Shocking! Vid Shows Man Leaping From Balcony in Front of Romanian Parliament
- Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:33am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Romanian television engineer apparently distraught that budget cuts had reduced benefits for his autistic teenage son dived more than 20 feet (about seven meters) from a balcony onto the floor of Romania’s parliament Thursday, then shouted “Freedom!” as emergency workers took him out on a stretcher.
The man’s cry echoed those heard during the 1989 revolution that toppled communism – a revolt in which 1,300 people died. Romanians are commemorating the 21st anniversary of an uprising in which authorities shot unarmed protesters.
Shortly after Prime Minister Emil Boc greeted lawmakers, Adrian Sobaru hit the floor with a thud that reverberated through the chamber. No one else was injured, and Sobaru’s injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.
His dramatic gesture shocked lawmakers, some of whom wept. Boc looked startled and, along with other lawmakers, rushed over to Sobaru. Speaker Mircea Geoana briefly postponed the session.
Boc called the incident a tragedy, said he was shocked, and appealed for calm in what he called “these tough times.”
Doctors are treating Sobaru’s jump as an attempted suicide. A video shows him standing on a balcony above the area in which lawmakers were sitting, then diving off. Photos show him wearing a white T-shirt bearing the words “You’ve pierced us. You‘ve killed our children’s future. But you can’t take our FREEDOM.”
The first line was a reference to President Traian Basescu who, upon winning the presidential race in 2009, said, “I’ve pierced them,” using a well-known line from a Romanian movie. Calls to Sobaru’s phone went unanswered. He is scheduled to have surgery for facial fractures.
Colleagues said the only thing that appeared to trouble the easygoing teetotal 41-year-old was coping with the needs of his 15-year-old autistic son. Boc’s government, which relies on an International Monetary Fund loan to help pay public wages and pensions – and must meet the fund’s demands to reduce the deficit – had slashed benefits by 15 percent in July.
“He was private about this but we knew it was a problem,” Ilie Suciu, coordinator at the news department of public television station TVR, where Sobaru worked, told the Associated Press.
Another colleague said Sobaru had shown no abnormal behavior.
I worked with him for 20 years. He is normal person, a man of integrity,” said Lucia Hossu Longin, a producer who made documentaries about the horrors of the Communist era. “What he did reminds me of when people threw themselves out of the window during interrogations in the 1950s. It is an accumulation of exasperation,” she told Antena 3 television.
The session resumed without opposition lawmakers, who walked out when their request to reschedule a motion of no-confidence motion in the government was not approved. The opposition needed 236 votes to topple the government – which survived because not a single vote was cast in favor of the motion.
Romania is mired in recession and the government recently cut public sector wages by one-quarter. And the sales tax was increased from 19 to 24 percent, as the government worked to keep the deficit at 6.8 percent in 2010. The country’s economy is expected to decline by 2 percent this year, after contracting by 7.1 percent in 2009. The cuts have angered many Romanians.
The public television station TVR said he jumped “for personal reasons,“ and said the station had given him material support for ”health problems he had in his family.”
Sobaru sustained face wounds, and other non life-threatening injuries, said Catalin Carstoiu, manager at the University Hospital. He will undergo surgery and psychological counseling, Carstoiu said.
—
Alina Wolfe Murray in Bucharest also contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with new information from the Associated Press.
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Comments (198)
Gonzo
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:09amIf they don’t get free stuff, life is just not worth living, pathetic.
Report Post »Scaz
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 8:34pmYeah, And I like how he yelled “Freedom” right before he jumped. A Nanny state is the exact opposite of freedom. Most people really don’t want true freedom.
Report Post »Vox Populi
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 12:38amHe would probably LOVE the freedom to buy insurance.
The problem is – it’s a single payer system run by the government – he has NO WAY to have his daughter cared for, because the state took away his coverage, AND eliminated all competitors.
How’s that collectivism working out for them?
Oh yeah, they aren‘t doin’ it right – they need MORE power and MORE government…in order to get it “just” right…
Report Post »SueDinNY
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:07amHow is it that apparently intelligent people (the man is an engineer) do not understand that Romania is basically a bankrupt country and therefore CAN NOT afford government hand outs? Why is it that people are so brainwashed they actually believe government can take care of them? They saw the USSR collapse, they endured years of poverty in the name of communism, yet still refuse to believe that communism does not work. Well, it doesn’t work. It fails time and time again. Intelligence has nothing to do with common sense, obviously.
Report Post »SearchForTruth
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:59amBecause they have had nothing else to believe in for generations
Report Post »frgough
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:22pmBecause socialism steals away self-reliance. The heartless comments aside, the real tragedy is that this man has been locked into the worst kind of slavery. A slavery of the mind. A slavery that has convinced him he in incapable of caring for himself. Commenters sit here in their ivory tower and spout platitudes about how he should find a better job, etc. You miss the point. Decades of socialism have robbed him of the ABILITY to even think in those terms.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:07amAnd the score cards read
Report Post »5.1 5.7 6.1 4.2
Not the best looking swan dive I have seen
PDfromToledo
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 2:20pmGood one!!
Report Post »uberchrist33
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:06amNow, if all those crazy socialists would follow suit – preferably, from the height of say: the Empire State Building – the UK would be better off. I think Daniel Hannan can handle the country all on his own!!!!
Report Post »Jeremie Step
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 1:40ama capitalist would charge them to jump from the empire state building, at least we could start paying off the national debt with the proceeds. To attract more commies, promise them free college if they hit picture of a rich person.
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:06amlook at the lavish chairs and building they built for themselves, reminds me of what you see at school board meetings, except people coming before them sit 10 feet lower on a table.
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:05amI think they got the video mixed up. That was not Parliament, I’m pretty sure that was from that new Spiderman musical on Broadway
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:12pmI thought the guy talking souned like the Pope blessing the whole thing…
Report Post »bookofwisdom
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:05amI’m afraid a lot of Americans are going to be feeling the same way this man does, I only hope they get help before they all start jumping off buildings; and only one man cried for him, a pity more people don’t feel others pain. May God Bless.
Report Post »ALISSTER
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:04amHe just thought that he was at a SLAYER concert at The Aragon Brawlroom.
SLAYER!!
Report Post »FutureofAmerica
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:04amThis guy took dumb to a whole new level.
Report Post »Cuthalu
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:03amConfirmation that socialists are mentally deranged.
Report Post »Have Gun Will Travel
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:01amOne less welfare recipient.
Report Post »jacquecustard
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:58amJudges scored, 4.7, 4,9, 4.4,4 ,5.0
Gravity sucks !
The European socialist utopia is falling , bankrupt !
Report Post »Have Gun Will Travel
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:02amGravity sucks and so do liberals.
Report Post »code green
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:57amI can only give him a 5 .
Report Post »Americanius
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:54amWhich falls faster, a failing government economy or a Marxist?
And they want us to take them seriously? Riiiiiiiiiight.
Report Post »C.C.D.
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:54amBring in the pooper scooper and sweep up this mess. To bad we couldn’t convince two thirds of the 111th Congress that this is a going away dance..
Report Post »Thumbs Up
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:53amWhat a dope!
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:51amNow you see why liberals will never win this “war of the minds”. In revolt, they are torn with ideological passionate thoughts, they turn against themselves.
Wait till you see how we Mississippians play the game! :->
Report Post »jackkemo
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:50amHa ha ha ha HA LMAO, i wish Cindy She-man or Micheal Moore would protest this way! I’d pay and bring pop-corn!
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:47amWay to much red bull. Get it? red. Oh I’m too funny. I just crack myself up.
Report Post »jackkemo
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:51amlmao…. so funny!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:45amStage diving at an empty parliament meeting is not advised.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:45amFaces of Death… Seems tame nowadays…
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:44amFly united!
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:58am….says Barney Frank
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:03amDidn‘t see Peter Pan as a child and didn’t know he needed some fairy dust.
Report Post »Vox Populi
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 12:34amYou know, we are TOLD this guy is “protesting austerity moves” but you know, when the state destroys the private market – eliminating all competition – then rations care because costs are too high…
…former communists believe this IS the states responsibility.
Americans will know this reality soon.
I wonder if anyone is hearing Sarah Palin’s warnings about “death panels” now?
…of course not,,,this is just happening because the government is just too stingy.
right?
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:42amNice way to protest. Hurt yourself, instead of the ones you are protesting against.
“He will undergo surgery and psychological counseling”
Lots and lots of it, I hope.
Report Post »gopsnativeson
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 2:31pmOne great leap for mankind, from government dependency, to stupidity, to ,,,,,,,,,, He never did get past the stupidity part, did he.
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:39amNow if we could get him to teach the Muslim Terrorists to protest that way
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:44amWe need to teach them to jump from a higher ledge than that. We don’t want to have to care for
Report Post »them after they drop.
4givn1
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:51ami agree….23 feet is not nearly high enough.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:56amFor the terrorists I have a better way, stick them on an old and rickety ship, send it mid ocean and have it sink to the deepest depths of the abyssal plane forever. Less of a mess to clean up.
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:44amIndeed!
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:45pmI think it’s funny and I only wish the ledge was about 50 feet higher.
Report Post »Jerbear1098
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:46pmThere ya go !!!!!!!
Still a 9.5 9.2 9.2 9.4
Report Post »cubber
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:38amIt is all relative. Must see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCetWenOfW4
BE PREPARED
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:44amSee, if the school system did not dumb these people down he would have known the properties of gravity and laws of motion…
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:45amWe see again the victims of the ‘nanny’ states; they have been hooked on government handouts for so long of time, when the need to have fiscal discipline (I know, a set of NON-PC words to the DC club) arises, they act like spoiled children who no longer can have everything they wish right at that instant of time.
Coming soon to America? This is one time I hope to be very wrong on the nations future; we will take her back for the people of the land, and unto the higher calling set before us.
Report Post »Have Gun Will Travel
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:01amcessna152
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:44am
See, if the school system did not dumb these people down he would have known the properties of gravity and laws of motion…
LMAO!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:05amAnyone want to wager on Mr Obama or Mr Liberman doing something like this before they leave office after the 2012 elections? After all, many of the outgoing politicians needed ‘grief counseling’ or such after their own defeats – they give a new definition daily to ‘clueless, delusional,‘ and ’out of touch with reality’ then again, most of us already know and comprehend that.
Report Post »BoiseBaked
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:18amIndeed, a glimpse of our future. The Romanians seem to have things right with consumption based sales tax (although 24% is too high) and public sector cuts. Go Romanians – show us the way.
Report Post »gobluebuckeye
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:19amAs Tom Petty once said, “And I’m Free, Free falling”
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:42amMaybe after he gets out of the hospital he can come over here and teach our politicians these moves.
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:43amHe had great form but the landing was a bit sloppy and no one died. I give it a very generous 8.5
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:45amWell, if he accomplished nothing else, I am now aware that Romania is taking some necessary steps toward righting the ship. We’ve all heard of Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, etc. Now I’m aware of Romania.
Report Post »CESSNA152 – That was funny!
Steve
http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
wash1776
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:52amSNOWLEOPARD: Obummer would never jump from a balcony. HE IS TOO IN LOVE WITH HIMSELF. I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU MAN AND OBAMA!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 11:56amI always heard that their Count was sucking this county dry.
Report Post »hickoryrat
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:04pmThis is an idea whose time has come.I would recommend this to all bottom feeders.
Report Post »Just one thing.USE A TALLER BUILDING
Dustyluv
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:09pmFreebies make you a slave hopelessness but keeps you dumb enough to not know how to jump from a higher floor…
Report Post »Mustangdave
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:12pmNot to be insensative…but if you’re going to JUMP for a cause like I WANT MY MONEY NOW…I love the Government teet…at least jump from a higher perch and give us a good show. Europe has always done stuff half assed anyway. You wanna see some quality jumping..wait until WALL STREET tanks AGAIN
Report Post »sedition
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:37pmNow that I shed a tear.. Thanks Cubber I will repost the link
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCetWenOfW4
tgarrett369
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:45pmunion members are dying too get thier pension
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:48pmcessna152
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:44am
See, if the school system did not dumb these people down he would have known the properties of gravity and laws of motion…
Pretty much sums it up … ROFLMAO!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:57pmAll for the love of money. I hope he heals quickly.
Its going to get worse and he will be no good to his family all busted up!
Folks! If you are not healthy…then get healthy. Walk daily if you can’t run. Purchase some light dumbells, 10lbs-15lbs, moderate strength enhancing. Lose some weight but not all you my need to have those extra pounds for the hard times ahead. But do get in good cardio shape, stretch daily.
Note: Please see a doctor before performing any of these activities.
Report Post »tradexpertbuysell
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 1:27pmWouldn’t it have been far easier and less risky for this individual to have gotten a better job?
But then thinking this through if he had gotten a better job the socialists over there would have taxed him more. So maybe he is on the right track after all!
But then thinking about this maybe he would rather jump than not work at all in which case we’re right back where we started from.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 1:55pmDoes this mean that the Romanian government will have to pay for his hospital and psychological care?? That is one crazy way of bringing the government down…..
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 2:22pmCloward and Piven are proud!
Pray with me…that He soon tramples “out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”
Report Post »clipper
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 2:43pmHey if anyone wants to do that here in our congress do us all a favor and aim for Nancy.Thank-you.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 2:49pmInsert “roadrunner and coyote” sound effects here.
Report Post »JGP
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:06pmHis knee‘s were a little bent and the toe’s were not pointed…7.5.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:09pm9.5 – 9.7 – 8.4 – 9.3 – 9.8
and he gets the bronze medal for biggest dumb ass
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:51pmhe did’nt stick the landing on the close.. OLGA Korbet ….. GIVES HIM 6.71
Report Post »ozz
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 3:58pmNo man is freed by taking his own life. The way to free your self is to take the life of your earthly master. One must recognize the difference between the master and another puppet though..
Report Post »Star Spangled
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 4:26pmThanks cubber , that’s a tear jerker ! Brought back scary memories of having 2 sons in Iraq through the holidays . But they’re both home for Christmas this year , safe and sound . Thank God .
God bless those who serve , bring them all home .
Report Post »Margaret Thatcher
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 5:33pmAnother…
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygt9Wizh9mo&NR=1
avenger
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 5:41pmI actually understand why he did it…that country is trotally screwed…all the lemmings are asleep. ! he should have gone to mexico and crossed the bordered into freedom…
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 23, 2010 at 10:04pmCubber – thanks for sharing that. I’m sitting here crying. This is my son’s 2nd Christmas in a row alone. God bless our soldiers. As to the man who jumped, it’s so sad. He lost all hope. We must not give up.
Report Post »russmack
Posted on December 24, 2010 at 10:30amhey, was that JON STEWART looking on?
Report Post »