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DC Tax Day Tea Party 3: The Ugly

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by Tommy Christopher | 9:35 am, April 17th, 2010

» 6 comments

While a steady stream of global warming denying, socialism-invoking, Barack Hussein Obama-referencing speakers and country singers graced the stage at Freedomworks’ Tea Party event, the real drama was at the perimeter of the event. A relatively small contingent of about 30 counter-protesters showed up to demand gratitude for their tax cuts on behalf of Barack Obama.

The leader of the protest, Alex Lawson, was also at last year’s Tax Day Tea Party, as was I, and so was the Tea Party “Tyranny Response Team” member who showed up to confront him. The result is an entertaining clip that has a little bit of something for everyone.

I preferred not to edit this video, partially out of fairness, and partially because there’s an arc to it that you don’t often see with political confrontations. While some of the counter-protesters seem intent on goading the Tea Party crowd, Alex keeps his composure, and keeps things from getting out of hand.

There are a few points of interest here. Watch for the part where the angry guy (along with his buddy) gay-baits the protesters, then turns indignant 2 seconds later when he’s called on it.

The most interesting thing, though, is the way the guy gets all calm and reasonable at the end. I saw a lot of heated conversations around that perimeter, but also a surprising amount of common ground. Of course, you don’t see a lot of video of good behavior, because good behavior is bo-ring, but thanks to savvy organizing by Freedomworks, there was plenty to go around.

Alex Lawson, FreedomWorks, Tax Day Tea Party, Tea Party, Tommy Christopher

http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

I really, really hope that progressives continue to hang their hat on the miniscule tax (temporary) tax cuts that were in the stimulus bill. They have already been wiped out by the tax increases in the Obamacare bill, as well other tax increases that were in the SCHIP bill (a very regressive tobacco tax). In addition, the Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of this year (and it remains to be seen whether the Democrats will extend ANY of them (including the rate cuts for the lower and middle income tax brackets)). And, of course, the administration is already talking about a VAT.

So, please, liberals, please, continue to claim that Obama is a tax-cuter. That will only make it more obvious to people in 2012 that they were lied to about taxes.
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

Tommy, your coverage of the tax day protests has been exceptionally good and exceptionally fair.
tjl

Poor Alex. It’s like trying to talk to a bunch of redneck children. Sigh. How does an educated man argue with a bunch of violent idiots?? What a wonderful world we live in!

Haha. This was one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Between the rednecks claiming that they can “get crazy” (really?) and then the guy at the end trying to define socialism from the dictionary… Haha. Amazing video Tommy. And I agree with Finch, you did a fantastic job covering the event.
dmcindc

The guy that people are slurring as a “Redneck” is known as Mark the Patriot. He and Alex had a run in at the last Tax Day Tea Party protest. Mark was the guy in the gray hoodie. Yeah, they both push things a bit, but nothing seems to ever get out of hand. I also believe Mark was being sarcastic at the end of your video as well.

Here’s my video and some other related links – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSRJ7njTygs
pyrope

Anonymous, et al,

At the end of 2010, when the Bush tax cuts expire and unemployment continues to rise, when the new federal tax on gasoline hits at the pumps, when the price of commodities (that’s groceries folks) goes up due to increased transportation costs, and when Mr. -0bama’s promise to not raise taxes on the middle class is shattered, all those who voted for “hope and change” will find themselves hoping the -0bama regime doesn’t scarf up what little change is left in their pockets.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alfred-J-Lemire/100000045361210 Alfred J. Lemire

Two days later, I watched the video. The Obamite got the worse of the arguments, especially with the woman running a small business, who claimed her taxes have shot up by 25% in the past year and her company’s medical insurance arrangement is illegal under DemCare. (Probably it had a high deductible and did not include DemCare’s myriad mandated coverages, e.g., Viagra for sex offenders.)

The miniscule “tax cut” the Obamite pushed that supposedly affects “95% of working Americans” will run this year, likely to influence the elections more than the consumer spending Dems fix on to spur jobs. Our out-of-touch President arrogantly and smugly pointed to the few weekly dollars in that tax cut bribe. But the Tea Party people he insulted are well aware that DemCare’s increases in coverages and the cost of other added government programs factors will have to be financed through tax increases thast will not fall exclusively on the “rich,” or further government borrowing.

If he wanted to quiet the growing opposition to the misrule of his régime, Mr. Obama would do well to shut up and do what the Tea Party ask him to do and continue to do what this country needs, not what he wants, until these long four years end on January 20, 2013.