Here’s the video you may have heard about where Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey was accosted in the hallway near his office. It sounds like the people who cornered Obey didn’t understand the process it takes to end a war. They wanted to just defund it and *poof*, the war would be over. Obey pointed out that it doesn’t work that way and that you have to support the troops that are there.

Obey may have gotten a little frosted but he showed passion when discussing the issue. I can’t fault him for that passion — in fact I admire it. Obey didn’t skirt the issues; he took them head on. Clearly Obey showed that he’s a straight shooter and plain talker. Whether in the hallways or on the floor of Congress, Obey is a fighter which is why we should all be proud he’s from Wisconsin.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that it doesn’t look like Obey thought he was being videotaped. According to a story on NPR today, it is illegal for members of the press to videotape by the offices. The people who were videotaping were activists but for the sake of the law, bloggers are considered to be citizen journalists which is why freedom of the press is extended to us. If we (bloggers and citizen journalists) are to be afforded the special privledges which the freedom of the press allows, we need to also take the responsibility to follow the laws. In short, the person who filmed the video can’t have it both ways.