GOP Rep. Smiles, Nods As Man Declares Himself A "Proud Right Wing Terrorist" (VIDEO)

Earlier this week, it was reported that Rep. Wally Herger, (R-Cali.) had hosted a town meeting during which he praised an attendee for declaring himself a "proud right-wing terrorist."

"Amen, God bless you," Herger told the man, named Bert Stead. "There is a great American."

In light of the angry protests sprouting up at townhalls throughout the country -- with several of the protesters toting guns -- the scene was clearly noteworthy. But questions remained as to how just how sincere the man was in registering his anger and Herger in his response.

Pretty sincere, it turns out. A Democratic source passed along video of the event to the Huffington Post and it shows, quite clearly, that Herger offered not just sympathetic laughter and a hearty smile but also a full-throat endorsement of the Stead's position.

Here's the video:

Herger's remarks, when first reported, were criticized by some in the media for fanning the flames of politically-motivated violence.

"This is the dangerous edge, in which these people, including some elected officials are now dancing," said Chris Matthews. "We've been here before. Words lead to actions, words create the national mood, the mood creates a license. People take that license and use it."

The congressman, however, stands by what he said.

"Congressman Herger stands by his statement in support of his constituent," read a statement from his office. "Mr. Bert Stead is a taxpayer and veteran, who, like so many others, is rightfully fed up with being called 'un-American', or 'extremist' or a 'political terrorist' by liberals in Washington, for simply exercising his First Amendment rights. Mr. Stead served his country and therefore he is a great American. The Congressman doesn't at all regret commending him for standing up, exercising his free speech rights, and expressing his strong concerns with the direction liberals in Washington are taking our country."

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Comments

[mancoff]

The gentleman now says he meant to say extremist, well, let's give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the congressman and everyone else in the room heard the word terrorist and applauded and laughed. The congressman should be impeached for not speaking up and condeming the words "right wing terrorist" as he heard them. The Audience should be ashamed of themselves, no one walked out. Terrorism is not acceptable and the fact that an American, any American would think that if a right winger uses the words, "I am a terrorist" and that makes him different from any other terrorist from anyother country, they are wrong. When a congressman not only excuses the words, but laughts and says god bless you, sir, then he should find other work and his consituents shoul see to it. Had Wally, baby, spoken up and condemed the words, then the gentleman could have corrected himself, if indeed, he didn't mean them and this country would have been spared this disgracfull display of unamericanism. Free speech is given so we can dissent and argue and speak for our individual difference of opinion, free speech is not to threaten, or encourage violence or praise terrorism in any form.

[Bedrock]

We don't know much about Bert Stead. Does he have a connection to Shawana Forde? Shawana Forde is the leader of Minutemen American Defense. In May 2009 Shawana Forde and 2 of her goons invaded a house in Pima County, Arizona. They killed a 29 year old man and then brutally executed his 9 year old daughter because she was a witness. Shawana Forde is a suspect in another home invasion type crime in Shasta County, CA. In April, she says she attended a tea bag "party" at the Sundial Bridge in Redding, CA. She brags that there she recruited "50 right wing patriots " for her terrorist organization. Now, we hear Bert Stead say he attended the tea bagger protest at the Sundial Bridge. He says he's a proud right wing terrorist. Is Bert Stead one of Shawana Forde's recruits? I don't know. They both may be "blow hard" ditto head fools. But terrorism is such serious business that the FBI, or Homeland Security, or the Shasta County sheriff needs to investigate. Meanwhile, Rep Wally Herger should retract his praise of Bert Stead and terrorists organizations until the investigation is completed.

[tandrmcdonald]

Couldn't help but notice the ad at the top of this page. "Support the Republican Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors." So, was this supposed to be the comic relief page? The Republican health care bill of rights for seniors is....what, exactly? Oh, I got it, a choice for seniors between no health care insurance, and uhh... hmm.

[QuanticoCat]

He's just speaking tongue-in-cheek, in reference to the attempts by some to vilify those who come to these townhall meetings to voice dissent. No need to panic. He is not really a terrorist.

[MeinNH]

That is a load of crap.

[QuanticoCat]

No its not. Look, I know its fun to dogpile the opposition, but if you guys really believe he is a terrorist, it doesn't speak well of your ability to analyze information. Take a deep, breath, and see if you have the ability to be fair-minded.

[Geoffreys]

The extreme Right called us terrorists and extremists and un-American because we didn't want to invade Iraq. They've called us horrible names for not blindly supporting every idea that came out the Republican leadership's pointy haired heads. Every disagreement was a threat to their very existence to listen to their rhetoric.

Now, they've decided they're just big ole victims being threatened by the evil leering Liberals. We're out to get them; kill their elderly so some aliens can get free health-care and worse.

It's a scary world they live in and it worries me that some are encouraging it for political gain.

[DimBulb2]

your with us or with the terr0rists!

LOL

[jsgaetano]

Conservatives- if domestic terrorism is wrong, they don't wanna be right!

[Whinger]

The mirror image of the Taliban, and god is on their side too!

[jsgaetano]

It's what happens when the unknowledgable force meets the fanatical objective.

[jemborg]

Wow! I'm a freedom loving Aussie and I find this paranoia over decent pubic health care amazing.

We've had it for almost 30 years.

I've expounded on this in many of Huffo's threads but let me simply say... America you deserve better, do not believe the Conservative lies.

NB: It took two goes in my country to get universal Medicare established. The Conservatives got rid of it when they got voted back in. The Labor Party re-established it at the next election after that. And although they have undermined it every time they got back into power the Conservatives don't dare try to get rid of it again. What I am getting at here is you have to push HARD for it- it's NOT going to happen through bi-partisanship.

[Chili4me]

When you put out a stupis a$$ report, you deserve to be made fun of for it.

[Ducksworthy]

They Mayflower pilgrims didn't have their hands out? Thats not the story I heard. I heard they would have starved if the indians hadn't helped them out with food and then they returned the favor by giving the indians their righteous Pilgrim syphilis.

[DimBulb2]

probably small pox
but most of the indigenous population was dead before the pilgrims arrived

[DimBulb2]

probably smallpox

[DimBulb2]

Epidemics like smallpox ripped through the hemisphere in the 16th through 18th centuries to a far greater extent than previously thought. Disease created an ecological collapse that so decimated Indian societies that they could no longer control their environment.

That's why so much land seemed "pristine" to the explorers, missionaries and settlers who arrived in the subsequent 100 to 200 years. Explorer- conquerors such as Francisco Pizarro in Peru, Hernán Cortés in Mexico and early slave traders from Hispaniola spread dread diseases like smallpox, killing off some 95 percent of the pre-Columbian population in a largely accidental holocaust.

from 1491: Charles C Mann

[DimBulb2]

Pal'n around with terr0rists

[rcmfla]

Republicans creep me out. Flashing the fear of terrorism when it suits their needs and harboring their own terrorists to accomplish their twisted goals. How undemocratic!

[henrypapillon]

Good and I hope the voters make him a proud UNEMPLOYED RIGHT WING TERRORIST>

[Salome]

Didn't the folks from the Mayflower set up sort of a commune in the New World? So even if they didn't take handouts from the (non-existent) government, they were socialists for all intents and purposes.

[Sean Taylor]

Didn't the Native Americans help them as well?

[DimBulb2]

survived the first winter digging up graves for maize

[QuanticoCat]

The guy in the video is just speaking tongue-in-cheek. His comment is in reference to those who have attempted to vilify the people who attend these town hall meetings simply to voice their dissent. No need to panic. He is not a real terrorist.

[audadvnc]

So - how does that old GWB line play out for you, Representative?

Remember September 2001 - "You're either with us, or against us....Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated."

But - You are standing with the terrorists? And why should we not ship you to Guantanamo right now?