Something You Might Like: Government and Media Try to Downplay Protests by Tax-Paying Voters

Monday, September 14, 2009

Government and Media Try to Downplay Protests by Tax-Paying Voters

The 9/12 Tea Party protest march on Washington, in which “as many as one million” people participated (according to the Daily Mail Online, UK, which is less biased in reporting this than most U.S. newspapers) [1], represents a majority of American citizens, most of whom could not be in Washington, but a good many of whom participated in local events. Also, many who did not attend any event still strongly support the views of the protesters and are expressing themselves in other ways, such as letters to their representatives and newspapers.

If you get “as many as one million people” together, as happened Saturday in D.C., you find quite a variety of individuals, but this group was united in their displeasure with the current policies of the federal government, particularly excess spending, taxes, and “health care reform.” They came from many parts of the country. They paid their own way. They weren’t following some charismatic leader, but were showing up to support their beliefs.

The protesters with their signs, flags, and speakers expressed outrage, anger, and determination not to be overcome by their socialist “leaders,” who are constantly thinking up new ways to take away their money, freedom, and future. The multi-trillion-dollar deficits are seen as dangerous and affecting future generations. It doesn’t take a Washington “expert” to see that. They see the Constitution being ripped to shreds with nary a thought, day by day, by their liberal so-called representatives.

They see a harmful and tyrannical “health care reform” about to be shoved down the throats of the American people, a majority of whom don’t want it. And they see the problem of unemployment affecting America’s families, with nothing being done about it, while government seeks to set up more oppressive socialist programs.

None of these observations requires political or technical expertise to know about and be concerned about, although many of the protesters are experts in the affected areas of taxes, health care, law, etc.

Also, past experience could have predicted that the events of 9/12 would be under-reported and even misrepresented by the Obama propaganda division, a.k.a. the mainstream media. You can’t just ignore a million or more people gathered in one place, but you can try to play down the importance, misrepresent the numbers, and offer biased and incorrect analysis.

It’s race-based, say many liberals. As an example, the Boise Weekly takes up Maureen Dowd’s accusation of racism.
“The casual and ignorant use of socialism and Communism and Marxism at these rally's (sic.) have strong historical precedents, including the official red baiting of Martin Luther King, Jr., spurred some 50 years ago by the same Birchers.” Then, quoting Dowd,

“‘I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer — the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids — had much to do with race….’” [2] People are racist enough that they can’t accept the fact that we now have an African-American president, so they cry “socialist!” to mask their racism. In fact, it’s some liberals who are crying “racist!” to mask their socialism, as one of their online comments points out.

The liberals and elitists just can’t grasp the fact that the protest is policy-based. It is also angry, widespread, sincere and justified. It is not overstating things to classify Obama’s policies as socialist and fascist. They fit the patterns very well. Heavy-handed mandates for citizen participation in socialized programs, government takeover of one-sixth of the economy (government option or not) in addition to the previous nationalizations, and the endless spending and stifling deficits that will last for many years. All this spending, bailouts, and takeovers, yet unemployment continues to rise, as Obama ponders his next heavy yoke upon the taxpayers of America, cap and trade. I’m sure Hugo Chavez is very proud of his protégé.

The protesters can’t be ignored. The key to their lasting effectiveness will be the continuation of the movement up to the 2010 elections and beyond. Congressmen will need to pay attention if they are interested in being re-elected. And Obama will have to start early mobilizing his ACORN, SEIU, and Black Panther thugs to work the elections.

As reported by Manu Raju at Politico.com, “President Barack Obama's senior adviser, David Axelrod, said Sunday conservative protests in Washington are not indicative of the country's mood.

“‘Conservatives have the right to protest,’ Axelrod said on CBS's ‘Face the Nation,’ but ‘they don’t represent a mainstream view.’” [3]

Oh? If the protesters can get “as many as one million” people to Washington, plus many thousands more in local events – and these are people who work for a living and who vote – how can you be sure it isn’t a mainstream view? Axelrod tries to dismiss this protest as of no real importance. Is he trying to convince us or himself?

One comment at the Daily Mail: “Wow, now there was a message to Obama and Congress that's going to be hard to ignore. My favorite sign was the ‘King George didn't listen to us either’ one. - Eggs Ackley, Wilmington, NC USA, 13/9/2009 03:57” [4]

The following video should convey a good idea of what happened in Washington: