For the last two weeks, far-right Internet radio host Pete Santilli has been touted as the de facto spokesperson for the militiamen occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Santilli is of a piece with the thugs for whom he speaks; three years ago he made a graphic death threat against Hillary Clinton, saying he wanted to shoot her “right in the vagina.” Even by those admittedly low standards, Santilli hit way below the belt when he declared that anyone who dares oppose these thugs is a Communist.
On Monday night, several residents of the nearby town of Burns packed the Burns High School gym to vent their frustrations at the occupiers. For those who don’t know, the band of thugs led by Ammon and Ryan Bundy have effectively brought life in this small town to a grinding halt. Among other things, the area’s kids got an extra week of winter break. The schools were slated to reopen on January 4, but the sight of dozens of armed men at the nearby refuge prompted school officials to keep the schools closed until January 11.
One of those kids, Burns High freshman Ashlie Presley, spoke at the meeting and gave an emotional speech about how the standoff has affected her. Watch here.
Ashlie only got a few words into her speech when she broke down. When she resumed, with her voice still breaking, she said something that probably sums up how many people in this remote town feel.
“Being here with all this honestly has scared me, and it shouldn’t. I should not have to be scared in my own hometown. I know that all of my friends have been scared, and have come to me to know what to do. And I have to be the one to tell them that it’s gonna be OK, that everything’s gonna be OK.”
Ashlie got a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd.
Later in the week, the thugs learned that Ashlie was the granddaughter of Harney County judge Steven Grasty–who has said he will bill Ammon Bundy up to $70,000 per day to reimburse Harney County for security costs related to the occupation. So the Bundys decided to have their spokesperson, Santilli, respond. As Santilli–and presumably, the Bundys–see it, Ashlie’s strings were being pulled by commies. Raw Story got a clip.
Santilli accused Grasty of “prostituting” Ashlie “for political purposes.” He further suggested that those who wanted Ashlie to take the mic that night were “effing Communists” who coached Ashlie’s “masterful, dramatic performance.”
Uh huh. So if a 15-year-old girl reacts the way any normal 15-year-old girl would react, she’s a prostitute who’s been brainwashed by those evil Communists. And if she dares to speak up against you, it’s because those evil commies have been holding cue cards for her. And anyone who dares speak up against a bunch of armed men who have effectively brought their town to a halt, they’re commies and pinkos.
Apparently the Bundys weren’t man enough to go on camera and appear to be trashing a 15-year-old girl, so they trotted out their spokesperson to do it for them. Regardless, it’s a laughably stupid move. After all, we already know that when these thugs finally decide to pack up and leave, they will face federal charges. Suffice to say that the Bundys won’t look very good in front of the jury–especially any parents and grandparents on the jury–if they happen to see the Bundys’ spokesperson effectively say that allowing a teenager to be a teenager makes you a pinko.
