Gun-Nut Outside Obama Townhall Linked to GOP 'Stop ObamaCare' Effort

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Adele M. Stan, AlterNet.

On Aug. 11, William Kostric of New Hampshire strapped a loaded gun to his leg, and went to greet the president of the United States.

His message was sponsored with the tacit approval of a social networking site promoted by a well-connected Republican public-relations firm.

Kostric's action was within the law; New Hampshire gun laws permit registered gun owners to carry their weapons in public, as long as they are not concealed. Standing with a crowd of anti-government protesters on the property of a church that abutted the high school campus where Barack Obama would conduct a town-hall meeting on health-care reform, Kostric carried a sign that read, "It's time to water the tree of liberty."

The slogan refers to a classic quote from Thomas Jefferson: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed, from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

The sign bore the image of the coiled and threatening rattlesnake that adorned an early U.S. battle flag that included the words, "Don't tread on me."

At the bottom of Kostric's sign, viewers were informed that the message was "brought to you by restoretherepublic.org."

Visit the site of Restore the Republic, and you will find a wealth of information on some of the far right's favorite conspiracy theories: the Bilderberg conspiracy, the Tri-Lateral Commission, the New World Order and "FEMA internment camps." The site is a draw for anti-government gun enthusiasts and survivalists.

While Kostric and his "freedom movement" compatriots hover at the fringe of America society, they are not without usefulness to the Republican Party.

On Monday, I reported on the organizing of town-hall protesters done by Grassfire and its sibling site, ResistNet. Grassfire is represented by Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, a public-relations firm that represents mainstream Republican figures, according to the firm's Web site. Clients include Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan and Weekly Standard editor William Kristol. Grassfire, a new-media nonprofit organization, is endorsed by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who famously announced his intention to "break" Obama by making health-care reform "his Waterloo."

A search on the ResistNet social networking site yielded 29 pages of comments containing links to Restore the Republic.

Several were in response to a Restore the Republic piece by by Margie Laupheimer posted on ResistNet, which issues the familiar denial of the existence of Obama's birth certificate. "Some are suggesting that Obama is off the hook concerning his lack of an authentic birth certificate ... " she begins.

Reply by

arthur ellzey

on July 22, 2009 at 5:20am

we must stop him!!?

Reply by

SHAWN

on July 22, 2009 at 12:16pm

HE IS GUILTY!!!!!, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHERS IN OUR GOVERNMENT WHO ARE ALLOWING THIS #######! IT IS TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!

A post from Cathari in March 2009 refers readers to a document on Restore the Republic chronicling the resurgence of the militia movement. The headline asks, "Are You A Dangerous Conspiracy Theorist? A Danger To Law Enforcement? Perhaps to The Government Itself?

... this should be read by anyone who thought the Movement was dead and buried back in the 1990s. It is alive and well and thriving and frightening the hell out of Law Enforcement and our "Government" ... I wonder why ...

According to the Restore the Republic Web site, the organization was founded in 2007 by the late Aaron Russo as a follow-up to his film, America: Freedom to Fascism, a documentary that contends that the U.S income tax is illegal because the 16th amendment was never ratified by the states.

Russo ran, unsuccessfully, in Nevada's 1998 Republican gubernatorial primary, and endorsed Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul in his 2008 presidential bid. In his Hollywood heyday, Russo produced such hits as Trading Places, The Rose and Wise Guys.

Like the denizens of Restore the Republic, Russo opposed the not just the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service, but the captains of industry who built the U.S. banking system.

How ironic, then, that the so-called freedom movement represented by Restore the Republic has placed itself in the service of the nation's corporations as it seeks to derail health-care reform.

http://www.alternet.org/politics/141923/gu...care%27_effort/

[HAL 9000 96]

Woah.

[Heracles 417]

The said thing is that losers like that are discussing health care.

What sort of morons champion behind that sort of #######? It's his second amendment right man.

I hope no one overseas sees this, as the emails will start flying. Even I can't defend such stupidity.

Edited August 12, 2009 by haza

[Tinkerbell TX 0]

The said thing is that losers like that are discussing health care.

What sort of morons champion behind that sort of #######? It's his second amendment right man.

I hope no one overseas sees this, as the emails will start flying. Even I can't defend such stupidity.

We should all be discussing Health Care but not that way!

[natty bumppo 297]

By Adele M. Stan, AlterNet.

On Aug. 11, William Kostric of New Hampshire strapped a loaded gun to his leg, and went to greet the president of the United States.

His message was sponsored with the tacit approval of a social networking site promoted by a well-connected Republican public-relations firm.

Kostric's action was within the law; New Hampshire gun laws permit registered gun owners to carry their weapons in public, as long as they are not concealed. Standing with a crowd of anti-government protesters on the property of a church that abutted the high school campus where Barack Obama would conduct a town-hall meeting on health-care reform, Kostric carried a sign that read, "It's time to water the tree of liberty."

Did they arrest and charge the guy? The article doesn't give that information and I can't check out the youtube till I get home ....

While on the surface it appears he was within his rights ... it begs a question. How many CHL holders do the exact same thing when the o-man visits and nobody knows? As to carrying it exposed in public during these heated events ... maybe it would have been best to leave the iron in the car or at home and focus on the issue at hand.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitutional guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

Edited August 12, 2009 by charles!

[natty bumppo 297]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

wonder how many SS agents and/or cops it to beat subdue this guy?

Edited August 12, 2009 by Natty Bumppo

[one...two...tree 2,762]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

What would happen if a person was hanging just outside of a military base, on private property carrying a gun and a sign that endorsed terrorism? Would you say he's just exercising his constitutional right or would he be posing as a potential threat?

Edited August 12, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Heracles 417]

No that guy is just an idiot. His face says it all.

[HAL 9000 96]

By Adele M. Stan, AlterNet.

On Aug. 11, William Kostric of New Hampshire strapped a loaded gun to his leg, and went to greet the president of the United States.

His message was sponsored with the tacit approval of a social networking site promoted by a well-connected Republican public-relations firm.

Kostric's action was within the law; New Hampshire gun laws permit registered gun owners to carry their weapons in public, as long as they are not concealed. Standing with a crowd of anti-government protesters on the property of a church that abutted the high school campus where Barack Obama would conduct a town-hall meeting on health-care reform, Kostric carried a sign that read, "It's time to water the tree of liberty."

Did they arrest and charge the guy? The article doesn't give that information and I can't check out the youtube till I get home ....

While on the surface it appears he was within his rights ... it begs a question. How many CHL holders do the exact same thing when the o-man visits and nobody knows? As to carrying it exposed in public during these heated events ... maybe it would have been best to leave the iron in the car or at home and focus on the issue at hand.

Well... to be specific... it was known Obama would be there. When one carries certain signage that connotes bloodshed... you have to consider all possibilities. This debate isn't particularly chock full of rational-minded people set on having a rational debate- particularly the ones obstructing democracy and the ones ironically acting out in a very un-Jeffersonian manner.

[natty bumppo 297]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

What would happen if a person was hanging just outside of a military base, on private property carrying a gun and a sign that endorsed terrorism? Would you say he's just exercising his constitutional right or would he be posing as a potential threat?

gonna charge him as guilty until proven innocent? or a with a thought crime? or for carrying a sign that has historical references?

[Heracles 417]

Maybe some people want the US to become a third world country. That way we can be like them and carry guns in the open.

[HAL 9000 96]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

What would happen if a person was hanging just outside of a military base, on private property carrying a gun and a sign that endorsed terrorism? Would you say he's just exercising his constitutional right or would he be posing as a potential threat?

gonna charge him as guilty until proven innocent? or a with a thought crime? or for carrying a sign that has historical references?

At a place where the President of the United States will be present. Yeah. I'm not buying the innocent defender of Freedom bit. It may be his right to carry, but it may also be someone else's right to stay alive should the guy have turned out to be another lunatic.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

What would happen if a person was hanging just outside of a military base, on private property carrying a gun and a sign that endorsed terrorism? Would you say he's just exercising his constitutional right or would he be posing as a potential threat?

if he's on private property (or public and has the appropriate permissions/permits) and able to possess a firearm, isn't waving it around, sure, he's exercising his constitutional rights.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

oh yes, heaven forbid someone is exercising their constitution guaranteed rights and not breaking any laws, yet is subjected to being called a gun nut and worse.

What would happen if a person was hanging just outside of a military base, on private property carrying a gun and a sign that endorsed terrorism? Would you say he's just exercising his constitutional right or would he be posing as a potential threat?

gonna charge him as guilty until proven innocent? or a with a thought crime? or for carrying a sign that has historical references?

So a Middle Eastern looking dude, legally carrying a registered gun and hanging just outside of a military base with a sign that advocates the violent overthrow of our government would just be exercising his constitutional rights?