LOUIE GOHMERT’S FREAK-OUT ON CNN…. Following up on an item from yesterday, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) has taken an active role in making a case against the 14th Amendment with an argument even most conservatives avoid: the dreaded “terrorist baby” threat.
Gohmert started pushing the argument in June, insisting that pregnant terrorists plan to come to American soil, have babies, and “20, 30 years down the road,” these home-grown terrorists will “help destroy our way of life.” This wasn’t just some fantasy he cooked up, Gohmert argued. He claimed to have received important information from “a retired FBI agent” who told him national security officials believe “terrorist cells overseas” have “figured out how to game our system” when it comes to birthright citizenship.
On Wednesday, CNN’s Anderson Cooper talked on the air to Tom Fuentes, who served as the FBI’s assistant director in the office of international operations from 2004 to 2008. Fuentes explained that the crazy theory has no basis in reality, and there’s simply never been any evidence that terrorists are pursuing such a strategy. Indeed, it wouldn’t be necessary, since terrorists can already recruit willing participants. A statement from the FBI to CNN confirmed that allegations of “terror-baby” plots are unfounded.
Anderson Cooper gave Gohmert a chance to make his case on CNN last night, presenting any substance he has to bolster the theory. You’ll just have to watch the clip to believe it.
I usually like to offer readers who can’t watch clips from their work computers at least a partial transcript, but this one’s awfully tough to capture. CNN published a transcript — such as it was — which should offer at least some sense of what transpired.
To sum it up, Cooper asked for some evidence to support the assertions Gohmert has been making — in the media, on the House floor, etc. Gohmert responded by shouting a lot, and having something of a breakdown.
I give Cooper a lot of credit for handling this like a pro. He kept his cool, tried to conduct a serious interview, and wasn’t rattled when Gohmert lost his mind. But there just wasn’t much he could do with the right-wing Texan. You’ll just have to watch to see what I mean.
Postscript: Just as an aside, I can’t help but wonder what kind of influential position the House Republican leadership will give Gohmert if they take back the House majority.
