- Sep 17, 2012
- 2,524
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Rebellious Nevada rancher's slavery remarks dim Republican support
The 76-year-old rancher, from Bunkerville, Nevada, became a symbol for conservative Republicans, particularly among the Tea Party movement, for his actions in defying the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the U.S. Interior Department.
The dispute dates back to 1993 when Bundy stopped paying monthly fees the government charges ranchers to allow their cattle to roam federal range lands.
Saying Bundy owes more than $1 million in unpaid grazing fees and had ignored court orders to remove his cattle from public land, the BLM sent armed rangers to Bundy's ranch earlier this month to round up his cattle by force.
Anti-government groups, gun rights activists and right-wing militia members rallied to Bundy's defense. Following a brief armed stand-off, the government backed down, canceled its roundup and released the cattle that had been seized.
This man can break the law with impunity and yet there are those who back him. The IRS round up those who are delinquent in paying their taxes...what kind of double standards are we seeing.
The 76-year-old rancher, from Bunkerville, Nevada, became a symbol for conservative Republicans, particularly among the Tea Party movement, for his actions in defying the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the U.S. Interior Department.
The dispute dates back to 1993 when Bundy stopped paying monthly fees the government charges ranchers to allow their cattle to roam federal range lands.
Saying Bundy owes more than $1 million in unpaid grazing fees and had ignored court orders to remove his cattle from public land, the BLM sent armed rangers to Bundy's ranch earlier this month to round up his cattle by force.
Anti-government groups, gun rights activists and right-wing militia members rallied to Bundy's defense. Following a brief armed stand-off, the government backed down, canceled its roundup and released the cattle that had been seized.
This man can break the law with impunity and yet there are those who back him. The IRS round up those who are delinquent in paying their taxes...what kind of double standards are we seeing.