursuing the matter.

As much as I would enjoy seeing Mr. Mettler in an orange jumpsuit, it isn't worth making him into a two-bit martyr.  It would appear from the news reports that Mr. Badewitz feels the same way.

goph,

point taken.

--virgil

Nancy,

Always good to banter....

Tch,

Don't know what to say other than I bet Mettler right now wishes he had stuck to using his words.

Gotta go....

--virgil

I think this altercation proves that no matter what your beliefs or convictions, both sides have people who act immature, childish and rude.  However, regardless of who started what, Mettler should have kept his cool.  He's in the public eye 24/7 and is supposed to be a role model for fellow citizens.  I don't think he needs any additional "punishment" - having such actions filmed and aired on local TV and online are enough tarnish on his reputation, and hopefully next time he's in a sticky situation, he'll realize that it's better to ignore heckles and abusive language than to confront the offenders.