Senator saves rival's life

[IronLionZion]

Democrats rock!

'Maybe this means we'll see a more uplifting campaign'

Thursday, March 2, 2006; Posted: 8:23 a.m. EST (13:23 GMT)

Politicians aren't exactly killing the competition in Maryland (1:42)

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) -- State Sen. John Giannetti was waiting for his take-out order of Italian food at a Maryland restaurant on Monday when he saw a man choking. He rushed over, performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged a chunk of seafood -- saving the life of his political rival.

The choking man, Jim Rosapepe, is challenging Giannetti in the Democratic primary for the suburban Washington district.

"It's one of those really weird, cosmic things," Giannetti told The Capital. He said Rosapepe was hunched over and moving toward him in distress, so he decided to try performing the Heimlich. (Watch rivals recount their life-saving night -- 1:42)

Rosapepe thanked his opponent for saving him.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/02/politician.saves.rival.ap/index.html

[Minnesota Libra]

1. COOL!!!!! that is just too cool!! nt

[havocmom]

2. The cosmos sends a message to the DEMS

Got your ears up? :)

[liberal N proud]

3. That is compassion!

I hate to make this political but what do you suppose the actions would have been if it were a republican seeing a Democrat contender in the same situation?
If there republican was in the situation to save a Democratic opponent

[teenagebambam]

4. Much as I respect what he did...

....and, well, he IS awfully dreamy...but I hasten to add that Giannetti has a lot of shady dealings going on and a lot of people in Maryland find him to be a DINO.

[onenote]

27. yep -- he's a good man, but not the brightest bulb

Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr.

One senator, so many nicknames: Senator Tailgate, Senator Speedo, Senator Cell Phone Tower and Senator AK-47.

Giannetti made himself the center of attention with some bizarre doings this year, including a post-honeymoon news release talking about his wife trying to, er, wear him out, and about the locals preferring the wife's bikinis to his black Speedo.

The senator also came under fire for holding beer-laden tailgates for College Park students in violation of state law. He nixed the beer and apologized to local pols whom he had initially dismissed as party poopers with axes to grind after cops told him his shindigs were illegal. He earlier came under fire for proposing a bill that would have benefited one of his law firm's clients by allowing companies to build cell towers disguised as giant flagpoles.

Last but not least, Giannetti ensured what was already a likely primary challenge in 2006 by providing the key vote to kill the assault weapons ban in committee.

http://progressivemaryland.org/files/public/documents/archive/whos%20news.htm

[skids]

5. Recommended. n/t

[IronLionZion]

6. thanks nt

[snowbear]

20. Let's see if DU'er will give this two more votes?

and VOTE THIS UP!!!!!

[MH1]

7. It's a recurring theme with Dems, you know (Kerry saves Hecht, 1988)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=73819&mesg_id=73822

Nevada Senator Praises Colleague for Saving Him
Associated Press, Sec. Washington News 07-13-1988
By CHRISTOPHER CALLAHAN

WASHINGTON

Sen. Chic Hecht, R-Nev., said Wednesday he owes his life to a Democratic colleague - working for his re-election defeat - who saved him from choking on an apple slice that rendered him blue and unconscious.

Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., who stepped out of a Capitol elevator and found Hecht in istress Tuesday, dislodged the food after applying the Heimlich maneuver four times, witnesses said.

(snip)

''He's a strong guy, and I'm not too tall, about 5-5. He picked me right up and knew just what to do,'' said Hecht.

(snip)

Ironically, Kerry, as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has targeted Hecht in his re-election bid.

''You know, that says something about America,'' said Hecht. ''That's the difference between America and another country. He's targeted me as No. 1 (to defeat), yet he saved my life. That's the story of America.''

Hecht is regularly rated as one of the most conservative members of the Senate, while Kerry is one of the most liberal.

Kerry had never used the life-saving maneuver before, Carpman said. He did not know where Kerry learned the procedure, adding, ''He just seemed to act very instinctively.''

Kerry played down the incident and instructed his aides not to publicize it. ''I think Dr. Heimlich deserves the credit,'' he said while appearing on NBC-TV's ''Today'' show to discuss presidential politics.

[karynnj]

8. I love this description:

''He's a strong guy, and I'm not too tall, about 5-5. He picked me right up and knew just what to do,'' said Hecht.

Kerry's modesty in playing it down really should show how completely off the RW comments that he was an opportunist always running for the cameras - maybe those who thought that Bush would be more likely to stop and help with a flat tire should have seen this.

[IronLionZion]

10. Kerry gave CPR to a hamster

And Doctor Dean helped a heart-attack victim while on the campaign trail. Birch Bayh pulled Ted Kennedy out of a crashed airplane. It's nice to think that Dems are more compassionate in our everyday lives but this stuff isn't partisan. Bill Frist also stopped his car to help an injured person.

[karynnj]

11. I agree that it isn't partisan

as the Kerry/Hecht comments clearly showed. (From the memory of 2004 coverage, Hecht didn't say who he intended to vote for - even though he and Kerry were polically very far apart. He told the press that he and Kerry called each to each other once a year - that he would call Kerry's office. He said some very nice things about Kerry as a person - who he really only got to know from these calls when he was out of the Senate. His wife was quoted as being for Kerry. He likely helped Kerry with the interview which I think was unfortunately only in a Nevada paper.

[IronLionZion]

12. yup, Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch are close friends outside the Senate

and Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil were close friends after 6 O'clock. I suppose you could include Big Dawg and Poppy too.

I imagine the only member of Congress who likely doesn't get along with anyone is Mean Jean Schmidt. ;)

[babylonsister]

13. Kerry saved a man's life; that'd be my priority to mentioning

a hamster.

[IronLionZion]

14. Kerry saves Hecht is post#7, Hamster is post #10

so saving a man's life was mentioned first. I was building on the compassion for life theme.

[babylonsister]

15. OK then! And a fine theme

it is! :hi:

[DarienComp]

9. wow.

This is amazing.

[PBass]

16. I wish the Kerry/Hecht episode was mentioned in 2004 campaign.

I never heard of this story 'til today.

[MH1]

17. It must've been mentioned

because I had never paid attention to Kerry before 2004.

But it certainly wasn't trumpeted like it should've been. Of course that wasn't for Kerry or his people to do...other people should've been getting that stuff out into the media.

It just makes me sick to think of that smarmy "Ashley" ad that * ran. I bet * never came close to saving anyone's life, yet not only did Kerry do this, of course he served in actual combat and saved at least one life there (and probably more that we didn't hear about). And the hamster incident really shows his overall attitude of compassion. I don't see how you can even compare * and John Kerry on these points - they aren't even in the same universe.

[karynnj]

30. There was an absolutely hilarious Daily Show that had a routine

about it. They had a SBVT like group (the name escapes me - something like fruitsalad eaters for truth. It had an ad suggesting things such as Kerry planned for him to choke on the apple, was it really an apple, etc With the guy (I dodn't know if it was really Hecht) repeating his story.

To my knowledge it was only in the Nevada paper. It was all over the liberal blogs (and the Kerry blog). It was there if the MSM wanted to pick it up - after all the Daily Show did, but it would have taken time away from the SBVT and stories on the macho brush clearing done by Bush.

There was a cool dKos thread - that noted that Kerry made a habit of life saving.
-saved Rassman in Vietnam in addition to 40+ villagers who he, against orders moved out of a free fire zone and insisted they be fed, given medical treatment and relocated
-he saved the hamster
and he saved Hecht

[snowbear]

18. Wow! Kicked and NOMINATED - Kudos Giannetti !!

What a guy! :hug: ~~ ~~ :hug:

[snowbear]

19. ******** HEY DU... WHATTSAMATTA U ??? ********

Two more votes on this thread dammit !!

BWT, if I ever need mouth-to-mouth, he can help me out too!





BTW, I'm holding my breath (starting right now) until this thread gets two more votes!

[WildEyedLiberal]

24. Whoa!!

Totally cute!

[loudsue]

28. Who'zzat? He's a cutie!

So...who is he?

:kick:

[mtnsnake]

32. Russell Crowe?

[IronLionZion]

21. Come on DU, 1 more vote to make Greatest Page

Get your game face on!

[snowbear]

22. I'm so ashamed of my fello' DUe'ers....

The man saved a life !!!!

Thank you for sharing it IronLionZion!! ~ :hug:

I tried..

O'well.. off to play hockey... *sniffle* Shame on DU'ers..

[MH1]

23. Hey, DU came through!!

Thanks, larissa!

[Cha]

25. Rec'd! Ya never know

when you can save someone's life and vice versa!

[stickdog]

26. Rosapepe and Giannetti Are Alive! (nt)

[sandrakae]

29. They were both democrats.

A republican would never save his opponents life.

[mtnsnake]

31. Very nice. What if Cheney was choking on a piece of fried quail, though?

I hope Giannetti would at least consider the situation for a second or two before jumping in!

[loudsue]

33. I think he should think on it a lot longer than a second or two.

If Cheney was choking on a piece of fried quail, someone should think long & hard before doing the Heimlick maneuver on him. :evilgrin:

:kick: