CLAIMS OF SPITTING ON CONGRESSMAN? GO TO THE VIDEO: “There’s some higher resolution video below I hadn’t seen before. Unlike what was claimed during recent Tea Party protests in Washington, DC, it would appear Cleaver was simply walking close by in front of a protester. The protester’s hands were cupped as he was shouting. While it appears Cleaver may have experienced a spraying of sorts as a result of the yelling, it does not support a conclusion that he was intentionally spat upon, as claimed.”

Jim Treacher looked at the video and agrees:

Looks to me like that dude was yelling at him and maybe a drop of spittle flew at him. Which still sucks. Nobody likes to be yelled at, especially by some redneck who won’t just shut up and pay his taxes. But it’s not like somebody hocked a loogie in Cleaver’s face.

I know, I know. It doesn’t matter anyway because the Tea Parties are racist. I’m just providing… what’s it called? Oh yeah: Evidence.

Cleaver declined to press charges over this, which is a good thing because no arrests were made that day.

Incidentally, do you guys hear the “n-word” in there? Me neither. Maybe we’re just not listening hard enough.

Just a diversionary attack to distract the opposition. Wolf! Wolf!

Related: Black conservative Kevin Jackson on MSNBC.

Meanwhile, if it had to pass by a referendum among American voters, would spitting on Congressmen even be a crime?

UPDATE: Stephen Green emails: “If it had to pass by referendum…spitting on congressmen might be compulsory.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: A poll.

MORE: Cleaver weighs in:

But wait: when Rep. Emanuel Cleaver describes to Milloy being “spat” on, it sounds not like an intentional loogie, but like overenthusiastic yelling. He described it to Milloy as a man “who allowed saliva to hit my face,” which sounds unintentional, if not well-mannered.

Okay, I think we can put this one to bed.