DeWine confronts heckler
UPDATE BELOW
All is fair in love and politics but when it comes to dissing family, Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine will put up a fight.
That's what he did last night in an altercation at downtown's swanky Jean-Ro Bistro, 413 Vine St.
DeWine is pictured with his mother Fran and father, Republican U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (at extreme left) who was defeated last week in his bid for re-election.
Pat DeWine was having dinner at the restaurant. Seated at the table next to DeWine and his dinner companion were two men DeWine vaguely recognized but didn't know.
One of those men started running his mouth -- loudly -- about Sherrod Brown unseating Mike DeWine.
"He was purposefully saying some insulting and personal comments about my father," DeWine said today.
"I certainly lost my temper, but I didn't punch anybody."
The mans' comments, DeWine said, weren't limited to the election results and were designed to provoke him.
They did.
"We had a heated exchange of words," DeWine said. "There was no profanity. I regret losing my temper."
The other man, believed to be a local physician, couldn't immediately be reached.
The exchange came as DeWine got up from the table to go to the bathroom.
"You have to consider the circumstances," DeWine said. "I'm trying to enjoy a nice dinner and someone is insulting (my family). I don't appreciate that."
After returning from the bathroom, DeWine paid the dinner bill and left.
UPDATE
After being told that a Jean-Ro employee told the Enquirer the altercation was physical, DeWine said the heckler's glasses were knocked to the table.
He said it happened as he had his hand extended when the heckler was rising from his seat.
"I didn't touch the guy. I didn't grab him. I didn't put my hands around his neck," DeWine said.
The reservation of the heckler's table was in the name of "Bolling."
Dr. Christopher Bolling was one of the Host Committee of the Human Rights Campaign PAC, HRC Greater Cincinnati Community Committee that hosted an Oct. 30 fundraiser for Brown.
26 Comments:
at 1:14 PM, November 14, 2006 
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Post a Comment*This is a thorough airing of one side of the story. I understand that the other guy involved "couldn't be reached", but without at least fleshing this out with accounts from other people who were there, what's the point ?
I voted against DeWine, but I think that this heckler was totally out of line. This is just another example of how we as a people have lost a lot of class when it comes to politics. Everything now is about who can shreik the loudest in the most offensive way. If I was trying to have lunch and someone made rude comments about my father, I probably would have reacted worse than DeWine did. This wasn't some campaign event or public speech, the man has some right to eat in peace.
How did he know that he was a "physcian" if DeWine didn't know who he was.
It sounds pretty rude on both party's parts.
The other man, believed to be a local physician, couldn't immediately be reached.
Maybe the physician was Henry Heimlich, pissed off that DeWine wouldn't campaign for Phil.
Hey, Kimball Perry, how about a report about all the Repubs who wouldn't lift a finger to campaign for Heimlich and why not? Or didn't you notice?
Pat Dewine should learn how to behave himself. He's a public official and should show a little self control. The other people were having a conversation over dinner. Get a life and don't pay attention if someone is being rude.
His father was a public official too. This comes with territory of being a politician. Grow up or get a real job. Your days are numbered anyway. Soon the Dems will take your seat.
Real nice comment Rick. So you're a redneck idiot like George "maccaca" Allen I see.
liberal democrat here...
and i say "good for pat!" (even though i'll never vote for him)
also can we please not rag on the reporters so much!!
No, Pat, you're not allowed to lose your cool, knock off someone's glasses, or start insulting someone just because they make a crack about you or your old man. That's politics. You signed on when you became a public figure and so did your dad. Get a grip. You were elected to public office because people expect you to behave at a higher standard of conduct. If we wanted someone who would lose control because of a perceived insult, we could go to any local bar and find some dumb cluck. You're supposed to be better than that. And, no, you don't get dispensation just 'cause it's your daddy. If you can't control yourself in public, stay home.
Just because you are a public official does NOT mean you have to put up with jerks making personal attacks on your family at dinner. If anyone in that situation should grow up its the man who was making the comments. Being in politics does not give anyone and everyone the right to give you crap whenever you are in public. And if you truly believe that its ok to do so just because they choose to be a political leader (i dont like dewine either trust me here) then you are way more ignorant than the man who was making the rude comments. I really cant imagine being narrow minded enough to believe that its ok to behave that way to anyone in any situation.
Why was Pat given special treatment by the Cincinnati Police Department? Any other citizen would've been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault.
The Enquirer should be ashamed of themselves for making light of this violent situation. Slapping a man's glasses off his face is no laughing matter!!!
I can hear it already. Two days from now the doctor will emerge and tell a totally different story. Pat will check himself into an "anger management program". And justice will never be done.
People wonder why kids these days don't know how to cope with their anger and emotions. Maybe they're emulating "role models" like Eminem, "The Mack," Mike Tyson, and Pat DeWine.
All seems pretty childish. Since DeWine IS a public figure by choice, as IS his father, wasn't it his responsibility to avoid a confrontation?
Perhaps DeWine junior needs some anger management classes.
Voters and fellow legislators will need to remember such incidents when evaluating his opinions. Is he responding from head, heart, or glands?
The man is an office holder of the public trust, so is his father. But, before he was an office holder he is a son. Just because he is an elected officer does not mean he forfeits his considerations and feelings. This jackass crossed the line. Oh, he is a doctor who are trained to be dispassionate. There is no way this doctor did not know the son was nearby, unless under the influence of drinking. AND he was loud enough for a table away to hear him. The Dr. is a jerk. He should be along with Children's Hospital, should be ashamed of themselves.
People are allowed to have a private conversation about a public official which is what Mike DeWine is, even if he is Pat's father. The conversation was probably about issues and strategies not whether or not the DeWine's pay their bills late or drink too much or keep up the lawn. And with the low down campaign that DeWine ran against Brown, it's hypocritical for that family to start taking the high road now. If Pat's second job is defending the family name, then he'd better prepare himself for a long, hard battle.
Before everyone starts expressing opinions about whether DeWine's reaction was appropriate to the circumstance, wouldn't it be helpful to know what the so-called heckler actually said?
I heard, from a person who was actually there, that the "heckler" essentially said Senator Dewine was short (in stature). True? I don't know. But if it is, I'm not even sure that's an insult. And even if it is an insult to be called short, it doesn't seem to justify any kind of "confrontation" in which the other guy's glasses get knocked off his face.
In any event, I agree with previous writers who said Senator Dewine and Pat Dewine are public figures who have to be above that sort of fray.
Maybe Pat DeWine should eat at home if he is too thin-skinned to over-react to comments made in a public place. Or learn to take a deep breath and count to ten.
It's called maturity.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"
Hey Dewine, quit eavesdropping.
Acting like Kevin Federline at a 4 star restaurant is so not cool.
Whoever the "heckler" was and wherever it was, they should have been told to leave by the management that DeWine should have complained to. Only the baser elements "win" when civility is lost.
Everyone's so defensive of Pat DeWine for defending his father, but the so-called "heckler" was only talking about the results of the election, not making personal attacks.
Pat standing up for himself and for his family shows him as a beacon for what we need to get back to--people who say what they mean and mean what they say... And aren't afraid to back it up.
We've become a nation of sissies who never want to disturb the pond.
My only regrets are that Pat apologized to Dr. Dirtball, and that he didn't put his head through the drywall and demand an apology.
The "heckler" should have had Pat arrested. Then maybe he'd realize that like the rest of us lowlie earthlings, there are consequences to our actions. But elitist Pat, is above the law apparently. Big talking Be a Man, you'd be crying like a little girl if you ended up in the Justice Center for this assault as would Pat.
It is my understanding that the so called heckler's comment was that former Senator DeWine is short. Well, he is short. This is not a particularly offensive comment. I know Senator and Pat DeWine personally. I think that the Senator would agree that a comment on his height would not warrant a physical altercation. Even if the so called heckler made other degrading remarks, there is no need to cause a scene in a restaurant or anywhere else for that matter. And for those of you who “high-five” Pat for supposedly defending his father’s honor and commend him for being a family man ( I believe in a previous comment someone actually called him a beacon), remember, it wasn’t that long ago that Pat cheated his pregnant wife and left his family shortly after the baby was born.. Now I ask you, do you really think that former Senator Mike DeWine is actually proud of his son’s behavior. I doubt it!
Wake up, Cincinnati! Pat DeWine is no hero. Quit making him out to be one. Remember on thing. He would leave you in a New York minute if he had the opportunity for a seat in the House. Pat is not loyal, he is not honorable.
Pat is an adulter and an idiot
"heckler"? where's the proof?
"heckler"? where's the proof.
heckler is somebody who disrupts a public speaker.
BEACON??? Try scum bag! He is a cheating bastard!!! While his wife was home with two children and had one on the way and he was out sleeping around with a woman he worked with...nice. Then walked out on all 4 of them!!!
Please. His father may have morals and values, but Pat's nothing more than trash.
pat dewine and mike dewine are both honorable and respectable people who truly have morals and what our country needs. it is a terrible shame that mike dewine that was not re-elected to the senate, and well, if someone was talking about my father, i would have stood up for him too. i believe this was totally taken out of control, sure, he may have over-reacted, but i believe he did not physically harm him in any way.
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