Apr 11, 2009

Republicans pushing the myth that the “tea party” protest is a grassroots effort


As the April 15 deadline for filing your federal income taxes approaches, right-wingers are buzzing about their misnamed and misguided “tea party” allegedly to protest government spending and taxation.

That the alleged tea party is non-partisan is the first myth, and the second myth is that it is a “bottom-up, grassroots protest.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a partisan, Republican anti-Obama event. What it certainly is not is a tea party. The Boston Tea Party was staged to protest taxation without representation. That’s simply not the case here, and the American people spoke loud and clear when and where it counts the most: at the ballot box.

Many of the events will feature Republican elected officials as guest speakers. The hysterical hate against the President is increasing, and it will be on full display April 15. White supremacist and militias groups will be well-represented at the “tea parties“, and I guarantee that we will see crude, homemade signs there that say crap like “Hitler gave good speeches too,” “Obama Bin Lyin’” and “Impeach Obama.” We saw some of them at the misnamed “tea party” back in February. Is every protest by Republicans called a “tea party?”

It is also not a grassroots effort. The Washington, DC-based, rightwing think tank Freedom Works, chaired by former U.S. House Majority Leader and rightwing Republican Dick Armey, is working hard to organize it. The Washington, D.C.-based rightwing think tank Americans for Prosperity is also organizing the “tea parties. “ It has a web site complete with talking points.

There is even a web site where you can get gear to wear to the event.

The rightwing blogoshere in Michigan is pushing it hard, but they, of course, ignore the fact that the last Bush administration budget rang up a $500 billion deficit and added more than $4 trillion to the national debt over his eight disastrous years. During the first Bush term, when the Republicans controlled Congress, government spending grew on average at an annual rate of over 4 percent — far higher than during the Clinton administration.

If you need further proof that this is an anti-Obama rally, the event is listed by the Michigan Legislative Council as a “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party.”

Rally
Nationwide Chicago Tea Party
East Steps & Walks, North & South Lawn
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

16 comments:

Not Anonymous said...

It seems that your lies extend to all areas. In yesterdays news, a record was set in March for the highest deficit in history. And that's just the beginning. $500 billion deficits will seem like candy money after the deficits that Obama leaves us just this year mount up:

The Congressional Budget Office estimated last month that President Barack Obama's budget proposals would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, a figure $2.3 trillion higher than estimates made in February in the administration's first budget proposal.
The CBO review projected Obama's budget would generate deficits averaging almost $1 trillion annually over the decade ending in 2019.


So the Tea Parties are organized by hate groups and partisan Republican groups according to you? Another lie by you. While they may be organizing some of them, here's some that have been organized by local women in February and others in the upcoming Tea Parties on Wednesday:

In Orlando on March 21 the 4,000 strong tea party was organized by two friends, Lisa Feroli and Shelly Ferguson.

Such is the rallying cry building across the country as taxpayers take a stand against what they see as reckless spending in Washington -- all part of a peculiar and rather sudden movement called "tea parties."
Some small, some large, locals converge at the parties to voice their frustration over the federal government's economic policies. The protests have sprouted up from coast-to-coast and city-to-city since late February.

The biggest one so far is scheduled for April 15, tax day, when hundreds of cities will play host to a coordinated, nationwide tea-party protest.

"People are getting killed -- they're getting hammered with taxes and it's not the way this country is supposed to be run. ... We want to fight back," said Kristina Mancini, who's helping organize the April 15 rally in Fishkill, N.Y.
"Sitting back and being quiet never helps."

The grassroots phenomenon, while largely ignored in the mainstream press, has caught fire on the Internet, where platforms like Facebook and Twitter have served as launching pads for demonstrations.

Yet another of your lies that this is misnamed because the orginal was about taxation without representation, this one is similar in that it's about excessive taxes and excessive spending:

Though nobody -- so far -- is dressing up like a Mohawk Indian and throwing barrels of Darjeeling into Boston Harbor, organizers draw their inspiration from the original Boston Tea Party of 1773.
Whereas colonists back then were revolting against, among other things, unfair tax policies, the impetus now lies in federal spending and intervention that many fear will lead to a crushing tax burden.

"It's not exactly taxation without representation. It's more taxation with inadequate representation," said Michael DePrimo, with the American Family Association, which is helping promote the events. "People are really getting riled up ... people want to get involved, they want to help and they want to attend. I'm not so sure this'll be a one-time thing."
The historical parallels may seem sparse. America is no longer a colony. It is not ruled by a king.
But just as the 18th century decrees of the King of England drew outrage from American colonists, several acts of modern U.S. government intervention have stirred similar upheaval.
The Stamp Act? Now it's the Wall Street bailout.
The Tea Act? Now it's the $787 billion stimulus package.
The Quartering Act? Now it's the pork-filled omnibus spending bill.
The Boston Massacre? That would have to be the proposed $3.55 trillion 2010 budget, seen by tea partiers as a fiscal massacre.
The Sons of Liberty of today is led by people like Rick Santelli, the CNBC reporter widely credited with helping spark the tea-party fever nationwide (though tea parties were being held before Santelli plugged them).
During an infamous on-air rant on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in February, Santelli called for modern-day tea parties to protest the economic trends in government.
He stirred up traders by shouting that the government was promoting "bad behavior" with its mortgage rescue plan. "This is America," he said. "How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage that has an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills?"
Though he was mocked by the White House, Santelli might as well have yelled, "Give me liberty or give me death!"
Jenny Beth Martin, a Republican activist who's helping organize one of the higher-profile tea parties in Atlanta, said Santelli's rant led shortly afterward to a conference call of 22 activists, including herself.
From there, she said, organizers put together 48 tea parties -- from St. Louis to San Antonio to Chicago -- on Feb. 27.
There have been scattered tea parties since then, but the next nationally coordinated event is on tax day.
She said 360 events are on the books for April 15, with "dozens more" scheduled every day -- she anticipates more than 2,000 participants in Atlanta.
In the Boston spirit, Martin said they might even toss some tea bags, "maybe into a barrel."
The movement, while nonpartisan, has largely involved conservatives -- who are testing out a role long reserved for the other side of the political spectrum.
"Conservatives aren't known for their protest abilities, and protests in business suits and umbrellas, it was kind of a funny sight," Martin said, recalling the rainy-day event in Atlanta on Feb 27.
But the protesters have forged their own cheeky, anti-spending brand. In videos of the rallies on the Pajamas TV Web site, one protester sported an arm band that said "POOP -- Prisoners of Obama's Policies." Another held a poster that read "Let Them Eat Pork!"
The tea party movement has generated a host of unique Web sites dedicated to promoting upcoming protests and covering those that have already happened. The Pajamas TV site is even recruiting "citizen reporters" to cover the April 15 protests.
"This is about the people. This is about what we have to say," said Nancy Armstrong, who's organizing the tea party in Wichita, Kan. Armstrong, who attended one of the parties in northern Kansas in late February, said she's expecting at least 1,000 people at the local post office in Wichita on April 15.
Margaret Hyland, who's helping organize the rally in Astoria, Ore., said the parties are just gatherings for "regular people."
"We just feel that the government is not listening to the people," she said, adding that the stimulus package was a big factor in her decision to get involved.
"I do not understand how we can throw money at this problem and solve it," Hyland said. "If I was doing my personal budget and discovered I was deeply in debt, I don't think I would go out and borrow a lot of money to throw at it."

As you always do, you twist words, take meanings literally rather than even try to understand correlations.

These women haven't been part of the groups as you said. I have found zero information as of yet on hate groups organizing these events.

You may consider the Republicans as a hate group, but they are not considered that by anyone other than socialist Democrats. I will concede that you socialist Democrats consider Republicans as a hate group because I consider the liberals, Socialist Democrats or another way of putting it they are a Hate America group.

You may now continue to spread your lies, myths, and ignorant mischaracterizations of what's happening on the 15th of April around the country. It's easy to see that these are scaring you. This is two commentaries in a row that you've talked about the Tea Parties. I actually give you credit because the liberal media gave very little coverage to the tea parties that went on in February and March and I expect that they'll only cover the 15th because the numbers will be so high. If the turnout wasn't there on the 15th, then the liberal media would be reporting on it non stop for days. But the crowds will be there nationwide.

By the way, another of your lies is that they are getting elected people to speak at these tea parties. You may be right on the local level, but there are only two, one from the US House and one from the US Senate that have announced that they'd attend and speak. Two, out of 535.

Take your prozac the morning of the 15th and you'll not have your panic attacks that day.

Communications guru said...

Once again, brett, I don’t lie. You can disagree with me all you want, but that doesn’t equate to a lie. The difference is I bring sources to back up my claims, and you rarely, if ever, do.

The difference is Obama is spending the money in the U.S. to benefit U.S. citizens, not in an unnecessary war Bush started. Where were these protests when Bush was running up a record deficit? The simple fact is this is a partisan, Republican and anti-Obama rally organized by Washington, D.C.-based partisan groups. I provided the links to the AFP and “Freedom Works.” Do you want me to provide them again, brett? “Faux News is pushing the “tea parties’ hard. So much for “fair and balanced.”

There are no “tea parties” organized without the help of those two groups. They list them all, and all you have to do to find one is go online. I am not talking about the February “tea parties.” The only thing I know about them is what happened because I went to one, and that the one in Lansing was organized by the AFP.

You can try all you want to rewrite history, brett, but the Boston Tea Party was about taxation without representation. The unfairness of it came because colonists had no say in the enactment of the tax.

Michael DePrimo, of the anti-gay hate group American Family Association, is full of crap. It is taxation without representation. How the hell can it be “inadequate representation?” Elections were held in November, and people spoke loud and clear.

You can’t be serious, brett? You don’t consider Stormfront and the Michigan Militia hate groups? That’s part of your problem. They are hate groups organizing the “tea parties,” and I provided links. Do I need to provide them again, even thought they are in the body?

I don’t consider the Republicans a hate group, and I have never said that. It is a bankrupt party void of ideas. Once again, brett, there is no such thing as a “socialist Democrat” in this country, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point. If anyone is a “hate America group” it is Republicans. They are pulling for the President to fail just to get back power, and if he fails in cleaning up the disaster Bush left, then the country fails.

What I have said about the false and misnamed tea party is 100 percent true. If not, you would be able to debunk what is written: you can’t.

Like I have said before, brett, I am not “scared” of the “tea parties.” I write about it to point out the lies about it. The truth I wrote about you can‘t debunk. Let them rally all they want, it‘s their constitutional right. But be honest and call it what it really is.
I’ll be knocking on doors and talking to voters leading up the election this summer and in 2010 when turnout really counts.

First, the media is conservative. Second, the press covered the February “tea party.” As for the April 15 “tea party” it’s not the press’s job to promote the false and partisan event. Faux News is doing that.

Wait, you said I lied when I said they are getting Republicans to speak. How is that when in the next sentence you said “but there are only two, one from the US House and one from the US Senate that have announced that they'd attend and speak.” If just one speaks then I did not lie. Second, I said Republican elected offices because this is a partisan event, and that would be two out of 244. I consider state lawmakers elected officials. Plus, it’s much more than two. If you had followed the links to my friend Johnny C’s blog you would find that out:

– Rep. David Davis (R-TN) and representatives from Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) office will be speaking at the Kingsport protest.

– Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) will be speaking at the Salt Lake City protest.

– Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and a representative from Rep. Sam Graves’ (R-MO) office will be speaking at the Overland Park protest.

– Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) will be speaking at the Shreveport protest.

– Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) will be speaking at the Jacksonville protest.

– Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) will be speaking at the Wauseon protest.

– Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) will be speaking at the Phoenix protest.

– Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) will be speaking at the Charlotte protest.

– Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) will be speaking at the Brevard protest.

– Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) will be speaking at the Longview protest.

– Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) will be speaking at the protest in Columbia.

If you follow the link at http://motorcityliberal.blogspot.com/2009/04/republican-members-of-congress-embrace.html
It will provide links to show who is appearing.

I don’t take drugs, nor am I worried about this false protest. It does bother me to hear the lies and I don’t like the fact that the conservative media is not reporting what a staged partisan and highly organized event this is. But I am filling that gap. But what can you expect from the conservative media. Plus, I will be working on that day. If I can get out of my office at noon, I would like to hear what BS Sam the digital converter box promoter has to say. It will be better than going to a comedy show.

ka_Dargo_Hussein said...

wingnuts are fun!

Next up...Obama uses a teleprompter!

Film at 11.

Not Anonymous said...

Too late. You've been debunked. Start with my name which you consistently get wrong and follow through to the end of your misinformation.

You're using little johnny's blog as a reference? That's almost as hilarious as using your own. Also, motorcityliberal is a blog. Again, blogs are not sources. They are opinions, usually one sided and biased.

In other words, everything you have said and repeated in your comments is a joke and has been debunked. Up to and including whether or not you're a liar. The jury is back. You have qualified as a liar.

Communications guru said...

Sorry, brett, you have to have some facts to debunk something, and you have presented nothing but your misguided opinion.

Yes, I am using Johnny C’s blog as a reference. I have no idea if he is little or not; you will have to take that up with him, brett. When you go there you will find links to the Republican elected officials attending. I have never used my blog as a reference, but even if I did that’s not a problem; I have done first person reporting, like, the last “tea party,” and you have never proved anything I have written to be false.

Of those 14 current and former elected Republicans lawmakers speaking at the partisan GOP campaign events on April 15, which ones are you disputing? I will give you the links directly for the ones you are disputing because you apparently are not smart enough to click something more than once.

The problem, brett, is for you to debunk what I have written - complete with links - and prove I’m a liar, you have to have something to prove it. As usual, you are long on opinion and short on facts.

If you ever come up with some facts, I’ll be here, brett. Plus, a jury consists of more than one person, you idiot.

Communications guru said...

The really good one, Dargo, is that Michele was showing her arms. Say it isn’t so.

ka_Dargo_Hussein said...

Which one was it?

Thunder? Or Lightning?

ka_Dargo_Hussein said...

When LGF calls it deranged, you know it's bad.

Didja know...the digital cable converters are brainwash units!!!

Burn the books...WOO HOO!!!

We can only hope these folks haven't permanently polluted our gene pool.

Not Anonymous said...

Apparently, you missed the facts, so let me give them to again.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated last month that President Barack Obama's budget proposals would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, a figure $2.3 trillion higher than estimates made in February in the administration's first budget proposal.
The CBO review projected Obama's budget would generate deficits averaging almost $1 trillion annually over the decade ending in 2019.


So the Tea Parties are organized by hate groups and partisan Republican groups according to you? Another lie by you. While they may be organizing some of them, here's some that have been organized by local women in February and others in the upcoming Tea Parties on Wednesday:

In Orlando on March 21 the 4,000 strong tea party was organized by two friends, Lisa Feroli and Shelly Ferguson.

Such is the rallying cry building across the country as taxpayers take a stand against what they see as reckless spending in Washington -- all part of a peculiar and rather sudden movement called "tea parties."
Some small, some large, locals converge at the parties to voice their frustration over the federal government's economic policies. The protests have sprouted up from coast-to-coast and city-to-city since late February.

The biggest one so far is scheduled for April 15, tax day, when hundreds of cities will play host to a coordinated, nationwide tea-party protest.

"People are getting killed -- they're getting hammered with taxes and it's not the way this country is supposed to be run. ... We want to fight back," said Kristina Mancini, who's helping organize the April 15 rally in Fishkill, N.Y.
"Sitting back and being quiet never helps."

The grassroots phenomenon, while largely ignored in the mainstream press, has caught fire on the Internet, where platforms like Facebook and Twitter have served as launching pads for demonstrations.

Yet another of your lies that this is misnamed because the orginal was about taxation without representation, this one is similar in that it's about excessive taxes and excessive spending:

Though nobody -- so far -- is dressing up like a Mohawk Indian and throwing barrels of Darjeeling into Boston Harbor, organizers draw their inspiration from the original Boston Tea Party of 1773.
Whereas colonists back then were revolting against, among other things, unfair tax policies, the impetus now lies in federal spending and intervention that many fear will lead to a crushing tax burden.

"It's not exactly taxation without representation. It's more taxation with inadequate representation," said Michael DePrimo, with the American Family Association, which is helping promote the events. "People are really getting riled up ... people want to get involved, they want to help and they want to attend. I'm not so sure this'll be a one-time thing."
The historical parallels may seem sparse. America is no longer a colony. It is not ruled by a king.
But just as the 18th century decrees of the King of England drew outrage from American colonists, several acts of modern U.S. government intervention have stirred similar upheaval.
The Stamp Act? Now it's the Wall Street bailout.
The Tea Act? Now it's the $787 billion stimulus package.
The Quartering Act? Now it's the pork-filled omnibus spending bill.
The Boston Massacre? That would have to be the proposed $3.55 trillion 2010 budget, seen by tea partiers as a fiscal massacre.
The Sons of Liberty of today is led by people like Rick Santelli, the CNBC reporter widely credited with helping spark the tea-party fever nationwide (though tea parties were being held before Santelli plugged them).
During an infamous on-air rant on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in February, Santelli called for modern-day tea parties to protest the economic trends in government.
He stirred up traders by shouting that the government was promoting "bad behavior" with its mortgage rescue plan. "This is America," he said. "How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage that has an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills?"
Though he was mocked by the White House, Santelli might as well have yelled, "Give me liberty or give me death!"
Jenny Beth Martin, a Republican activist who's helping organize one of the higher-profile tea parties in Atlanta, said Santelli's rant led shortly afterward to a conference call of 22 activists, including herself.
From there, she said, organizers put together 48 tea parties -- from St. Louis to San Antonio to Chicago -- on Feb. 27.
There have been scattered tea parties since then, but the next nationally coordinated event is on tax day.
She said 360 events are on the books for April 15, with "dozens more" scheduled every day -- she anticipates more than 2,000 participants in Atlanta.
In the Boston spirit, Martin said they might even toss some tea bags, "maybe into a barrel."
The movement, while nonpartisan, has largely involved conservatives -- who are testing out a role long reserved for the other side of the political spectrum.
"Conservatives aren't known for their protest abilities, and protests in business suits and umbrellas, it was kind of a funny sight," Martin said, recalling the rainy-day event in Atlanta on Feb 27.
But the protesters have forged their own cheeky, anti-spending brand. In videos of the rallies on the Pajamas TV Web site, one protester sported an arm band that said "POOP -- Prisoners of Obama's Policies." Another held a poster that read "Let Them Eat Pork!"
The tea party movement has generated a host of unique Web sites dedicated to promoting upcoming protests and covering those that have already happened. The Pajamas TV site is even recruiting "citizen reporters" to cover the April 15 protests.
"This is about the people. This is about what we have to say," said Nancy Armstrong, who's organizing the tea party in Wichita, Kan. Armstrong, who attended one of the parties in northern Kansas in late February, said she's expecting at least 1,000 people at the local post office in Wichita on April 15.
Margaret Hyland, who's helping organize the rally in Astoria, Ore., said the parties are just gatherings for "regular people."
"We just feel that the government is not listening to the people," she said, adding that the stimulus package was a big factor in her decision to get involved.
"I do not understand how we can throw money at this problem and solve it," Hyland said. "If I was doing my personal budget and discovered I was deeply in debt, I don't think I would go out and borrow a lot of money to throw at it."

As you always do, you twist words, take meanings literally rather than even try to understand correlations.

These women haven't been part of the groups as you said. I have found zero information as of yet on hate groups organizing these events.

You may consider the Republicans as a hate group, but they are not considered that by anyone other than socialist Democrats. I will concede that you socialist Democrats consider Republicans as a hate group because I consider the liberals, Socialist Democrats or another way of putting it they are a Hate America group.

You may now continue to spread your lies, myths, and ignorant mischaracterizations of what's happening on the 15th of April around the country. It's easy to see that these are scaring you. This is two commentaries in a row that you've talked about the Tea Parties. I actually give you credit because the liberal media gave very little coverage to the tea parties that went on in February and March and I expect that they'll only cover the 15th because the numbers will be so high. If the turnout wasn't there on the 15th, then the liberal media would be reporting on it non stop for days. But the crowds will be there nationwide.

By the way, another of your lies is that they are getting elected people to speak at these tea parties. You may be right on the local level, but there are only two, one from the US House and one from the US Senate that have announced that they'd attend and speak. Two, out of 535.

Take your prozac the morning of the 15th and you'll not have your panic attacks that day.

Communications guru said...

I didn’t miss any facts, brett. I never denied the President is going to increase the record deficit Bush left us.

Like I said and provided links to: fringe hate groups are helping organize tea parties. I’ll ask the question you ignored again: do you consider Stormfront and the Michigan Militia hate groups?

The partisan political events set for Wednesday are being organized by two Washington, D.C.-based rightwing lobbyist groups.

Once again, brett, the Boston Tea Party was staged to protest taxation without representation. That is simply not the case, and the American voters spoke loud and clear at the ballot box on who they want representing them.

The last thing the Republican political rally is a grassroots effort.

Do you have anything original, brett? You posted the same bullshit before.

I know you are not the sharpest tool in the shed, brett, but you can’t be that stupid. I gave you links to the hate groups helping organize these events. Here they are again.
http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=581332
http://www.michiganmilitia.com/SMVM/field_reports/2007/apr007/militia_field_day_2009.htm
http://www.star-telegram.com/elections/story/1305537.html

Now, do you consider those hate groups?

Like I said in my last response to your last rant, “I don’t consider the Republicans a hate group, and I have never said that. It is a bankrupt party void of ideas.” And once again, brett, there is no such thing as a “socialist Democrat” in this country, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point.

What I am writing is the truth, and at the worst it is my opinion that you cannot dispute with any facts.

The misnamed “tea parties” will be well intended. After all, almost 60 million people voted for Republicans in November, but the good news is almost 70 million voted for President Obama. By your skewed logic, just because I write about the misnamed “tea party” twice I’m scared of it? That’s ridiculous. If I find more lies about it before Wednesday I’ll write more about it.

Once again, brett, the media is conservative, and the media’s job is not to promote these Republics rallies, even though they have. That’s the job of Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity. With that being said, you are lying, and there have been lots of stuff about the “tea parties” in the conservative media. I have seen reports in the states’ three largest newspapers. Here’s a couple:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090227/NEWS06/90227075/
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090331/POLITICS02/903310417/1361/Joe+the+Plumber+to+speak+at+Michigan+Taxpayer+Tea+Party

No one can be as stupid as you, brett. You are making a fool out of yourself.
I gave you the links to the elected Republican officials speaking at some of the events. Once again, of those 14 current and former elected Republicans lawmakers speaking at the partisan GOP campaign events on April 15, which ones are you disputing? I will give you the links directly for the ones you are disputing because you apparently are not smart enough to click something more than once.
Here is the link to get there. Let me explain this carefully for you. That link will take you to the Motor City Liberal blog. Once there, there will be individual links for each Republican elected official attending. You will havce click the individual link after each one. Do you follow so far, brett?

Here again is the initial link:
http://motorcityliberal.blogspot.com/2009/04/republican-members-of-congress-embrace.html

Like I said before, I don’t take drugs, and I will be working on Wednesday. I will try to get there during my lunch hour to hear the ridiculous stuff Sam the digital converter box promoter has to say. Other than that, it will be just like the boring music and meander affair I went to in February.

ka_Dargo_Hussein said...

Nonny-mouse, do you have your $500 ready for Glenn Beck's dinner/cry fest/wankathon?

Mad Hatter, SMVM said...

The SMVM, Which runs MichiganMilitia.com and organized the Militia tea party is NOT a hate group. For you to make such claims without even talking to us is a monumental error a first year journalism student might make. Or, Do you always let others make up your opinions for you?

I cordially invite you to attend our next meeting. You won't see any hate. Just hard working people who want to keep this the nation it's been since the days of Washington.

Or, You're always invited to contact me through MichiganMiltia.com and ask anything you need to know.

It doesn't take a political scientist to see that if we continue to spend money at this level, and expect to keep taxing the "Rich" to cover it, Then every year the "Rich" will have less and less, and more of us are going to have to pick up the slack to keep paying on all these government "Promises"

That's what we're protesting.

Michael W. Lackomar
Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, Livingston County, MI
www.michiganmilitia.com

Communications guru said...

Sorry, I disagree. I was a reporter in Lenawee County in the mid-1990s where the militia was very active and saw firsthand all the anti-government, conspiracy bullshit that inspired someone like Tim McVeigh. The same Michigan Militia that former Fowlerville Police Gary Krause encountered in September 1994.Police pulled over three young men in camouflage who said they were members of the "unauthorized militia" of Michigan. The car held three assault rifles, four pistols, 700 rounds of ammunition, night -vision goggles and a gas mask. Officers also found notes suggesting the trio had been keeping police under surveillance. Charged with weapons violations, the three skipped bail and disappeared. But 50 other militiamen showed up in court and, according to Chief Gary Krause, warned that "the next time you try to take our guns away, we'll shoot you."

Once a hate group, always a hate group, and I hear some of the same rhetoric I heard then now.

This “protest” was simply a pro-Republican, anti-Obama rally organized by Washington, D.C. lobbying firms that are playing both sides of the fence. It’s a protest against Democracy. Who choose the people who represent us at the ballot, box, Mr. Lackomar, not a minority of people carrying derogatory signs at a rally.

It’s sad to see we have such a group in the county I live in, but considering Livingston County’s history, I’m not surprised.

It doesn't take a political scientist to see that we need to spend money to stimulate the economy and lift the country out of the near depression Bush plunged the country into.

MilitiaCast said...

Once a hate group, Always a hate group? I suppose following that logic, The Democrats are still racist. Senator Byrd's a former clans member, Democrats filibustered the civil rights act of 1964, a republican president ended slavery... But all this is off topic.

We (The SMVM) are not a hate group. Never have been. We may prefer to live our lives without government interference, We may want to pay as little tax as possible, We can protest when the taxes we DO pay get used to bail out businesses and states from the messes they got themselves into.

We offer first aid training, marsmanship courses, search and rescue skills, and emergency preparedness information all free of charge. We've never disrupted anybody's meeting, We don't stand on street corners handing out fliers, we don't go door to door. We do our own thing and people come to up. People like Morgan Spurlock when he did a show on the pros and cons of gun rights. Al Gore's Current TV network even contacted us to participate in a documentary they are working on. Lansing's NPR affiliate has done three reports with us in the last year. Hour Magazine did a big article three years ago. Channel 7, 50, 2, all here in Detroit have been out to see us, All had good things to say. But your insistance on lumping us in with a few people who did stupid stuff over a decade ago really shows where prejudice makes it's home.

Yes, Prejudice. That's what it's called when you look down on a whole segment of society based on your own "Pre-judged" notions.

McVeigh was NEVER involved with our group. Even the FBI acknowledged that, or have you forgotten? And, As for the slur on my entire county...

if you'd rather choose to dismiss me than discuss the issues, I really wouldn't be surprised. However, Before you throw labels on me based on where I live, Try getting out and meeting us. As a child of an italian factory worker who grew up in detroit and hold no animosity for any of my fellow citizens, You might find we hold more in common than you know.

M.W. Lackomar

Communications guru said...

That is correct, Mr. Lackomar, the Michigan Militia is still an anti-government hate group. Yes, the Dixicrats were a racist party, but they all converted to the Republican Party, like Strom Thurmond. Robert Byrd joined the Klan when he was just 24, and he admitted he made a huge mistake and renounced it.

My personal experience with the “SMVM” is that they are an anti-government hate group; nothing has changed, and I’m hearing the same rhetoric I heard back in 1995. Frankly, I’m surprised they were still around. This link makes my position on your group clearer:
http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2009/04/after-more-than-decade-long-silence.html

I notice you have a new screen name.

Anonymous said...

how do i get connection to the web site so i may participate in the next up coming tea party in my home state of mich