March 1, 2010 3:52 PM

Jim Bunning Offers Middle Finger to Reporter

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Congress
ABC News asked Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) about his decision last week to block the short-term extension of unemployment benefits and other measures that expired on Sunday.

Two thousand federal transportation workers were to be furloughed without pay and federal reimbursements to states for highway projects halted Monday as a result of Bunning's decision to block legislation granting a short-term funding extension to a variety of programs, including the Highway Trust Fund. Bunning complained that the legislation wasn't paid for.

Bunning angrily rebuffed ABC when it approached him as he was getting onto an elevator at the Hart Senate Office Building. (Watch above.) Bunning told reporters to step out of the way because "this is a senator only elevator" to the Senate floor and said he had already explained his thinking.

According to ABC, when one of its producers saw Bunning leaving his office, the senator said "I'm not talking to anybody." He then "walked toward the elevator and shot the middle finger over his head."

Bunning, who is not seeking reelection this year, objected last week to Senate passage of a one-month extension of government benefits, including unemployment benefits, COBRA health care benefits and payments for Medicare doctors. Democrats pressured the senator to relent on Thursday and Friday, but he refused. Bunning is acting without the support of his fellow Republicans, and Democrats are casting him as out of touch with regular Americans.

At one point, Bunning said "tough s—t" when criticized for holding up the funding. He also reportedly "complained he had been ambushed by the Democrats and was forced to miss the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game."

Bunning says he wants to renew the programs, which costs 10.3 billion, but only once they are adequately paid for. (He advocates using stimulus funds.) The Senate could use procedural motions to overcome his block and pass the short term extensions on Tuesday.

Add a Comment See all 184 Comments
by PCrew March 24, 2010 12:07 PM EDT
well I don't know who sees this or whatever.. but i don't care, I am a 20year old young lady, i am teporially handicapped and in a wheelchair. but thats notmy point! I am utterly APPALED at rep of Ky jim Burning because seriously, we NEED unemployment financial help.I understand that our Country, our Nation is in a crisis but if unemployeed persons don'thave help, then government "IS" going tobe bombarded with people needing foodstamps and so much more, your best bet, pass the d---n extension. somepeople really need help, I know my dad needs them otherwise, the bank WILL foreclose on our home. so please i myself am begging pass the extension pass the extension pass the extension pass the extension pass the extension pass the extension pass the extension
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by fleabag75 March 3, 2010 3:31 PM EST
Like his years in the Senate didn't help cause this problem??? Oh Jim Bunning, you rode your baseball career into politics, made your money, now your leaving with a holier than thou attitude??? You're to cool school as they say. Another shyster with virtue huh.
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by ALBrainTrust10 March 3, 2010 2:24 PM EST
A MIDDLE FINGER IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!!!
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by Clouseau2 March 3, 2010 1:26 PM EST
I'm surprised Senator Bunning has time to take a break from his full time job of "giving the finger" to America to give the reporter one. His votes: Trillions for war? AYE Trillions for tax cuts for the rich? AYE Trillions for Big Pharma boondoggles (Medicare part D), Wall Street Bailouts, etc.? AYE! $10 billion to help out people struggling with unemployment? NAY! MIDDLE FINGER! TOUGH S--T!
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by Clouseau2 March 3, 2010 1:40 PM EST
@desertdwellr: After the "war on terror" global terrorist attacks rose 700%. If the goal of the "war on terror" is to increase terrorism, then it's a huge success. Our presence in Iraq killed thousands of people, including our own troops, radicalized a generation of Muslims now wanting to go fight jihad (which includes acts of terrorism), and increased sympathy and funding for their cause. The invasion of Iraq was a gift to bin Laden (whose stated goal is to "drain the treasure of the Great Satan" by having us get bogged down in as many wars as possible until we go bankrupt like the Soviet Union) and Abu Graib was the cherry on top.
by Cruise0615 March 2, 2010 6:50 PM EST
Jim Bunning was a pretty good pitcher in the pre-steroid era. But what happened to him? How did he become a selfish (rhymes with stick)?

He must have taken a ten year time out durting the Bush years. A defecit hawk? Give me a break.

Maybe he should return to a coal mine in Appalachia and the govermnent should cut the thousands of programs it funds in KY and TENN. He is truly nuts!

Perhaps he forgets that we fund UI payments out of our paychecks. Strike two.

Jim, go home--permanently. Strike three!!
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by hillarynow March 2, 2010 4:21 PM EST
This is what Republicans do, is it that hard to see voting more of them into office in November will only bring even more of this kind of pig headed thinking to Washington? They can fund their money sucking war though, and pretend they are all heroes saving us from the Arabs, but they don't concern themselves with whether you can feed your family or yourself. They have all they want in life, and they are rich and in control of your life. They can give our over sized military TRILLIONS of dollars, and waste HUNDREDS of BILLIONS, on their war in Iraq but you get higher rates and prices, cut services and benefits, much less for your dollar and unemployment while they bankrupt us and ship your jobs and our factories overseas as they line their own already filthy rich pockets. This is what the Republicans do, every time, is there some reason why anyone thinks they won't do it even more if we elect even more of them? THINK for once America, throwing the baby out with the bathwater is NOT the solution. America gave that moron Bush 8 years and look what he did to this country with his Republican majority, Obama has only had one year to try and fix it all, give him and the Democrats a chance, it all takes time, and is simply evidence of just how much damage Bush and the Republicans have done, listen to Obama, he is right. The Republicans will not help you, they lie, steal and get richer while they start wars and waste all your money, while you starve and die with no job, no health care, no benefits, no business, no retirement, no future. Republicans like Bunning are the reason America ended up here, this kind of blind ignorance and greed. The Democrats aren't perfect, but they would never do this to the American people in a time of need. Vote Democrat in November, they will come through for us given time.
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by lindseykp March 2, 2010 10:54 AM EST
This is ballsy, but I can't say that I disagree with Bunning. This isn't the fiscal measure I would have picked to filibuster, but when does the buck stop? We need to adopt the pay go system and start making people have some fiscal responsibility. ALOT of people are not taking certain jobs, because unemployment benefits pay more. Why work a job when the government gives you more money to sit on your butt? Sorry... but time to step up and do something you don't like to do for awhile. I've dishwashed... waitressed... etc. Yeah, it sucked and sometimes the pay wasn't the greatest, but at least I worked for my paycheck. Time to step up America and get your hands dirty.
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by Suburban86 March 2, 2010 10:21 AM EST
I mad as hell at Senator Bunning's decision to block the extension of unemployment. Here he is worried about the increase in the budget deficit whereas I'm worried about losing my home now. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth about the Republi...CAN'T Party.

(forgot to place a "he" after here)
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by Suburban86 March 2, 2010 10:14 AM EST
I mad as hell at Senator Bunning's decision to block the extension of unemployment. Here is worried about the increase in the budget deficit whereas I'm worried about losing my home now. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth about the Republi...CAN'T Party.
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by csalon March 2, 2010 9:37 AM EST
Reporters, like this guy, deserve this response. Trying to make news, not reporting and no investigation or reporting of what is really going on. Agitation, not reporting. Worse than distortion No doubt this is why reporters are not respected by Americans.
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