The AWRA (Angry White Republican Astroturfers) held their "press conference" on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. yesterday, so named because they didn't have a permit for a "rally." The speakers at this event planned and coordinated by Americans for Prosperity spontaneous gathering of concerned Americans who aren't about party, just happened to all be Republicans, and also all white (with the exception of George Hamilton John Boehner), but I'm being redundant. Here's a recap from TPM:
Here is just an example of the spontaneity as Americans for Prosperity staffers meet the people who came to Washington on the 40 buses provided by thecorporate front group grassroots organization and its founder, billionaire concerned American patriot David Koch. From Think Progress:
Now let's play a game. Here is AFP's own video of the "press conference." Pick out the non-white faces in the crowd:
Here's a still photo of the crowd. Same game, where's anything but white:
Yep, definitely looks like a cross-section of America to me.
After the "press conference" broke up, these fine, upstanding, law-abiding Americans decided to take their act to the Cannon House Office Building, where 10 of them were arrested for unlawful entry (and refusing to leave) and disorderly conduct (yelling in the hallway) at Speaker Pelosi's office.
Here is just an example of the spontaneity as Americans for Prosperity staffers meet the people who came to Washington on the 40 buses provided by the
Now let's play a game. Here is AFP's own video of the "press conference." Pick out the non-white faces in the crowd:
Here's a still photo of the crowd. Same game, where's anything but white:
Yep, definitely looks like a cross-section of America to me. After the "press conference" broke up, these fine, upstanding, law-abiding Americans decided to take their act to the Cannon House Office Building, where 10 of them were arrested for unlawful entry (and refusing to leave) and disorderly conduct (yelling in the hallway) at Speaker Pelosi's office.
And did anybody else catch this in the NY Times?
"Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the Senate, has said he will stop helping candidates he's recruited — many of whom are conservative targets — if they're being challenged to primary fights."
Cornyn is in charge of recruiting conservatives for Senate seats, but is now afraid of the wing nuts his own party has created.
Oh you got me fired up!
arthou - hard as that may be for you believe, I think you missed the point. No one questions the right of these people to assemble. No one questions their right to free speech.
What we point out is their lack of facts. The House minority leader, of all people, stood in front of microphones and video cameras and engaged in the most vicious demagoguery I have heard in years. Blatant, bald-faced lies, easily proven as lies. And the signs comparing the expansion of Medicare to the Nazi death camps were beyond offensive. This is insanity.
These are your people, arthou. They now represent the mainstream of the Republican Party. Don't be surprised if the voters recognize insanity when then see it.
So, as I said to you earlier, please pardon us if we don't take your comments too seriously. Many of us have worked in government, studied public policy and understand ignorant bullshit when we see it.
I nominate tragicmagic for governor of Texas.
i called culberson's office yesterday, spoke to his staff and asked them to take down my message. it went something like this: "tell culberson to stop lying by saying all of texas rejects health care reform. tell him that he, not michele bachman represents me and my constituent concerns. tell him to stop shamelessly promoting fox news and the tea party and start promoting non-hateful speech because the tea party is a bunch of white, racist, hatemongers whose rhetoric incites violence and have become the biggest threat to domestic tranquility. tell him to stop lying about tort reform because prop 13 handled that in texas years ago, and stop looking the other way while disabled people are denied SSI disability and medicaid for a requisite 3yrs of denials under the GOP current health care plan of "die quickly!". a couple of hours after i called culberson, while virginia fox & friends were busy calling the pelosi bill "the biggest terrorism threat we face, worse than the 911 attacks", the fort hood situation was unfolding. i was struck by the irony that a real situation of terror was hitting texas while our reps were showing their asses at a tea party rally! then i saw culberson gleefully throwing pieces of the house bill into the air, with a mad shit eating grin plastered across his dumbstruck bovine face. i noticed how many of these nazi's were from texas. i realized how many of them are doctors who have managed to infiltrate congress while tossing their ethical oath to care for mankind. and i called dr. pepper this morning to let them know of about a dozen boycott petitions i received last night, because barton of texas gave the angry mob their marching orders to storm democrat's offices with they hate messages of white power, then invited them to stop by "and celebrate with a cold dr. pepper, texas style". dr. pepper has emailed me already several times and called to say they endorse no political message, person, or position, that barton's shameful product placement exploitation in no way represented their global corporate relations. next i'll forward the replies to barton's website and the a few other interested parties. but the kpft show i just finished listening to got it right on, it looks like civil war is across the horizon, perhaps already at our door, and "hate, they name is TEA PARTY"!
I'm just exercising MY free speech, art. Any objection?
..the audacity of these people...collectively exercising their rights to free speech...call out the basji...
Taking care of Americans is a threat to Freedom. However, the Patriot Act wasn't.
These people are insane.
Reprimanded from the floor at least.
That stupid *****
40 buses, I don't how many one of those buses holds. Maybe 50? 60? 2 or 3 thousand sounds about right.
Faux Noise said thousands were there. Real news outlets were saying a thousand or so. But what else would you expect ?
Bachmann should be cited for inciting this whole stupid protest.
Shorter tea party motto: "I got mine, fuck y'all"
Good point. I suspect if the teabaggers read what Jefferson had to say about organized religion he wouldn't be their hero any more.
Why is it so easy to envision those same people arguing the virtues of American slavery 150 years ago.
I know those people believe in their hearts they are right but unfortunately their hearts belong in another country in another century. They have never been true Americans. They are so fond of invoking Thomas Jefferson yet none of them have the heart of a Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a man of principle and compassion. If he were alive today he would be standing beside Barack Obama pleading for Americans to be true to his notion of American Ideals.
It's sad!
And for your dining pleasure, they served tea and fruitcakes.
Oh I'm sorry, the fruitcakes were the ones being hauled out on their asses in handcuffs.
Michelle Bachmann has a lot to answer for, the nitwit.
Where's the gun rack?
George Hamilton? LMAO...
What a bunch of assholes. What is their point? I guess all of them have great healthcare, right? Must be a bunch of unemployed losers to have a day off mid-week to get bused in and listen to a bunch of elected idiot officials spew a bunch of BS talking points (do they have a point??) I'm so sick of these tea bagger hacks. Get a life and join the others in reality.
The Bachmann-Turner Diaries Overdrive 2009 tour rolls on.