Freedom Rider: In Praise of Tea Baggers
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by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret KimberleyThe Right shows far more eagerness for a fight than the hapless Left, or what remains of it. Barack Obama “smacks down” progressives like gnats, yet they continue to behave as if their mission in life is to save his presidency. Now, purported progressives vow to defend White House “health reform” proposals that bear no resemblance whatever to reform. “Only the wrongheaded and racist are taking action at this critical time.”
Freedom Rider: In Praise of Tea Baggers
by BAR editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley
“Progressive critics don’t get the time of day from the man they continue to protect and support.”
Who took to the streets of Washington in the thousands, marching and demanding political change? Was it Progressives for Obama, or perhaps it was members of Moveon. The correct answer is neither of the above. Nowadaysthe only Americans who can be counted on to take to the streets or shout down presidents in righteous indignation are right-wingers. Progressives are smacked down time and again, but like hostages in Stockholm or kidnapped school girls, they believe that their survival depends on loving the abuser.
South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was not well known until he shouted, “You lie!” at president Obama during his health care speech before a joint session of Congress. Democrats should be angry about this episode, but angry because none of them had the guts to call George W. Bush a liar on national television. Bush stole a presidential election, occupied Iraq under false pretenses and killed one million people, invaded Haiti and killed thousands, broke United States law to spy on American citizens, abandoned the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, and bankrupted the treasury without ever being called to account by his so-called opposition. Not only were Democrats too timid to call him a liar, but he achieved all of his dubious distinctions with their willing assistance.
“The only Americans who can be counted on to take to the streets or shout down presidents in righteous indignation are right-wingers.”
Now Barack Obama has presented a health care “reform” proposal that is essentially the same as that produced by Republican Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts. The plan, which requires the purchase of health insurance, is nothing but a giveaway to the industry that has created so much suffering and made this country the laughing stock of every truly advanced nation on earth.
The Obama proposal does nothing to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. The Bush era regulations which prevent the government from negotiating the cost of prescription drugs are still in place. Democrats did not make even a token effort to repeal those rules and the now notorious “donut hole” strips seniors of what little money they have if they choose to remain alive and healthy.
While zombie-like right-wingers attended congressional town halls in droves, and agitated in favor of the status quo, progressives sat back and haughtily looked down on the yahoos. It didn’t occur to the besotted Obama lovers to question whether any of their idol’s proposals could in fact be called reform at all. Those who knew the score and demanded a robust public option were shut out by the White House and congressional negotiators. Members of Congress who did dare to speak up were threatened with retribution by presidential chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and his enforcers.
“It didn’t occur to the besotted Obama lovers to question whether any of their idol’s proposals could in fact be called reform at all.”
Only the wrongheaded and racist are taking action at this critical time. Their animosity towards Obama is rooted in the shock and awe brought about by the very presence of a black president. It is also mixed with the anger brought about by the defeat of the Republican Party, accurately perceived as the champion of white America. Unable or unwilling to express the true source of their anger, the self-proclaimed “tea baggers” are left to call Obama a new Hitler, or a new Stalin, or a Kenyan smuggled into Hawaii as a newborn baby.
The bizarre behavior and inexplicable attachment of vulnerable people to interests who do them harm makes it easy to dismiss their actions. Yet they are now teaching the entire country a very valuable political lesson. In simple terms, it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
“Only the wrongheaded and racist are taking action at this critical time.”
The squeaky wheel gets press attention, creates confusion in the minds of otherwise discerning people, gives cover to waffling politicians, and in the case of an administration openly disdainful of popular action from the left, the wheel even gets grease from its sworn enemy. The administration will meet withanti-abortion activists in order to reassure them that abortion will not receive federal funding under any health insurance proposal. Progressive critics don’t get the time of day from the man they continue to protect and support. There is truly more value in opposing Obama than in supporting him.
It is unfortunate that no Democrats are willing to call Obama a liar. His assertion that a public option is not viable because it would mean “starting from scratch” is enough reason for Americans to rise up in anger. More than forty years ago Congress passed legislation establishing Medicare, which went into effect a mere six months later. Who are the true yokels, Wilson and company or Democrats who keep defending blatant lies?
So don’t sneer at the tea bagger, birther, deather, dead ender Republicans. They relentlessly make their demands known and in the end, they will get what they want.
Margaret Kimberley's Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgandaReport.Com.
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What is Taking Black Folks So Long to Hold a Tea Party Too!
http://miikimike.blogtownhall.com/
http://miikimike.blogtownhall.com/2009/11/13/constitutional_protections_for_terrorists,_known_enemies_of_the_us,_illegal_immigrants.thtml
Truly Law Abiding U.S. Citizens Constitutional Rights, Specifically U.S. Born Black Men, Women, and/or their siblings are violated Daily, While Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama Mandate Constitutional Protections for Known Foreign Terrorists and Illegal Immigrants!
Constitutional Protections afforded known terrorists and enemies of the United States and No Regard for Constitutional Protections of Law Abiding U.S. Citizens
Attorney General Eric Holder promotes Constitutional Protections to known terrorists and enemies of the United States, and/or illegal immigrants, meaning individuals who do not belong here, or who are not entitled to Constitutional Protections…..
“I stand here today as someone whose own life was made possible by these documents. My father came to these shores in search of the promise that they offered. My mother made me rise before dawn to learn their truths when I lived as a child in a foreign land. My own American journey was paved by generations of citizens who gave meaning to those simple words -- "to form a more perfect union." I've studied the Constitution as a student, I've taught it as a teacher, I've been bound by it as a lawyer and a legislator. I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief, and as a citizen, I know that we must never, ever, turn our back on its enduring principles for expedience sake.”
by President Barack Obama
**************************************************************************
Esther M. Lofton
(Address omitted for privacy concerns)
January 7, 2009
Mr. Barack Obama, President-elect
United States
Hay-Adams Hotel
800 Sixteenth (16th) Street
Washington, D.C. 20005
RE: Enforcement of the Fourteenth (14th) Amendment to
The United States Constitution
Dear Mr. Obama:
Every American citizen is obligated to respect and enforce the constitution and laws of this nation, some more than others. This obligation is greater with career, constitutional lawyers and buck-passing stops with the Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America.
Leon E. Lofton Jr. (01-16-18 to 07-16-03) an honorably discharged, disabled American combat infantry veteran of a foreign war (WWII) was discharged September 25, 1945 into a society as cruel as the one from which he was drafted November 14, 1942, a fact proven by the complete and exact copy of an enclosed court document titled JOINT PRETRIAL STATEMENT, NO. 895 188: Leon E. Lofton Jr. and Esther M. Lofton vs. School Board, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.
Even though the cited matter has been an already agreed upon matter since January 23, 1967, it still pends due to massive affinity fraud in every American institution from sea to shining sea.
Final judgment and order in case 895188 authored by the Plaintiffs pursuant to Amendment X, USC signed between November 22, 1975 and February 21, 1976 pursuant to ARTICLE VI, Section 19, CC. by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California, the Honorable Donald R. Wright who as Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles was the last judge of court of record. Final judgment and order (case 895 188) is in the custody of and/or under the control of John A. Clarke, Executive Officer/ Clerk of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Affinity fraud in every institution is further substantiated by a copy of the enclosed booklet authored and self -published in 2001 by plaintiff Esther M. Lofton titled Theft by Court and case #BC 385 899: Michael L. Lofton v. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa documenting the fact that the Plaintiff, a 30-year employee of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has been on NO SHIFT/NO PAY (NS/NP) since October 17, 2007 in the absence of cause.
Despite your sermon condemning black males in an apostolic church in Chicago, IL on Fathers’ Day 2008 Leon E. Lofton, Jr., his son Michael L. Lofton and Carl A. Steadman, Jr. are all black males, all descendants of slaves and all citizens of the United States of America.
The DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE adopted by the United States Congress July 4, 1776 provides that when institutions of the people fail to secure the inalienable rights becoming destructive to that end, it is the right, it is the duty of the people to alter or destroy that form and to institute new government laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Execution/enforcement of the judgment and order case # 895 188 by Constitutional lawyer Barack Obama or President of the United States Barack Obama satisfies the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and provides the means of the dictates of the Declaration of Independence.
Sincerely,
Esther M. Lofton, Plaintiff and Author
2 enclosures: court document and booklet titled Theft by Court
(Sent over-night, U.S. Postal Service)
Cc:
Mr. Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, City Hall
200 N. Main Street; Los Angeles, CA. 90012.
Theft by Court details how an innocent Black man, specifically Carl Steadman, is involved in a minor traffic accident, to where Carl Steadman is the victim, victimized by another driver cited for illegal backing, as documented by the actual traffic collision report 1998080109 and Vehicle Code 22106. The female perpetrator leaves the scene of the accident, to commit felony hit and run, both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, Culver City Court, and former Inglewood Municipal Court, are fully aware of Carl Steadman's innocence, yet blatant fraud on the part of government and the Los Angeles County Court system frees a felony hit and run driver, and illegally and unwarrantedly convicts, jails and fines, Carl Steadman, of battery, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, etc. (Inglewood Municipal Court Case #8IW7573).
………and President Barack Obama , and/or other elected leaders affiliated with the Democratic Party, have yet to use his, her, and/or their position of influence to protect the U.S. Constitutional rights of law abiding U.S. Veterans, specifically U.S. born Black men, women, their siblings, and/or others truly entitled to mandated Constitutional protections, truly violated by the atrocities of a government seriously gone awry.
Thanx
Hey nice post, good work.
Thank you for sharing.
Gregor S.
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9.29.09 Medicare for All march
All out who are NOT "wrongheaded and racist!"
9.29.09 Medicare for All march
Medicare For All (HR676, S.703), NOT Obamacare (HR3200)or Baucuscare!
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:16:39 -0400
From: Healthcare-NOW!
Subject: Medicare for All March and Rally - NYC
Supporters of single-payer national health care,
The Private Health Insurance Must Go! Coalition is building for a mass demonstration at Aetna Insurance in Manhattan on September 29. Please join us for this important action. If you would like to post flyers, you can download the pdf: http://www.healthcare-now.org/docs/sept29.pdf .
Please spread the word to friends, family, coworkers, members.
In common cause,
Healthcare-NOW!
www.healthcare-now.org
www.phimg.org
Health to all
We all should write to our elected officials and encourage them to pass a health care legslation that all Americans deserve. We are the most powerful country in the world and we should have the most comprehensive health care system in the world. Go Obama!!!
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ingemar has a point
Although my observation about MSM favoring the faux-populism of the "teabagger" demonstrations doesn't necessarily mean I think progressives should try to emulate them as a model. In fact, I wrote to remind Ms. Kimberley that progressives are not likely to benefit from the same treatment that teabaggers receive in the media.
However, she is right to complain that silence from the left, or reflexive defense of Obama's non-health care plan is wrong. I would be much happier to see him responding to pressure from the left, than from the right, which he is only too happy to oblige.
Ingemar points out it's a losing strategy to hope for fair media coverage (look at the blackout of single payer/medicare for all views), but I still wonder where (real) progressives can get their message through, because we'll have to if we are to move the terms of debate into more amenable territory.
As far as white liberal bloggers being the problem, with their simpering allegiance to Obamism; we have to remember there's no shortage of phony black pols, pundits and frauds doing the same thing, including the black congressional caucus.
So, what is a progressive space and forum in the absence of traditional media?
An insight or two from Johua Frank is worth a read
I'm still digesting the posters positions; I ventured to counterpunch.com and found this essay. His article at today's counterpunch is about Sen. Baucus, entitled "The Slick Swindler." Here's an excerpt that was reveavling, consider it for what it's worth:
http://counterpunch.org/
"I can't fathom that Baucus has sat down and spoken with the hundreds of poor single mothers in rural Montana who cannot afford to put their kids in daycare because they are forced to work at places like Wal-Mart where they earn little more than minimum wage. I am sure they'd love to tell him how grateful they are for their newfound careers and Clinton’s welfare reform that put them to work. Unlike many progressives who are preoccupied with the wars in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy, these Montanans have more pressing concerns. They are turned off by politics because they have trouble keeping food in the fridge and buying holiday gifts for their kids. For someone most of us it's a luxury to be politically active.
People continue to believe it’s only the Republicans who have undermined everything progressives have fought for. I once believed this to be the case. I hated conservatives for their outright disregard for the little guy. But my short voyage out east as a teenager turned into a life lesson, teaching me that political affiliation means little when talking about real life consequences of compromising ideals. I think this is a lesson we must all keep in mind as many look to the Democrats, naively hoping that they can save us from the strangle of Glenn Beck’s chock hold. Let's not allow fancy rhetoric or party loyalty derail our need for real change or our push for single-payer health care."
The Teabaggers Are NOT The Problem
We shouldn't be so naive as to think the media, owned by the corporations we are fighting, will treat left action as kindly as they treat the teabaggers and other right wing action. That is incorrect analysis and anything based of that assumption will fail. We suffer from a schizophrenia or cognitive dissonance of some kind.
On the one hand what remains of the left seems fully aware that the media is controlled by corporate financial power. That is how we end up here at BAR. But once here, I read people talk about having a presence in the media or some other similiar strategy. This doesn't make any sense. The corporate media either will not cover or will villify anything the left does because our interests are diametrically opposed to the corporate media's interests. So can we once and for all dispense with any theory of action that involves mainstream media coverage. That's a loser.
As far as the teabaggers go, they are assisted by the corporatocracy so we can't really compare what we need to do with what they do and how they do it. Anything the left pulls off will have to be by real organization, grassroots work. Not riding on the backs of round the clock CNN and Fox News coverage, which is in part the key to the continuance of this teabagger nonsense. It is a corporate controlled movement. Ours will not be and thus will have to be done differently. Of course we must be bold, but outside of that, there isn't much to learn from this teabagger business. We have a completely different ball of wax to deal with.
Right now much of what goes for the left are white bloggers. They have very different interests than the masses of documented and undocumented immigrants and the masses of Blacks and other people of color. This is not a minor problem. The so-called 'left' word on the street is established and controlled by the white blogosphere but they don't and can't actually do much besides type. Some on the left who, pointing to their different interests from the rest of the left may say this is a good thing, that they don't actually do anything. And I can see that. But there ability to control the conversation does something in the way of paralyzing other sections of the left and this is bad.
Take healthcare. The white blogosphere damaged single-payer (medicare for all) forces by insisting with a very loud voice that we stand with the president/resist the right wing townhallers attack on Obama, etc. This was echoed by the corporate media that is happy to cover the tepid, moderate proposals of the white blogosphere (the press effectively organizes the masses of people against left proposals). The real play should have been a full court press for medicare for all insurance coverage which wouldn't have been covered by the corporate press and would have required grassroots organizing which the white blogosphere is powerless to do because of the racial (which often is simultaneously class) schisms in this country.
The white blogosphere would never do this of course because it transfers perceived power from them to mostly nonwhite folks at the grassroots level. The white blogosphere would rather derail nonwhite left efforts to maintain its illusion of power than stop blocking things and allow true left progress to at least have a fighting chance.
That is the real problem here. The white blogosphere. It's not the white teabaggers that are our main problem. It's the white liberals.
nice aim, ingemar
That is the real problem here. The white blogosphere. It's not the white teabaggers that are our main problem. It's the white liberals.
I'd go a bit further and say it's generally, the "liberals" and "progressives". One of the leading voices of "liberal" America is Greek-Hispanic named Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, the "Kos" of "Daily Kos." Liberals and progressives around the Blogosphere salivate after the supposed "wisdom" of the Kos. He's not wise. He's a stooge, a tool of the Democratic Party, designed to take self-proclaimed "liberals" and "progressives" down a defeatist road. Research his shenanigans with MoveOn.org and the Howard Dean campaign -- Kos and Dr Dean took a whole lot of money from MoveOn and kept it for their own political gamesmanship and/or personal comforts.
But you're correct that most of the "left" is controlled by pasty-white voices who care more for the comforts of the middle and upper-middle classes than about achieving any sort of equality. The equality sought by the "left" in America is the equality of profiteering off the Government's dime.
Try asking most of the leading voices in the "left" Blogosphere for solidarity with Hugo Chavez, and see where that gets you. When I've tried it in the past I've been rebuked on the grounds that Chavez supposedly is a cruel dictator who lies to his supporters. When I ask for factual support of those claims I get attacks, personal attacks -- and no facts. My guess is that it's because Chavez is Black/Hispanic and is leading a nation full of mostly nonwhite people.
The treatment of New Orleans in the post-Katrina period shows how most white Americans feel about nonwhites. It is no surprise that on the political debate level, nonwhites are ignored, especially those who aren't of the "professional" class.
American Jews, Que Se Jodan los de neocon y los de NATION MAG!
http://thedisbrimstone-dailypitchfork.blogspot.com/2009/09/these-last-tw...
Tired of the rants on progressive sites
This is a call to action to progressives who are not happy with Obama. Stop your complaining and take it to the streets. I'm down for that. Would love to see BAR take the lead and mobolize, organize and rally the progressives. All these progressive websites on BAR's sidebar who oppose Obama and where are they? Stop you complaining and take it to the streets!!!
The tea baggers are also opposed to progressive and liberal ideals so its an attack on you! The tea baggers a WERE NOT marching against the special intrest in Washington. They hate you M. Kimberly!!!!
Here is the platform
1. Lets demand term limits
2. Lets demand that third party and independents get the same access as the Dems and GOP
3. Lets demand an end to " the corporate pack " in American politics
Is anybody down for the cause? If so hit me up at the http://theliberalvoice.typepad.com
That Was A Rant
You're frustrated. I get it. But organizing has to happen at the levels of people's needs. Not a (relatively) abstract political platform. Why would anyone who can't get work or pay the light bill come to a rally to 'demand term limits'. I don't particularly like being a buzzkill but what you're saying isn't realistic. We need to talk more on the level of people's needs and work from there.
The problem is that so many folks on the net (because of the racial digital divide) see the struggle happening at one level while the people who will actually engage in the struggle (read unemployed and working poor Blacks and Latinos) are operating at another level from the bloggers. The bloggers don't get it, they're disconnected from the everyday lives of the people who will act. Then they scratch there heads as to why nothing is happening along the lines of protest they suggest.
Cuz let's be real. If white folks were serious about this stuff, they'd have made their political reforms by now. Have you seen the numbers on DailyKos and Democratic Underground???? A lotta white bloggers and net folks are talking a big game, have the resources in time and money, but do nothing.
Everybody is talking a big game
Well look, you oraganize ur crew and I'll organize my crew and I'll meet you there. Does it matter? Not everybody is on the same level. But as long as u know that sooner or later we gott take it to the streets!!! People from all walks of life!!
D. Ellsberg has been making the point that each should do
what one can. He's been making the rounds, for the
documentary about him, "The Most Dangerous Man
in America" (releasing the Pentagon Papers). He feels
regret that he did not do it sooner. He suggests people
need to figure out what each can do and do it.
I appreciate all the variety of comments for action.
(Am older, woman, disabled - my marching days are
pretty much over, but there's ways...altho I did get to
part of the NYC march pre-Iraq invasion, Feb. 12, 2003
((or whatever that date was)), not to the main crowd,
wearing a sign/art, on a very long street stroll to where
the groups were lining up.)
Paid provocoteurs and nazi tactics
I generally agree with almost every post Ms. Kimberley has written, and I agree here with one exception.
It is not only because the "teabaggers" are conducting street demonstrations and persisting in their wrong-headed demonstrations against this corporate tool president that gets them press attention.
Time and again, they have been a minor presence at town halls, where they are outnumbered by health care advocates, but garner the lion's share of press coverage. I watched this personally at a Chicago town hall where Larouchies and teabaggers carrying obama/hitler posters got the TV coverage because they were deemed newsworthy, while a crowd five times their size was ignored. This is no accident.
It also bears remembering that when millions took to the streets of NYC to block entry to the Iraq war, at the republican and democratic conventions, when thousands turned thier backs to Bush II's inaugural motorcade, some bearing their naked asses in defiance, the press has either marginalized, trivialized, caricatured or made invisible their actions, despite massive popular agreement, and much larger numbers than seen with these phony teabaggers.
As far as the republicans 'accuratel" representing "white people"--these are just chumps being used as pawns with hoary old rascist cliches that animate their feeble brains knowing nothing, as you said, about thier real interests. Truly, Mr. Obama does represent equality for rich people of every color to oppress and exploit the rest of us. They're just too dumb to get it.
What we have here is a classic case of easily manipulated, politically and historically ignorant lumpen and retirees being corralled into these demonstrations at the behest of huge corporate and foundation funders and fawned on by the press as legitimate expression of public will.
It was bullcrap 70 years ago in Germany and it's bullcrap now.
INCREASE DEMAND
Why are some folks afraid of bigots gaining power? The worst that could happen is that this current system of winners and LOSERS will remain in tact. Politicians use electoral fear to keep the status quo going. Too many "progressives" are only thinking about their own situation which keeps them from making life better for *everybody*. The thesis of this article is correct: We should be taking notes. And not worrying about who loses an election is the first step in holding those in power accountable.
LL:which are the "real Americans"? continuing your not ans.
You never answered the question of "who are 'real
Americans" you cite, when I asked you on an earlier
comment for another article. How would they fit here?
tea baggers
Right on Margaret, glad to have you back, and strong as ever.
my sentiments exactly, if I may go to my blogsite at
http://www.africanpeoplesjournal.blogspot.com
Hamadi
"tea baggers"
"the self-proclaimed “tea baggers”
If you have any evidence that anyone ever self proclaimed that, I'd like to see it. Otherwise, it's factual status is quite dubious.
re:
Time and again, they have been a minor presence at town halls, where they are outnumbered by health care advocates, but garner the lion's share of press coverage. links of london I watched this personally at a Chicago town hall where Larouchies and teabaggers carrying obama/hitler posters got the TV coverage because they were deemed newsworthy, Ed Hardy while a crowd five times their size was ignored. This is no accident...
In all honesty, I
In all honesty, I wouldn’t give these ‘Tea Baggers’ the time of day, much less a compliment. They are nothing but a bunch of white red-necks mixed in with a bunch of house negroes. But I do agree that we need to get up off their asses and start doing something because these “Tea Baggers” are now starting to use tactics that Civil Rights leaders in the 60’s are using. And you are right, pretty soon they will be running the country because of their persistence. And despite the fact on how things are today, I’d be dammed to see “Tea Baggers” running this country. We went through 8 years of the Bush/Chaney administration. Having the “Tea Baggers” get there way is that times two. “Tea Baggers” are the new KKK light. Their motto, “We don’t lynch and kill niggers like the old KKK. We just call the cops to do it for us.”