Find Your Valentine
Slog
News & ArtsSaturday, September 12, 2009
Politics The National Black Family Reunion
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 2:52 PM
On the same day that Glen Beck's teabaggers are marching through Washington D.C. demanding that Barack Hussein Hitler Obama be impeached, the National Black Family Reunion Celebration is being held on the mall.
"The tea-baggers are now streaming past the Black Family Reunion Celebration," writes Slog tipper and commenter BrinkleyBoy. "There is a LOT of tension in the air. The fact that nearly ALL the tea-baggers are white hasn't been lost on the BFRC attendees—a group that is, I might mention, significantly more diverse than the tea-baggers.
"Many of the attendees of the Black Family Reunion Celebration have mentioned something you said in your earlier post, Dan. The teabaggers were silent about so many of the same issues that they're now harping on. I heard one BFRC attendee remark, 'That's how you know it's not about politics, it's about race.'"
2
America voted for Obama. They could have voted for McCain and they didn't. They voted for Obama. That's right fascist Teabaggers. Your America destroying ideology lost. Lost big. Deservedly. Bad losers, racists, idiots scream Hitler because they have nothing but a rotten ideology, a fascist ideology, a loser ideology. Fuck off losers.
3
@2: It's all smoke and mirrors, so give it some time to collapse. For example, Michelle Malkin claimed that ABC said 2 million people were at this march, but every crowd count says between 60 and 70 thousand. ABC is now on the warpath trying to get Malkin to tell the truth and demanding she show where they actually made that claim.
Which is funny, because Michelle Malkin and the truth aren't on good terms.
Which is funny, because Michelle Malkin and the truth aren't on good terms.
4
On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush's two terms. "While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country's condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton's two terms, often substantially."
5
Good Afternoon Dan & @4,
The Census Bureau data is suspect:
:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/po…
/2009849271_apuscensusacorn.html
They are cutting off their ties to ACORN, an organization Pres. Obama once worked for.
Also, I question any data regarding the Poverty Line as the definition of the Poverty Line is malleable.
Regarding the Black Family Reunion Celebration sponsored by the NCNW that celebrates the "enduring strengths and traditional values of the African-American family". I am not sure what is more surreal the Teabaggers (who, I believe are) or the NCNW who I just heard of for the 1st time today. The NCNW is "celebrating" what? The AA family is in absolute turmoil!
That community has 72% out-of-wedlock births & nearly 1/2 of all AA males don't graduate with their HS class. Unemployment is at roughly 22% for AA males. There are disproportional incarceration rates at all age levels and finally the greatest horror of all, violent crime. An AA male 16-22 (?) has a greater chance of being killed violently by another AA male than any other racial/ethnic group. This is the greatest tragedy occurring today in the USA. It predates Bush's Admin. by a few decades. Read the work of Daniel Patrick Moynihan et al.
This MUST be a top priority. No other American Pres. has the leverage to address it as explicitly as Pres. Obama has.
The Census Bureau data is suspect:
:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/po…
/2009849271_apuscensusacorn.html
They are cutting off their ties to ACORN, an organization Pres. Obama once worked for.
Also, I question any data regarding the Poverty Line as the definition of the Poverty Line is malleable.
Regarding the Black Family Reunion Celebration sponsored by the NCNW that celebrates the "enduring strengths and traditional values of the African-American family". I am not sure what is more surreal the Teabaggers (who, I believe are) or the NCNW who I just heard of for the 1st time today. The NCNW is "celebrating" what? The AA family is in absolute turmoil!
That community has 72% out-of-wedlock births & nearly 1/2 of all AA males don't graduate with their HS class. Unemployment is at roughly 22% for AA males. There are disproportional incarceration rates at all age levels and finally the greatest horror of all, violent crime. An AA male 16-22 (?) has a greater chance of being killed violently by another AA male than any other racial/ethnic group. This is the greatest tragedy occurring today in the USA. It predates Bush's Admin. by a few decades. Read the work of Daniel Patrick Moynihan et al.
This MUST be a top priority. No other American Pres. has the leverage to address it as explicitly as Pres. Obama has.
6
they've got 70,000 marching
and we've got none.
this is hardly another message victory for us, this weekend.
(Intensity counts; we don't got it. Seems like the cerebral cool approach isn't working.)
and we've got none.
this is hardly another message victory for us, this weekend.
(Intensity counts; we don't got it. Seems like the cerebral cool approach isn't working.)
7
@5 the article about ACORN you linked to is for the 2010 census count. That's a year that hasn't happened yet, silly!
also...The definition of the poverty line is "malleable?"
Do you disagree that average household income decreased, and the number of impoverished and uninsured Americans increased under Bush?
also...The definition of the poverty line is "malleable?"
Do you disagree that average household income decreased, and the number of impoverished and uninsured Americans increased under Bush?
13
@5 - Yes the poverty line is malleable, its between $5000-10,000 less than what most people would consider poverty.
14
@10: Even one person can be diverse, as long as they aren't white. Kidding! Kind of. But there could have been Dominicans, Somalis, Afr-Am, etc., at the reunion, while the weirdo demonstrators could have been all blended midwest whiteness. Then it would make a little bit of sense.
17
@6 I don't see you out there counter-protesting the teabaggers. No, here you are, being Slog's resident paper tiger on all things political as always. It's so funny to read your comments criticizing the left for not taking action, because it's pretty obvious that if you're spending time trolling this blog making said comments, you're not actually out there following your own advice.
18
The only death in the civil-culture war has been a pro-Lifer.
Murders so far:
Libs murdering Cons: 1
Cons murdering Libs: 0
But then, who's counting...
Murders so far:
Libs murdering Cons: 1
Cons murdering Libs: 0
But then, who's counting...
19
INADEQUATE AND INCOMPETENT government response to Katrina, Where were the teabaggers townhall disruptors? "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job"
WMDs!" , Where were these white blue collar american as apple pie heartland buffoons?
Warrantless wiretaps, Where were these people off marching showing their indignation in DC? I damn well know i saw none of them.
Budget deficit, Where were these nutbagger clowns hollering that the bush moron on the white house was throwing us into the financial mess that the current President has been trying and succeeding in getting us out since he took office in January?
The list goes on and on but none of that matters to these criminals cus that's not why they're running around with their little drawings and signs the real reason is obvious to everyone it seems but them or so they would like us to believe.
20
@10 - More diverse because not everyone at that celebration was black whereas the Tea Party folks were almost exclusively "monoracial."
21
"Many of the attendees of the Black Family Reunion Celebration have mentioned something you said in your earlier post, Dan. The teabaggers were silent about so many of the same issues that they're now harping on. I heard one BFRC attendee remark, 'That's how you know it's not about politics, it's about race.'"
That, of course, is why the Right gave Clinton such Hell for 8 years, because he was, you know, Americas first Black President...
That, of course, is why the Right gave Clinton such Hell for 8 years, because he was, you know, Americas first Black President...
22
@5 You seem not to know anything about traditions of family reunions among African Americans. Also of course many African American families include their white, asian, latino etc relatives, both blood relatives and the ones who married in. You are taking families of human beings and falsely equating them to a stereotyped monolith construct that is almost meaningless. And you shouldn't sneer about other people's family reunions.
In addition, your list of examples of the turmoil of the African American family is specious. Your logic is weak. Despite your relating your examples to the African American family, the relationship between actual people and their families to the construct of the African American "family in turmoil" is not that clear, and you have oversimplified it to a shameful degree. Think for a moment where family turmoil might originate. We have some nasty history to think about here, and some extreme injustice in the economy and in the law that is even worse than it was ten years ago. Also we have the idiotic war on drugs and other convenient set ups to blame on African Americans and their families. And we've got a nasty racist cultural heritage that just boils and stews, and spits out know-nothings like the right wing nuts who think Obama is a communist, a fascist, a socialist, a muslin, and a Nazi.
Your comment is mean spirited and narrow. Go to your room and think about it. Don't come back until you can argue better and be decent.
In addition, your list of examples of the turmoil of the African American family is specious. Your logic is weak. Despite your relating your examples to the African American family, the relationship between actual people and their families to the construct of the African American "family in turmoil" is not that clear, and you have oversimplified it to a shameful degree. Think for a moment where family turmoil might originate. We have some nasty history to think about here, and some extreme injustice in the economy and in the law that is even worse than it was ten years ago. Also we have the idiotic war on drugs and other convenient set ups to blame on African Americans and their families. And we've got a nasty racist cultural heritage that just boils and stews, and spits out know-nothings like the right wing nuts who think Obama is a communist, a fascist, a socialist, a muslin, and a Nazi.
Your comment is mean spirited and narrow. Go to your room and think about it. Don't come back until you can argue better and be decent.
23
@7 blng,
The Census Bureau cut the tether to ACORN because of suspected PAST flaws in their canvassing and behavior during voter registration drives. Census Bureau data is hotly contested. And yes, the definition of the "poverty line" should be changed to reflect 21st century economics and consumption. It has been around since 1965.
http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/885/Po…
Also, to answer your question yes, I agree but that data is hardly as relevant as the data that supports the AA family is in turmoil. Do you agree that the greatest tragedy is black on black violence? Consider this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29h…
Bush may responsible for the increase in impoverished and uninsured Americans (BTW, that is quite arguable) but he didn't kill young black males. These are our brethren and Obama MUST address this condition.
The Census Bureau cut the tether to ACORN because of suspected PAST flaws in their canvassing and behavior during voter registration drives. Census Bureau data is hotly contested. And yes, the definition of the "poverty line" should be changed to reflect 21st century economics and consumption. It has been around since 1965.
http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/885/Po…
Also, to answer your question yes, I agree but that data is hardly as relevant as the data that supports the AA family is in turmoil. Do you agree that the greatest tragedy is black on black violence? Consider this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29h…
Bush may responsible for the increase in impoverished and uninsured Americans (BTW, that is quite arguable) but he didn't kill young black males. These are our brethren and Obama MUST address this condition.
24
23
You naive Uncle Tom.
Bush DID kill young black males- tens of thousands of them!
He prowled the streets of America's meanest cities nightly personally killing gangbangers and dope dealers and innocent kids in the projects just for good measure.
It was terrible.
And Reagan personally infected 70,000 poor innocent homosexual men with AIDS back in the 80s. He was an insatiable buttfuckraping animal.
Don't have to be told again.
You naive Uncle Tom.
Bush DID kill young black males- tens of thousands of them!
He prowled the streets of America's meanest cities nightly personally killing gangbangers and dope dealers and innocent kids in the projects just for good measure.
It was terrible.
And Reagan personally infected 70,000 poor innocent homosexual men with AIDS back in the 80s. He was an insatiable buttfuckraping animal.
Don't have to be told again.
25
@22
I'm out of my room and I feel real good. I stand by everything I stated. My comments may be "mean spirited" or "narrow", I may have "weak" and "specious" arguments but data is data and you haven't controverted any of my arguments. The AA family is in turmoil. I've read the work of Bill Cosby, Jason Whitlock of the KC Star, Leonard Pitts, Deroy Murdock and William Rasperry (BTW, ALL black gentlemen across the political spectrum) among others for several years now. And, if they read what I wrote they would concur. The definition of the "black family" can include many (including non-blacks) but I want lives to be saved. Young black males are killing each other at a greatly disproportional rate MORE than ANY other group. See above. This is carnage.
I'm out of my room and I feel real good. I stand by everything I stated. My comments may be "mean spirited" or "narrow", I may have "weak" and "specious" arguments but data is data and you haven't controverted any of my arguments. The AA family is in turmoil. I've read the work of Bill Cosby, Jason Whitlock of the KC Star, Leonard Pitts, Deroy Murdock and William Rasperry (BTW, ALL black gentlemen across the political spectrum) among others for several years now. And, if they read what I wrote they would concur. The definition of the "black family" can include many (including non-blacks) but I want lives to be saved. Young black males are killing each other at a greatly disproportional rate MORE than ANY other group. See above. This is carnage.
27
Tally Ho @ 18... were you just dropped onto this planet yesterday? Or was that a joke? Because it was a piss-poor joke.
28
@25 You have selected narrowly focused data. You are staying on the surface of this issue, just as the "black gentlemen" you mention have done. Their data don't go much deeper than the surface either.
I am with you, the carnage is tragic and it is one of our nation's tragedies. But you can't point at the black family in "turmoil" and stop there - that is just pointing to a superficial stereotype. Stereotypes of course have some accuracy but they are narrow. They don't tell the whole story, so you cannot just accept them w/o looking deeper. The turmoil has multiple causes outside the family. And in order to prove that the black family in turmoil is the sole cause of the carnage, you would have to show why families in turmoil of other ethnicities don't kill each other, and explain why the ones that do kill do it even though they aren't black. You would have to explain what it is about "blackness" and "black familyness" that accounts for the violence. You would have to explain why there are black families in turmoil that don't participate in the carnage. You won't be able to do it. It's not a characteristic of blackness by itself.
Would stopping the Black Family Reunion Celebration do anything to stop the carnage? No. Does its existence have any effect? Maybe not for the most violent and poverty stricken and addicted. It might be something positive for others though. And calling it surreal won't touch the carnage either. And criticizing it for celebrating something that you believe should not be celebrated won't either. Saying that black family turmoil is at the root of violence is the first step in a racist train of thought that suggests that the "black" in black family is the problem. I'm sure this is not what you believe but it's what your comment suggests if followed to its logical outcome. Why do you think the National Council of Negro Women started this event in the first place? Is your solution to the tragedy of violence and carnage to stop doing anything positive because black is inevitably bad? I don't think that's what you want to say. I hope I'm right.
More...
I am with you, the carnage is tragic and it is one of our nation's tragedies. But you can't point at the black family in "turmoil" and stop there - that is just pointing to a superficial stereotype. Stereotypes of course have some accuracy but they are narrow. They don't tell the whole story, so you cannot just accept them w/o looking deeper. The turmoil has multiple causes outside the family. And in order to prove that the black family in turmoil is the sole cause of the carnage, you would have to show why families in turmoil of other ethnicities don't kill each other, and explain why the ones that do kill do it even though they aren't black. You would have to explain what it is about "blackness" and "black familyness" that accounts for the violence. You would have to explain why there are black families in turmoil that don't participate in the carnage. You won't be able to do it. It's not a characteristic of blackness by itself.
Would stopping the Black Family Reunion Celebration do anything to stop the carnage? No. Does its existence have any effect? Maybe not for the most violent and poverty stricken and addicted. It might be something positive for others though. And calling it surreal won't touch the carnage either. And criticizing it for celebrating something that you believe should not be celebrated won't either. Saying that black family turmoil is at the root of violence is the first step in a racist train of thought that suggests that the "black" in black family is the problem. I'm sure this is not what you believe but it's what your comment suggests if followed to its logical outcome. Why do you think the National Council of Negro Women started this event in the first place? Is your solution to the tragedy of violence and carnage to stop doing anything positive because black is inevitably bad? I don't think that's what you want to say. I hope I'm right.
29
@28
Thanks for keeping this discussion civil.
I categorically disagree with you. I believe this is a human problem, an American one and an especially graphic problem in the African-American community. It begins and ends there.
Fair enough, regarding the NCNW event. I was being sarcastic but only mildly so considering what I've read on SLOG. Hey, if the NCNW event aids in preventing youth on youth violence, I'm all for it.
But, one day Pres. Obama will leave office (hopefully by not being re-elected or finishing his second term). If the condition in the AA family doesn't improve or is worse, it will have been a wasted opportunity and arguably a wasted presidency. I do believe fatherlessness is arguably, the root of the problem (that obviously occurs in any community but it is particularly pervasive in the AA community). Then candidate Obama's most important speech during the 08' campaign was his "missing in action" speech on Fathers' Day no less.
Look, I really hope he addresses this problem front and center. Sure, he is the President of ALL of us. And, he like other presidents will have to reckon with sensibilities but, right now he has the most leverage in the AA community. For better or worse, the POTUS is a quasi-father figure.
Like you, I only want the carnage to end. Now.
Thanks for keeping this discussion civil.
I categorically disagree with you. I believe this is a human problem, an American one and an especially graphic problem in the African-American community. It begins and ends there.
Fair enough, regarding the NCNW event. I was being sarcastic but only mildly so considering what I've read on SLOG. Hey, if the NCNW event aids in preventing youth on youth violence, I'm all for it.
But, one day Pres. Obama will leave office (hopefully by not being re-elected or finishing his second term). If the condition in the AA family doesn't improve or is worse, it will have been a wasted opportunity and arguably a wasted presidency. I do believe fatherlessness is arguably, the root of the problem (that obviously occurs in any community but it is particularly pervasive in the AA community). Then candidate Obama's most important speech during the 08' campaign was his "missing in action" speech on Fathers' Day no less.
Look, I really hope he addresses this problem front and center. Sure, he is the President of ALL of us. And, he like other presidents will have to reckon with sensibilities but, right now he has the most leverage in the AA community. For better or worse, the POTUS is a quasi-father figure.
Like you, I only want the carnage to end. Now.
30
it's will never get better,some whites in america most have someone to hate. blacks or other races. if there were no minorities in america, then they would have to hate themselfs or other whites. "very sick people"
31
Whites are not oppressing blacks. Blacks are the ones oppressing blacks.
At least 94% of the roughly 8,000 blacks murdered in the USA every year are murdered by other blacks.
At least 94% of the roughly 8,000 blacks murdered in the USA every year are murdered by other blacks.
32
Thanks for categorizing it to "some", malcom. You're exactly right, as evidenced when the first white settlers came to the shores of this country centuries ago. They raved against who in their midst wasn't 'Christian' enough or followed the rules tightly enough. They're just as foreign to me as they are to you.
One of the first things I noticed when watching for a few minutes on C-SPAN and later on the cable networks - the sea of whiteness....and it's not lost on me - a blue gal in a red state.
One of the first things I noticed when watching for a few minutes on C-SPAN and later on the cable networks - the sea of whiteness....and it's not lost on me - a blue gal in a red state.
35
What? No calls for inclusion, equal rights or diversity at the exclusive family reunion? Funny how racial profiling is fine for some. What the heck choice did non-blacks have but to stream by? It's not like they were invited to the reunion. And Vince - get a grip. Some Americans voted for Obama - 60 million did not.
36
#33 and 34. Yes, good discussion. I've been lurking around, keeping my mouth shut and reading. I agree with both of you on some things and disagree with you on others.
Race issues are always a struggle for me, so when I find informed, articulate people who can discuss them without being volatile and accusatory, sometimes I join in, but most often I shut up and read/listen. More often than not, I walk away better informed.
So thank you.
Race issues are always a struggle for me, so when I find informed, articulate people who can discuss them without being volatile and accusatory, sometimes I join in, but most often I shut up and read/listen. More often than not, I walk away better informed.
So thank you.
37
Yep, there were a LOT of caucasians marching on Washington 9/12. Sorry, its a fact - the majority of Americans are white. There were plenty of blacks marching in that crowd, too. I've got video showing those patriotic blacks marching - too bad the major news organizations didn't cover the tea party. You'd have seen the huge cross-section of America that I saw in the crowd. Naturalized Americans, blacks, whites, young, old, people in wheelchairs (ok, not marching per se, but rolling).
Folks, these people aren't just disappointed Bush supporters. There were plenty of people with signs decrying what Bush and the Republicans did to this country. Signs likening both Bush and Obama to dictactors. Yes, we should have marched when Bush was dumping money into the war with Iraq. Yes, we should have marched when the Patriot Act was passed. Yes, we should have marched 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. We didn't then, but we'll march now before its too late.
All Americans, black, white, hispanics, asians, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, should distrust the Government. With virutally every new law that is passed, our freedoms are eroded. How many young black men are incarcerated by the same Government that you so blindly support now that Obama is in the White House? The tea party movement is about limiting the role and power of the Federal Government. Yes, its scary, each of us might have to stand on our own two feet. But with personal empowerment comes freedom, and freedom demands personal responsibility. Isn't that the message that black leaders have been shouting for years?
I'm sure some of the tea party marchers are racists, and I'm equally sure some of the attendees at the Black Family Reunion are racists. But you can't paint either group with such a broad brush.
BTW, I'm white and have a grand-daughter who is just as black as Obama.
More...
Folks, these people aren't just disappointed Bush supporters. There were plenty of people with signs decrying what Bush and the Republicans did to this country. Signs likening both Bush and Obama to dictactors. Yes, we should have marched when Bush was dumping money into the war with Iraq. Yes, we should have marched when the Patriot Act was passed. Yes, we should have marched 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. We didn't then, but we'll march now before its too late.
All Americans, black, white, hispanics, asians, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, should distrust the Government. With virutally every new law that is passed, our freedoms are eroded. How many young black men are incarcerated by the same Government that you so blindly support now that Obama is in the White House? The tea party movement is about limiting the role and power of the Federal Government. Yes, its scary, each of us might have to stand on our own two feet. But with personal empowerment comes freedom, and freedom demands personal responsibility. Isn't that the message that black leaders have been shouting for years?
I'm sure some of the tea party marchers are racists, and I'm equally sure some of the attendees at the Black Family Reunion are racists. But you can't paint either group with such a broad brush.
BTW, I'm white and have a grand-daughter who is just as black as Obama.
38
Loveschild, you are every bit as hateful as the teabaggers. The target of your vitriol is different, but your hate is the same.
39
Lark @ 29:
The best thing the President can do is make sure that all Americans prosper, not just the rich. Over the past eight years, only the rich prospered. Since African Americans are far less rich on average, they suffered disproportionately under GW Bush. He had virtually all the same tools to improve the lives of African Americans as President Obama. I completely agree that in this regard, his was a wasted presidency. I can't imagine why we should hold Obama to a higher standard.
If the condition in the AA family doesn't improve or is worse, it will have been a wasted opportunity and arguably a wasted presidency.
The best thing the President can do is make sure that all Americans prosper, not just the rich. Over the past eight years, only the rich prospered. Since African Americans are far less rich on average, they suffered disproportionately under GW Bush. He had virtually all the same tools to improve the lives of African Americans as President Obama. I completely agree that in this regard, his was a wasted presidency. I can't imagine why we should hold Obama to a higher standard.
40
This is not about race, though those who disagree with the protesters would love to frame it that way. Whatever happened to "dissent is the highest form of patriotism"?
Also, the constant use of the term "teabaggers" by the media is shameless.
Also, the constant use of the term "teabaggers" by the media is shameless.
41
@37: I'm guessing that the million or so imaginary people at the march were all very racially diverse. Unfortunately, the vast majority that were able to be caught on camera were lily white. Sucks, that...
42
@39 kk,
Sort of agree. But, I believe you missed my point. It's the greatly disproportionate violence that's affecting that community. That, and the decline of the cohesive family unit pre-date the Bush Admin. by a few decades. Look at the data under any administration since Johnson. If the condition doesn't improve then Obama's Presidency would be wasted. I'm not holding him to a different standard but some communities are. Or, at least their expectations are higher. Like you I want ALL Americans to prosper. But there must be a sense of urgency.
Sort of agree. But, I believe you missed my point. It's the greatly disproportionate violence that's affecting that community. That, and the decline of the cohesive family unit pre-date the Bush Admin. by a few decades. Look at the data under any administration since Johnson. If the condition doesn't improve then Obama's Presidency would be wasted. I'm not holding him to a different standard but some communities are. Or, at least their expectations are higher. Like you I want ALL Americans to prosper. But there must be a sense of urgency.
43
lets say it was a white family reunion ! wouldnt you all be crying that they were racist ! these protesters werent just white they were asian they were black hispanic ect . no body was excluded from either venue , you people need to wake up and quit your whinning and make something of yourself ! obama just as bad if not worse then bush ! they are and you are just trying to divide americans because thats what we all are not white americans not black or african americans just AMERICANS !!!!!!
44
So I'm guessing that Congress is a racist organization based on the number of white faces versus black faces there . . .
45
Here's some video I shot of the rally & the Black Family Reunion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETW11LWE…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETW11LWE…
46
Hm, looks like my link is messed up. If you want to see it, go to YouTube and search on
9-12 emjem1963
I think it's pretty funny because it debunks all the claims that there were hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people there.
9-12 emjem1963
I think it's pretty funny because it debunks all the claims that there were hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people there.
47
The 9-12 protest organizers did not have a permit for the Mall area, only for the area in front of the Capitol. This is why # 46 emjen's video shows so few in the Mall.
When the area in front of the Capitol filled up and people started spilling over into the Mall, the Park Police opened up Pennsylvania Avenue and Maryland Avenue. Thousands and thousands of people stretched out into both these streets, as well as several other side streets, for many, many blocks.
Many march participants reported that Park Police told them that by late morning the protesters had already filled up areas allocated for 1.5 million, and they had to open up areas to accommodate another 500,000. Many busloads of people were unable to get to the rally because of gridlocked traffic.
The rally gridlocked all of Washington. No one, not even the rally organizers, ever dreamed that many people would show up.
This is why within 5 days of the rally the House voted 345 to 75 in favor of defunding Acorn. They are not stupid. They know that for every person who showed up for this rally, many thousands more who support this effort were not able to attend. Acorn is a hot button issue for the protesters, and the vote was a signal to them that the House heard them.
The rally was the largest political protest in American history. You will not read this in the American press. The British press has what I believe to be the most accurate estimate at 2 million.
The tea party movement is not an anti Obama movement. It is an anti big government movement.
This movement did not start after Obama got elected. Its seeds were sown in September 2008 under the Bush administration, when he spoke in favor of, and all of Congress - except Ron Paul - voted in favor of the bailout legislation.
If McCain had been elected, we would all see the same thing happening. When the bailout legislation was passed under Bush, before the tea party movement had even been established, many people talked about a march on Washington.
Obama has the same Secretary of Defense that Bush had. Our current Treasury Secretary was Bush's handpicked replacement for the one who served under him, who was retiring. Many of the policies Obama supports were supported by McCain.
The Republican party spends us into oblivion and enacts legislation that encroaches on our liberties, and defends its actions by saying it is necessary for national defense.
The Democrat party spends us into oblivion and enacts legislation that encroaches on our liberties, and defends its actions by saying it is necessary for social justice.
There is really not that much difference between the two parties. They both do the same things, but for different reasons. They are just 2 sides of the same coin.
Those who support this system make money off all of us while we all waste time bickering over the distractions of race, class, and income.
As long as we focus on what divides us, and not on how they are picking our pockets - thru the Fed in a booming economy and thru war in a bust economy - they win.
The economy is in a bust, so they are currently creating the circumstances necessary to drag us into another war. When the American economy is in the tank they make no money. War cranks up the economy.
We will soon have a big-ass war with either the Taliban, Hugo Chavez, or Iran.
Coming to Israel's defense against Iran polls better than fighting against Chavez or the Taliban, so I predict a big war against Iran.
I predict a declaration of war by March 2010 at the latest, unless enough of America turns away from the distractions of race and class, and toward keeping our young people from dying in conflicts that the majority of the American people want no part of.
Unless this happens, unless a large numbers of us begin to stand up and say we do not want our young people dying to fight other people's wars, even Obama will not be able to keep us out of it.
More...
When the area in front of the Capitol filled up and people started spilling over into the Mall, the Park Police opened up Pennsylvania Avenue and Maryland Avenue. Thousands and thousands of people stretched out into both these streets, as well as several other side streets, for many, many blocks.
Many march participants reported that Park Police told them that by late morning the protesters had already filled up areas allocated for 1.5 million, and they had to open up areas to accommodate another 500,000. Many busloads of people were unable to get to the rally because of gridlocked traffic.
The rally gridlocked all of Washington. No one, not even the rally organizers, ever dreamed that many people would show up.
This is why within 5 days of the rally the House voted 345 to 75 in favor of defunding Acorn. They are not stupid. They know that for every person who showed up for this rally, many thousands more who support this effort were not able to attend. Acorn is a hot button issue for the protesters, and the vote was a signal to them that the House heard them.
The rally was the largest political protest in American history. You will not read this in the American press. The British press has what I believe to be the most accurate estimate at 2 million.
The tea party movement is not an anti Obama movement. It is an anti big government movement.
This movement did not start after Obama got elected. Its seeds were sown in September 2008 under the Bush administration, when he spoke in favor of, and all of Congress - except Ron Paul - voted in favor of the bailout legislation.
If McCain had been elected, we would all see the same thing happening. When the bailout legislation was passed under Bush, before the tea party movement had even been established, many people talked about a march on Washington.
Obama has the same Secretary of Defense that Bush had. Our current Treasury Secretary was Bush's handpicked replacement for the one who served under him, who was retiring. Many of the policies Obama supports were supported by McCain.
The Republican party spends us into oblivion and enacts legislation that encroaches on our liberties, and defends its actions by saying it is necessary for national defense.
The Democrat party spends us into oblivion and enacts legislation that encroaches on our liberties, and defends its actions by saying it is necessary for social justice.
There is really not that much difference between the two parties. They both do the same things, but for different reasons. They are just 2 sides of the same coin.
Those who support this system make money off all of us while we all waste time bickering over the distractions of race, class, and income.
As long as we focus on what divides us, and not on how they are picking our pockets - thru the Fed in a booming economy and thru war in a bust economy - they win.
The economy is in a bust, so they are currently creating the circumstances necessary to drag us into another war. When the American economy is in the tank they make no money. War cranks up the economy.
We will soon have a big-ass war with either the Taliban, Hugo Chavez, or Iran.
Coming to Israel's defense against Iran polls better than fighting against Chavez or the Taliban, so I predict a big war against Iran.
I predict a declaration of war by March 2010 at the latest, unless enough of America turns away from the distractions of race and class, and toward keeping our young people from dying in conflicts that the majority of the American people want no part of.
Unless this happens, unless a large numbers of us begin to stand up and say we do not want our young people dying to fight other people's wars, even Obama will not be able to keep us out of it.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
SL Letter of the Day: Daddy Loves Who? by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Pill The Homos! by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Life Sentence by Dan Savage
-
Crowdsourcing Uncut Police Video from the Dec. 12 Occupy Protest at the Port of Seattle by Eli Sanders
-
The AP Is Reporting That Whitney Houston Is Dead by Paul Constant
-
Slog Bible Study: Deuteronomy 21:10-14 by Goldy
-
Because Guns Make Us Safer by Goldy
-
The Onion Is on a Roll: "Iran Worried U.S. Might Be Building 8,500th Nuclear Weapon" by Charles Mudede
-
Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves by Dan Savage
-
Gregoire: "This is signed!" by Eli Sanders
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (47) RSS