A Tax Day Tea Party cheat sheet: How it all started

By Michelle Malkin  •  April 15, 2009 08:14 AM

It’s here!

For the Johnny-Come-Latelys in the MSM who will be dispatched by their editors to file obligatory stories about the hundreds of Tax Day Tea Party protests across the country today, here is a cheat sheet to get you up to speed.

Feb. 15: Keli Carender, who blogs as “Liberty Belle” spread the word about a grass-roots protest she was organizing in Seattle to raise her voice against the passage of the trillion-dollar stimulus/porkulus/Generational Theft Act of 2009. It’s the first time she had ever jumped into political organizing of any kind. She is not affiliated with any “corporate lobbyist” or think tank or national taxpayers’ organization. She’s a young conservative mom who blogs. Amazingly, she turned around the event in a few days all on her own by reaching out on the Internet, to her local talk station, and to anyone who would listen.

Feb. 16: An energetic crowd of about 100 people came downtown to lambaste the Chicken Little process and the lard-up of the stimulus bill:


(American Typo)

Here’s Keli with the yummy lunch. Yeah, big-money conspiracy! I pitched in a few hundred bucks to buy some pulled pork for the Seattle protesters:

Word of the Seattle protest spread across the blogosphere. Readers suggested there should be a Denver protest on Feb. 17 to greet President Obama for the porkulus signing. Separately, the local chapter of Americans for Prosperity was already working to put something together on the fly. I met the head of the state AFP for the first time on the steps of the Capitol. No conspiracy here, tinfoil hatters. It was a union of like minds in an impromptu show of outrage against the legislation-without-deliberation process in Washington. Also there: Jon Caldara of the libertarian Independence Institute on one end of the spectrum and Tom Tancredo on the strict immigration enforcement end (hundreds of the protesters were mad about the absence of E-Verify standards for the stimulus funding):


(Photo via People’s Press Collective)

More big-money conspiracy! I promised to bring a roasted pig. Paid for out of pocket. No corporate lobbyist pitched in. Tasted great and worth every penny:

Speaking of pigs, you can’t leave out the tax-and-spend revolt campaign against Chuck Schumer in response to his arrogant statement that only the “chattering classes” cared about the “teeny, tiny” pork amendments in the Generational Theft Act. Local radio host Leland Conway in Kentucky called on listeners to send Schumer pork rinds. A mountain of 1,500 bags poured into the station on Feb. 16 and was shipped to Schumer:

On Feb. 18, 500 fed-up taxpayers showed up in Mesa, AZ to oppose President Obama’s campaign for massive expansions of the government mortgage entitlement and to mock what SC Gov. Mark Sanford rightly called savior-based economics. No top-down organization. Just the effort of local talk radio station KFYI. No Beltway GOP involvement. Zero national media coverage. But reader Al Swanson shared his photos with us here:

On Feb. 19, reader Amanda Grosserode e-mailed that she was organizing a tax revolt protest in Overland Park, KS the following weekend. More than 400 people showed up in freezing weather to protest Rep. Dennis Moore’s vote for the bill. Glenn Reynolds did the reporting the MSM didn’t do.

Here’s Amanda:

On Feb. 19, CNBC’s Rick Santelli issued his now-famous “Tea Party” call — prompted, many people forget, by Obama’s mortgage entitlement expansion plans (proposals I’ve protested whether from Democrats or moron Republicans):

David Hogberg of Investor’s Business Daily was the first MSM reporter to cover the burgeoning tax revolt protests. Here’s an excerpt of what Hogberg wrote on Feb. 20:

To be sure, the protest sizes so far are a far cry from the left’s anti-globalization and anti-war demonstrations of the past decade. But they appear to have grass-roots origins. The organizer of the Kansas protest, Amanda Grosserode, calls herself a home-schooling mom who is “fed up” with the spending in Washington. She has been a member of Fair Tax Kansas City since last fall.

“My husband and I were feeling frustrated that the stimulus had passed with very little debate and no one had read it,” she told IBD. “I said, ‘We need to do something.’”

She began contacting family and friends, and eventually received attention via Fair Tax Kansas City and local talk radio.

…Liberal supporters of the stimulus don’t see the demonstrations having much impact.

“These protests are probably ideological rather than practical,” said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future.

He wishes.

On Feb. 21, the grass-roots Internet group, Top Conservatives on Twitter, founded by Michael Patrick Leahy and powered by Rob Neppell, announced “simultaneous local tea parties around the country, beginning in Chicago, and including Washington DC, Fayetteville NC, San Diego CA, Omaha Nebraska, and dozens of other locations” on Feb. 27. Patrik Jonsson of the Christian Science Monitor was one of the rare national MSM reporters who attended one of the tea parties (Atlanta) and provided a fair and balanced look at protesters mad at both parties:

To be sure, the federal spending package includes tax cuts for most Americans, and Obama has promised to eventually halve a US deficit the Democrats have largely blamed on the Bush administration.

But protesters like Kevin Tanner of South Dakota said deficit spending by both parties has unnerved Americans. “The Republicans have their own problems because we elected them and they didn’t do what we wanted,” says Mr. Tanner.

Many protesters expressed a sense that basic American freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are threatened by new Washington policies seen by many as more socialistic than capitalistic. The proposed taxpayer bailout of homeowners who may have inflated their earnings in order to secure mortgages is one example, says Jeff Crawford, a protester from Dacula, Ga.

“The first year after the Mayflower arrived, the colonists tried a communal method of storing and sharing food and it failed miserably,” says Mr. Crawford. “Why are things any different now?”
Eighteenth-century symbolism was rife at the Atlanta event as speakers drew comparisons with the Boston patriots who dumped the King’s tea in Boston Harbor to protest taxation without representation, an act that began the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.

Some kids at the Atlanta protest wore tri-cornered hats, and one held a sign that said, “When I grow up I want to be free.”

In Tampa, two dozen protesters held handwritten signs with slogans like “Keep Your Bailout; I’ll Keep My Freedom.” About 300 people showed up in 25-degree weather in Wichita, Kansas, and someone brought a pig.

In St. Louis, local media expected about 50 people to show up while actual turnout surged to over 1,000 people.

An Internet-based coalition spearheaded by TCOT, Smart Girl Politics, and the DontGoMovement formed to coordinate today’s Tax Day Tea Party. It is a totally unprecedented phenomenon that no Beltway GOP guru or elected leader can claim credit for. The grass-roots coalition has held open planning meetings on BlogTalkRadio every week and maintained the transparency that Washington abandoned during TARP/porkulus/budget process. They’ve spent weeks helping first-time political activists get connected, obtain permits, and learn the ropes.

Along the way, many different taxpayers’ groups, talk show hosts, individuals, and websites have stepped up to the plate to pitch in.

And along the way, detractors have fumbled and bumbled over how to discredit the Tea Party organizers — first blaming a cabal tied to CNBC, then jeering at the amateurishness of the participants before crying “astroturf,” then claiming the events were “financed by Fox News” or (fill-in-the-blank) conservative conspiracy, then smearing the protesters as crazed gun nuts (FNC’s Bob Beckel) and racists (FNC’s Geraldo Rivera).

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if MSM coverage refrained from parroting all the lazy, groundless, uninformed canards and reported the simple truth?

***

The good news is there’s no need to rely on the drive-by media. Live Tax Day Tea Party video coverage at the Bcast. You can upload your Tea Party statement on C-SPAN’s website here.

Instapundit will be all over the story. And, of course, stay tuned right here, where I’ll be blogging/reporting from Sacramento and on FNC/FBN with Neil Cavuto’s live broadcasts.

More here.

Keep sending your vids, pics, and reports. I’ll post as many of them as humanly possible.

Party on!

***

Great idea: Several readers e-mail that they are holding food drives at their Tea Parties. Reader SG writes:

TOP TEN ITEMS NEEDED:
Canned meats/fish/poultry
Canned/Packaged Meals
Peanut Butter
Cereal
Soups
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruits
100% Juices
Pasta and Pasta Sauces
Diapers

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~
Posted in: Tea Party

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments


  1. #1
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:22 am, Schweggie said:

    Awesome coverage Michelle! Raise bloody hell in Sacramento girl!!!

    San Antonio’s Tea Party Video

    Let’s Do This Thing!

  2. #2
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:23 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    I will be attending two. Sorry you can’t be here to serve some pork, but I guess there is too much pork as it is.

  3. #3
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:25 am, JusDreamin said:

    A shout out to everyone attending a tea party-Give ‘Em Hell!

    And to those folks not able to attend, You are still in the game, share whatever coverage there is with co-workers and friends, start the conversation, educate, communicate.

    PARTY LIKE ITS 2010!

  4. #4
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:37 am, Schweggie said:

    May the original Boston Tea Party protesters smile from above as we face down the current enemies of freedom and government oppression…

  5. #5
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:43 am, JusDreamin said:

    I will add one thing, a follow on to Michelles comments. I believe the single most important message for today is:
    Responsibility.
    To all of our elected officials-we don’t care what letter falls next to your name. We WILL look at your record. We will support responsive and responsible officials. But, vote yes on a bill you havent read? FAIL
    Turn a blind eye to government spending on things that DO NOTHING to stimulate the economy or help strengthen this nation? FAIL
    I’m an American (recently discovered I am a right-wing extremist-who knew?), and I approved this message.

  6. #6
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:44 am, DesertLover said:

    I will be at the Phoenix Tea Party …

    Be Loud … yet Peaceful
    Be Proud … yet Tolerant
    Be Firmly Resolved … yet Respectful

    In other words …
    Exercise your right to protest, your right to peaceful assembly and your right to free speech … and, no matter what happens, do not let any anti-tea party protesters goad you into anything they can use against us …

    Be a Real American … be a good example for our children to follow …

    NOW …
    In the immortal words of Todd Beamer … “Let’s Roll”

  7. #7
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:49 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Excellent post, Michelle!

  8. #8
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am, JConrad999 said:

    I am with all of you in spirit. Let your voices be heard, and speak loudly for those of us, who cannot be there.

    Thank you, Tea Party goers. You are in my prayers.

  9. #9
    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    the DontGoMovement

    I think today’s Tea Parties share a common thread with the “Texas Tea” Party that was held on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives last August (while Nancy Pelosi thought it was more important to go promote “Know Your Power” than it was to address “Drill Here! Drill Now!”)

  10. #10
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:00 am, englishqueen01 said:

    I can’t be with you today in body, but I’m with you in spirit.

    Keep fighting the good fight. Right and Truth always wins out in the end.

  11. #11
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:08 am, jangar said:

    For the Johnny-Come-Latelys in the MSM who will be dispatched by their editors to file obligatory stories about the hundreds of Tax Day Tea Party protests across the country today…

    …and taping ACORN party crashers who show up with their obligatory racist banners…

    Be a watchman on the wall folks – I smell a rat.

  12. #12
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:10 am, Misscheryl said:

    Lafortune Park here in Tulsa!! My two simple wishes to come out of this movement – TERM LIMITS and a FLAT TAX!

  13. #13
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:12 am, happyscrapper said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am, JConrad999 said:
    I am with all of you in spirit. Let your voices be heard, and speak loudly for those of us, who cannot be there.
    Thank you, Tea Party goers. You are in my prayers.

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:00 am, englishqueen01 said:
    I can’t be with you today in body, but I’m with you in spirit.

    Keep fighting the good fight. Right and Truth always wins out in the end.

    A great big DITTO from happyscrapper! Go get em!

  14. #14
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:13 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Be Loud … yet Peaceful
    Be Proud … yet Tolerant
    Be Firmly Resolved … yet Respectful

    mmmmmmmm-let me think about that DL. We will see if the “United Anarchist of Arizona” crash this one. They tried to disrupt Tom Tancredo’s appearnace last year; SOMEBODY on our side was not overly tolerant after having been called a name by one of the sissy boys.

    But we’ll give it a shot.

  15. #15
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:15 am, Jaded said:

    PARTY ON! The day has arrived for the TEA Party protests and I couldn’t be more excited about it….LETS ROLL fellow partiers! Let us not allow the oldstream media and the government of the US to ruin this day for us!

  16. #16
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Be inclusive

    Secretary Janet Napolitano
    Department of Homeland Security
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    Washington, DC 20528

  17. #17
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:21 am, DesertLover said:

    AzN …

    I remember that … just want everyone everywhere to do their best not to give in to the urge to “throttle” these idiots if they do show up with their obnoxious diatribes that are specifically intended to elicit physical and verbal responses that they can feed to HuffPo and Kos and the MSM and such as examples of the VRWC and now also in support of the BS DHS report put out by our former POS governor …

    I try to live by my late father’s very simple philosophy of life …

    “There are 2 ways to tell someone to go to Hell … one way all they do is get pissed … the other way they look forward to the trip … So … spend your life making them look forward to the trip!” …

    Most of these fools won’t even understand they have been put in their place until later … if at all …

  18. #18
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    they look forward to the trip

    ;)

  19. #19
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:38 am, torabora said:

    Thank you Michelle Malkin for all you do!

  20. #20
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am, moonsbreath said:

    I can’t attend the one in Atlanta this time, but will also be there in spirit.

    If DHS is reading Michelle’s blog, I blow you all a big kiss.

  21. #21
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:41 am, Flyoverman said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:
    Be inclusive

    Secretary Janet Napolitano

    Given her intellectual capacity, if I do write her, what color crayon would she prefer? That would encourage her to read it.

  22. #22
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:44 am, tiredofit08 said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:41 am, Flyoverman said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:
    Be inclusive

    Secretary Janet Napolitano

    Given her intellectual capacity, if I do write her, what color crayon would she prefer? That would encourage her to read it.

    she can read???

  23. #23
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:45 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Flyoverman said:

    Given her intellectual capacity, if I do write her, what color crayon would she prefer? That would encourage her to read it.

    Being a Liberal blue, Commie RED or Code Pink would do.

  24. #24
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:46 am, walterc said:

    Flyoverman said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:
    Be inclusive

    Secretary Janet Napolitano

    Given her intellectual capacity, if I do write her, what color crayon would she prefer? That would encourage her to read it.

    RED!!!

  25. #25
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:49 am, DesertLover said:

    regarding crayons for J-NO … any chance we can color her “gone” … :smile:

  26. #26
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:56 am, Flyoverman said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:44 am, tiredofit08 said:

    she can read???

    Ouch, good point. Well given the input above, perhaps if I draw an EXIT sign in RED or Code Pink, she might get the message and be gone….

    Worth a shot I guess.

  27. #27
    On April 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am, TruthToBeTold said:

    Given the intellectual capacity of people in the liberal party, I call them DUMOCRATS in the original meaning of the word DUMB as stupid, ignorant and in the case of that party unable to think with their rational mind. They FEEL everything and THINK nothing. Don’t confuse them with the facts, their minds are already made up and their emotions control them. Remember the words of Slick Willie, “I feel your pain”.

  28. #28
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:01 am, andreabeth said:

    The government will probably have pickpockets working the crowds so they can get their hands on even more of our money.

  29. #29
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:03 am, pueblo1032 said:

    GREAT SYNOPSIS MM!!! Will the LIBs in MSM read and digest??? NAAAAAAAH!!! Truth we don’t need no stinkin’ TRUTH… All I hear from MSM is this is a tax protest, and NO TAXES have been increased… It is not to protest TAX INCREASES… It is to protest what the HAND SHAKERS in DC are doing with OUR TAX MONEY… They still don’t get it… So MSM, keep your heads firmly PLANTED in your BUTTS, as life passes you by…

  30. #30
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am, chicagojedi said:

    I hope everyone has a fun and safe time at their respective tea parties. Good luck and lets change some hearts and minds. And if anyone is at the Chicago protest… I’ll see you there.

  31. #31
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:13 am, cabrerski said:

    DL and Neanderthal,

    I am trying to get to the Phoenix protest but am out of town and traveling later today. If I don’t get there, please give an extra shout on my behalf. Have a great demonstration, my brothers.

    God bless America!

  32. #32
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am, tiredofit08 said:

    Fox News reporting that the secret service pulled the permit for the TEA Party at the Treasury bldg…guess Alan Keyes and Mike Church have got to move somewhere else…

  33. #33
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am, happyscrapper said:

    I can’t emphasize enough the importance of NOT allowing ANY politicians to hi-jack a tea party! They did not put these tea parties together and they are not welcome to turn them into their personal campaigns. I hear there are a few trying to do that. Don’t let them…JUST SAY NO!

  34. #34
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:16 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    cabrerski – you got it :)

  35. #35
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:18 am, nuss said:

    This is fantastic. I hope American citizens organize similar nation-wide demonstrations down the pike when Obama and the traitors in the Senate and House try to ram amnesty down our throats. We need a catchy name for such demonstrations and a carefully chosen date.

  36. #36
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am, DesertLover said:

    cabrerski – No problem … got you covered …

  37. #37
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am, JusDreamin said:

    moonsbreath said:
    If DHS is reading Michelle’s blog, I blow you all a big kiss.
    LOL, “if” moonsbreath?

  38. #38
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am, DesertLover said:

    nuss …

    Name – To be determined …
    Date – July 4th

  39. #39
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:21 am, happyscrapper said:

    It is going to be incredibly hard to keep the tea parties “pure” and not let them turn into something else. But we need to try.Even those candidates who we heartily support should not be welcomed to the tea parties to campaign. The tea parties are not the time or place for campaigning, no matter how much we may endorse a candidate. They need to bring their politics to another forum.

  40. #40
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:25 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    It can’t be said enough that this is NOT a Republican movement. Nothing irks me more than to hear Hannity (“I’m a conservative first, Republican second but I love John McCain”) talking like it was his idea or that he is spearheading this. This is a non-partisan working American grassroots movement. Butt-out Hannity. You weren’t with us last year so stick to selling your t-shirts and coffee cups.

  41. #41
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:25 am, happyscrapper said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am, tiredofit08 said:
    Fox News reporting that the secret service pulled the permit for the TEA Party at the Treasury bldg…guess Alan Keyes and Mike Church have got to move somewhere else…

    Don’t we have a right to gather and protest? Free speech and all? Permit or no permit? I don’t get this. And I can’t imagine that all those moonbat protests had permits! I wish there was a way to find out.

  42. #42
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:29 am, chep said:

    I’m ready for the protests. There should be no shortage of liberal weenies up here in the Northwest. Bring it on. Right Wing Wacko here.

    BTW – if this isn’t an ideaological promotion from the right then where are all the liberals? Don’t show me a RINO either.

  43. #43
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:43 am, Mach1Duck said:

    Please exercise caution. It is neither the Democrats nor the Republicans which need to be watched. It is the progressives in both parties.

  44. #44
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:45 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Don’t show me a RINO either.

    Unless that wuss is on the way OUT.

    Right Wing Wacko SouthWest here.

  45. #45
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    Newspapers should sit up and take notice. Wouldn’t you want us to be be subscribers? Why are you always smearing us? Going back to being the fourth estate sounds like a good comeback strategy to me. Hello? Anyone home? Does this thing work? Hello?

  46. #46
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:57 am, Cathy B said:

    Thanks Michelle! I am sooooooo excited!

    This is only the beginning!

    woohooooooooooooooo!

    I’ll be in Phoenix, wearing my Smart Girl Politics t shirt and my big tea party sign w/ my camcorder and armed with pride!

  47. #47
    On April 15th, 2009 at 10:57 am, fgmorley said:

    I just hope that there are confrontations, especially from the DHS, and the lefties. That’s the only way it’s going to hit the headlines. And may the chips fall where they may

  48. #48
    On April 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am, DaveC said:

    You know..

    These tea parties are catching on like a prairie fire..

    :)

  49. #49
    On April 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am, Auggie Dog said:

    Michele, Looks like they didn’t bother to read your cheat notes at MSNBC.

    http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/15/1892475.aspx

    The comments from the left just make me want to puke.

  50. #50
    On April 15th, 2009 at 11:24 am, cabrerski said:

    One more thing to take to the protest…

    I have studied many protests that turned violent. Often, someone without a interest in the message or is opposed to the general intent will try to mix in with the crowd. At a predetermined time or signal, they will cover their faces and create their mischief, often requiring a response from the police. And as many are aware, the MSM will use that against the message and our people.

    So, if you see any people that have bandanas around their necks or hoodies or ski caps (that can be rolled down), take a few pictures prior to these guys using their disguise. It may stop or give pause to these idiots that want to hurt our cause.

  51. #51
    On April 15th, 2009 at 11:54 am, Juliethejarhead said:

    Since I’ve been declared a liberal by the “powers that be” on this forum …

  52. #52
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm, fred5676 said:

    Speaking of Tom Tancredo:

    Tom Tancredo on the strict immigration enforcement end (hundreds of the protesters were mad about the absence of E-Verify standards for the stimulus funding):

    and

    They tried to disrupt Tom Tancredo’s appearnace last year;

    Last night UNC students radicals broke a window and got maced by police during a Tancredo appearance last night.

    Was Janet paying attention to the violence on the right left???

  53. #53
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm, Laree said:

    Paul Begala and Neil Cavuto.

    Paul Begala spinning tax day tea partys like a whirling dervish. Neil Cavuto gets some good shots at Imus. Really if the Tea Partys are so insignificant why are the Democrats spending so much time trying to degrade American Protesters? I remember the Democrats stating during the Bush Administration, Dissent is Patriotic. What happened to that Democrat Talking Point?

    http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/04/imus-in-morning-moves-to-wabc-studio.html

  54. #54
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pm, katablog said:

    You can lay it all out for them Michelle but “reporters” such as the LA Times and the Kansas City Star are getting their “information” from rumors and gossip and the left wing fringe. Smear, smear, smear!

  55. #55
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:12 pm, Living in the PSRK said:

    I have been following the protests since the inception. From the Pulled Pork Protest in Seattle started by a Malkin Blog reader to the Pork Rinds for Schummer to the “We Surround Them”/912 Project on to the actual Tea Party idea at Michelle Malkin’s blog – it has been a heady, emotional ride.

    Has the MSM been able to get any of this history right? Feh! Not at all. The protests have been called Right-wing wackos, disgruntled-sore-losers, astro-turfers, and worse. One MSNBC writer can’t make up his minds if protesters are controlled by the RNC (“these parties have been co-opted by a major America political party”)or apart from the leaders (“One can sense a hesitance from the establishment wing of the GOP about getting too involved in this movement”). (It’s neither – the protests are non-partisan.)

    I posted the link to this blog at MSNBC. Michelle Malkin lays it all out in her inimitable best for us today. We’ll see if it actually gets out of moderation.

    May Hashem be with all the honorable protesters today in the United States.

    God Bless America.

  56. #56
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm, fgmorley said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 8:44 am, DesertLover said:
    … Exercise your right to protest, your right to peaceful assembly and your right to free speech … and, no matter what happens, do not let any anti-tea party protesters goad you into anything they can use against us …
    Be a Real American … be a good example for our children to follow …

    That’s a great idea, except this isn’t Civics 101 or American History for 1963 High School graduates.

    In case you haven’t recognized it yet, this is becoming a civil war.

    The time for being Mr. Nice Guy is long gone. The lefties know it and have known it for at least 15-20 years. If you want to play by the rules of engagement of the 20th century the you will most certainly end up on the short end of the stick.

    The TEA party movement is a great start, albeit somewhat toothless. I wouldn’t be bringing children to the subsequent rallies for their edification and education.

  57. #57
    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, KCK said:

    Seattle. Let’s give credit where due – I never would’ve thought that Moscow by the Sound would be the starting point for a great movement.

  58. #58
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, fgmorley said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, KCK said:
    Seattle. Let’s give credit where due – I never would’ve thought that Moscow by the Sound would be the starting point for a great movement.

    I couldn’t be more surprised either. I’m really glad that it isn’t quite as Red as we were led to believe. I have relatives there and they were never spouting the dhimmicrat line, so I had some hope. Except for their Washington-bred sons and daughters.

  59. #59
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, jbritely said:

    On Twitter:

    The light at the end of the economic tunnel has been turned off to reduce the carbon footprint.

  60. #60
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm, CrazyFool said:

    What did you expect from MSN-BS? Contrast this with their slobbering wall-to-wall coverage of Cindy Sheehan(sp)?

    The local news here in Seattle are (once again) completely ignoring the event. Except for one very small blerp on KIRO TV website which makes it sound like a small washington-state only event sponsored by EFF…..

  61. #61
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, CrazyFool said:

    Personally I think the media is waiting to see what sound-bites and hate-based videos the crashers can produce before they mention it.

  62. #62
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pm, California Red said:

    today will come to pass as all days do. What next? Where does this momementum go? How do we ensure that this is not all forgotten when it is next time to elect our representatives?

  63. #63
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm, T-Bone said:

    CNN this morning ran some videos of “Americans” stating that they are happy to pay taxes because……

    Then they put up a poll that showed that 60+ % of the people approve of what Obama is doing with taxes.

    Then they giggled about how Obama must really like that poll so he shouldn’t be worried about these “people” showing up to protest.

    I guess the CNN poll shows it’s only a few people that don’t like taxes. 60+% think they are great becasue taxes are used to pay for needed services.

    Typical MSM spin on their coverage. Obama is great and these tea parties are just fringe kooks. How can you argue with a poll that shows a big majority appprove of Obamas tax policies? Where is the poll that shows most dissaprove? Until we get that poll, nothing will change.

  64. #64
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pm, fgmorley said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, CrazyFool said:
    Personally I think the media is waiting to see what sound-bites and hate-based videos the crashers can produce before they mention it.

    Very good point. This is where it gets tricky and sticky, unless you have already spotted them and can neutralize their cams. Hard to do, but not impossible.

  65. #65
    On April 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm, Jimnospin said:

    Hey, Desert Lover and AZNeanderthal, what’s your 20?

    I’m in 85226.

    AZN,would you be attending the TP in Gilbert at noon, as you stated you’re attending more than one?

  66. #66
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, lgm said:

    From the posted photos, and the ones from Yahoo news, the tea parties are pathetically small. Maybe 50 in DC.

  67. #67
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:03 pm, fgmorley said:

    I’m not sure to whom Mr. Lincoln was referring, but I have a current-day candidate. Good luck at the
    TEA parties.

    He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.

    ~Abraham Lincoln

  68. #68
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, T-Bone said:

    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, lgm said:
    From the posted photos, and the ones from Yahoo news, the tea parties are pathetically small. Maybe 50 in DC.

    You wish. Yeah, only 50 people showed up at each one. It’s only 600 people in the country that want to lower taxes and cut spending. What a tool.

  69. #69
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:21 pm, iamsaved said:

    LGM:

    If you’re looking at MSM photos, sure it’s going to look like only 50 people in DC attended. These so called photo journalists can make a group of 20 rag-tag anti-war demonstrators look like 1000 or take a group of 1000 protesting a cause they don’t agree with and make that group look like 50.

    I attended a Teaparty in Fredericksburg, VA where it wasn’t even officially announced as a Teaparty site – blogs, emails and other informal venues is how the word got out; it was in the low 50s and a slight drizzle yet around 300 or more attended. Pretty good turn out I’d say.

    Also remember, Teaparty protestors aren’t your typical, liberal, cry-baby, complain about everything, whiners, the Dems are so used to supporting. These are law-abiding, tax paying, decent citizens so the protests are going to be subdued and peaceful. And guess what? I doubt they’ll leave a ton of garbage behind like the liberals do at their protests.

  70. #70
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:22 pm, DBNinKY said:

    The Tea Parties are like the Limbaugh Bake Sales of the early nineties – they started out small but as word spread, grew w/ each successive meeting.

  71. #71
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, love2rumba said:

    From the posted photos, and the ones from Yahoo news, the tea parties are pathetically small. Maybe 50 in DC.

    So were the “The Million Man/Mom marches”, LGM

  72. #72
    On April 15th, 2009 at 3:28 pm, bradley said:

    636 in attendance at the Brunswick/St. Simons Island, Georgia Tea Party today.

    Next one is on July 4th. It will be bigger.

  73. #73
    On April 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm, DBNinKY said:

    I don’t know, LGM…50 here… a 1,000 there…and pretty soon you’ve got an effective political movement on your hands.

  74. #74
    On April 15th, 2009 at 3:39 pm, jbritely said:

    In response to the tea parties today, the administration has proposed the Potomac Port Act, closing Washington DC to tax protesters. In further news, Parliament has just announced that they are reasserting authority over the United States as the original tea part was illegal.

  75. #75
    On April 15th, 2009 at 3:41 pm, bjc said:

    *Time for LGM to join P-BO and his Clown Cluster; Would be a perfect fit.
    *Tea Parties have to lead somewhere; Cannot allow the movement to be hijacked by the GOP, as they helped usher in the current problems; Keep it in the hands of the people and make it a Tea Party Nation.
    *Great post Michelle; Keep up the great work.

  76. #76
    On April 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pm, flmom said:

    lgm said:

    Sneer away, you Thomas Frank wannabe.

  77. #77
    On April 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pm, AntonK said:

    It’s weird, but according to Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs, these are “Ron Paul Tea Parties

    http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33370_The_Ron_Paul_Tea_Parties

    http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33372_Tea_Party_Reports_Open_Thread

  78. #78
    On April 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm, karenhasfreedom said:

    Michelle is on Cavuto now on Fox News.

  79. #79
    On April 15th, 2009 at 4:58 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Small numbers is an issue? There were less than 400 people at Concord Bridge.

    Things happen.

  80. #80
    On April 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, spaceycakes said:

    she can read???

    One would hope so; most lefties spend about 20 years in college–effectively educating themselves out of the work force.

  81. #81
    On April 15th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, CrazyFool said:

    Check out this CNN coverage

    Hat Tip Jawa Report.

    You can comment to the C)ommunist N)ews N)etwork Here.

  82. #82
    On April 16th, 2009 at 6:26 pm, Graham Dawson (archonix) said:

    @AntonK: Charles Johnson is obsessed with Ron Paul and presumes to be the voice of conservatism in America, when he is nothing of the sort. His obsession is driving him to repudiate every conservative movement that he can even remotely link to Paul, no matter the actual involvement.

    Ron Paul has claimed he was the source of it because he’s a self-publicising attention seeker. In other words, he’s a politician. That LGF is taking this at face value rather than treating it as an obvious attempt to hitch a wagon to the movement speaks volumes.

You must be logged in to post a comment.


CPAC vs. the Occupiers: Keep calm and carry silly string

February 9, 2012 10:15 AM by Michelle Malkin

109 Comments

Editor’s Note of the Day

January 18, 2012 02:36 PM by Michelle Malkin

82 Comments

Boston Tea Party: 238th anniversary

December 16, 2011 01:38 PM by Michelle Malkin

67 Comments

Occupy Wall Street Shuts Down Production of Law & Order Episode About Occupy Wall Street

December 9, 2011 03:20 PM by Doug Powers

67 Comments

“Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes…”

Video: On Beltway Newt, Cupcake Mitt, and Lame-Duck Barney

December 1, 2011 09:12 AM by Michelle Malkin

163 Comments


Categories: Tea Party

Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook