Herger denounced for applauding self-described terrorist

[GregD]

Last Tuesday I sat stunned in amazement as hundreds of wingers stood and applauded as a woman paraded into the auditorium with her sign promoting the "Redding Tea Party Patriots". We were at Rep. Wally Herger's town hall meeting on health care reform in Redding, CA.

Over the course of the evening, the cheers from these freaks was deafening in this acoustically-challenged sports room. By the end of the evening, with temperatures at 108 outside, it was certainly in the 80's or 90's inside. I guessed that there were 500 in the room. Reporting seems to indicate 2000. All I know is that the place was packed, it was 90% right-wing thugs, and I was hating being there. Ice cream treats after the event were ever so well-deserved.

Later that evening, some idiot in the front row declared himself proud to be a "right wing terrorist". The crowd applauded for the (countless) time as Herger praised his patriotism. I was 3 rows behind the guy and heard him clearly as he made his announcement. I couldn't freaking believe what I was hearing.

I learned tonight that a woman approached Herger after the meeting, telling him how upset she was and how she would inform every media outlet. I'm told he turned gray as she announced her intent. (Wish I had seen that.) Looks like her efforts were successful.

Listed below is the press release from several Democratic Central Committees demanding an apology. Herger made it to Hardball and to Countdown where Olberman pronounced him "worst person in the world."



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/08/22/gop-rep-right-wing-terrorist/


PRESS RELEASE

Democrats from Shasta, Butte, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties
Demand Apology from Congressman Wally Herger

Redding, CA – Northern California Democrats today called on Republican Congressman Wally Herger to apologize for offensive comments he made at a recent health care town hall before Congress reconvenes September 8.

“Congressman Herger should be ashamed of himself for clouding a legitimate debate about health care reform with praise for a man who proclaimed himself a ‘proud right-wing terrorist,’” said Butte County Chair Justin Meyers. “Rather that denounce the man’s statement, Herger actually called him ‘a great American.’ That’s outrageous.”

At an August 18, 2009, Herger town hall in Redding, a man in the audience described himself to Herger as “a proud right-wing terrorist.”

Instead of condemning the man, Herger praised him. According to the Mt. Shasta News, “Herger praised the man’s attitude. ‘Amen, God bless you,’ Herger said with a broad smile. ‘There is a great American.’”

http://www.mtshastanews.com/news/x769902147/Congressman-Herger-calls-Obama-plan-threat-to-democracy

“The state of our politics has reached a sad level,” said nurse David Welch of Enloe Medical Center in Chico. “The far right is so determined to deny Americans the health care they need that they will stop at nothing – lies, threats, intimidation, encouraging hatred – everything seems to be fair game for them.”

“In a time when the threat of terrorism is very real, it baffles me that Congressman Herger did not immediately tell the speaker that terrorism is never acceptable,” said Jo Anderson, chair of the Sutter County Democratic Central Committee.

In addition, officials in Glenn, Shasta, Yolo and Yuba counties also condemned Herger’s comments