Matthews to Obama protester: Why’d you bring a loaded gun to a town hall with the president?
posted at 7:42 pm on August 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
Good question, especially given the sign this guy was carrying. Considering the lengths to which the Secret Service normally goes to investigate threats against the president, I’m amazed he wasn’t hauled in for questioning at the scene as a potential threat. People are going to beat the Second Amendment drum in the comments, but (a) I doubt it would have sat well with our readers if lefties carrying Bushitler signs had shown up to Dubya’s events packing heat and (b) having a right doesn’t mean you’re obliged to exercise it, particularly in circumstances where it would be provocative to do so. I’ve knocked atheist groups for suing for the right to display a “Darwin tree” or whatever on public grounds next to a Christmas tree, not because they’re not entitled but because they’re being spiteful, incendiary douchebags by doing so. How is Captain Sidearm here any different?
The worst part? According to a new book about the Secret Service, the number of daily threats against Obama is already four times the number Bush faced. Every pair of eyes diverted to watch this tool make his point about liberty is a pair that’s not watching the rest of the crowd.
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should have packed heat and come into Thrill up the legs studio…..
SDarchitect on August 11, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Keep the discourse civil, but on point… I remember when Bobby (RFK) got shot… Same with MLK… enough of that…
Khun Joe on August 11, 2009 at 7:45 PM
He held his own very well. Matthews is such a toad.
Dasher on August 11, 2009 at 7:46 PM
This guy was totally stupid to do what he did.
milwife88 on August 11, 2009 at 7:46 PM
An earlier news cast.
Dude is on private property at a church along the route.
Not quite the same as being at the townhall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxI3npnmny0
mad saint jack on August 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Yeah that’s not a great idea to bring a loaded gun to see the POTUS. Even if it’s legal you know it’s gonna be bad news if they find you with it.
Dash on August 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
And an idiot to go on Chris Matthews’ show to discuss it, of all places.
sherry on August 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Freaking idiot.
Realist on August 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
yowser!
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Dumb move. It just plays into the media meme that everyone opposing President Obama is nuts.
BadgerHawk on August 11, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I support his right to do it.
KSgop on August 11, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Me smells the smelly smell of something (or someone) which (who) smells smelly.
CynicalOptimist on August 11, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Many people won’t go out of the house without a gun.
People who carry do so without thinking about it.
That’s just the way it is with rights.
Pesky things those.
Veeshir on August 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I think he avoided most of the traps and did a good job and almost sounded uncrazy.
mad saint jack on August 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
“Captain Sidearm?” Really, AP, thou dost protest too much. It’s not even difficult to detect the sneering tone in your post. Very ‘Us and Them’-ish.
Did it ever occur to you that maybe he didn’t want to be the next Ken Gladney?
fossten on August 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Plant?
CynicalOptimist on August 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Stupid. And yet every bit as smart as Mr. Tingles. Curious…
ROCnPhilly on August 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Bush never called for goon squads to go beat up people at town hall meetings.
Actually, having a right means you are allowed to exercise it at the most inconvenient, or provocative, times – that’s the whole “protect speech that we hate” idea, right.
But, if the Secret Service hauled him away I don’t think anyone would have complained, as most people expect that that is what’s going to happen around even an America-hating Precedent who never learned how to use the indefinite article and who is trying to destroy our country with his every move.
progressoverpeace on August 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Maybe it is different in the lower 48. I have some liberal friends, in which we don’t talk politics per agreement. And I would trust them with their guns as they are more 2nd ammendment then I.
Come on Allah, you have read it…. if this was in the 1800′s you would probably have a some sort of rifle or musket.
upinak on August 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
agree with ya there….he’ll play this up for the rest of the week
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
mathews and his leg thrill suck.
SHARPTOOTH on August 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Oh shit, it’s Dale Gribble.
DethMetalCookieMonst on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Time to water the tree of liberty? With a loaded firearm?
That man needs to be arrested.
tommylotto on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
This was all about Chrissy just trying to make the claim in his next segment that the protesters are all racists. It’s all about our POTUS being black. He actually made that claim in his next segment with WSJ’s Stephen Moore.
d1carter on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Eh…
This is crazy.
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
I don’t see Micheal Moore in this headline!
upinak on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Scary stuff.
crr6 on August 11, 2009 at 7:53 PM
I’m the biggest 2nd Amendment hawk you’ll ever meet, but this is outrageous. It’s totally inappropriate and insanely irresponsible to bring a firearm anywhere near the POTUS. It’s jerks like this that cause the government to infringe on our gun rights. We have a duty to be responsible with our 2nd Amendment rights and not do dumbass sh*t just because we can.
jonezee on August 11, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Give me a break, after seeing those idiot Union thugs I, as a CHL holder in the great state of Texas, would have gone armed as well.
This just illustrates how crazy and out of touch with reality most people are about guns.
And Allah, if the lefties over the last eight years were qualified and licensed to carry I would have no problem with them going to a rally armed, as long as they’re adhering to the policies and laws in their state.
smfoushee on August 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
I carry a loaded revolver everywhere it is legal 24/7 – (no schools, no post offices, etc.) How are our constitutional rights provocative? Gheeeesh.
The true douche-bag is the mulatto goofus talking about generic drugs today (for us peasants) – while he and his clan get the 5-star treatment and half dozen vacations this year (so far). If he cannot handle the vitriol then by all means please resign, post haste.
Ris4victory on August 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
This man was very articulate, and made his point. As hard as Chrissy Matthews tried to get this guy to be a rabid nutcase, this protester demonstrated a great respect for freedom of speech.
Bravo sir.
portlandon on August 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
wonderful
/sarc
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
I doubt it.
He sounds like a 2nd Amendment true believer.
here is the URL from his sign: http://restoretherepublic.com/
mad saint jack on August 11, 2009 at 7:54 PM
As a thought experiment, what would the tone of this thread have been without your commentary, AP?
lorien1973 on August 11, 2009 at 7:55 PM
William was great and educated Chris “Tingles” Matthews.
jencab on August 11, 2009 at 7:55 PM
I think it was fine in itself that he had his sidearm but coupled with the sign he was holding it seem more like a threat of violence. It was a dumb move especially considering the hostile environment.
He actually made the situation worse by going on Matthews. The SS let him be, but just kept an eye on him.
Magnus on August 11, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I nominate William Kostric to be the GOP candidate for Senate from the great state of New Hampshire.
JohnGalt23 on August 11, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Funny story: Bush and his allies didn’t call for union or other thugs to attend rallies and beat up opponents. I’d be packing heat after what happened to Kenneth Gladney, too.
Provocative? People have been getting the crap beat out of them at town halls. Do you think the Secret Service is coming to my aide if some SEIU thugs start beating up on me or my family at the event?
They can go pound sand. You don’t want people exercising their rights to defend themselves, don’t send thugs to town halls in order to beat up the opposition.
amerpundit on August 11, 2009 at 7:56 PM
You idiots – he says he’s a Ron Paul voter and he’s not a birther.
faraway on August 11, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Interesting body reaction…………
……….. I started watching this, and immediately feel the need to defecate.
Be right back……………
Seven Percent Solution on August 11, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Crazy is complaining that someone actually takes their personal protection, and those around them seriously.
Crazy is someone arguing that its the presence of the gun, and not the individual that could spark a violent outbreak.
Crazy is supporting the right to free speech, expression and assembly then turing around and demeaning someone for exercising right number two.
smfoushee on August 11, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Seems like a law abiding citizen to me…so I don’t see the problem
Conservative Voice on August 11, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Is he a true Paulian ? :)
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Please define “anywhere near”.
JohnGalt23 on August 11, 2009 at 7:57 PM
No it isn’t… that’s Rusty Shackleford.
And, yeah… going there armed = bad idea.
malclave on August 11, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Love this guy. He right. He handled Matthews better than most DC goons.
Irony meter is off the charts…
The first armed man to disarm Matthews. Quite an accomplishment.
katy on August 11, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Look at the guy’s face: obvious product of first cousins. He’s no Jeffersonian — Jefferson had a concern for manners and doing the right thing, not being an idiot with a lot of talk; he’s lucky he wasn’t shot. This is the “rubbish” whom Jefferson had in mind when speaking of those folks not capable of moving beyond grammar school.
Drum on August 11, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Yes, let’s start arresting people for exercising their Second and First Amendment rights. Good precedent to set.
amerpundit on August 11, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Sounds like one to me. Most of the people I worked with carried (concealed) everywhere they went. A couple carried openly.
JohnGalt23 on August 11, 2009 at 7:59 PM
1. I don’t pack, I carry.
2. The guy is an idiot.
Limerick on August 11, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Seriously?
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 7:59 PM
He voted for Ron Paul.
End of story.
The Ugly American on August 11, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Wow. Chrissy actually started to treat him with respect after he demonstrated some knowledge and logic. What did his stunt achieve? Well, it got him on Hardball to deliver his message to a wider audience.
I think, given the circumstances and AP’s point on the SS’s job protecting Barry, it was a not wise thing to do simply because you can’t know that he is a stable, well informed citizen by looking at him (or anyone else. Not saying he looks like a weirdo).
But I’ll be a goat if he didn’t make some damn good sense on Chrissy’s show.
Aquateen Hungerforce on August 11, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Surprised?
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Bringing a gun to an event with the President of the United States, without being authorized law enforcement or Secret Service, is like fornicating in public. You may have a right to do it, maybe, but most people are going to think you should be under psychiatric care.
Luka on August 11, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Should have left your sidearm at home and stayed off of t.v. Barney!
yoda on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Good Lord Allah is using a paraphrase of a bible verse. What is the world coming to.
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient.”
chemman on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
He, and everyone, has a right to keep a right to keep and bear arms. As long as he didn’t brandish it, then I don’t see what the big deal is. It is his right. Especially considering the violence the union thugs are starting up he has a right to protect himself.
Sporty1946 on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Lulz. You are fail.
Aquateen Hungerforce on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Just to be clear: Obama and his allies can send union thugs to assault you at a town hall for daring to speak out against ObamaCare.
But if you exercise your Second Amendment rights, you’re crazy.
amerpundit on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Good for them. An armed society is a polite society.
KSgop on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Apparently he wasn’t a threat.
Speakup on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Manners…
Darth Executor on August 11, 2009 at 8:01 PM
The guy said he supports Ron Paul, so it’s no wonder the Neo-Kristolites have forgotten to keep pretending they support the right to bear arms.
The Dean on August 11, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Bravely spoken from the anonymity of the internet, by someone who likely has a face like a pepperoni pizza.
JohnGalt23 on August 11, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Precisely. He should’ve told Leg Tingle he brought it to protect himself from Ogabe’s SEIU thugs.
Darth Executor on August 11, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Allah, you disgust me with this post.
Obama was in DC when this guy was protesting 2 hours before the event.
faraway on August 11, 2009 at 8:02 PM
First thing I should say is I am personally very uncomfortable around guns. Second thing is we own several. People who get a license to carry a gun are not the people you need to worry about. It’s the dumb a@# with the gun sticking out of his droopy drawers who stole it that you need to worry about. My husband and I are going to go to class to get a license.
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 8:03 PM
You nailed that one. He has the strange look of an automabomaton staring into the bright sparkly headlights of the hopenchange. But I didn’t see the video. I don’t like Mister Tingles. He’s scary.
Key West Reader on August 11, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Obama was the best thing to happen to this country.
People are actually talking about the Constitution again.
katy on August 11, 2009 at 8:03 PM
A right lost anywhere is a danger to rights everywhere.
The man following the law in his state would also seek to protect innocent life (including BHO).
Namely, IF it is legal to carry concealed where I’m going, I’ll be carrying… for my protection and the protection of other innocent lives. It is my right to protect my own life, and it is (ought to be) my moral obligation to aid in the defense of other innocent life, if such life is truly in mortal danger.
knob on August 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
He’s lucky he was not shot? Shot for what?
Ris4victory on August 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Maybe in the next presidential primary, the GOP could start talking about it…
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
That’s interesting. Exactly how far away should one be from the POTUS to be “respectfully” carrying a gun? I suppose if Obama’s car went by where this man was on the road that is something to worry about, but if Obama was never close than 1/2 mile from him, what’s the big whoop?
Aquateen Hungerforce on August 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Let me try again.
MSNBC asked the police to arrest the man but he was not breaking the law. He was at private property along the route.
He was NOT at the townhall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxI3npnmny0
mad saint jack on August 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
That’s too bad, dude hands tingalingling his ass on a platter.
Darth Executor on August 11, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Exercising his rights, and doing so not in the service of a liberal.
amerpundit on August 11, 2009 at 8:05 PM
The dude was totally within his rights. Period. The Chief of Police wouldn’t even acknowledge he was a problem. The SS didn’t touch him. End of story.
He did do a good job making Chrissy flounder around looking for an opening. Chrissy never did find one though. The dude was rock solid in his defense.
Guardian on August 11, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Obama was in DC.
Our great journalist, Allah didnt mention this minor detail.
It’s better to assume your own side should surrender.
faraway on August 11, 2009 at 8:06 PM
I am positive the Sec Serv have the exact distance written down, and will let you know when the line is crossed.
mad saint jack on August 11, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Private Pyle, you have got to be sh**ting me!!
JohnGalt23 on August 11, 2009 at 8:07 PM
He was not a plant. He was the real thing.
He was way to knowledgeable to be an Obamatron/lefty/drone.
katy on August 11, 2009 at 8:07 PM
In all honesty, with the SEIU and other union thugs beating up people, smashing cameras in their faces, and the recent spitting on a camera and kicking the person in the groin, I would bring a gun there, too for my own safety.
Just because someone has a gun doesn’t mean they’re going to, nor have intent, on using it.
Enoxo on August 11, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Didn’t some senator try to sneak a bunch of guns into Congress illegally a couple of years ago? I didn’t hear much whining from Legthrill about that incident so it must have been a Democrat senator with super special Second Amendment rights.
Buddahpundit on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Wow. Chris Mathews is a big douchebag.
John Deaux on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Hmmm
Depends on which readers you are referring to, but we also have to remember that a lefty “packing” usually consists of a straw with fecal matter hidden in the mouth cavity.
Upstater85 on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Obama was in DC.
The man was not near the townhall.
The man voted for Ron Paul.
faraway on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
How many people watch “Hardball” nowadays? 40, 50, 100?
Pelayo on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I wish he replied to the question of people who bring a gun to presidential events with a firm “Well, I bet there have been thousands of people throughout history who have attended presidential events with guns, and you can give me an example of 7 people?”
I guess I’m just weird in that I don’t see someone with a holstered open carry gun as a threat.
clement on August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
He kicked Chris’s ass. He obviously didn’t pose a threat to the president since he wasn’t arrested. There’s no issue here.
Great guy.
discojoe on August 11, 2009 at 8:09 PM
I have a conceal carry license – do anti gun peeps know that in Florida this means I have the right to CARRY my gun(s), not necessarily a right to FIRE my gun(s)?
TXMomof3 – go to class and get the permits; it’s very interesting and kinda fun, too.
Ris4victory on August 11, 2009 at 8:09 PM
The problem is that people have a problem with people carrying guns. There’s no problem with Matthews saying ‘GD’ over the air.
Everyone should ALWAYS carry a gun. The problem in VT was that nobody had a gun but the killer.
ThackerAgency on August 11, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Bravo.
chemman on August 11, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Wow. I’m surprised. Is that a measure of hate, fear, or just the violence level of the new opposition?
Count to 10 on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Obama is a liar and a Marxist of the worst sort, but he’s still the President. At least show his Secret Service agents some respect, schmuck.
spmat on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
And another thing: if you’re all fired up about disarming the trustworthy people in society, if you’re fired up about guns being in the proximity of the president and if you’re worried about uncommitted crime… go on and set up metal detectors en route to the town hall meetings. Go on, pat everyone down, make them all walk through the sensors and see how the
left champions your right to privacyrinos say they’ve prevented your crime.knob on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
That would be nice… However….
The GOP is sitting on their fat asses waiting for the people to swing right again.
We need some grassroots candidates to take these traitors on.
katy on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Not enough details.
I don’t buy the protection against thugs, line though.
That is stupid. Lot of chest thumping here, but it sounds like a lot of stupidity. Bringing a loaded gun into a crowd is stupid, especially for the reasons some of the “Rambos” are posting about here.
Besides, Union thugs would not be acting up at an event that The Messiah would be attending (too many cameras). Laughable defense of this idiot.
reaganaut on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
That’s a good point.
latinchic on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
why do people bring knives to an airport?
Because there will always be morons who don’t get the memo. Mathews on the other hand is just a slime ball.
rob verdi on August 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
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