(Newser) – The man charged with firing on Oakland cops in a highway shootout was on a rampage against liberals and hunting down Glenn Beck enemies. Unemployed carpenter Byron Williams was after the ACLU and the Tides Foundation, a particular favorite villain of Glenn Beck, who has repeatedly lambasted the organization as part of President Obama's "liberal cabal." Williams opened fire on cops earlier this week while on his way to "start a revolution" because he was upset about Congress' "left-wing agenda," according to his mom.



It's too early to know if Beck's attacks were the inspiration for Williams, but the relatively obscure Tides Foundation isn't likely viewed as much of an enemy beyond Glenn Beck's fan base. The group, which describes itself as a promoter of economic justice, robust democracy and a healthy environment, has been ripped repeatedly by Beck as an "army of thugs" behind Obama's agenda, and the "nasty of the nastiest," reports Talking Points Memo.

(Read more Tides Foundation stories.)

