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Exclusive Video: Our Lost Interview of Birther Who Interrupted Congress’ Reading Of Constitution

Exclusive Video

by Tommy Christopher | 12:50 am, January 7th, 2011

» 26 comments

The woman who interrupted the reading of the US Constitution on the floor of the House of Representatives Thursday to shout “birther” protestations has now been identified, by Capitol Police, as Theresa Cao, a colorful DC resident who often haunts the sidewalks of Pennsylvania ave outside the White House.

As it turns out, I knew her when. Almost exactly a year ago, I ran into TC, and videotaped a brief interview that I never ended up using. Here, for the first time, is that interview, and the story of our encounter.

It was a frigid, windy day last January, and I was hustling out of the White House, over to the offices of Hearst Newspapers to interview Helen Thomas. As I approached the corner of Pennsylvania and 15th, I saw TC with her signs, array of tinsel accessories, and gleaming Hoth-ready attire. I was in a tremendous hurry, but since there had been no briefing that day, I was also on the lookout for any interesting content I could get.

As I got closer to her, trying to decide if I should pause to talk to her, the pair of angel wings on the bench next to her closed the deal for me.

It was also the first time I had used the video camera on my new Droid, which is why you’ll see some thumb action in there. At the time, I really wished I could have devoted more time to her, because it became quickly apparent to me that TC’s politics weren’t the story, she was. As she rattled off a laundry list of conspiracy theory touchstones, mixed with some fringe-y evangelical patter (the power behind it all, I learned, was Satan. Not the Satan we all know, but Sah-TAHN, which sounds like the same dude, but wearing a douche-y beret at a cocktail party), I found myself wanting to know what made her tick, what made her stand on this street corner in freezing temperatures, proselytizing for WorldNetDaily.

Instead, I spent five minutes trying to penetrate that patter, checking my watch all the time, and wishing I had a tauntaun to take me over to Hearst. After we wrapped up, I made a mental note to come back if I had time, but my interview with Helen ran dangerously close to rush hour, and I had to hightail it out of town. I didn’t see TC again until I saw her picture on Countdown last night.

I never used the video because it just wasn’t newsworthy, and it didn’t reveal enough of TC to do her story justice, from a human perspective. That, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to get the video off of my phone.

One year later, she’s an infamous “birther,” and this piece of video has gained a modicum of newsworthiness. What this video lacked on its own, it has gained within that context, because even in the few minutes I spent interviewing TC, it became clear that she could not be put into a “birther” box, or any other. While it doesn’t come close to capturing who she is, it conveys infinitely more truth about her than the 3 seconds of C-Span footage that is her current claim to fame:

Birth Certificate, Birthers, Constitution, Countdown, Droid, Jim Himes, les kinsolving, Neil Abercrombie, Obama birth certificate, tauntaun, TC, Theresa Cao, Tommy Christopher, WND, World Net Daily, WorldNetDaily

Big Eddie

You actually treated her with respect , which was nice . Did she know who you were ?
Just4thefax

Fact: We love Theresa Cao she is an American with a heart of gold! Keep pounding these assholes Theresa!
Moderate

Tommy Christopher would never interview a nut-case that thinks President Bush blew up the World Trade Center buildings. Bias is based on what you do not report.
Tommy Christopher

Moderate said:
Tommy Christopher would never interview a nut-case that thinks President Bush blew up the World Trade Center buildings. Bias is based on what you do not report.

Actually, no. Bias is assuming you know what I would or wouldn’t do, when you obviously have no idea what I have done. Do a little homework.
TrollJuice

Just4thefax says:
January 7, 2011 at 8:37 am Just4thefax(Quote)
Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3

Fact: We love Theresa Cao she is an American with a heart of gold! Keep pounding these assholes Theresa!
=================

Ha! She must be your sister!
TrollJuice

Great interview! Expose these lunatics.
skyfet

What next? Interviewing the truthers?
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

I can see where it would’ve been difficult to use the video in anything other than a “this exists” type of hit piece. She certainly had her talking points down and I’m sure that because she had to push to try and maintain the attention of anyone who gave her the time of day, she was focused on getting it all out.

Still, it’s good that you kept this video and didn’t delete it from your phone. As you say, her claims aren’t really the story, but the singular purpose she shows in evangelizing her message does help us understand, why about a year later, she interrupted.
Just4thefax

TrollJuice said:
Ha! She must be your sister!

Fact: We conservatives are all patriots together against evil anti-American haters!
Pablo

So, she isn’t the epitome of the Tea Party? Damn. I thought there was new and vibrant leadership emerging there for a minute. Back to the drawing board, I guess.
Sean68

How effing stupid could this woman be? Stupid and wrong. Even if she believes this bullshit, why isn’t she at least smart enough not to shout it out on the floor of the House? On a positive note, MSNBC viewers will get to relive this story over and over and over again.
Just4thefax

Sean68 said:
How effing stupid could this woman be?

Fact: I can see what a great job she is doing right now look at this one, This one is looks like a screaming little asshole that was bitch slapped into tomorrow! Go Theresa go!
Sean68

Just4thefax said:
Fact: I can see what a great job she is doing right now look at this one, This one is looks like a screaming little asshole that was bitch slapped into tomorrow! Go Theresa go!

How old are you?
Pablo

Sean68 said:
How effing stupid could this woman be? Stupid and wrong. Even if she believes this bullshit, why isn’t she at least smart enough not to shout it out on the floor of the House? On a positive note, MSNBC viewers will get to relive this story over and over and over again.

The word you’re looking for is “crazy.”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Hogan/179500970 Stephen Hogan

Just4thefax said:
Fact: We conservatives are all patriots together against evil anti-American haters!

“Patriotism now means advocating plunder in the interest of the privileged classes of the particular State system into which we have happened to be born.”

-Tolstoy
lonestar77

You spent five minutes trying to penetrate that what? Yowzers. It was the costume, huh?
Just4thefax

Sean68 said:
How old are you?

Fact: Why do I need to dumb it down for you jackass!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Barker/693546751 A Kim Bo

Just4thefax said:
Fact: We conservatives are all patriots together against evil anti-American haters!

Sorry but Teresa just said that the entire American government is EVIL. I call that ANTI-American. But I just call her DELUSIONAL and since you approve of her message, I conclude that you are the same. I suspected as much but thanks for validating what we’ve known all along about you.
Just4thefax

Stephen Hogan said:
“Patriotism now means advocating plunder in the interest of the privileged classes of the particular State system into which we have happened to be born.” -Tolstoy

Fact: Being a liberal is a dirty slang word for trashy people! So what!
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/what-will-they-call-themselves-if-they-cant-use-liberal-or-progre
The Lantern of Truth

KING on fashion patrol . Wearing white in DECEMBER ! This will never do ! All the Charos in Cleveland !
Just4thefax

A Kim Bo said:
Teresa just said that the entire American government is EVIL

Fact: Delusional is stealing money and spending it against the will of the people! Your kind don’t count as people!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Barker/693546751 A Kim Bo

Just4thefax said:
Fact: Delusional is stealing money and spending it against the will of the people! Your kind don’t count as people!

You’re right, our government has been DELUSIONAL since it’s very inception. But thanks for reminding us that even though, by your logic, every single AMERICAN President has been delusional, that you are somehow a patriot. With patriotism like yours, we don’t need enemies.
24AheadDotCom

Tommy’s next interview will be Abercrombie. Tommy plans to “cross-examine” him about his recent remarks, specifically asking for dates and places where Abercrombie could have seen Baby O as he claimed. Tommy finds that odd since it doesn’t appear that O Sr. and Stanley lived together after the birth and since it appears that Stanley was in Seattle three weeks after the birth. Tommy’s then going to see if anyone else remembers what Abercrombie claims to remember.

Then, Tommy’s going to ask Abercrombie’s predecessor about her lies.

Just kidding. That’s not the kind of reporting that Tommy does.
gargoyle

Just4thefax said:
Fact: We conservatives are all patriots together against evil anti-American haters!

So when will you and the rest of the conservatives be heading over to North Korea?
Just4thefax

A Kim Bo said:
With patriotism like yours, we don’t need enemies.

gargoyle said:
So when will you and the rest of the conservatives be heading over to North Korea?

Fact: We even have a missle for conservatives use called the patriot! It works in both counts!
alex020588

2011 new style on sale now!!

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