Road rage incident over Obama sticker

**buttmunch** · March 27th, 2010, 12:26 AM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville man says he and his 10-year-old daughter were victims of road rage Thursday afternoon, all because of a political bumper sticker on his car.

Mark Duren told News 2 the incident happened around 4:30p.m., while he was driving on Blair Boulevard, not far from Belmont University.

He said Harry Weisiger gave him the bird and rammed into his vehicle, after noticing an Obama-Biden sticker on his car bumper.

Duren had just picked up his 10-year-old daughter from school and had her in the car with him.

"He pointed at the back of my car," Duren said, "the bumper, flipped me off, one finger salute."

But it didn't end there.

Duren told News 2 that Weisiger honked his horn at him for awhile, as Duren stopped at a stop sign.

Once he started driving again, down Blair Boulevard, towards his home, he said, "I looked in the rear view mirror again, and this same SUV was speeding, flying up behind me, bumped me."

Duren said he applied his brake and the SUV smashed into the back of his car.

He then put his car in park to take care of the accident, but Weisiger started pushing the car using his SUV.

Duren said, "He pushed my car up towards the sidewalk, almost onto the sidewalk."

Police say Harry Weisiger is charged with felony reckless endangerment in the incident.

And the idiot tries to lie his way out of it.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The man accused in an incident of road rage over an Obama bumper sticker Thursday afternoon says he was only trying to get around another car that had stopped in front of him.

News 2 talked to Harry Weisiger by phone Friday.

Weisiger, 70, is accused of hitting Mark Duren's car on Blair Boulevard around 4:30p.m. Friday.

He said, "He slammed on his brakes, and I hit him in the bumper when I tried to go around him."

Duren claims Weisiger flipped him off and rammed into him with his SUV after noticing an Obama-Biden bumper sticker on his car.

"He pointed at the back of my car, the bumper," Duren said after the accident, "flipped me off, one finger salute."

Duren told News 2 that Weisiger honked his horn at him for awhile, as Duren stopped at a stop sign.

Once he continued driving, he said, "I looked in the rear view mirror again, and this same SUV was speeding, flying up behind me, bumped me."

Duren said he applied his brake, and the SUV smashed into the back of his car.

He then put his car in park to take care of the accident, but he said Weisiger started pushing his car onto the sidewalk.

Weisiger did not mention the Obama bumper sticker when News 2 spoke with him on the phone Friday, but did admit fault for leaving the scene of the accident.

According to the police report, officers found Weisiger in the parking lot of Harris Teeter, where he said he had stopped to buy dinner.

David Todd, who witnessed the accident from his window, said the SUV hit the car more than once.

"He hit him twice," Todd said. "When I stood up, the truck was about a foot behind the car, and that's when he plowed into him again and pushed him 50 feet, turned him sideways right here, and took off."

Todd said Duren and his daughter were obviously both shaken by the accident.

"He was opening the door trying to get out of the car as he's pushing him down the street, and I was like, ‘Oh don't get out of the car you may get run over,' and he said he didn't think about that at the time, that he was just panicking," Todd said.

Weisiger is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, refusing to take a breath test, and leaving the scene of an accident.Man accused in bumper sticker road rage tells his side - WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |

So this is what it's coming to? Intimidation for having a political sticker on your car? And these fuckheads are screaming that Obama is a commie?

**msdeb** · March 27th, 2010, 02:06 AM

i had an Obama sticker on my car, someone tore it off. asswipes.

**Penny Lane** · March 27th, 2010, 02:09 AM

This widespread vitriol because of ideological differences absolutely astounds me. Sure, I loathed Bush but I wouldn't run someone (and their kid) off the road because they had a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker. Like I said in another thread, I don't know how this type of behavior became legitimized.. it's amazing what right-wing political rhetoric laced with 'half-black' and 'socialism' can drive people to do.

**cupcake** · March 27th, 2010, 08:06 AM

Happens here too, just doesnt make the news much anymore.

**Laurent** · March 27th, 2010, 08:19 AM

Weisiger is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, refusing to take a breath test, and leaving the scene of an accident.

The guy was apparently tanked, so I guess his irrational rage had a bit of fuel.

**Brookie** · March 27th, 2010, 08:30 AM

Thanks, Tea Party! You and that mealy-mouthed spokeswhore of yours, Ms. Mooseballs, have done so much to unify the country. It's a pleasure doing business with you.

Now, fuck off.

**WhoAmI** · March 27th, 2010, 09:20 AM

This is one of the reasons I never use bumper stickers of any kind. Why make yourself a target?

**buttmunch** · March 27th, 2010, 11:15 AM

But why shouldn't you be able to express yourself without fearing attack?

**WhoAmI** · March 27th, 2010, 11:20 AM

You should be able to, but why take risks with your life just so you can shout out your little message to the world? Think of all those massive trucks filled with rednecks and their NRA stickers just waiting to run you off the road, tailgate you til you're terrified, etc. I just don't see the point. It's best to be as anonymous as possible on the road. No vanity plates (easier for people to stalk you), no bumper stickers, no flashy red penis-shaped car. My personal policy only; others may do as they choose. However, if you have a "Bush/Cheney" or "McCain/Grifter" bumper sticker, it's likely that I won't let you merge or give you a friendly wave.

**bellini** · March 27th, 2010, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by buttmunch

But why shouldn't you be able to express yourself without fearing attack?

Because there are crazy people in the world!

My kids go to a very conservative Catholic school. Quite a few of the nutty parents have very nasty anti-Obama stickers on their cars. Even more about Prop 8. They have a strong hatred for Obama.

I'm going to have a sticker made up with a quote by Gandhi:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

**Aella** · March 27th, 2010, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by bellini

I'm going to have a sticker made up with a quote by Gandhi:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

You should, that's a brilliant quote.

**buttmunch** · March 27th, 2010, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by bellini

Because there are crazy people in the world!

My kids go to a very conservative Catholic school. Quite a few of the nutty parents have very nasty anti-Obama stickers on their cars. Even more about Prop 8. They have a strong hatred for Obama.

I'm going to have a sticker made up with a quote by Gandhi:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Oooohhh...do it!

**kingcap72** · March 27th, 2010, 02:54 PM

I hate it when I see the Palin 2012, McCain/Palin or Bush/Cheney stickers, but I'm not running anyone off the road over it. It's not that serious.

And this is why I wore my Obama T-shirt last Sunday during the healthcare vote and dared someone to say something.

**twitchy2.0** · March 27th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by bellini

I'm going to have a sticker made up with a quote by Gandhi:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

http://www.amazon.com/Christ-Christians-unlike-Gandhi-Sticker/dp/B001E8KSTA