The phrase is also being emblazoned on T-shirts. YouTube videos of the incident, which was sparked by Meyer's relentless questioning of Senator Kerry during a talk he was giving at the University of Florida, have been viewed almost 3 million times.

Meyer, 21, stepped up to the microphone to ask cheeky questions about impeaching US President George Bush and whether Senator Kerry and Mr Bush were both members of the Skull and Bones society at Yale. Meyer's voice became louder and more aggressive as he continued his diatribe and, when he refused to step away from the microphone, he was restrained by police officers. After struggling with police and resisting their attempts to remove him from the room, Meyer was subdued with a Taser. "Don't Tase me, bro!" was the 11th most searched for phrase on Google and opportunistic web users have already registered internet domain names using spelling variations of the phrase.

(On Yahoo, "Andrew Meyer" is the fasting moving search term and "John Kerry" is fourth fastest.). Remixed versions of the original clip, as well as various video responses from viewers, are pouring into YouTube.

Some have dubbed Meyer a "political martyr" and accused police of using force to curtail free speech. A Facebook group recruited protesters for a march against police brutality on the University of Florida campus. Florida investigators have been asked to review the use of the Taser by the police officers, who have been temporarily suspended on full pay, but the cultural firestorm is now blowing against Meyer after it was revealed he had a history of taping his own practical jokes. Many see him as a desperate attention-seeker who got what he deserved, a view reinforced by revelations he organised someone to film the session with Senator Kerry.

One police officer told the Associated Press that Meyer, before beginning his questions, asked: "Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?" Video clips posted on his website, theandrewmeyer.com, show Meyer performing various practical jokes including standing in the street with a sign reading "Harry Dies", just after the launch of the last Harry Potter book.

Meyer, who has not been formally charged, spent Tuesday night in a cell and has yet to give a comment to media. He was arrested on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace. Senator Kerry, who asked police to let him answer Meyer's questions, has criticised the arrest, saying he could have handled the incident himself. "In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption," he said.



