Tea Party Protest in DC - Can You Hear Them Now?

Can You Hear Them Now?

1.5 to 2 Million Tea Party Protesters March to the steps of Congress.

Go to DC for a Tea Party! Tea Parties? Isn’t that what older ladies in Red Hats do and what dads enjoy with their daughters that brings smiles from their wives? Or in this case the kind of Tea Party that pre-empted the Revolutionary War and America’s fight for Freedom against the King of England? I had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of abolitionists as they marched to Freedom Square on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

The drive into DC from North Virginia was uneventful until I reach Constitution Avenue and the Washington Monument. Protesters wearing red, white and blue shirts, hats or costumes were holding signs reminiscent of political rallies during the elections. Protester’s were every where and walking fast to get to Freedom Square. After a bit of searching I found a place to park. The cross street where the protesters seemed to be gathering was more than a mile. Under normal conditions no problem, but I had 60 pounds in gear to carry. I whispered to myself “buck it up and get it moving” as I closed the trunk to my rental and shifted my pack to make it more comfortable.

Arriving at the corner of 14th and Constitution Avenue my legs were burning and my calves were cramping from the weight of the pack, but what I saw when I turned the corner toward Pennsylvania Avenue was amazing. My first perspective from a block away, that I could see, hundreds of protesters congregating. Turning the corner at Pennsylvania Avenue uncovered thousands. Finding a perch above the crowd revealed tens of thousands to what became a huge event of hundreds of thousands of people marching toward Congress. My adrenaline kicked in and energy surged through me as the throng kept me occupied for four straight hours and miles of pounding the pavement before realizing I was exhausted, thirsty and hungry.

Early reports by the DC Fire Chief estimated the crowd at 60,000 - 75,000 but videos reveal the estimate stated by the Chief and what was reported by Bill O’Reilly - as wrong. Time lapse cameras from around the White House and along Pennsylvania Avenue shoot activity on the street. The cameras revealed the three hour, street wide stream of protesters over the eight block walk. Spacial photographic assessments of “1.5 to 2 million” protesters was confirmed by Glen Beck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjvc6baor8

http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-roads-to-buses-people-on-footestimate-1-2-millionl-abc-cant-count912-party-on-patriots/

From all over the Continental US protesters proudly stated where they were from and what they were protesting about. It seemed all were in good spirits. The angry mob perspective that was promoted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was present at the rally. However, the anger was from liberal groups of opposition and exhibited by shouted slurs at the marchers concerning health care reform. The Tea Party laughed and chanted “stop the spending” in direct response. Many of the positive protesters want reform concerning health care. What most are in protest to is the government taking over health care. They see this as a form of social modification through control of the market place i.e. socialism. Many protesters want the ability to use across state lines purchasing for the best possible and cost efficient policies available. Many feel being able to have this purchasing power will result in competition and lower costs in a free market.

Most states have monopolies created by few options. Texas is one state that allows across state line purchasing of policies which reduced rates up to 25 to 30% from national averages. This could help families reduce the cost of health insurance. Still some will not be able to afford any healthcare insurance. The question is how to help families reduce the cost and at the same time help those who cannot afford health care? The debate goes on. Many believe that if a consortium for individual policies is made available across the country with free market providers the volume created by the policy holders would reduce the cost of premiums and offer a program much like what the Federal program has created. The key word is a free market and not a government run public option. When the government competes in the free market and makes the rules this is seen by many as counter intuitive and rightly so. One has to ask the question, is the government led option even constitutional?

Although the marchers were largely white in numbers-- Democrats, Independents and Republicans from all walks of life, skin color and age groups marched side by side in peaceful protest. Chants of “Can You Hear Us Now?” resonated off the buildings walls from the White House to the steps of Congress as citizens practiced their first amendment rights. Signs depicting President Obama and Pelosi were everywhere. The various messages depicted health care reform, energy, Cap and Trade, the stimulus and bailouts. Coupled with all the messages, I found placards voicing their opinions and mistrust of the current administration. 2010 election signs were everywhere. No surprised to see Anti-ACORN rhetoric. As with any demonstration some had views that were a bit extreme while most of the protesters held signs of intelligent design and well thought out protest. http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html

The press was everywhere interviewing and photographing the crowd. Choppers flew overhead recording the enormity of the crowd. If any news outlet reports there were less than hundreds of thousands of people they are falsely reporting the news and trying to down play the event. One thing that caught me by surprise is the out right protest toward the press and the protesters distrust of liberal news outlets. Tired of the “Bias in the Media” the protesters were vigilant to show their disapproval of the media. Refreshingly, the protesters were shooting pictures of the press . A person revealed to me as a protester video taped me shooting the crowd. “We want proof the press were here to see this and to make sure they tell the truth about the event. One man shouted “CNN is reporting there are only about 600 people here - does this look like 600 people to you”? The fact is there were hundreds of thousands of peaceful intelligent protesters exercising their rights. Pew Research released a new report the press's reputation is at a two decade low: Should they be surprised?

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1341/press-accuracy-rating-hits-two-decade-low
The police were everywhere as you can imagine. As I approached Freedom Square the Capital Police had the road blocked to divert people away from entering the parking area and garden situated before the steps to Congress. If you got too close to the yellow tape, as I found out, they tell you move back very aggressively. One cop made this declaration as he put his hand on my shoulder to push me. I pulled my shoulder back and said “easy - easy” as I showed him my press pass. Then I asked this officer a simple open ended question: Help me understand why you have the road blocked? “Just keep moving” he responded. “Let’s try this again- help me understand why you have the road blocked? He replied "I told you to keep moving”.

I couldn’t understand why this Capitol Hill Cop’s attitude was one step away from tazing me. My question was simple and direct and I was only asking for a simple explanation. So heres a picture of the cop who couldn’t answer a simple question with the proper attitude. I took his picture from my hip to record the scowl on his face. I was hitting a nerve but couldn’t understand why? The protesters are not the enemy.

The people were a bit confused as to what they should do as they moved left and right from the blocked entry. I went left and ended up having to walk through a flower bed to get into the parking area and the square. Tens of thousands were already in the square. A two hour steady stream from a packed Pennsylvania Avenue were arriving; could the area hold all the people? The pool area was already surrounded and the lawns in front of Congress were packed. It took 30 minutes to navigate the crowd to get shots of the guards blocking access to the steps of Congress. The crowd cheered the speakers as they rallied and stated rhetorical questions to the President and Congress. To see more visit YouTube and search the 9-12 DC Tea Party.

The response from the White House is largely negative as pundits. The liberal press and David Axelrod spoke on the record stating although the rally was larger than anyone thought it would be “the protesters are wrong and do not represent the views of the broader public
the protesters are out of step with the main stream”. However current polls reveal the heart beat of the nation. And the facts show a different perspective.

The fact is the White House and the Democrat led Congress are out of step with the nation. As one one Black Democrat stated at the protest: “when I voted for Obama this is not the change I was looking for!” http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=9577646&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html

Rasmussen Daily tracking poll shows the President’s approval ratings are at a -4 % low. Only 50% of the nation are “somewhat favorable” of Obama's performance. While polls reveal congressional Democrats at 32% favorable, the GOP is now at 43% and rising. 2010 is expected to create a 30% or more shift toward conservatives which many Independent’s 70% believe will bring balance back to Capital Hill . How's the "change going for you?"
On Sep 18, 2009, at 9:30 AM, George Lamelza wrote: