Beat ‘Em Up

Patrick O’Connor reports on a new hazing tactic by House Republicans in which they wait for vulnerable freshman Democrats to take the floor, then beat them up in front of C-Span cameras.

Democrats are now hip to the scam and rarely take the bait. A top aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) quickly ushers most junior members out of the chamber whenever Republicans launch an attack — even if the member is controlling debate.

It’s a strategy born of new media, and not really effective outside of it, because floor footage can’t be used in TV ads. But it’s embarrassing Democrats who voted for the Democratic AIG bonus tax instead of the Republican measure.