Head Stomp Victim: Paul Supporters Planned It

(CBS)  The woman who was wrestled to the ground and kicked in the head for holding a critical sign at a Rand Paul event says that the violence was "premeditated" and that her partner heard Paul supporters say, "We're here to do crowd control and we might have to take someone out."

Lauren Valle spoke exclusively to CBS' "The Early Show" Wednesday.

Valle, a political activist hired by the liberal group MoveOn.org, attended a debate Monday night between Paul, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky and his Democratic opponent Jack Conway. When Paul arrived, she moved toward him so that he could see the sign she was holding and was wrestled to the ground by Paul campaign volunteers.

As she was held down, volunteer Tim Profitt placed his foot just below her head and stomped down. (See video below).

"What happened was when they realized that I was there, they actually formed a circle behind me and then as the car pulled up - before Rand was even out of the car - … they stepped in front of me," Valle said. "So I stepped off the curb and around them. And then they actually pursued me around the car. This was premeditated."

Valle was wearing a wig and was dressed satirically as an employee of "RepubliCorp" as part of a MoveOn project to highlight ties between corporate money and the GOP, she said. She wanted to present Paul with an RepubliCorp "employee of the month" award.

Profitt said after the attack that he had feared for the candidate's safety, but Valle said all she wanted was for Paul to see her sign.

"I think [Paul supporters] knew who I was from the past two weeks, me being in town. And they didn't like my message, what I was there to say. And I was simply there to hold a sign," Valle said. "But, that wasn't - wasn't okay with them."

Valle said that the agitation and violence she experienced may be a symptom of the divisions the country is experiencing, but that "violence is never the answer."

"I believe strongly in non-violence. I believe in peaceful protests. I believe in my right to carry a sign. I am a 23-year-old woman with only the intention to hold a sign," she said. "So, I had no -- no bad intentions, only wanted to be there like everyone else with a sign."

Valle said she suffered a concussion in the scuffle but was feeling better Wednesday.

Profitt was fired by the Paul campaign and later apologized for the incident - but not for his behavior and not to Valle - saying, "I'm sorry it came to that and I apologize if it appeared overly forceful, but I was concerned about Rand's safety."

He was dropped from a campaign and it is now up to a judge to decide whether to press criminal charges.

Kentucky Senate: Paul (R) vs. Conway (D)
CBS News Complete Coverage: Election 2010

[Typhon451]

Why did she try to hit Rand Paul right in the face when she jammed her sign into the open window of Rand Paul's automobile. Are there laws to protect politicians from getting physically assaulted by crazies? Or are politicians supposed to allow themselves to be attacked. Like from Squeaky. Who didn't even chamber her gun. And who would have had to pull the trigger TWICE to kill the president.

[actornaught]

Thugapologist451, Squeaky?... Squeaky? Come on. Be serious. It's already established they knew who she was and what she was doing. Then they decided she'd be the one who's "head hit's the pavement". I wonder how many wife-beaters are here siding with the abusers.

[choiceshaveconsequences]

calfuul : "(which is why that dim bulb activist shouldn't have been there in the first place if she couldn't keep her opinions to herself)."
-------
Wrong Country, wrong Values and wrong Means. In this case, the Profitt motive is highly suspect.

[cartoonpoem]

This is all a scam, This woman a few seconds before she was restrained attempted to shove a huge sign into Rand Paul face. There is footage of this on Youtube: Rand Paul and Lauren Valle.

If you go there you will see why she was taken down.

[theprinceandthepopper]

This woman is nothing more than a Communist! We will take back America for Jesus and that head stomping will seem like a love tap!

[ibsteve2u]

Ya going to start with all of those corporate owner/operators who control the Republican Party? You know - the ones who put all of those nasty right-wing ads on my television?

Seems like you should, since they're getting rich trading with Communists. Given that you don't like Communists, I'd think you realllly hate those people who are getting rich giving American jobs - and industry - to the People's Republic of China.

But let me guess: That's different, 'cuz you own stocks in their corporations, right? lolllll....

[actornaught]

In the past, I would've berated you for talking about Jesus' followers stomping heads... Okay, for oldtime's sake, you're a sorryast excuse for a comedian. You're welcome.

[quaso]

Got to love when the right-wing weasels be squirming and twisting and trying to justify the CLEARLY unjustifable actions of a goon.
Profitt did that interview with just a shoulders-down shot of him. Let's see his face close up. What's he hiding, weasel-teeth anyone?

[theprinceandthepopper]

You need to get right with God and stop attacking men who are on the front lines against Communists like Moveon.org

TAKE BACK AMERICA FOR JESUS!

[bileven]

So, the fact that she was paid to be there, and her income is based on performance means nothing? Time to learn to read between the lines. Look beyond just what you desire to see. Yes, it's probably going to upset you that you are being duped and controlled. But sorry, anyone that has the stregth to think for themselves can easily tell that something is amiss.

I am just curious, if she had advanced towards President Obama's car, and the Secret Service would have done far worse... would you guys be wimpering? Heck no... You want him to see him as "weasel-teethed". I seriously doubt, that if this were a Democratic candidate, and a Tea Party activist, that you would share the same thoughts.. then again, the media wouldn't air that, since it doesn't jive with their government backed agenda nor the corporate sponsored paycheck...

[calfuul]

You'll notice, as the guy that was stepping (I'd hardly call it a stomp) on her neck was pressing down, someone else in the crowd reaches out and yells "No, no, no!" Some guy just went overboard, as typically happens in mobs (which is why that dim bulb activist shouldn't have been there in the first place if she couldn't keep her opinions to herself).

These behaviors are straight out of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, and frankly are getting old. They demonstrate childishness on the part of those who utilize them. You aren't going to change the world kiddies. Choose your side, work to make things better, debate, raise the issues, but don't play these stupid parlor tricks. This is America where we don't act like wanna-be-terrorists to get our way.

[miami_don]

Idiot. What is so hard to understand? This was a violent act that should not have happened and it is now time to just face it and move on. Truthfully right leaning bloggers on this article have spent far too much time trying to rationalize the incident away. In the process you have lost sight of the violence that was involved. She didn't get a concussion by being given a pillow to fall on ? does that put it in perspective. Alinsky's Rules --- you are a moron!!

[ibsteve2u]

Dressing the part or carrying signs to make your opinions obvious has long been a part of the American political process - i.e., it is NOT new, and is most definitely not "wanna-be-terrorists" attempting to get their way.

Even the storm trooper tactics employed by the Tea Party "heavies" isn't all that new; it has been used by the Klan and many official and semi-official agencies to suppress the rights of Americans for decades.

But since the bulk of the American people usually find said storm trooper tactics to be both worrisome and disgusting, when entities reveal their true nature by resorting to such tactics, they usually disappear from the forefront of American politics shortly thereafter.

[Cowcharge]

It was her shoulder (still bad but someone told him off as he was doing it), and she had just got within arm's reach of Paul waving her sign over his car window. She's lucky she didn't get punched.

[miami_don]

Reading these blogs I get the feeling of a lot of mutual reinforcement. She deserved it - are you serious?

[actornaught]

The thug's heel came down hard enough on her head to give her a concussion. Pay attention.

[calfuul]

Bill Mahr has gained some notoriety recently by calling conservatives "batsh*t crazy". How sane is it for a 23 year old woman to walk into a crowd of Rand Paul supporters waving some asinine sign (that might loosely apply to the leadership of Paul's party but CERTAINLY doesn't apply to Paul himself), and trying to thrust some fake specious award in his face? She's lucky the crowd didn't do worse. Mobs (no matter what their political affiliation) are totally uncontrollable, and any fool knows that. Ever heard of the French Revolution? You don't jack around in crowds. Duh.

Democrats need to understand something. The Tea Party movement is a PROGRESSIVE (as in "grass roots") movement loosely affiliated with the Republican party. If Tea Partiers have their way, corporate influence over conservative politicians will be reduced. You'd think they'd SUPPORT that, not act like this stupid woman. I think what Democrats don't like is that the title of "progressive" is supposed to be theirs, and it's being taken away from them by <gasp> a bunch of semi-religious people without advanced degrees! <gasp>

[miami_don]

PROGRESSIVE - your progression sure looks a lot more like agression. Can you understand that?

[tngreen]

Your statement about the wisdom of expressing a differing opinion in such a crowd totally sums up what's wrong with the Right. You have no concept of what civil rights are. None. As long as you have superior numbers, you believe it's right to violate people in the minority. I was in a so-called "free speech zone" at a protest back during the GWB regime, when some Bush supporters entered that zone (in violation of the rules) and tried to pick fights with the anti-Bush folks. Not only did nobody stomp their heads, THEY had to be backed down to keep them from hitting one of us. Part and parcel of the bully/coward/Nazi mentality. You're disgusting specimens of marginal humanity, dragging down human evolution. Do us a favor and take yourselves out of the gene pool.

[sharkboy234]

Hungry Jack Conway(D) vs Rand Paul(R) in ky to win jack conray look like a million bucks. Rand Paul lost a million dollars.

[bileven]

It's ok.. The reason why Conway LOOKS like a million bucks is due to his corporate sponsor... do your homework..

[cptphilb]

Ok, so let me get this straight...this MORON charges a candidates vehicle to thrust a weapon, no a bomb, no an award...yeah, and bogus one at that...into the vehicle..and gets taken down...hmmmm, sounds like a set up to me....Nothing....absolutely nothing,,,seems to be beyond the dirty tricks used my dimwitcRATs during this election...Can't argue the facts, logic or run on your record....use personal attacks and try to set up opposing candidates and their supporters...Heyyyyyyyyyyy, where was all the outrage when the SEIU guys beat the hell out of that black guy???? Oh...that's right...that's DIFFERENT......
effin' hypocrites.....

[rayepp]

http://www.moveon.org/team/campaigns/republicorp/#two ..Sorry, here is the moveon agenda