Yesterday Power Line reported on protests at the Right Nation 2010 convention, which has been going on in Chicago. Andrew Breitbart, who attended the convention, was spit on and called a homosexual by supposed "religious" activists. There is video of the encounter at Power Line and at the Big Government website.
There are a few things to pay attention to here. The protesters were from the group Organizing For America (OFA), essentially a left-leaning union group. I don't know if the protesters were paid or simply 'strongly' encouraged to show up, but they were bussed in! I have heard stories locally about union workers who were told that if they did not attend a protest, their access to union jobs would be negatively impacted. There is also a very small chance that these protesters were actually 'religious' protesters.
As the Tea Party gains strength because people are becoming tired of exponential government growth and spending, there will be both obvious and covert pushback from the political class who feel threatened by the movement. Remember also that the Tea Party Express is different from the Tea Party. The Tea Party Express is a Political Action Committee (PAC). They are organized, they raise money, they support candidates, and they operate as any other PAC. The Tea Party is a loosely organized group of citizens with no central leader, no dues, and no agenda other than educating people on the founding principles of America and preserving those principles. One of our local tea parties meets regularly at the local library and studies the founding documents of America. The local tea party also sponsored debates between Republican primary candidates. Tea Party candidates tend to be Republican because they are generally more in line with Republican ideas. Also, contrary to popular myth, the Democrat party would not generally be open to the kind of small government ideas the Tea Party embraces.
Anyway, my point is simple. As we approach the November elections, be aware that things may not be what they appear to be. Protesters may be paid, articles in the local paper may be based on things that are not true, and mischief will abound. Pay attention and stay informed!
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