9-12 DC Tea Party - A View From the Street

What bothers me is this 912 movement used the 9-11 day of morning to promote their political agenda. They also had their kids running around with their political banners, posters and buttons as if these little kids had an opinion of their own.

On 9-11 they were out there giving out stickers, banners and t-shirts spouting their "million different ideas" about their ideals...not just health care and taxes.

Yes, I will say most of the protesters were Caucasian middle to upper age people who had no idea what the actual issues were. (I was there and I talked to them) They were confused, talked about rumors and supposed truth's, vague innuendo and "take my guns from cold dead hands crap." Lets not forget abortion and Obama is going to kill 2x more kids then normal...or some foolishness like that. Death camps..yea forgot about that one. It was so stupid it made my head hurt.

Oh yea, Socialism...I dare ask what it meant to some people...especially the ones carrying the signs and had it plastered on their t-shirts. No idea. One person said China...another said "What Obama is doing." "What is he doing?" Health Care!!!! (lord help me)

There is only one reason this country could be on the verge of Civil War and it's not Health Care.

Originally posted by joeofthemountain
You're kidding about this, arent;t you???? Did you actually see any photos from this event or are you just shooting off your mouth with juvenile (that means immature, childish) attempts at insults?

The people I saw were work hardened and fit, except for the elderly and they looked pretty good for their ages.

Your nasty insults are the reason this land is on the verge of civil war. You ought to think about that before your next insult.

You see, the other big thing about today's crowd is that it represents darned near the entire hunting, gun-owning, military combat-arms/specops and police demographic of the US.

Little pimple faced boys, lacking a date on Saturday night who kill time with comments on Wapo (or ATS) are a very small minority of, well, about zero statistically speaking.

Oh yeah, I'm here because my newborn son is up having just finished his bottle. Tomorrow, after church, I head to the range to site in my AR-15 and .30-'06 before my week on the road, earning the substantial living an Ivy League management consultant earns.

"Fat red necks" indeed. Your ignorance is astounding and would be worthy of a slap to your face were the stakes not so chillingly, palpably high.

Originally posted by nickspm
It looks like Jenny Craig needs to set up a few tents next to the Bass Pro Stores trailers.

reply to post by milesp


The things is...It was kinda odd. (I know It's a conspiracy) that they would schedule this 912 tea party thing on the day of the Black Family Reunion. (Which goes on the same time every year on the mall) They didn't really appreciate it.

Strangely, the cops were out but the same emphasis was not there when compared to the anti-war protests and the like.

Originally posted by schrodingers dog

Originally posted by whaaa
Great Job Sdog. Is it just me or was that a bunch of white people.
What was your take on the participation of minorities?

Mmm ok ...

I'm just going to tell you what I saw and I have no way of knowing people's heritage.

Keeping that in mind it would be accurate to state that the crowd was predominantly caucasian.

It should also be noted that the event was very family oriented with folk of all ages.

I hate to say it but minorities weren't well represented because
they are the recipients of government largesse. Why protest against
the very people that help support you? Either that or they just don't
care enough to get off their butts to try to change anything. Not a
flattering thought either way. I'm no racist but the numbers speak
for themselves.

What struck me as odd was that I watched 2 videos with speakers
and both speakers were black. ????? white crowd/black speakers??
Anyone got a clue on this? I sure as heck don't

What really ticks me is how the media has downplayed the numbers
saying that tens of thousands marched. How about HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS?? I can't wait until everyone that marched realises
that the media has belittled their efforts. Perhaps then they will
wake up to the fact that no MSM or political party is one THEIR
SIDE. I'm very encouraged by the sheer numbers - it was a SEA
OF PEOPLE, pissed off American people. We might be reaching
critical mass soon, one can only hope.

reply to post by whaaa

yeah the problem with the minorities is they still believe in Obama. I go into a barbershop they still have his pictures on their walls, some people still have bumper stickers with belief that he's black...he's OUR saviour. Im black as well but if I were in washington I would been down there protesting with everyone else....I can see through the government's bull. It will be awhile before the minorities finally wake up.

When I see everyday Americans doing things like this that they normally would not do and in a peaceful way it makes my heart pitter-patter.

Obama knew this event was going to take place but yet he did not cancel his Town Hall meeting in another State about Healthcare Reform. I would think or at least hoped that our President if for the PEOPLE would have at least be home.

As Bill Cosby once said to his kids, we bought you into this world and we can take you out.

I have no respect for a Leader that is not there for his People.

He was voted in because he used the word CHANGE and I thought, "We the people" were going to have change for the GOOD and so far it has not happened. When Obama said change he didn't say for the good and I believe we have all been duped.

What bothers me more then anything is the hypocrisy. The young, the college students, the knowledgeable had to take to the streets and the internet when BUSH was violating everyones rights. Where were they when the Patriot Act was being rammed down our throats when it was passed opportunistically? Where were they when BUSH constantly lied WMD and reasons for going to war? Where were they when he was torturing prisoners of war? Where were they when BUSH Froze funding for after school programs, potentially eliminating 50,000 children from after-school programs?

Where were they when BUSH Ignored calls to extend unemployment benefits with long-term unemployment reaching a twenty-year high? Where were they when BUSH Passed tax cuts weighted heavily to help the wealthy? Where were they when BUSH didn't lobby oil cartels to change their mind about cutting oil production thus raising the gas prices?

Where were they when BUSH Passed successive tax cuts largely responsible for turning a projected surplus of $5 trillion into a projected deficit of $4.3 trillion?

Where were they when BUSH ran up a foreign deficit of "such record-breaking proportions that it threatens the financial stability of the global economy."

Where were they when BUSH undermined the War on Terrorism by preemptively invading Iraq?

Where were they when BUSH spent $6.5 billion on nuclear weapons to develop new nuclear weapons. – 50% more in real dollars than the average during the cold war – while shortchanging the troops on body armor. Where were they?

Where were they when BUSH Cut an FBI request for counterterrorism funds by two-thirds after 9/11?

Where were they when BUSH spent and lost BILLIONS sent to Iraq?

Where were they when we have spent...as of today 910 Billion dollars in two wars since 2001. With an estimate cost of hidden expenditures and additions to the defense budget for this war to be over 12 to 16 billion over the next year. This is not including care for the poor soldiers and their families. Care for over 30 thousand injured with 20% having sever brain or spinal injuries. Mental health problems which will cost the tax payer an estimate 800 billion through 2009. Where are you?

Nope your worried about your Sarah Palin "death panels"

I say end socialism....end food stamps, end welfare, end Social Security, end Medicare and COBRA, end government funded housing and college education programs, end free hospitals and public schools.

Originally posted by kraken
I have just one question. If these people are so concerned about the way the government is handling things, where were they during the Bush administration?

reply to post by takaris7


They were watching Fox news, hunting deer and idolizing G.W Bush...

..they say they are not right wing..but...well..they do act like right wings..(Hypocrites)

[edit on 13-9-2009 by Next_Heap_With]

Originally posted by tripdz
reply to post by whaaa

 

yeah the problem with the minorities is they still believe in Obama. I go into a barbershop they still have his pictures on their walls, some people still have bumper stickers with belief that he's black...he's OUR saviour. Im black as well but if I were in washington I would been down there protesting with everyone else....I can see through the government's bull. It will be awhile before the minorities finally wake up.

I have never heard a black person calling himself or others "minorities". strange fellow...I sense something there.

It's got nothing to do with being our savior. You should be able to see the simple hypocrisy here and at the political rally. If you don't then your just not informed. He has been in office for less then a year but it's painfully obvious the "Majority" is rallying against him not because of his relevant and important issues but his racial makeup. There are republican rumblings that they want to discredit the president because of his race. Good idea or bad idea, there is nothing Mr. Obama has done that even matches the quality of the screw ups Mr. Bush has committed.

Where were you then Mr. Minority?

Being on the hill, working on the hill I know there is racial tensions, racial mumblings and hatred. It's not hidden. Racism exists on the hill and still exists to a greater part in this nation.

Originally posted by Asktheanimals

Originally posted by schrodingers dog

Originally posted by whaaa
Great Job Sdog. Is it just me or was that a bunch of white people.
What was your take on the participation of minorities?

Mmm ok ...

I'm just going to tell you what I saw and I have no way of knowing people's heritage.

Keeping that in mind it would be accurate to state that the crowd was predominantly caucasian.

It should also be noted that the event was very family oriented with folk of all ages.

I hate to say it but minorities weren't well represented because
they are the recipients of government largesse. Why protest against
the very people that help support you? Either that or they just don't
care enough to get off their butts to try to change anything. Not a
flattering thought either way. I'm no racist but the numbers speak
for themselves.

What struck me as odd was that I watched 2 videos with speakers
and both speakers were black. ????? white crowd/black speakers??
Anyone got a clue on this? I sure as heck don't

What really ticks me is how the media has downplayed the numbers
saying that tens of thousands marched. How about HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS?? I can't wait until everyone that marched realises
that the media has belittled their efforts. Perhaps then they will
wake up to the fact that no MSM or political party is one THEIR
SIDE. I'm very encouraged by the sheer numbers - it was a SEA
OF PEOPLE, pissed off American people. We might be reaching
critical mass soon, one can only hope.

I was there, It wasn't hundreds of thousands. ten thousand...perhaps fifteen thousand but not hundreds of thousands. HA. I have seen a march of hundreds of thousands and that was not it. Not at all. It was a good summer day, there was a Race that day as well as the Black Family Reunion.

As far as who is on the government tit....

Medicare.....White 78.4%
Welfare....White 38.8%/Black 39.8%
COBRA....White 53.5%
Social Security ... White men 41.7%/Women 53.2%

Medicare is the no.1 cost for most states.

After reading comments that minorities are lazy welfare moochers who view Obama as their savior, it's not hard to figure out why there weren't more minorities in the crowd. I am white as they come and I wouldn't want to march along people with those views.

I really hope you were saying the same thing when BUSH was on vacation for an entire year or more during his term. Mr. Obama is out doing work for one day...missing your all important protest...when Mr. Bush was out for what...

487 days at Camp David

and

490 days at his ranch in Texas.

Is that more Hypocrisy I smell in the pot? George Bush spent more time on vacation than any other president in HISTORY. (Its a matter of public record)


Though I think we should be grateful he spent so much time away from work. I don't think we could have taken too much of his work for too long. We might have been at war with freaking the whole of South America.

Originally posted by observe50
When I see everyday Americans doing things like this that they normally would not do and in a peaceful way it makes my heart pitter-patter.

Obama knew this event was going to take place but yet he did not cancel his Town Hall meeting in another State about Healthcare Reform. I would think or at least hoped that our President if for the PEOPLE would have at least be home.

As Bill Cosby once said to his kids, we bought you into this world and we can take you out.

I have no respect for a Leader that is not there for his People.

He was voted in because he used the word CHANGE and I thought, "We the people" were going to have change for the GOOD and so far it has not happened. When Obama said change he didn't say for the good and I believe we have all been duped.

reply to post by takaris7


Indeed you are right. Obama is working much harder to take away our civil and financial liberties than Bush did. That is saying a lot because Bush screwed us pretty bad.

Originally posted by takaris7
Being on the hill, working on the hill I know there is racial tensions, racial mumblings and hatred. It's not hidden. Racism exists on the hill and still exists to a greater part in this nation.

I nearly fell off the sofa when I heard Mr. Jim Greer (Florida GOP chair) admit on a news show (sorry I can't remember which one), that, yes, some in the Tea Party yesterday held racist views. At least he came right out and admitted it. It came during an exchange that zeroed in on race as a basis for some of the protesters attacks on the POTUS. Thank you, Mr. Greer, for your honesty.

Defeating Hitler didn't defeat white supremacist thinking, anymore than the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement 100 years later were the nail in the coffin of American white supremacist ideas. A figurative "underground railroad" came into existence where white supremacist beliefs could be nurtured and transmitted. Like the background radiation that pervades the universe, racist ideology exists, and American culture still needs to come to grips with the reality of racism and white supremacist ideology, the worse of the two, but still needs racism to feed off.

reply to post by takaris7

Yes, I will say most of the protesters were Caucasian middle to upper age people who had no idea what the actual issues were.

How can you possibly make such a statement?

'Actual issues'??

This is America, and *my* issue is as valid as *your* issue.

You're making out like there was some kind of approved checklist of issues.

He has been in office for less then a year but it's painfully obvious the "Majority" is rallying against him not because of his relevant and important issues but his racial makeup.

Here we go again with the race card. Instead of discussing the issues, people whip out this tired old excuse.

Well, people are getting less and less afraid of being called racist, because they know that it is being used to make them feel unearned guilt.

It's not working anymore.

reply to post by joeofthemountain


Don't take offense, but that post reminded me of somebody....

~ My father gave his life, making this country what it is. Murdered by the British with all of his men on the twenty fifth of July, anno domini, 1814. Do you think I'm going to help you befoul his legacy, by giving this country over to them, what's had no hand in the fighting for it? Why, because they come off a boat crawling with lice and begging you for soup.~

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice work on the thread SD, it's cool that you've taken an even handed approach, and the pics are good.

"WE ARE AMERICANS. WE ARE FREE!"
Spoken by an African-"American" at the 9/12 Tea Party.

www.youtube.com...



[edit on 13-9-2009 by Pathos]

Originally posted by 27jd
reply to post by joeofthemountain

 

Nice work on the thread SD, it's cool that you've taken an even handed approach, and the pics are good.

Thanks for that.

One thing that surprises me that no one picked up from the pictures I took and from the rest of the coverage from the media mainstream or non mainstream alike ...

There were two big buses prominently parked in front of The Capitol and in full view of all the cameras and protesters. One was the CNN bus ...

And the other was the American Energy Express from the American Energy Alliance

I personally found such a visible presence of an interest/loby group somewhat anathematic to the core Tea Party principle, that is not however to say that that is in fact the case, for I am not the most familiar with the Tea Party movement, thus I am honestly not the right person to make that call.

I was wondering if some of you had a take on this.

reply to post by milesp

Originally posted by milesp
Actually the first political group to use the word "libertarian" were french anarchists, AKA the Libertarian Socialists. Look it up. It's true.

It may be true, but the label libertarian was used quite "liberally" (pun intended) at times. Libertarian socialists differed from regular libertarianism by being anti-capitalism, where the US founding fathers were pro-capitalism. Technically, each person that signed the Declaration of Independence shouldn't be thrown into this one group because they were individuals each with different ideas.

Anyway, I see that these protesters do want to uphold the same values as the founding fathers and the constitution, but as many have pointed out already, why weren't they protesting during the last administration? Even if I agree with some of their cause, I can't go along with the hypocrisy.

excessive quotes removed

[edit on 13-9-2009 by stevegmu]

reply to post by stevegmu


Perhaps a little more digging than their "about/mission statement" page is required.

www.sourcewatch.org...
www.exxonsecrets.org...

No, they are very much a group in line with the Republican platform and mouthpieces of the multinational big energy corporations.

I don't really want to get into a whole thing here, but I have heard several members express frustration that the original Tea Party mission has been hijacked (their words) by the Republican party ... I was wondering if this would be an example of that.

It's not a loaded question, I honestly don't know.


[edit on 13 Sep 2009 by schrodingers dog]