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Cartoon: Tea party

[Source: Chuck Asay]

Tea Party vs ACORN

Why is the Tea Party any better than, say, ACORN?

ACORN was supposed to "empower the disenfranchised." But it didn't. It is a corrupt organization that perpetuates the problems it's supposed to solve.

And that's how liberal programs and policies work.

The Tea Party movement, on the other hand, is a true grass-roots movement. It's attracting people because it's giving a group voice to those who feel their own voices aren't being heard.

Ethan Epstein at True/Slant has more (tip: Instapundit).

Liberal speak: "organized by the DNC" is "grass roots"

All the tea parties, all the protests at the town hall meetings, protests outside the offices of Congressmen ... What does the DNC call those? "Astroturf." You know, appears to be a "grass roots" movement, but isn't. Having covered a rally by one of these conservative groups (the Columbus Georgia Tea Party), I've seen the hand-made signs and other things done on a budget. The kind of things that are done when individuals, not large organizations, are doing the work. Still, the Democrats call this fake grass roots -- "astroturfing." However, when the Democratic Party organizes a rally, it's "grass roots." Last night, the DNC sent a news release out to several in the local media. The Albany (GA) Herald got one, and reported it, including getting a response from an opponent of the proposed health care bill. A bit closer to where I am, the DNC is planning a pro-health care protest at the Columbus office of Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA)

As Members of Congress get ready to head back to Washington, Organizing for America (OFA), a grassroots project of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) dedicated to supporting the President’s agenda for change, will hold a rally Tuesday, September 1, 11:30 a.m. in Columbus outside of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop’s office, 18 19th St., highlighting the strong support throughout Georgia for health insurance reform now and the importance of getting it done this year. Ga. Rep. Caroline Hugley will speak.

Yeah, you read that right. A "grass roots project of the DNC." And the tea parties are astroturf? In George Orwell's 1984, New Speak had "peace is war , love is hate, freedom is slavery..." In 2009, the Democrats declare that organized is grass roots, and individuals are astroturf. Seems Orwell was 25 years off.

Columbus Independence Day Tea Party

It's been a while since I reported serious news. That was a lifetime ago as a small-town radio reporter. But, I decided to sign up as a Citizen Reporter for PJTV. I mean, why not?

Anyway I decided to cover the Tea Party in Columbus today, and filed this report:



Transcript:

Columbus, Georgia’s third largest city, didn’t have the problems Atlanta had when it came to scheduling its Independence Day Tea Party. Although Atlanta’s was canceled, the Tea Party in Columbus went off as scheduled on July 4th.

The local event did not get a lot of publicity. Only one reporter from the local TV media, covering for the Fox and ABC affiliates, was seen covering the event.

Still, between 250 and 300 people, most from Columbus, but some from across the river in Alabama, braved the hot Georgia sun and temperatures in the 90s, and showed up in front of the Government Center from 4:00 to 6:00 PM to protest taxes and government spending, particularly focusing on health care, but also taking shots at cap and trade legislation.

Local pastor Dan Gates used his platform to call for continuance of the things that made this country great.

The spirit of Liberty that has burned in America for 233 years. In liberty's true meaning, we see no reason for change! ... Bless the strength of America's people unpon which a nation unparalleled has been built. In those Americans, who echo the cry of free men, duty, and honor and country, we see no reason for change.

Speaker Josh McKoon, a Columbus attorney who is running for the Georgia State Senate, issued a warning to the Congress that the people have had enough regulation and taxes.

If you continue to allow more regulations and more taxes, then, by God, the people of this country are going to rise up in the elections that are coming next year and take this country back!

The two-hour event concluded with a march around the Government Center.

The Columbus Tax Party is planning a protest on the 17th of July at the office of Democratic 2nd District Congressman Sanford Bishop, who represents Columbus and voted for the Cap and Trade legislation.

Afterwards, Columbus Tea Party organizer Sandy Toth said she became involved in a political cause for the first time, protesting the spending of former president George W. Bush’s administration.

Going back to where the bailouts started last fall, under Bush, I was protesting all the spending, you know, and nobody's listening. ... After we had the change of administration, I continued to protest. And what really got me upset was that they, when they rammed the stimulus bill through, there was a bunch of health care provisions nobody discussed, nobody knew about.

Toth said that, besides the larger events, her organization is planning many small events around the area, trying to raise awareness.

We're having mini-protests on street corners. Because for a rally like this, we have to get a police permit and everything, but if we just have a few of us on a street corner, we don't need a permit, so we're thinking about going out two days a week on a street corner with our signs. ... We're doing everything we can to try to spread the word to people to start learning the issues and fighting back.