Apr 21 2009
Lot’s of folks recall that CNN reporter who went all drama queen on the TV when covering the tea parties. A reader (EL Rider) who was there updates us on what happened:
I was in the crowd shown in the Roesgen CNN video at the Chicago Tea Party, I was photographing the event. The crowd was very respectful of her until it became clear what she was doing. The crowd started to become agitated when she interviewed the guy with a Obama as Hitler sign, many of us found his sign disgraceful and people let both the man and Roesgen know that. The crowd gave CNN a lot of room in that plaza to set up and I posted a photo of them setting up that shows a group of mothers with their children on one side and some creepy looking guys (including one in dark shades and a red hammer and sickle shirt) on the other. You may have noticed the guy who pushed the gentleman with the baby in the CNN video, he also pushed me and he had to circle around Roesgen and the cameraman to get at the interviewee, there was something wrong with that guy and he would not answer any questions.
What I am trying to say is that the people in that video may not be who they appear to be, I saw very few offensive signs yet CNN found the most offensive sign that I shot that day and put it on as representative of the protest. It was a hitpiece by CNN but I also believe that they were aided by some Cook County Democrats and/or many of the fringe leftist groups that operate in Chicago and regularly protest in that plaza.
I posted some of my photos on the Flying Debris blog.
Visiting the Flying Debris Blog I found a post with pictures and a post with videos of the event. What we have here is a classic case of the drama queens from far left and far right (left being the CNN reporter of course) highjacking a grass roots, centrist event. This is not the GOP or conservative movement. This is Americans concerned with the bankrupting of this country.
EL Rider’s experience boils down to the fact there were agitators at the protests. Hot heads who take things way too far. I actually consider the signs of Obama as a communist over the top (for now). As I mentioned to EL Rider in my comments, I have heard conservatives spew radical charges. There are people completely around the bend over Obama’s election (apparently the same ones who sat home to teach America a lesson). Getting into people’s faces does not attract support to the cause. Never has and never will.
I found the interview with the father with the child the most interesting. The father was trying to get his statement out, the CNN reporter was badgering (not reporting) and some other guy was causing a ruckus which even had the father telling him to take a hike.
Folks, the problem we have in this country is the fringes. The centrists who want reasoned approaches and who are willing to give a little ground to make some real progress are always the ones being attacked and demeaned. But it is the pragmatic center of America who keep their heads cool and decide which side wins. It is time to stop having to pick between the lesser of two evils. Centrists simply need to start participating and booting the fringes – from BOTH parties. But the reality is, only one needs to be cleared of the fringe, because that is the one which will win the upcoming elections and dictate a new direction, away from the fringes and their wild mood swings.
AJ, suppose the fringe in this case, the man with a Nazi sign, was a set up by a group to bring disrepute on the whole tea party movement?
Kathie,
It is possible, but not likely. The far right considers Obama the second coming of Hitler. They call him a fascist all the time (ever listen to Hannity, Crowley, Levin or Savage?).
Sadly, even if a caricature, it would be an accurate one.
“Sadly, even if a caricature, it would be an accurate one.”
That was Dan Rather’s and Mary Mapes defense for the fake documents they aired against Bush.
Seriously.
Partisanship is destroying this country from both sides. As example: Rush Limbaugh could come out and say something totally logical and someone who considers themselves liberal would most likely dismiss it out of hand because of who is saying it. The same could be said the other way. I say this after years of being a partisan Republican. I’m seeing the truth now. Look at the Founders. They fought hammer and tongs for what they wanted, but in the end they comprimised for the good of the whole. Guys like Hamilton didn’t want a Bill of Rights because they thought government would just trample any right not specified on the Bill. (Smart guy that Hamilton) But Founders like Jefferson wouldn’t budge on the Bill of Rights. People were actually calling for the impeachment of Pres. Washington due to the Jay Treaty, but Washington knew it was the right thing for the long run and wasn’t interested in playing politics. This is why I am urging the falling back on our Founding Principles spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. We play politics and our kids don’t learn. We play politics and we don’t have clean cheap energy. We play politics and are so in the hole on SS and Medicare it would make you pee your pants. Pres. Bush should go down as one of the best presidents in history due to the stances he took on issues like Social Security, immigration, taxes, education etc. But because of politics, his vision didn’t go through and people think he’s a dolt.
The first response of the left when they can not argue the message is to attack the messenger. If they have no rebuttal for the argument, their tactic is to attempt to shut you up. Notice what happened with Palin. First the major media printed as fact some allegations that were passed around in an email.
It is still on the Internet to this day reported as “truth”. People seem to find “truth” these days in whatever validates their position. Ann Kilkenny’s wrote a lot of stuff that was debunked but it doesn’t matter. The fact that it was untrue was not reported as widely as the original letter. People I work with STILL believe that the stuff in that email was true.
This is the game that is played by the Democrats. It is called “shut up”. If they don’t have anything to argue on the point, they attempt to change the subject to unrelated topics or shut you up in other way.
Third grade schoolyard debate technique.
Oops, that second link should go here.
I’ve linked to your post from Exposing Bias and Deception at CNN