I don't know how Americans view this, but Canadians look on this as if it were a skit. Actually, three years ago it was a skit, now it's an SNL skit because it just won't end.
I live in Louisiana, and I work right next to where they had the tea bag party thing, and the closer you get, the more it looks like a skit. It's embarrassing.
That guy sounds like a punk who just does whatever is politically expedient. Fortunately all the speakers at the Atlanta Tea Party were great Americans.
I actually feel for this guy. Whether by order of the GOP, or voting his own conscience, he did what every single member of the Republican party (except Ron Paul) knew was necessary. He voted to take action to prevent a banking collapse that would have been devastating for the US economy. The GOP were giving subsidies, tax breaks, and deregulating these banks like crazy. There's never been a corporate subsidy they didn't like. But when it actually became necessary, they strategically maneuvered to only provide the minimal number of votes, so as to tag the Democrats with it.
Gresham Barrett voted exactly how every other member of the GOP (save two or three actual libertarians) would have voted, and how all those people at the rally would have voted had they been informed and in a position of power. Now he has to apologize for taking action to save the economy, and voting honestly. And good on him for having the balls to get in front of the hostile crowd, even if I wish he would defend himself rather than backtrack.