Media's 'Man on the Street' in Facebook 'Liberal Hunting' Piece Actually Story's Tipster

Screen capture | KTVU

Far from being a 'Man on the Street,' Republican voter Jim Freeman was the originator of the Facebook 'liberal hunting' story

​We reported earlier today on a Bay Area GOP Congressional candidate's bizarre Facebook post, in which he fantasized about issuing hunting permits for liberals -- "as we desperately need to 'thin' the herd."

It seemed odd to us that both a television station and local newspaper saw fit to interview the same outraged voter regarding Brad Goehring's jaw-dropping statement: Jim Freeman of Tracy.

But, according to Freeman, it was neither odd nor coincidental that he went multi-media today. That's because he's the one who notified the press of Goehring's statement.

Freeman, a Pleasanton tech worker, maintains a blog critical of Democratic Congressman Rep. Jerry McNerny -- it's the "Retire McNerney" blog. Yesterday Freeman -- a supporter of Goehring's Republican opponent, David Harmer -- noticed Goehring's Facebook statement and "sent it out to a bunch of different e-mail addresses and contacts."

After KTVU-TV got Freeman's e-mail, they rolled out to Pleasanton and did a story. Freeman was interviewed in the piece and chided Goehring for his lack of civility. That he was the originator of the story and is a supporter of Goehring's opponent in the Republican primary was not mentioned  -- nor was it mentioned in an article in the Tracy Press, which told SF Weekly it also got the tip from Freeman.

KTVU reporter Ken Wayne told SF Weekly that Freeman claimed to be a "Republican on the fence." Freeman, meanwhile, told us he was a supporter of Goehring's opponent Harmer.

Speaking with Freeman -- and keeping the utter idiocy of Goehring's boorish, provocative statement in mind -- it's hard to find fault with the blogger's contention that the GOP candidate's behavior is disappointing and unacceptable.

Still, it's also eye-opening to note how easy it was for a man with an avowed interest in a political contest to tip off numerous media agencies and then become a seemingly random "man in the street."

For what it's worth, Freeman tells SF Weekly there's no way in hell he's voting for McNerney. And if Goehring wins the Republican primary, he's leaning toward a third-party candidate from Tracy or casting no vote at all.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly