I don’t see how the Feds going after him has anything to do with what he “deserves”. No citizen of this country is beholden to the gov’t. WE, including Mr. Bundy, ARE the gov’t.
We are not “deserving” of any abuse by the Feds. None. Not ever. No matter what our views. See 1st amendment.
Branding him a racist or a patriot is subjective. He is an American citizen first and foremost. The Constitution protects him one way or the other.
I know that, and you know that. But making ignorant statements about black people is going to turn a bunch of people against him and what he stands for. No support, no public outcry when the Feds swoop in to steal his cattle and his ranch and home. There are still going to be supporters, sure. People that can see through the bullshit and can separate the message from the messenger. But with opinion so evenly split, he needs all the help he can get.
I look at it like this... David Koresh: religious man, defending his faith and his family from the forces of evil? Or gun nut child molester? People will defend the former. No one is going to ride in and help the latter.