Meet Scott Prouty: Five Things We Learned About the '47 Percent' Cameraman

Meet Scott Prouty: Five Things We Learned About the "47 Percent" Cameraman

By Terrence McCoy Thu., Mar. 14 2013 at 9:24 AM

3. Prouty's Story Differs From James Carters'

Last November, we wrote 1,500 news piece on the 47-percent video, puzzling together just how this whole thing happened. We interviewed Prouty via e-mail -- though we didn't know his identity -- as well as James Carter, who'd linked Prouty to Mother Jones Political Editor David Corn.

James Carter told New Times he'd contacted Prouty after discovering one of Prouty's early videos.

But last night, Prouty told MSNBC's viewers that he was the first one to say he wanted to take the video nationally.

2. Prouty almost didn't release the video

It was early in the morning, nine months ago when Prouty said he'd decided to spread the video. He was stumbling around the darkness of his South Florida house, peering out the window, before heading for the bathroom.

He looked into the mirror. "I thought, 'You're a coward,' " he told Schultz. " 'You're an absolute coward.' So I thought, 'That's not going to work.' I turned a corner. I felt good about it and I never looked back."

1. Prouty is not a teenaged Chinese girl.

Prouty -- blond, blue-eyed, and thick-necked -- is most definitely not a Chinese girl.

For months, Prouty has dispatched tweet after tweet, YouTube video after video, all under the social media name of Anne Onymous. It showed a picture of a Chinese girl with some scribbling in the background.

Translated, the scrawls describe several job advertisements. One says: "Two male operatives needed, salary 650-700 yuan per month, food and accommodation included." Another says: "Female 500 per month, food and accommodation included, working 8 hours per day."

For reasons that still aren't explained, Prouty is passionate about the factory girls of China. This was the reason Prouty initially decided to send out the 47-percent video -- not to display displeasure over the inequities coursing through our nation.

The link Prouty has to this issue is still unclear.

The entire segment:

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dregstudios topcommenter

So Moneybags Romney lost the election because he didn’t tip his server or even acknowledge his existence?! This is simply awesome and shows the true impact of the internet and social media as they have leveled the playing field in politics and our justice system. All the power garnered by Mitt’s Magic Mormon Underwear couldn’t save him from being exposed by his own petty elitism. See a portrait of Mittens in his sacred Tighty Whities and read more about the role of money in politics at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/05/mitt-romneys-magic-mormon-underwear.html

smdrpepper topcommenter

Glad he was there to tape this. Really shows just how much disdain the GOP really has for all the normal people who do not have millions in the bank.

LocalDude

he will probably be sued.

this event was closed to media. he became media when he released the video. it was also recorded (with audio), without permission. that is against the law in Fl. -ask any cop....

He changed the election. no doubt. hopefully the DNC will fund his legal defense.

ChazStevensGenius topcommenter

@LocalDude I've always been taught... Is there a perceived right to privacy?

FatHand

I don't think he'll be sued. Mitt Romney is probably the only person with standing to sue him, and I kinda doubt that is going to happen.

What would be interesting is that the Florida statute you reference above makes it a crime to record conversations. It's a somewhat complicated statute and there are exceptions, so I don't know whether he may have broken the law or not, and I'm not sure where that house is or who has jurisdiction, but potentially I would think he could be charged with a crime. Think Pam Bondi would go after a bartender for something like this? I do.