A Florida man was charged with domestic battery after an argument with his wife over Obama vs. Romney turns physical. WTVJ's David Jeannot reports.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- An argument over the 2012 election led to a domestic battery charge for an elderly Hollywood man who struck his wife after yelling at her "about Obama and Romney," police said Wednesday.
Peter Schwartz, 74, was arrested at his home on Hillcrest Drive around 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Hollywood Police arrest report.
Schwartz's wife told police the two had gotten into a verbal argument about "politics" and she ran away when he started yelling at her about "Obama and Romney," the report said.
Read the original report | More from NBCMiami
Schwartz also told police that they had been arguing about the two presidential candidates and said his wife grabbed his shirt and he slapped her on the left side of her face with his open right hand, the report said.
He also pushed her in her chest, causing her to fall in the grass, the report said. She was then able to run away, she said.
"I fell in the grass and maybe hit my face," the woman told officers, according to the report. Officers noted in the report that she had redness and swelling on the left side of her face.
She refused to fill out a complaint affidavit but police arrested Schwartz anyway, the report said. He was being held on $1,000 bond Wednesday, and it was unknown whether he has an attorney.
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"You shouldn't talk about politics, sir, you really should not," Judge John Hurley told Schwartz.
Hurley ordered him to have only telephone contact with his wife and to stay 500 feet away from here. He was also not allowed to possess any guns or ammunition.
"I love this woman more than my own life," Schwartz said.
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as the song goes "you aint seen nothing yet"
remember when mcain lost? most people just said "oh well, give him a chance"
when obama loses what do you believe will happen?... the same thing? ...don't be naive,... can you say the word Riots? ...everywhere.... think about it
And Tea Partiers have threatened Civil War if Obama wins. Give me a break.
Sorry Judge, you do not have the right tell people what to talk about or what not talk about. Stick to the law, not opinions or advice. We need political discussion. Our country needs everyone talking about politics. How Dare you judge. Our country is messed up because no one wants to talk about issues. Just look at our Congress and Senate. During their last session, no one talked and then they all went home. They did not want to talk at a time we need more talk, not less.
IA - comment #1 - "most people just said 'oh well, give him a chance' "?!! Did you just come out of a coma?!! No, most of those, who didn't vote for him, NEVER said anything like it (and you know it)!
I have said all along...what happens when obama loses and he won't leave..............
totherepublic - as opposed to Sarah Palin, who wins and then quits?
enough smoke and mirrors edgar, the lies are over.
not opposed to anyone...I am talking treason. No president or candidate has ever done that...until obama. If you can not see it comming you are an idiot.
A bold (and broad) statement. Surely you can provide an example and/or cite your source.
RogerZ: in this instance, the judge was correct. The man could not, obviously, talk about politics without getting overly worked up about it. He was not ORDERING him to not talk about politics, he was simply giving him some advice. I'm sure that if the fight had been about baseball teams, the judge would have said to not talk about baseball.
There are some people who should not get into discussions about certain issues.
So they arrest him, even though the wife didnt want them to. Police have gone insane.
Another armageddon-seeking loon.
Please explain what Obama did in an act to overthrow the government.
"Hurley ordered him to have only telephone contact with his wife and to stay 500 feet away from here."
Where is "here"?
Every time I see an error like this in any news piece, I lose a little respect for the "news" organization. Fox News. CNN. NBC News. They are all the same. Try to save a buck and end up with incompetent writers and editors.
@3RD alot of us did! I gave him a chance but not this timwe and after romney showed he can lead far better!
Several states have laws that when called for domestic dispute if they see physical evidence of an assault they have to make an arrest and it doesn't matter if it's the guy the girl or even both. The reason that they arrest without the vicitms request is because of intimidation on them filing and the fear of retribution when the assailant is released. This way the person assaulted didn't file for the arrest.
There ya go. If you don't have any facts, just make them up. Personally I go with "Obama kills babies, and eats puppies." Or maybe that he worships Satan?
What's this guys posting name at Newsvine?
Some of the above posters may want to take the Judges advice...lmao.
Who says Obama is going to lose?
BTW...this political fighting and hate-mongering is ridiculous...all this bull@!$%# over a candidate? Why doesn't everyone stop follwing a party because of what party it is...because your dad or your uncle or whoever voted that way? Don't be stupid...you look at the candidate and pick who you like...NOT because he's a Republican or Democrat...but because he stands for what YOU stand for.
Gtouch is right. Many states will arrest someone involved in a domestic dispute if there is enough physical evidence. To add to Gtouch's post, police also do it to avoid further provoking if they leave without arresting whomever is at fault. It's the risk of matters getting more out of hand and someone ending up dead. If you have ever seen Cops (tv reference), you see a lot of the white trash people pleading with police to not arrest their partner even though they were just heavily beaten up. If the police were to not arrest the person responsible for the injuries, they would be subject to a review for not following protocol (not to mention everyone would be wondering why they didn't do more) to avoid the incident getting further out of hand when there was a possibility of things getting worse after the police leave with no arrest.
One example of the TP threatening Civil War was with the Judge in Texas who said that if Pres. Obama won the people should rise up and revolt.
from MrBurns. "So they arrest him, even though the wife didnt want them to. Police have gone insane."
No sir. Most women do not want to sign complaints against there spouses or boyfriends only to be hurt again. That is why if there is proof of abuse the aggressor will alway get arrested. Police are not insane. they just have to deal with boneheads like you every day.
For decades I've been saying that women who are married/in a relationship with conservative men - intentionally vote Democrat just to spite their abusive husbands/mates.
I'd rather get smacked around twice a year than be forced to listen to conservative paradigms every day.
So you are saying that conservative thoughts are outstandingly clear and are supported by a framework of theories, laws etc................so I guess that liberal thoughts are not like that................making them nonsensical. Now I don't care if you like liberal or conservative thoughts I just don't think you chose the correct word for what you were trying to say.
Bluepanther20 - You're idea is great but won't happen. The reason? It requires thought and reasoning - something a lot of voters lack due to the "dumbing down" in our schools. Whether you're a dem, repub or other, we're ALL in deep crap!
So Obama gets one vote:Romney gets one vote=Even...case closed.
If a skinny guy makes a back-dive and double flip belly flop, and nobody gets wet.
Romney did the most incredulous dive in history and the judges gave him a 10 point.
Unbelievable that Obama had water all over his face and only Big Bird's feathers felt it.
the wife is for obama and the husband is for romney ...didnt say in the article but sure thats the position on these folks,...
When a nagging wife will nag you even about politics, things are bound to get ugly...
Max, that's not true...This was absolutely obama's fault... He caused it, he created it and he should
take responsibility for it.
sparemefool
Please tell me how he (Romney) could lead.
I said watch out for the tea party they are a fanatic dangerous bunch. Watch out for the continued registration fraud tactics also. Romney and Ryan are snake peddlers period. Obama 2012
Wait a minute...hold the phone. If a person grabs a hold of you (Your Shirt) you are allowed to smack them. It should be considered self defense. Why was he arrested? Spousal abuse is bad news all the way around but if you are grabbed you shouldn't go to jail for defending yourself.
President Obama promotes the abuse of women!! :o)
The wife didn't leave any physical evidence on her husband. She may have grabbed his shirt but wasn't doing so to inflict injury, so instead of the husband neutralizing that situation, he felt he had the right to slap her in the face and shove her. He didn't need to hit her if he made the decision to back off in a stupid argument. With that being said, if the roles were reversed and he had grabbed her shirt and she responded by slapping him and shoving him, the police would have arrested her. It's usually a judgement call that police have to make for something minor as grabbing someone's shirt as opposed to someone hitting the other in the face. Some towns have their officers arrest both parties regardless of how it started.
"I love this woman more than my own life," Schwartz said.
NBC as usual failed to include the complete quote after the comma....
"But I love Obama More"!
@ denver bill 2 and @ spencer
Just because you do your best to ignore anything you don't agree with, doesn't turn facts into fiction.
Mississippi Teaparty Leader Roy Nicholson
Numerous Republicans have expressed discontent with the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Affordable Care Act, but it took a Tea Party leader to imply that the decision could justify a new Civil War.
A former Michigan Republican Party spokesperson, Matthew Davis, sent out an email on Thursday headed “Is Armed Rebellion Now Justified?”
Not done yet...
The groups claiming President Obama is a tyrannical leader have never given one example of tyranny, but they, with the GOP’s assistance, have whipped themselves into frenzy and openly called for armed insurrection against the United States government. One may be inclined to excuse talk of rebellion as angry rhetoric from a fringe element in the tea party, but a Virginia Republican Committee newsletter has called for armed revolution if President Obama is re-elected in November.
gtouch; I totally used "paradigm" correctly in the context of rhetorical argument - WRT (Writing) 101. Reference; In Search Of Authority - Bonneycastle Third Edition.
Anal in order to avoid the point of the comment - another one dimentional thinker (bites the dust).
Hurley ordered him to have only telephone contact with his wife and to stay 500 feet away from here. He was also not allowed to possess any guns or ammunition.
He can never see his wife again even though she didn't want to press charges? Doesn't the wife have to seek a restraining order? He loses his second amendment rights even though a weapon was not involved?
I think the law is if your ever been convicted for domestic abuse you can't own a gun. He hasn't been convicted yet that I'm aware of. He needs an attorney if he plans on owning guns ever again, but he is 74 y.o.
Commenting is dangerous in Florida.
and evidently illegal..
If he can't engage in a conversation without hitting the person he disagrees with, then he should probably take the judge's advice.
Arguing witrh a wife is dangerous no matter where you live. Note to married men: You can be right, or you can be happy. Take your pick.
denver bill 2: don't you mean "You can be happy or you can be married " ?
Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
Commenting on Newsvine can be hazardous also. Let's all mind our "p's and q's."
Hollywood is in the blue part of Florida.
And that matters, why?
Yes, Jeff, because only Democrats can live in "blue parts" and only Republicans can live in "red parts". This is Jeff's "logic".
Two different colored ghettos.
Judge John Hurley should understand that there is a limit to his power and he is overstepping it.
The First Amendment is there for a reason and politics is a very important thing for people to be discussing right now. More of the "government will take care of everything for you" crap that Obama is peddling will send our country to an early grave through the bankruptcy courts.
The police arresting a 74 year old man is ridiculous enough, but the jackass judge preventing him from going home or talking to his wife on the phone will create financial hardship on the couple who now have to pay for a bail bondsman, an attorney to defend him and a place to live.
This is a perfect example of how the system is designed to just move people through it and collect revenue along the way. I bet this poor guy spends $2,000 - $3,000 on this and will still be in the system if he makes it to 80 years old.
I would like to hear what his wife thinks of these events. Bet she agrees with me.
excellent post....you may have a cookie..........
I'm not sure of FL law but I know in a lot of places if the police are sent out on a domestic battery call they must make an arrest if the person they were called for is there. They don't have a choice so it doesn't matter if they are 14 or 74, if they other party doesn't want to press charges or even if the call is bogus or not.
The reason is because of the number of cases where the police come, the wife or whoever changes her mind (often under duress) the police leave and the abuse continues or even gets worse (as punishment for calling the police)
Now you can agree with that law or disagree, but the fact is its the law and the police must enforce it.
Just a reminder that this man hit his wife and pushed her to the ground. Perhaps that is why he was arrested?? I agree that he has the right to say what he chooses, but violence should not be necessary to get his point across.
Translation of the other ten pages of Leatherneck's post: Domestic violence is a Federal crime only insofar as it affects interstate commerce.
Leatherneck: thank you for your brevity. :)
Actually, it probably was a good idea for the police to arrest him (he did the battery) but most likely the issue will settle. Maybe he'll get some counseling about anger management.
If this does cost the couple some money, that's part of the cost of being stupid.
Stop the war
Schwartz also told police that they had been arguing about the two presidential candidates and said his wife grabbed his shirt and he slapped her on the left side of her face with his open right hand, the report said.
He also pushed her in her chest, causing her to fall in the grass, the report said. She was then able to run away, she said.
"I fell in the grass and maybe hit my face," the woman told officers, according to the report. Officers noted in the report that she had redness and swelling on the left side of her face.
Just in case you missed the part that might have given you a clue as to why he was "ridiculously" arrested.
Guess it's ok for a 74 year old to do that?
If there is any financial hardship caused it is by this man, who through his own actions put this chain of events in motion.
Stop blaming the system when people should be taking responsibility for their own actions.
And a judge suggesting he not talk about politics (because that's all it amounts to as he was not forbidden to do that) is...and get this...NOT an infringement on any ones 1st amendment rights.
Talk about trying to stir @!$%# up when there is nothing to stir up.
I hate when people do nothing more than cut and paste. Do you have any original thoughts on anything?
His original thoughts preceded the cut and paste.
I bet you're one of those people who say- FACTS! Cite your sources! Show my one place/time/blah blah blah.
Just apparently an information preemptive strike.
They have probably already forgot about the fight. They are probably wondering where the other one is.
never should have hit her,but the judge telling him he shouldnt talk about politics is ludicrous...now the poor bastard will have to spend 6 months in a batterers intervention programe at 60 dollars a week, 45 dollars a month for his probation officer,more than likely loose his place of residance and all or most of his possesions.also charged with domestic battery which will earn him jail term and then a 12 month probation...and the wife doesnt want to pursue a domestic violence injunction...the only winners here are the womans advocate groups who make there money from federal grants for domestic violence..gotta keep those statistics high so hubbard house,betty griffin house and the like can stay in business
I don't get all the sympathy for this jack a$$. This guy slaps his wife, makes her fall to the floor over something on TV and there's an outpouring of sympathy. Ridiculous.
Waaa the judge suggested he doesn't talk about politics waaaaa....
He didn't order him not to he suggested he doesn't. Can you tell the difference?
Given the fact the last time he did he beat hit wife I would say that is sound advice.
STFU with sympathy for a wife beating low life moron.
goodforgoodnesssake: yeah, well, we all know how beaters usually vote and they tend to stick up for one another....
TheObama47% banned, hysterically misogynist derail, rereg of summer-4089363.
A USA Judge says officially, that you should not talk about politics,---
I have seen that might not be good in USA, if people actually knew anything about what this entire subject is about, they might become more involved and possibly the robbers of our money would be held accountable, instead of having/stealing huge sums they can use on their own pet projects!.!
Lots of people here seem to have a hard time differentiating between "should not" and "can not." If you are blind, you should not own a firearm, even though you can.
Unfortunately the elderly can be violent also. Sad, so sad. But we all grow old and have a potential for the same behavior.
You talk about facts? Are you kidding me? Repubs don't like facts, they just get in the way and your ignorance shows that with your post.
Repubs don't like facts. That's why Romney cited statistics 44 times during the debate to Obama's 33.
Politicians don't like facts. If you think your side is any more honest than their side, then you're deluding yourself.
How many of Romney's "statistics" were fabricated? Quite a few according to the fact checkers.
Sorry, if she was educated she would actually still vote for Obama---in more than 69 % of the case!
um yeah, and if we put BOTH of your edumacations together what would we have? hmmmm?
Did you read the story? It does not say who either one of them voted for. This is a story about domestic violence.
I presume you are talking about 2008 numbers. So if she was black she would vote for Obama in 95% of the cases. So what?
You are sick.
you would not know or recognize a Fact if it snapped you in the butt
47%,
I read your comment. It contained no fact; it was all opinion and conjecture; it was pure pop-psychology. You know nothing of her or his political views.
I don't know why so many people will spout off a bunch of ridiculous opinions and then try to claim they are facts. And it's clearly a bipartisan inclination.
And just what are the FACTS about "Fast and Furious" Kilowatt? Why is the Obama administration hiding approx 90% of the documents pertaining to this program? Could it be because it was an intentional assault on the United States Constitution's 2nd Amendment and not just some dumbass scheme to track down bad guys in Meheco?
Come on Obongo. Show us those documents...."FAST AND FURIOUS" certainly was an attempt to assault our 2nd Amendment Rights
13 deleted, Red_Cloud flaming someone. Not clear who:
You're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
Believe it or not, this isn't actually about politics, folks. The fact their argument was about politics seems to make the press think this is an attention-grabber. The fact is this guy's wife disagreed with him so he hit her. Wonder how many times he's done it before. I don't think husband's just suddenly become disrespectful and violent in their elderly years. The article doesn't say, but if she's about the same age as the husband, he could have seriously injured her when he "pushed" her in the chest. If this is what she's saying happened and she doesn't want him charged, I'm sure she was trying to sugarcoat it.
I love how the trolls come out to start screaming about politics but no one is screaming at the horror of some a$$hole beating his wife. Maybe if he hit her because she picked out the wrong creamer for his coffee some of you would care though I doubt it would have made it into any news. BTW, the judge can give any opinion he wants. If you've ever been into a court of law, the judge almost always gives an opinion.
Exactly, I doubt very much that this guy was just a perfect husband until this election cycle. He's probably been knocking her around for years and this is just his latest excuse. Also for those of you complaining about the judge saying he shouldn't talk about politics, the judge made a suggestion it was not an order. Judges make suggestions all the time, like "try to get along with your neighbor" or "you should think about joining AA", these aren't orders.
I love the fact that most of the trolls complaining about the judge can't read. The judge DID NOT issue an order telling him not to discuss politics, they can and do make advisory comments during trials, but I guess trolls think everything a judge says is a court order.
The fact that the old man slapped her and pushed her to the ground doesn't bother them, as it fits their philosophy of trying to control a womans body!
I agree with the judge. Don't argue politics with relatives. Just ignore them and vote the way you want to. It doesn't matter who gets to be President anyway, since Congress controls the country.
I'm guessing that, by omission in the article and because the report is from the ever-partisan NBC, the man is/was an Obama supporter...
I do not think the judge meant it literally that the husband should not ever talk about politics...I believe he meant don't talk politics with your wife if it is going to lead up to him striking her just as a parent would tell their kids, hey if you can't get along and share then put it up, go to your rooms and when you are ready to behave and share then you can play together...
@TheObama47%
Perhaps one day you will think about what you said on this forum and have a profound thought, not one based on stupidity.
**Troll alert**
47% - Your hood and sheet are showing.
Note to self. If I'm ever arrested for hitting someone about something we were talking about, I should expect the judge to tell me not to talk about that subject.
This man admitted to assaulting his wife. Case closed.
_
The story is about a violent man - not necessarily about politics. Probably not the first time he's hit her.
TheObama47%
Not only did I not click the up arrow, I put you on ignore. I just can't stand stupid people.
I bet the jerk was a Romney supporter - figures
you know the obama47% there is no doubt of your ignorance and racism - stating "white girls pregnant with Travon Martin looking boys" WOW you really are at the very bottom of the dung heap. I think there is an organization that feels the same way - you now - 3 letters and a sheet. you really are disgusting - go post of Faux News
Let's see if there's a way to sum this up, an elderly man gets in an argument with his elderly wife over politics. He slaps her and knocks her to the ground. He gets arrested, goes before a judge who tells the elderly man to avoid political arguments with his elderly wife. So far so good? I'm just checking, because some people are getting pretty hot under the collar over a simple domestic violence case. Seems pretty straight forward to me...Don't beat your wife and avoid getting into arguments that lead to beating your wife. Sounds pretty solid to me. Put the old gieser in jail? No, it would be as much as a hardship for the other old gieser as it would be a punishment for the first old gieser. Push her again, it's off to jail with the old guy. But Geez...somebody spray some Paxil into the ventilation system...there some serious mountians-out-of-mole hills going on here.
Another victory for "Obama-the-Divider-in-Chief"
@we have ..... Get back on your meds before you hurt yourself.
It's strange how everyone is trying to turn this into a partisan argument.
Who cares who these two are going to vote for?
A husband hit and pushed his wife to the ground.
P.S. (to we have had eough [sic]): This is a victory for no one.