Two things. First, there is a pause between thoughts and he switches back to the original question. From the context, he is refering to the fact that he wishes the rally weren’t at the Lincoln Memorial but it was. Second, any party that supports the current public education system and has an Ivy League educated first lady who says “Me and Barack” isn’t concerned about grammar and useage.
I listened again.
(1) "pause" -
not really... only a split second (between 1:37 & 1:38 of the tape) for an "ahh" between "country." and "I wish"
(2) "he wishes the rally weren’t at the Lincoln Memorial" -
"weren't" is wrong tense for past event. See radio host's intro to clip: "Beck had his rally" "whether teapartiers belonged at the Lincoln Memorial." Also see interview question: "Are you trouble that it was there, when it was and where it was?"
(3) I was wrong in my transcription of his answer. It's even worse. He actually said:
"It's a free country. I wish it weren't, but it's a free country... "He said "it's a free country" both before AND AFTER "I wish it weren't"... and all 3 verbs in the same tense and NOT IN THE PAST TENSE AS THE RALLY - See (2).
To comment on the "rally was at the LM" requires "I wish it wasn't"... NOT "I wish it weren't."
To comment on "it's a free country" requires "I wish it weren't."