U.S. Rep. John Larson and some supporters of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Peter Schiff reportedly tangled at the Memorial Day commemoration in Newington yesterday.
Here's Larson spokesman Paul Mounds' assessment: "To summarize it- Congressman Larson, an invited attendee to Newington Memorial Day Parade, was aggressively approached by an individual who appeared to be associated with the Schiff Campaign,'' Mounds wrote in an email. "They had a spirited exchange, however it is unfortuate that these tea party tactics were being used at a time in which Congressman Larson, fellow parade participants and attendees were honoring and thanking our veterans."
And here's the take of a Schiff supporter who was there (via an email from Schiff campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Millikin):
"Schiff campaign staffer and volunteers get in heated debate with Congressman John Larson over responsibility for the national debt. During argument Larson claimed that the military was a social program which has increased the national debt.
"He then accused [a] staffer...of making the statement regarding the military. [The staffer] pointed out that the congressman was being untruthful as he made the statement. Larson went on to claim that he was not responsible for the deficit growth as he voted against entering Iraq and Afghanistan and that he was not responsible for our largest social program, the military."