January 14, 2008 11:42 PM UTC

Bruce Goes on the Attack...Literally

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #4: Liberal group Progress Now calls on GOP leadership to condemn Bruce “assault.” Director Mike Huttner asks, “What is this, ‘Republicans Gone Wild?'” Release below.

UPDATE #3: Bruce demands an apology from the photographer he kicked (Yes, you read that correctly).

UPDATE #2: CBS4Denver has video of Bruce’s kick.

UPDATE: Colorado Pols has the exclusive first picture of this kicking episode. No word yet on why Bruce wasn’t wearing shoes. Click below for more.

The Doug Bruce saga gets weirder and weirder. From the Rocky Mountain News:

Rookie lawmaker Douglas Bruce kicked a Rocky photographer in the knee during the ceremonial prayer in the House chamber this morning.

Earlier, the anti-tax crusader tried to make light of the gaggle of reporters and photographers following him around this morning.

But, as first reported on the Rocky’s legislative blog “Live from the Colorado Legislature”, Bruce’s patience apparently snapped as photographers from the Rocky and Denver Post crouched before him to shoot his picture as he stood for the House’s morning prayer.

Bruce gave Rocky photographer Javier Manzano a swift kick in the knee and said: “Don’t do that again.”

Rocky Mountain News Editor John Temple said Manzano had the right to take Bruce’s picture. Temple said he will discuss the incident with House leadership.

“The House floor is a place where journalists are allowed to operate. It’s outrageous for Mr. Bruce in a public place to assault a photographer,” Temple said.

The sole Republican to vote NO on a caucus resolution that forced Bruce to take the oath of office today must be happy to read this. What say you, Rep. Kevin Lundberg?

Call for Republicans to immediately condemn colleagues’ assault

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Michael Huttner

(303) 931-4547 cell

Denver–ProgressNowAction is calling on Republican leadership, specifically Colorado House Minority leader Mike May and Colorado GOP Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams to condemn Representative Doug Bruce’s assault on a Rocky Mountain News photographer at the Colorado State Capitol earlier today.

“What is this, ‘Republicans Gone Wild?’ It’s out of control,” stated Michael Huttner, Executive Director of ProgressNowAction, Colorado’s largest online progressive advocacy organization. “Minority Leader May and Chairman Wadhams need to publicly condemn their fellow Republicans’ unconscionable actions immediately.”

This morning Republican Representative Doug Bruce have a Rocky Mountain News photographer a “swift kick in the knee” when the photographer tried to take his picture. (RMN, 1/14/2008)

Asked by reporters in his office about the incident, Bruce said kicking the photographer was warranted. (RMN)

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