http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...07/BREAKING/70607021
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop punched Senate political opponent Lowell Barron in the face today during a Senate recess after a contentious filibuster by minority Republicans and their Democratic supporters.
Bishop confronted Barron in a small crowd of senators and then threw an overhand right that caught Barron on the left side of his face. Bishop wrestled Barron and pushed him over his Senate desk.
Bishop, 70, a Republican from Winston County, said Barron called him "a son of a *****."
"If he calls me that again I'll do it again," Bishop said.
After the punch, the two were quickly separated. Bishop was restrained and Barron recovered and immediately left the Senate chamber.
After the punch, the two were quickly separated. Bishop was restrained and Barron recovered and immediately left the Senate chamber.
Barron wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Most senators and members of the press did not actually see the punch, but a replay by Alabama Public Television clearly showed Bishop hitting Barron, and then wrestling him.
Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, said he saw Bishop hit Barron in the face. "I grabbed him around the neck," Griffith said of Bishop.
Bishop said afterwards that he didn't appreciate Barron calling him names, which he likened to insulting his mother.
"I was raised in the woods of Arkansas," said Bishop.
Bishop said his and Barron's actions were something adults shouldn't have reverted to.
"It shouldn't have happened and I'm not proud of it," Bishop said. "I just responded to his comment."
Barron, 65, didn't appear injured.
Barron and Bishop had been at respective microphones discussing whether to call up a bill that would have banned transfers of political action committee funds between political groups.
Now, who says politics in Alabama is boring?? We have 70 year old men throwing punches! Makes me proud to be a citizen of Alabama.... <sarcasm>
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