"I saw it on Fox": Dozens of articles on local tea parties report Fox News had a hand in them
SUMMARY: Dozens of articles about tea parties in various cities reported that Fox News and its hosts helped influence, start, or turn out participants to local protests.
As Media Matters for America has documented, Fox News aggressively promoted the April 15 "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" and encouraged viewers to get involved with tea party protests across the country. During the lead-up to the April 15 protests, tea party organizers also used the planned attendance of several Fox News hosts to promote their protests. Fox News' promotion of the tea parties had its intended effect: Dozens of articles about tea parties in various cities reported that Fox News and its hosts helped influence, start, or turn out participants to local protests. In numerous cases, these reports quoted local participants or organizers stating they were motivated to join or start protests because of Fox News.
Media Matters has compiled the following examples:
- The Odessa American (TX) reported of a rally outside Odessa City Hall: "Statements like 'I saw it on Fox' were heard around the crowd, which organizers hope will be the first of many in the area."
- An April 15 Associated Press article reported of a protest in Louisville, Kentucky: "Laura Watkins pushed her 2-year-old daughter Zoe in a stroller with a sign strapped to the front reading 'My Piggy Bank is not Your ATM.' Watkins said she joined the protest after reading about it online and hearing about it on Fox News. 'I don't want my daughter to inherit all this debt,' she said."
- Reporting on protests in Indianapolis and elsewhere, The Indianapolis Star reported that "Fox News has been promoting the rallies for weeks. ... The protest in Indianapolis and elsewhere developed through online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and through exposure on Fox News."
- Florida Today reported of a Brevard County protest: " 'It was very peaceable,' Cindy Sundin of Satellite Beach, said of the event. She passed out eco-friendly 'Unite or Die' wristbands, from popular Fox News Channel pundit and radio talk show host Glenn Beck's 'We Surround Them' campaign."
- The Hattiesburg American (MS) reported of a local protest: "The protest was hosted by the 912 Project-Hattiesburg, a grassroots organization founded on conservative national talk show host Glenn Beck's 'We Surround Them' project, which seeks to bring accountability in government. The organization's Tax Day Tea Party was one of hundreds held around the country."
- The Loveland Connection (CO) reported of a local protest: "[Tom] Buchanan, who is a longtime Republican Party supporter and the webmaster for the Larimer County Republican Party, said the event in Loveland Wednesday was not about the Republican Party. In fact, its genesis came from a group called 9-12 Loveland, which formed around conservative commentator Glenn Beck's 9-12 Project -- which stands for nine principles and 12 values."
- WSHM-TV (CBS, Springfield, MA) reported of a local protest: "In Springfield, the 912 Project, a Glenn Beck inspired movement, held their tea party at the Springfield Post Office on Main Street. Hundreds turned out with signs protesting high taxes and government's involvement in American lives."
- WXIA-TV (NBC, Atlanta) reported of Atlanta's tea party: "Just one of hundreds being held across the country, Atlanta's tea party was expected to be one of the biggest because conservative TV personality Sean Hannity used it as the backdrop for his Wednesday night show on Fox News Network. While Hannity gave it a huge boost, grass roots planning for Atlanta's big event began months ago after an earlier February 27th tea party that drew 250 to 300 to the Capitol steps in the pouring rain with only one week's planning."
- WOAI-TV (NBC, San Antonio) reported that the "San Antonio Tea Party grabbed national attention with radio and TV talk show host Glenn Beck airing his TV show here on Fox[.] While many came to see that, others came to say 'no more spending.' "
- The Anchorage Daily News (AK) reported of a local protest: "Hundreds more gathered in the Mat-Su later in the day as a coalition of conservative groups, spurred by Fox News, organized hundreds of similar events around the country."
- The Holland Sentinel (MI) reported that a couple at a local protest "found slogans on various Web sites promoting the tea parties. Among the cadre of small organizations promoting the tea parties was Fox News' Glenn Beck."
- The Review Times (Fostoria, OH) reported that protest organizer Steve "McMaster said the idea for the Findlay [OH] protest also stemmed from some members of the Young Republicans group watching a program hosted by conservative personality Glenn Beck in which he urged people to gather in their homes to discuss recent federal government actions."
- The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, IN) reported that Brenda "Fillmon and her son were only two of the nearly 100 local residents who filled the corner near the Madison County Courthouse touting signs of protest as part of the national tea party inspired by Fox News host Glenn Beck."
- The Vindicator (Youngstown, OH) reported of a local protest: "The protest was organized by Patriots in Action, a group with about 60 members that is based in Sharon, said its president, Sue Brei. The group appeared to bend to the conservative side, with one speaker touting his 'Judeo-Christian values.' Another urged the crowd to make sure to listen to conservative radio talk-show host Glenn Beck."
- The Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) reported of a local protest: "The protest was organized in part by Rochester Conservatives and We Surround Rochester, part of conservative commentator Glen [sic] Beck's 9-12 project, which aims to unite Americans as they were on Sept. 12, 2001, to 'protect the values and principles' of the nation."
- The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) reported of a local protest: "The Syracuse-area tea parties were held in conjunction with similar events across the nation, promoted by national celebrity commentators Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh."
- The Sacramento Bee (CA) reported of a local rally: "One of the network's business news anchors, Neil Cavuto, broadcast live from the Capitol event, the announcement of which drew lusty cheers from the crowd."
- The New Britain Herald (CT) reported that the protests have "been big talk for months on conservative radio, Fox News Channel and some other outlets." It later reported of one participant stating: " 'Wasteful spending is going to result in more taxes,' said another in the party, Joanne Edman. 'I've been on this for a while -- I watch Fox News every night.' "
- The Los Angeles Times reported of a Glendale, California, protest: "[Debi Devens] said she was spurred to action because she disagreed with some of President Obama's policies toward veterans. She applied for a city permit, e-mailed all of her friends and sent news releases to media outlets across the Southland. Devens said she also made sure the event was posted on websites run by TV news personalities Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck."
- KOMU-TV (NBC, Columbia, MO) reported of a local protest: "Local event coordinators said they're taking their cues from Glenn Beck, [Fox News contributor] Newt Gingrich and other conservatives, who've been urging Americans to protest."
- The Star Beacon (Ashtabula, OH) reported of a local protest: "The Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party was one of at 2,049 planned for the United States, according to the Web site, www.teapartyday.com. The American Family Association sponsored the events, which found favor with followers of conservative broadcast commentator Glenn Beck and the 9-12 Project, as well as others."
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that one Nevada protest featured "Herman Cain, a FOX News business commentator" and that "Janine Hansen, a longtime lobbyist for the conservative, pro-family Nevada Eagle Forum, said she believes the sentiment of the protesters reflects current thinking of mainstream Americans. While acknowledging that FOX News and local conservative talk show hosts had urged people to attend the protest, Hansen said people had to have strong objections to government to take time off work and drive to Carson City for a rally."
- The Washington Independent took a photo of a sign at a protest across from the White House that read, "Thank You! Fox News for keeping us in the loop!!!":
The Independent's David Weigel contrasted the sign with Fox News' claims that it's not promoting the rallies, writing, "Remember: Fox News reported on these rallies. It didn't promote them!" Weigel further noted the presence of Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham, Fox Business analyst Tobin Smith, and Fox News reporter Griff Jenkins.
- In a blog post for the Dallas Observer about a local protest, Daniel Daugherty posted a picture of a sign stating: "Thank GOD for our Military and The FOX News Channel. Stop big govts wasteful Spending!!!":
Daugherty further wrote:
The scene at the Dallas Tea Party played out as it had all over North Texas, the U-S-A-U-S-A- and Fox News Channel throughout the day: Folks were told to show up and protest President Obama and the budget and the stimulus plan and federal taxes, only they brought signs and shirts invoking everything from welfare spending ("We are paying for people to not work, and we don't want to do that anymore," said one woman) to their opposition to national health care and gun control. And plentiful among the crowd were signs invoking Jesus and demanding the U.S.'s withdrawal from the United Nations. You can see as much in our slide show. And in this video.
Kelly Connell's scared Obama will take away her guns: "It's just one of the things I think he'll attempt to do." Her husband Billy worries about pork spending: "Fox News said yesterday there's more money budgeted for polar bears than for education in the United States. ... When you put a polar bear ahead of our children, I think that's pretty bad."
- The Washington Post's Dana Milbank wrote of Fox News' involvement at the Washington, D.C., protest:
Those messages might explain why Fox News, though actively promoting the "tea party" protests for tax day, tried to argue that it was not behind yesterday's coast-to-coast events. But Fox News analyst Tobin Smith, who took the stage in Lafayette Square yesterday, evidently didn't get the memo. "On behalf of Fox News Channel," he told more than 500 mud-spattered demonstrators, "I want to say: Welcome to the Comedy Channel of America, Washington, D.C."
After a few preliminaries, he went into a Fox News commercial for anchor Glenn Beck. "Anybody watching Glenn?" he asked to cheers. "That was a shameless plug, wasn't it? Glenn says hello as well. He's out at another tea party." Indeed he was, as were Sean Hannity and Neil Cavuto.
A small group of counterdemonstrators, wearing ballgowns, tuxedoes and pig snouts, interrupted and were stripped of their signs. Smith seized the display as an opportunity to highlight the Fox News slogan. "You know what 'Fair and Balanced' means?" he asked. " 'Fair and Balanced' means we take our message and try to overcompensate for their lack of message." Smith left with instructions: "Keep watching Fox, will you?"
The theme was echoed in some of the homemade signs the demonstrators carried, including "Watch Fox News," "Thank You Fox News," and even a recommendation: "Move Glenn Beck to 7 PM."
In addition to dozens of reports about Fox News' influence in helping protests, an April 16 AP article reported of tea parties' organizers:
The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist.
Organizers said the movement developed organically through online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and through exposure on Fox News and promotion from conservative pundits and bloggers.
While FreedomWorks insisted the rallies were nonpartisan, they have been seized on by many prominent Republicans who view them as a promising way for the party to reclaim its momentum against President Barack Obama's administration and other Democrats.
mmfa is obsessed with this. So Fox promoted and pimped these tea parties, so what? who isn't aware of their Republican bias anymore? as far as I can see these were non-violent peaceful protests, let those that participated voice their unhappiness as to what they feel, rightly or wrongly, that is their right. People aren't forced to become informed, they also have the right to be misinformed or off base. Just because some on the left don't like it, too bad. If it accomplishes one thing and that is to get politician's attention as to the basic restlessness in some people regarding our taxes, then that is a good thing. They need more reminding than from some complimentary media personality sometimes.
let me just say, I did see some of the creepy fringe signs that some held up yesterday, and they were downright sick. But that should not have an overriding affect on the protest's legitimacy for many, taxes and our burgeoning debt. Fringe nuts are everywhere, sadly. yesterday was no different.
When you start posting to yourself that could be the time to seek professional help. (Mental)
Do you really want the press to be dictating government policy? That is what Fox is trying to do. There's no place for it in our country, period.
Yes, these people had every right to protest. More power to them. Does Fox have the "right" to pretend that it's a legitimate News Network? I guess they do, but other media outlets also have a right, maybe even a responsibility, to call them on it.
Nerzog you hit the main point. Everyone has a right to protest, these tea baggers have every right America gives them. FOX though is not legitimate in promoting the events, and trying to create more news by claiming these were a national wave . FOX has lost any credibility it had.
Journalists (the "Press" in "Freedom of the Press") report the news. Fox CREATED the news in this case.
they have next to no credibility for me, which is why I choose not to watch them. If others tune into them 24/7 that is their business. There are all kinds of media outlets that have no credibility on some things for me. MSNBC has none for certain shows of theirs because it's nothing but a left wing commercial, I don't care to be told just one side of the story, some do, that is their right.
I have no respect for MSNBC either, they have a past that is just disgusting between Imus, Schuster and his "Pimp" remark. The phony Joe Scarborough. But MSNBC has never done what FOX did. FOX Created the news. they created these Tea Parties, last night Hannity was talking about how there were 20,000 people in Atlanta. Newt was in NYC, it was a joke, a sham, I thought I was watching Pravda in the 1980s.
Yes, but we're going to call them on their 'right' to be wrong and their 'right' only tell one side of the story.
It's amazing that you can't grasp this concept. It's stunning that you think you have any point besides to distract us from the real point here, that FoxNews led people to these events, rather than covering them. This is just another in a series of proofs MMfA has provided documenting their bad behavior.
They say they are fair and balanced. When they say that, but act otherwise, someone should point that out. MMfA does that. You're wrong for suggesting that they should not. You're wrong for suggesting that they have the right to spew their nonsense uncontradicted.
Exactly!!!!
no argument
"Does Fox have the "right" to pretend that it's a legitimate News Network?"
I refer you to this LINK for an answer to your question...
Good lord, James. Give it a rest already. Your endless "who cares" diatribes are getting really really old.
We care. We care that a "News" organization is promoting phony protests against an administration it did it's damnest to defeat in an election. Failing that, they are trying to gin up anger against it.
Yes, they have every right to do this. Yes, we have every right to call them on it and point out that they are not journalists, but party hacks with an agenda. Its not about the tea parties themselves- its about pointing out that they are not the product of a grassroots movement. Seems pretty easy to understand, if you were inclined to try. And "everyone knows this already" is not a reason to stop pointing out the truth- you might as well argue that "everyone knows cigarettes cause cancer, so let's stop making Philip Morris put the warnings on the packs.
I can't be the only person on this site who is bored to death with your "yeah, so what?" posts. If we bore you so, why not move on to a blog more to your liking?
oh get off your disingenuous pedestal, this isn't about tea parties or some lofty concern you have about the integrity of some protest, this is about Fox News and the constant thorn they are in the left's side. I have no more respect for them than you do but they don't drive me nuts they way they do whiny liberals. if you don't like me pointing that out after dozens of threads around here on these stupid tea parties, too bad.
James, the only difference is FOX News promotes misinformation and I do believe there is a sizeable portion of the American public that does not know that. MMFA is right to continue to point it out. I will of course defend your right on here to disagree but I think it goes beyond FOX News being thorn in the lefts side.
well that sizeable portion put Obama and the Demcrats in charge of our government in nothing short of a landslide last fall. The REpublicans are barely hanging on by a thread as a viable alternative so I am not sure how much influence Fox is beyond the growing paranoia of the left.
Not every single American of voting age voted in the last election James. These tea parties and FOX tend to go after the uneducated and bitter. That is my opinion.
Demanding truth from the gatekeepers of information is not high on jamesb's agenda. He's smart enough to see through the lies. If they're poisoning the minds and enflaming the fears of other Americans, well, that's their problem.
Sounds more and more like Tommy every day.
no, what's stupid is to bang your head against the wall over and over and expect different results. the left has had it in for Fox since their inception, hoping they will bring them down. yet they are bigger than ever. whatever tactic they employ, like monitoring their every word is not working, that is my point. Fox is crap, period. I don't bother.
James
I am not sure what your point is on here other than to attack MMFA because they have a mission statement? If you don't like MMFA talking about FOX don't post on here.
hoping they will bring them down
Wrong again. Try hoping they will tell the truth. That would pretty much eliminate them from this site altogether.
By saying you don't bother, I'm guessing you don't care that a while back the majority of Fox News viewers believed Saddam attacked the WTC and we found the WMD's. I cared because an uninformed populace is not good for the country. Seems to me that if things are okey dokey in your little patch of land, then the rest of the country be damned.
i never said I don't care. Just because I don't think monitoring their every word has been too successful, can you show me where it has please?
no, what's stupid is to bang your head against the wall over and over and expect different results
I know how that feels like. Today.
so you can't show any progress? figured.
There's been a ton of progess in the USA since there's been concerted efforts to refute the nonsense from the right, including the nonsense that comes from FoxNews.
Obama got elected.
Democrats regained control of Congress.
Democrats are winning elections in Republican districts.
Liberal is no longer a dirty word.
I could go on and on.
You should go on and on. But it was nice of jimmy to give me a whole 9 minutes to respond before posting a flippant comment.
Now that figures.
By your logic if your sister in law is a liar, then you call her on it ONCE then allow her lies to go unchecked from then on. She can continue to lie for the rest of her life because it is silly for you to beat your head against the wall and call her CONSISTANTLY on her lies. It seems better to you to let her GET AWAY with lying because others OUGHT to know better than to believe her. I dont subscribe to such a self defeatist philosophy nor do I think it honest to pretend that we are doing something WRONG for pointing out what every YOU admit is true
This is about the Fox News Channel using its position as a media outlet to protest against the governtment that was voted into office by the American people. It's no big deal to you, and that's fine, yet you're compelled to insult those who do have a problem with it by calling them "whiny", which is, well, sort of whiny.
would it bother you if a news channel used it's position as a media outlet to protest against the government that was voted into office by the American people, if it was an anti war protest?
YES!
good to know
I've been protesting and demonstrating against wars since 1967. If any network were to use it's position to promote demonstrations in opposition to a war that I was against, I'd be angry with that network.
So my answer is you bet your ass I'd be angry!
As would I
"this is about Fox News and the constant thorn they are in the left's side. "
It's getting harder and harder to remember the last time Fox won a victory over the left. The real point is that they continue to try to win political battles, when as a "News" organization they really ought to be, you know, reporting the news, instead of trying to create it.
But what am I talking to you for? You are too busy yawning and shrugging and wondering why anyone cares about anything. Sad, really.
So we are whiny liberals because we point OUT Fox has no integrity even though you ADMIT that Fox has no integrity. Is that a joke?
Doesn't bother you that Fox "News" is promoting a event and then claiming their not? Don't you want a media that is 100% honest to you at all times? It's important to keep these networks accountable and transparent, ALL networks, not just Fox "News". On top of that, doesn't it bother you how the direction of the media is going? People want to claim there is two sides of a story, but in reality there is no two sides to the truth. The truth is the truth. And so if you have a group of voters who are always tuning in to a media outlet that tells them the side of the story that they want to hear...even if it's not the truth, then how are they suppose to make informed and honest decisions in their daily lives?
This whole "media bias" rhetoric has completely poisoned our news media in this country and it has poisoned democracy as well when people get only one side of the story.
It clearly doesn't. The only thing that bothers James is that everyone isn't as willing as he is to just let Fox get away with it's BS. Nothing irritates James more than coming here and finding that people actually give a damn.
i got news for ya, Fox is still "getting away with it", in fact their ratings indicate even more so. so much for all the foot stomping on the left.
Pathetic. So what's your point, James? Fox isn't going to change it's format or it's mission statement, so we should....just shut up about it? Ignore them? What?
You got anything to say other than "stop whining?" Have you ever stopped to realize that YOU are one doing the whining around here? We are discussing Fox and how it masquerades as "news." You come here to basically tell us to stop talking about it because....um, well, because....it irritates you?
Who asked you?
You aren't going to change our minds about FOX, so when are YOU going to stop whining and "stamping your foot?"
"So Fox promoted and pimped these tea parties, so what? who isn't aware of their Republican bias anymore?"
"i got news for ya, Fox is still "getting away with it", in fact their ratings indicate even more so. so much for all the foot stomping on the left."
Well, obviously there's still work to be done in getting the message out there, since they're "getting away with it".
you could be talking about Fox or much of what's on MSNBC
Yes, Scarborough is often as bad as anyone on Fox.
msnbc is by no means anywhere near fox news on bias. just because they dont bring on conservatives for every show to yell and scream doesnt mean they are biased, but when you spread misinformation like fox, it is even more significant. lying about news and creating it yourself is biased... bringing on liberals to discuss news is not bias or dishonest. it may be partisan, but no more than that.
I dont care about the protests. They can protest all they want. Fox CLAIMS to be fair and balanced. That is shown to be disinformation by them ADVOCATING a protest. IF CNN had been advocating anti war protests the screaming from Fox and the rightwing would have knocked the Earth off its axis. This site is not about protests or politics it is about conservative disinformation and misinformation as long as Fox does things like this and STILL makes claims toward being journalists and fair MMFA should cover it since it IS misinformation.
A guy called the "Brian and the Judge Show" to "brag" how he had gone to Glenn Beck's Alamo tea party with his wife and kids, and "except for the day I got married, and when my kids were born, it was the greatest day of my life." I'm not kidding.
This guy said that his brother, a $40,000 per year schoolteacher, made a trip of several hundred miles to attend. I hate to think the damage that moron is doing to a classroom of kids.
This guy also said that "nobody I saw at this rally was rich, we were all middle-class. I'm a small businessman myself..." in other words, they were all sheep conned into protesting an administration that's trying to shift the burden off of them and on to those who have been feeding at the trough long enough.
"The Judge" went on and on and on about "the right to petition the government for redress of grievances," "Freedom of Assembly," etc. etc. etc. setting up one straw man after another- including the notion that somehow "the Government" tried to "shut down the tea parties" and infiltrated them to collect names, etc. . Hey Judge- nobody is questioning the right of morons to make absolute fools of themselves. Which is what they did- and what you are doing today.
And noone identified himself as a CEO making above $250K protesting. I guess too busy hiding the money in Jamaica, or something.
My guess is that the CEOs were sitting in their lounges laughing their a$$es off at these working class boobs who are willing to miss a day of work to advocate for a lower tax burden on people who make seven-figure salaries. Yeah, I'd laugh, too.
You said it much better than i ever could.
I wonder if anyone will ever figure out how many people got fired for taking the day off to go teabaggin'.
Firing's one way of cutting their taxes.
i was incorrect in my response earlier when I said this was not about tea parties, but more about Fox News. what has the left so angry, and mmfa, is not really Fox News at all, my apologies for that gross error, it's about taxes. some can say until they are blue in the face about how these protesters have the right to protest, that is not their beef, baloney it isn't. It's the left clear indignation when anyone dare protest against taxing the rich, or anyone for that matter, it makes no sense to their class warfare mentality. How can people earning so little care about people earning so much who are just out to screw them anyway. Taxes are a protected class for liberals, and anyone that dares protest them in any way, shape or form deserves to be ridiculed and scorned. That is what this is really about.
From what I could see at the tea rallies many were there to protest the President. I doubt they had even thought about taxes when they were making their Obama as Hitler signs. I also saw anti-labor signs. Gun rights signs. Illegal immigration sings. I saw some racist signs as well.
What I saw mostly was fear. And Fox news has been stoking the fear for weeks now.
doubt they had even thought about taxes when they were making their Obama as Hitler signs. I also saw anti-labor signs. Gun rights signs. Illegal immigration sings. I saw some racist signs as well.
What I saw on FOX was nothing but hate at those rallies.
From what I've seen, Fox happily stokes hatred of anything that they don't agree with.
Tommy? Is that you? If not, we have a new "Tommy in training" for sure. Geez, Tommy never could see...EITHE...that it's not "the taxes", it's not "the protests", it's not about rich or poor. IT'S THE MEDIA STUPID. It's about a "fair and balanced" (not!) media company CREATING NEWS and then acting as if they had nothing to do with it.
It's about CONSERVATIVE MISINFORMATION IN THE MEDIA. Tommy never could get that, with his "WITH" posts...I bet you never do either. But at least you can't say you haven't been told often enough.
conservative misinformation in the media is at it's worst when it protests taxes, that's why all the liberals are up in arms on this issue. It was fine when it was just a few cable talking heads crowing about high taxes, but now that it's hit the streets, tax lovers are scared, the ones in Congress and their supporters. ooohh.
"conservative misinformation in the media is at it's worst when it protests taxes, that's why all the liberals are up in arms on this issue"
Yep, a Tommy in training for sure. Thanks for proving it, your assistance is greatly appreciated.
If james is Tommy I say Great.
Tommy brought life and energy to the board. I have missed Tommy.
I am being called tommy all the time, as i said I am flattered. He posted happy Easter or Spring awhile back to answer he wasn't banned. he said he left on his own.
You have some of Tommys traits, and that is a good thing. Like I said we need lively respectful debate on this board. I like talking to people with different views. I hate coming on here when we all agree that FOX is terrible , it gets old and boring. Please continue to speak your mind!!!!
Though he's dead WRONG that the issue here is taxes. The issue here is a so-called news corporation whipping up its consumers for weeks and months to protest a gov't elected by the people that the so-called news corporation is 100% oppossed to. Fox News opposes America's government enough to lie about it and directly protest it under the guise of covering and dispensing news and information. And THAT is WTIH.
Opposing for the sake of opposing is part of it, but I also think (cynically, probably), that this was done mostly for programming. They do have hours upon hours to fill, and none of their usual smears (fascist, communist, socialist) have been resonating.
What the heck are you smoking ? what do you think paid for the roads you drive on to get to the teabaggers rallies ? And pay for the M16's soldiers use to protect the Constitution and this land, and allow you to say brilliant things as well as stupid things in public ? this whole thing had nothing to do with the boston Tea Party ( paying taxes to mother England ). The tax revenues are going to the United States treasury for the good of all. If anything, we should protest the legislators that abuse the money collected for personal gain and notoriety. I would join you on that rally.
the legislators wouldn't have the money to abuse if they were cut off the money train, so that is why the tax protests, for many.
so you are telling me the voters don't need to educate themselves on who they are voting for ? All you have to do is bankrupt the US Treasury ? that is crazy, man.
you are the one smoking something? I said that to be against any tax increases on principle is what many of these people protested for, to say it bankrupts the US Treasury is lunacy. Voters should absolutely educate themselves, if you think I said otherwise you are crazy.
read again what you wrote
the legislators wouldn't have the money to abuse if they were cut off the money train
i know what I wrote, do you need it translated? The legislators would have to learn to make tough spending choices, live within their meand and wouldn't have near as much money to waste. they would do what they are sent to represent us to do.
means, not meand
"some can say until they are blue in the face about how these protesters have the right to protest, that is not their beef, baloney it isn't."
Saying that the protests are unwarranted is just like saying that someone's words are inappropriate or beyond the pale. It doesn't say anything about "rights" at all.
Actually, I like that people protest. I just hate that they do it based on lies and misinformation.
I finally realized what these "tea parties" really are.
They are therapy for the right-wingers who couldn't bear to criticize the government until after Bush left office. It's a Mulligan, a do-over elections campaign, a way to finally get it out of their system. It's venting frustrations, only it's AFTER the elections, one year too late, one year after it actually would have mattered.
It's just that last year, they couldn't really bring themselves to demonstrate against spending or taxes, because their guy was in office, and they had to believe in the Leader.
Now, they get to repeat last year's anti-Obama slogans AND finally speak out against the evil government - that was just as evil last year, but that they had to protect.
I hope they feel better today. Facts and reality will not sway them, but maybe letting out steam will at least make them a little happier.
you're right on much of what you say. where were these rightwingers when Bush was around? That is the hypocritical element in this, for sure.
These protesters were played like a grand piano by wealthy, corporate interests. End of story.
I thought the local papers I've seen (LA Times, Pasadena Star News) did a very poor job of identifying the manufactured, astro-turfed basis of the area tea-bagging events. Typical of the "librul" media, they're so busy trying to stay "objective" that they ignore the big, fat, ugly truth staring them in the face.
The Times did mention the freakish Obama = Hitler type rubbish, but buried it at the end of the article.
Here's why we should care about what Fox News does:
"Fox News said yesterday there's more money budgeted for polar bears than for education in the United States. ... When you put a polar bear ahead of our children, I think that's pretty bad."
We'll have uneducated, misguided people like this for decades to come. For a propaganda machine to present itself as "fair and balanced" might be a joke to us, but this man - and many others - will apparently believe everything they hear on Fox. That's why it matters.
"Laura Watkins pushed her 2-year-old daughter Zoe in a stroller with a sign strapped to the front reading 'My Piggy Bank is not Your ATM.' Watkins said she joined the protest after reading about it online and hearing about it on Fox News. 'I don't want my daughter to inherit all this debt,' she said."
Someone needs to get a hold of this lady and ask her if she was this upset by all the debt creation under Bush?
Or whether she thinks that it is only okay to be upset when it is a Democrat who is trying to fix the mess made by a Republican... again!