A bunch of liberal blogs are going ballistic over this story. Their claim is that this Phil Parlock guy has been involved in similar incidents during the 1996 and 2000 elections as well. They dug up a picture of his family, and are making the claim that the guy at the left of the picture wearing a union T-shirt is actually his son, and that the whole incident was staged.

See, for example, http://rising-hegemon.blogspot.com/2004/09/bogus-assault-father-freeper-of-year.html

This should be easily provable or disprovable with a bit of old-fashioned reporting.
 

I am a resident of Huntington, WV

Parlock indeed has experience in this activity and has repeated the behavior many times. Signs, umbrellas, bags, stollers, packages, etc were NOT allowed through the gate. Parlock smuggled the signs in in his pant leg and is lucky secret service didn't arrest him.

Kerry supporters tried to hold their sign in front of him which angered Parlock. He hoisted his young daughter, who was confused by the action, on his shoulders and shoved the sign in her hands. She didn't know what Daddy was doing and was scared to death. THAT'S what made the child cry and YES, I was there standing one person away from Parlock. I'm not Brian, I am a Huntington WV resident who is infuriated that Phil Parlock makes such a sham out of MY party. The republican party!

Do some googling on Parlock.

Want more proof it was staged? How bout Parlock leaving the area, going immediately outside to use his cellphone to talk with a reporter that took the picture. When did they exchange information considering the reporter was talking from INSIDE the building and Parlock was near the parking lot? No, he didn't stop on the way out.

Huntington has 50,000 people. It is not a small town and most of us wouldn't recognize Parlock's son if he stood beside us and introduced himself so there's much speculation that the union Kerry supporter was Parlock's oldest. Plus many of the supporters were from Ashland, a community about the same size, and other areas in the tri-state.

Sorry to be so aggressive but this crap makes me angry and Phil's been doing it for years. Interesting that no mention has been made of Phil shoving the college kid. Didn't see that myself but heard about it.

He is a publicity hound and in my opinion not a considerate father.
 

I am a resident of Huntington, WV

Parlock indeed has experience in this activity and has repeated the behavior many times. Signs, umbrellas, bags, stollers, packages, etc were NOT allowed through the gate. Parlock smuggled the signs in in his pant leg and is lucky secret service didn't arrest him.

Kerry supporters tried to hold their sign in front of him which angered Parlock. He hoisted his young daughter, who was confused by the action, on his shoulders and shoved the sign in her hands. She didn't know what Daddy was doing and was scared to death. THAT'S what made the child cry and YES, I was there standing one person away from Parlock. I'm not Brian, I am a Huntington WV resident who is infuriated that Phil Parlock makes such a sham out of MY party. The republican party!

Do some googling on Parlock.

Want more proof it was staged? How bout Parlock leaving the area, going immediately outside to use his cellphone to talk with a reporter that took the picture. When did they exchange information considering the reporter was talking from INSIDE the building and Parlock was near the parking lot? No, he didn't stop on the way out.

Huntington has 50,000 people. It is not a small town and most of us wouldn't recognize Parlock's son if he stood beside us and introduced himself so there's much speculation that the union Kerry supporter was Parlock's oldest. Plus many of the supporters were from Ashland, a community about the same size, and other areas in the tri-state.

Sorry to be so aggressive but this crap makes me angry and Phil's been doing it for years. Interesting that no mention has been made of Phil shoving the college kid. Didn't see that myself but heard about it.

He is a publicity hound and in my opinion not a considerate father.
 

""Signs, umbrellas, bags, stollers, packages, etc were NOT allowed through the gate. Parlock smuggled the signs in in his pant leg and is lucky secret service didn't arrest him.

Kerry supporters tried to hold their sign in front of him which angered Parlock."
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Makes perfect sense...