Rand Paul Supporter Steps on Woman's Head (Video)

Updated 3:09 p.m. Eastern Time

Before the start of last night's Kentucky Senate debate, a supporter of Republican Rand Paul stepped on the head of a woman who tried to approach the candidate. You can see raw video of the incident at left.

According to the Associated Press, the man who stepped on the woman's head is Tim Profitt, a volunteer for Paul's campaign who has now apologized for his actions. Profitt suggested the camera angle made the incident look worse than it was and criticized police for not stepping in.

The woman, Lauren Valle, is affiliated with the liberal group MoveOn.org. As the Louisville Courier Journal reports, she said later she was trying to give Paul a satiric award from "RepubliCorp," which was meant to sarcastically thank Paul for merging political speech and the interests of big business. She was trying to get her picture taken with him while presenting the award.

As you can see in the video, Valle had her blond wig pulled off and was wrestled to the ground, apparently by a support of Paul. As she lies on the ground, Profitt, who is holding a Paul sign, steps on Valle's head and shoulders. As this happens, a third man can be heard saying, "no, no, no, no - come on."

Valle, who reported the incident to the police, appeared to be OK afterward, though she said she was left with "a bit of a headache." She said she "just wanted to get out here with a sign, but I got my head stepped on."

In a statement, Paul said, "Violence of any kind has no place in our civil discourse and we urge supporters on all sides to be civil to one another as tensions rise heading toward this very important election. We are relieved to hear that the woman in question was not injured."

According to the AP, Paul's campaign has removed Profitt as Bourbon County campaign coordinator and banned him from campaign events.

MoveOn said in a statement that "We're appalled at the violent incident that occurred at the Kentucky Senate debate last night." The group called for "those responsible" to "be brought to justice quickly" and expressed concern there have not yet been arrests.

"Numerous news reports clearly show that the young woman--a MoveOn supporter--was assaulted and pushed to the ground by Rand Paul supporters, where one man held her down while another stomped on her head," the group said. "This kind of violence has no place in American society, much less at a peaceful political rally."

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[letter82]

It seems there is alot of anger being directed at the wrong people in this thread. This head stepping episode is not being covered properly by the media.

It is a case where a woman was a physical threat to a candidate, and was apprehended by a mob. Yes, it seems that she was not a terrorist, had no bomb or gun, but was wearing a wig....but when she rushes at a candidate, the men acted appropriately. You must assume the worst at that time and protect the target of the attack.

What happens after that is the result of men who percieve a threat to their candidate. The man stepping on her was less than gentle, and that was unnecessary. So the point of the leftists is correct, he should not have taken a cheap shot at the woman..... BUT it is puzzling how the first portion of this incident has been ignored completely by the media.... as if this woman was just walking down the street innocently. She instigated this episode, and should be held accountable. Both her and the man who stepped on her acted poorly.

So the question is...... why has none of the major media outlets shown the footage of this woman charging into the passanger side of Rand Paul's vehicle? Or even reported this as the start of the incident? I dont have an answer to that question.

[kevjustice]

"SHE BEAT UP MY FOOT WITH HER FACE".

[nuttyworld]

Too bad they don't show what led up to the scuffle. The woman was shoving her sign through the front window of Rand Paul's car, so the crowd was pulled her away from it. She isn't telling the whole story because that is how MoveOn works. Nobody told her to shove a sign through a car window. Duh. Megyn Kelly on FOX had the footage of incident that caused response.

[Ciarajh]

Yes Nuttyworld, what a menacing woman this is while laying on the floor surrounded by men twice her size. How dare she lay there in such a threating way to prompt one of those men to not only place his foot on her head but to push down on it with force, an act obviously needed since she was acting so erratic while laying there. Lets not forget how dangerously she acted by attacking with cardboard since paper cuts are such horrible things and much worst then a foot to the head against concrete. My my the views in your world sure are nutty, oh that's right in your world FOX news IS actually fair and balanced.

You know there must be something wrong with a society or with certain members of said society, when any reason is used to OK man on woman violence.

[donnalynnpa]

Watch the whole video where she is trying to attack Rand. She should have been arrested and locked up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiLeud-sxrM

[iamproteus]

Watched your video...didn't see any attempt to "attack" Paul. Clearly, you are seeing what you want to see. Typical!

[janbrewerrocks]

Prosecute Profitt when the Black Panthers are prosecuted for blatant voter intimidation. And dallan, this administration and congress are the most lawless, corrupt and hypocritical that US history has ever seen.

The fraud is deliberately bankrupting us.....he is trying to go down the road where France, Greece, Spain, the UK and Russia have been and they are trying to reverse the course because NO COUNTRY CAN AFFORD IT!!!! How hard is that to understand?????

Liberalism IS definitely a mental disorder. Vote these crooks out November 2!!

[rile1con]

Jack Conway tipped off his brother assistant prosecutor about being investigated by police for drug trafficing.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101023/NEWS01/310230027/LMPD+probes+detectives+who+tipped+off+prosecutor+under+investigation

Conway is typical trash we have elected in the past. Kentuckians, if you want the same old corruption... elect Conway.

[dallan--2008]

Libertarians like Paul have no respect for the law. His very words are an affront to decency and the stable society we have forged out of the chaos that Libertarianism espouses. I pray to Christ that the people of KY do not elect such a grotesque candidate like Paul for US Senate! He doesn't care about the suffering that will come from his beliefs of how gov't should be run. The rich get richer, the working class get shat upon... that's really wonderful. THOMAS JEFFERSON believed the rich should be soaked for tax money and I agree with him. SORRY

[dallan--2008]

That "man" is an affront to Christ the Redeemer, as are all who joined in on this young WOMAN. Violence of any sort, especially a large man stepping atop the spinal region of a woman is the antithesis of Christ's humility.

Lesson here is that all have their judgment day. We are warned by Christ's words if we choose the devil's chaos over His love and peace.

[documemts]

This is great! Just run this piece of video of Paul's Brown Shirts assaulting a women. Wonderful. "This is what Rand Paul will do to your Social Security checks.....!" See!

[msgbartlett]

The only problem with this as far as I can see is that we couldnt get the rest of the Move on.org supporters to lay on the curb while so we can kick some sense into the rest of the socialist bunch. Do your country some good today and punch a socialist!

[documemts]

Thank You! Keep up the violent-racist comments. Remember, your helping Rand!

[dallan--2008]

You are an affront to Christ the Redeemer. Violence of any sort, especially a large man stepping atop the spinal region of a woman is the antithesis of Christ's humility. Lesson here is that all have their judgment day. You are warned by Christ's words if you choose the devil's chaos over His love and peace.