Georgia Democratic Congressman Rep John Lewis is questioned by reporters about an incident involving Tea Party demonstrators as he leaves a speech by President Obama to House Democrats on Saturday. (AP)
Angry activists who had gathered outside the Capitol to protest health care reform Saturday yelled "nigger" at a few members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis from Georgia.
Protesters also spat on at least one black lawmaker, and the most high-profile openly gay lawmaker, Rep Barney Frank, was apparently called a "faggot." Rep Emanuel Cleaver said he was spat upon while walking toward the Capitol. Police arrested the assailant, but Cleaver decided not to press charges.
A statement from his office read: "This is not the first time the Congressman has been called the 'n' word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans."
Democratic leaders expressed shock at the behavior and said it was time for Republicans to publicly condemn the behavior and distance themselves from the protesters. "I heard people saying things today I've not heard since March 15th, 1960, when I was marching to try and get off the back of the bus," House Majority Whip James Clyburn said.
After following the "tea party" movement since its inception, one liberal blogger writes that she's "having a hard time tonight trying to believe almost uniformly white tea partiers are anything other than a racist, right-wing reaction to the election of an African American president who brings with him feminists and gays."
RNC chief Michael Steele and the organizer of theTea Party Express movement have condemned the behavior, calling it "isolated."
Comments
OMG NO DAY DINNIT. So what if they did, Brucie aka DarthCheney has called people, or allowed people to write the term "cracker" on his threads and on one thread about some all white basketball league Brucie states "in your face white boy." Just people expressing righteous anger at what is being done to their country, or do you think they could be some more George Soros "plants" sent to discredit The Tea Party? Hmmmm the commies have never used that tactic before have they? Perhaps the first one to coin the phrase "racist" was none other than ziocom Leon Trotsky who puked up this commie CONstrust in his rag "The History Of National Socialism" in 1933.
Sure.
We're magnanimous. A bit lofty. That is why no charges will be pressed.
Will they find out that the perp belonged to a union group?
Can't have that.
We have to make this a racial issue, not a Marxist power grab.
KGB active measures techniques included the use of agents of influence, forgeries, covert media placements, and controlled media to covertly introduce carefully crafted arguments, information, disinformation, and slogans into the discourse in government, media, religious, business, economic, and public arenas in targeted countries. These operations were characterized as "black" because the Soviet role was totally concealed.
When has a POTUS ever went against 55-70% of the people and not expected anger, frustration etc., that's of course assuming these people were really Tea Party members and not some George Soros or Andy Stern minions planted AGAIN.
Hey isn't John Lewis the one who threw Hillary under the bus to cast his vote for THE ONE? Hmmmm you don't think it had anything to do with Barry being Black/Half-Black do you? I mean wasn't this guy in the Clinton's corner for years?
The Law of Averages dictates that there will be some racists and homophobes in any group. And when they act out, they provide a perfect opportunity for those who prefer to paint with a really big brush.
Meanwhile, when the blatant similarities between the agenda of Barrack Obama and Joseph Stalin or Adolph Hitler are noted, those pointing them out are castigated as fear mongers and smear artists merely for drawing demonstrable, cautionary parallels.
This is exactly the kind of infuriating tactics that push normally reasonable people to acts of disrespect and even violence.
A warning comes down from Niccolo Machiavelli: "You must understand, therefore, that there are two ways of fighting: by law or by force. The first way is natural to men, and the second to beasts. But as the first way often proves inadequate one must have recourse to the second."
When reason is abandoned, only force is left. By ignoring the public will, the oligarchy invites acts such as these.
Phil Boehmke quotes from "Kipling knew Obama"
His feet are swift to tumult,
His hands are slow to toil,
His ears are deaf to reason,
His lips are loud in broil.
He knows no use for power
Except to show his might.
He gives no heed to judgment
Unless it prove him right.
[...]
His vows are lightly spoken,
His faith is hard to bind,
His trust is easy broken,
He fears his fellow kind.
The nearest mod will move him
To break the pledge he gave-
Oh, a Servant when he Reigneth
Is more than ever slave.
-------- "A Servant When He Reigneth"
@ American Thinker
This is no story. What's a matta is this guy that big of a wussy that he can't take a little name calling. Just like Brucie said about the New Black Panther Thugs intimidating white voters in Philly, Brucie said something like the white guy was a wussy or a whiner, well you get the picture.
You are a race baiter, Bruce. That is pure evil.
It is one thing to react as a lay observer to the days events.
It is another thing entirely to stir the pot of hatred.
Non Papa says: You are a race baiter, Bruce... It is another thing entirely to stir the pot of hatred.
In what way?
?? says: When has a POTUS ever went against 55-70% of the people and not expected anger, frustration etc.,
Many presidents have gone against the will of the majority and history proved them right. Others had the backing of the majority and were later turned out to be mistaken. 70% of Americans opposed mixed marriages when the Supreme Court ruled in Loving-v-Virginia in 1967. The court turned out to be right, the public, wrong. The same arguments against health care today were made against Medicare in 1965. Once people started benefiting from the program, their opposition dropped. Polls have shown that there's a difference between asking about the bill and what's actually in the bill. As many as two-thirds of Americans couldn't even explain the public option even though a good portion of them were against it, while still other polls show that the majority that opposes the health care plan actually favors the individual planks in it.
The Cameras were rolling at the rally - anyone have a video of the shouts and spits?
Anyone, anyone?
Where is the video of these allegations? Bring the supposed racists out in the open. Is there video?
Where is it? Show me the Video!
Kudos "Camera Rolling"
let's see the tape that Glenn ("let's eliminate cancerous progressives and Bruce Springsteen songs") Beck used to justify calling the POTUS a racist. ain't got one? not surprised.
even BillOReilly concedes that 10% of teabaggers are wackos and freaks. which is certainly lowballing, since he's a member of Team Faux.
I could not find a story by the Bruce claiming Obama is a radical due to his association with a self confessed domestic terrorists couple named Bernadine Dorhn and William Ayers.
I could not find a story where Bruce called on anyone close to them the denounce their killings either.
Hmmm....
Bruce's party is the party of Rev William Wright so that would mean Bruce is a radical Black Theology Marxist as well.
Bruce is the same party as Bawney Fwank so that must mean Bruce is .....
I also could not find a story where Bruce denounced his fellow party comrades when they spoke of Obama failing to sell watermelons or his negro dialect.
But what else would we expect?
But Bruce will say I was not connecting the Tea Bag party as all racists won't you?
And yes, Bruce was defending the NBBPSD thugs intimidating voters!
He was defending Major Hassan right to the end. I bet he defended Roman Polanski as well. Hows your relationship wil Charlie Manson out there in Granola land Bruce?
The cases you cite of a POTUS going against public opinion “...and history proved them right,” are bogus.
The first one is a SCOTUS ruling, having nothing to do with the POTUS. Since it was a sound Constitutional ruling, public opinion was irrelevant (that’s how a Constitutional Republic works – public opinion cannot overrule the Constitution without an Amendment).
The second case: “The same arguments against health care today were made against Medicare in 1965.” Funny thing is, LBJ’s Great Society, rammed through with a super majority in Congress, created an unsustainable Ponzi scheme that currently consumes half the federal budget and is doomed to collapse unless the Obamacrats can force through an even bigger power grab to bail it out.
Same subversion, second verse. Only next time there will be no economic stamina left to bail out this latest crime. But why should you or Barry care? By then you will both likely be dead and gone. Let someone else pay the price.
Unless Brucie provides a tape of the aforementioned spitting and racial slurs he will lose even more Credibility Points. Right now Brucie's Credit Score is -60.
This is so sad. And American is suppose to be a better country. We cant even get along or support each other's opinons without name calling or hatered. There is no need for racist signs to express your feelings about any topic you are protesting, very childish to me. Matter of fact kids dont even do that, this is just plain ignorant. Lord I pray for the hate in peoples heart, and for them not to judge people by their skin color. I ask that you forgive them for their actions and teach them love.
...to confirm all of this is objective, verifiable evidence that proves that all of this occured. One video that I looked at at YouTube does not show him being called the n word or anyone being spat upon. We need video evidence to prove this, otherwise it is mere speculation. Funny how this happened right before the vote.
Secondly, it is well-known that movements are often infiltrated with plants. It works both ways, so it would not surprise me if the person(s) doing what they did (if anything even happened) were plants. It is common. Both political parties use plants.
Third, if any people try to say that the whole tea party is nothing but racists, or mostly racist, then the whole Democratic Party (or most of the Democratic Party) is tainted by the actions of Rep. Massa. Just as it wouldn't be fair to broad-brush stroke the whole Democratic Party it isn't fair to do so with the Tea Party movement.
Finally, some can just as easily say that the blogger at Slate is a race-baiter
Oh yea, there was also at the Capital at the same time thousands of illegal aliens and their enablers protesting for amnesty.
Lets see a definitive video.
Yeah Becky we need to pray for the race baiters and racists like NAACP, La Raza, NBPP, SPLC, ADL, Black Caucas, Je$$e-Jeremiah-Al, Barry & Michelle, Bawney Fwank, Sotomayor, Calypso Louie, Noel Ignatiev, etc.
It is time for Bruce to cover what Dan Rather said - his watermelon comments. He must do this just as much as he is concerning the Tea Partiers.
If he does not, then he will show himself to be biased and will lose all credibility.
It is time says: It is time for Bruce to cover what Dan Rather said - his watermelon comments. He must do this just as much as he is concerning the Tea Partiers. If he does not, then he will show himself to be biased and will lose all credibility.
Dan Rather isn't news. No one cares what he says and nothing he says has any impact on anything. Covering and/or reading about what Dan Rather said is a cathartic affirmation process for some. They never liked Dan Rather or his politics and they want yet another reason to like him even less. But that's not a good enough reason to cover anything. Tea partiers, on the other hand, are news, and have far more influence on the political discourse than Dan Rather. It's that simple. I don't expect you to be satisfied with that explanation --which is fine-- but I don't suspect your opinion of me would have remained unchanged no matter what I'd written about Dan Rather. That's fine, too.
Stan Transue says: The cases you cite of a POTUS going against public opinion “...and history proved them right,” are bogus.
Harry Truman would disagree. I suspect, so would Abe Lincoln.
I looked for video. Couldn't find anything. News outlets are reporting it, not me. The only video I found so far: www.towleroad.com/2010/03/teabaggers-call-barney-frank-faggot-at-us-capitol.html
ABC bleeped out the offending word. I would not have.
It's SOP to deny that these things happen. Each side calls the other a liar or says the opposition planted people. One blogger offers a 50-sec video of members walking the corridor without incident to prove nothing happened. That's not proof of anything. This is Saul Alinsky territory, ironic for the right to use tactics of a man they condemn. The left has done the same thing and will do it again, too. In a heated environment, people do get out of hand though there's ample evidence going all the way back to the campaign that a racial undercurrent is at play. The video in the article offers that sort of evidence, but each side has its share of individuals who end up being unfortunate poster boys for a whole movement. That's life.
Bruce says: Stan Transue says: The cases you cite of a POTUS going against public opinion “...and history proved them right,” are bogus.
Harry Truman would disagree. I suspect, so would Abe Lincoln.
what does with this lame bait and switch line of bull have to do with anything we were debating? You used two specific instances. When I showed that those examples failed to make your point, you introduce two completely unrelated random, undefined references.
Let me give this techniques a shot: The 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS was the best American Classic muscle car because of Mint-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. So there!
Bruce says: News outlets are reporting it, not me.
I'm just parroting the line and spreading the talking points.
Tea-bagger : There's no prooff!....I don't see anything on teevee!
Sane person : Soooo...why would the Congressmen lie about it?
Tea-bagger : They want to make us looken like we are racisst!
Sane person : You are standing near a person who has a sign "Kill the Bill" that has Obama entering a casket near signs about bringing guns the next time you march.
Tea-bagger : Yeah so what?? (Spits tobacco on ground)
Sane Person : You have no minorities in your crowd.
Tea-baggers : What? I saw one back in the back there!
Sane Person : Your leaders are all white, your Congress reps are all white, your friends are all white, and you are white.
Tea-baggers : But I ain't racisst!!
Bruce,
You said that angry activists yelled ******. If you write this, then you need to back it up with objective, verifiable proof.
But you say that "news outlets are reporting this, not me." in the comments section. If so, then you NEED to write: "Other reporters are saying that Tea Partiers said such and such or yelled such and such, but there is as of yet no objective, verifiable proof that they yelled ******, so I won't say that they did" or something along those lines.
Instead, we have what you wrote at the beginning of this article: "Angry activists... yelled ****** at a few members of the Congressional Black Caucus..." EPIC fail on your part.
You also said in the comments section that it is "SOP to deny that things happen." But you must remember that the burden of proof is upon those who make the claim that the Tea Partiers yelled ****** since they are the ones making the accusation.
Bruce says: Dan Rather isn't news. No one cares what he says and nothing he says has any impact on anything.
Hehehe, your too funny. But this anonymous person who is not even on tape as of yet IS news and EVERYONE cares what he said?
Your on crack!
Steele speaks for the TEA party? No surprise the GOP needs supporters but there is no surprise that the TEA party is full of racists either. Talking to the ones in my area it doesn't take long for the conversation to degenerate. A lot of the open carry supporters are pro-tea but they haven't seen the local blacks, hispanics, and asians arm themselves in public yet either.
We'll see.
How convenient for you to say that no one cares about Dan Rather & that nothing he says has any impact. This is a self-serving, sweeping generalization (no one...nothing...no impact)coming from you that allows you to decide when you want to ignore certain people & what they say.
Then you deflect from the issue at hand - racism - or supposed acts of racism & say that what matters is level of impact, when YOUR article brings up "angry activists...yelled ****** at members of the Congressional Black Caucus."
Your article brings up the issue of racial/racist words being uttered & yet when it suits you, Dan Rather's racial/racist comments are of no use to you & you then deflect away from that by bringing up the non-sequitor: level of "impact."
Same ol same ol. When it suits those who have a certain bias, they will roll out the old stand by of "not news."
But you can prove that you aren't biased: write about how Rep. Lewis accused McCain of being a racist, yet had no proof.
Rep. Lewis did say that Tea Partiers yelled "******."
So, Bruce, since Lewis said that Tea Partiers yelled ****** and you write about how "Angry activists yelled ***** at members of the Congressional Black Caucus" despite not providing proof of this after writing that, and since Lewis accused McCain of being a racist you must then write an article about how Lewis is perhaps a race-baiter who could be lying through his teeth.
It's interesting that the people that identify themselves with the TEA party movement, if it can be called that, are all for freedom unless you are gay, left wing, or actually interested in being a free person. They seem to identify with the most right wing people we have as citizens. None of them says 'you are free to think what you want', they say 'you are free to think like we do'. Would one of them defend the right of the Black Panthers to arm themselves? Suppose a person simply wants to think like a socialist from Europe. Vitriol is the best word to describe their response.My favorite quote from a TEA party protest is the woman that said 'Don't let the government mess with my Medicare'. I like that kind of deeply considered thoughts on the reality of our country.
Again? says: Bruce says: News outlets are reporting it, not me.
I'm just parroting the line and spreading the talking points.
And what talking point is that?
I just watched the You Tube video from the Tea bag Party. Unbelievable! Is this what it has come to? The racist remarks, the monkey signs, the big lips,the picture of a black man with a noose around his neck, and confederate flag carrying people? Do theses folks represent the Republican Party? Or hate for all people of color? Dear God help us all!
Whatever... says: ...
Hey, whatever. Believe what you want. Both sides of these kinds of arguments are filled with people who think it's a big conspiracy and that someone's out to get them. No one's out to get you or the tea party. The tea party is like anything else: Genuinely concern people with their own share of nutbags who are being exploited by politicians for power and TV for ratings.
The problem in a debate like this is that if someone agrees with you, it's gospel; if they don't, they're lying. Maybe yes, maybe no. Why you can't admit that there are bad apples among those who agree with you is a problem you're going to have to deal with, not me. If you want to deal with it by calling me names, go ahead. I rather enjoy people responding the way you do but at the end of the day, it's your blood pressure, not mine. Look at you, typing angry posts one after the other. What's the matter with you anyway? Is this the only way you know how to disagree with people? Pathetic.
Wow this could be a job for Captain America.
"Is this for real!" for real? Wow talk about the brain bramaged indoctrinated robot.
@Bruce
I never said that anyone is out to get me or the Tea Party. Straw Man from you.
The issue at hand is how YOU wrote that "angry activists yelled ****** at members of the Congressional Black Caucus." Yet you provide no objective, verifiable proof to back up what you wrote. You wrote it, so you must back it up.
Yet you deflect once again from that central issue & say that I am typing angry posts & engaging in name calling.
Anyone can see that you try to deflect to me & use that deflectionary tactic to draw attention away from the fact that you wrote that "Angry activists yelled ****** at members of the Congressional Black Caucus..." & yet you have no proof to back it up.
Yes, what you wrote is pathetic because you wrote that & yet you can't back it up. So you write in the comments section that "News outlers are reporting it, not me." Lame on your part.
It is your fault that you failed to write what you should've: "I don't know if they yelled the word ****er."
Wow forcing an irrational bill down someone's throats and asking them to be rational, isn't that a bit much? I mean all of us can't be as detached and together like the non-partisan Brucie.
John Lewis being insulted by racism is akin to Andrew Dice Clay being appalled at dirty jokes.
Whatever says: Anyone can see... yet you have no proof to back it up.
I can't help that you don't want to believe the members who said it happened. Or that you don't believe the ABC video or GOP leaders who now have condemned the slurs (www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34763.html).
The video at the bottom clearly demonstrates there are tea partiers the movement should make a concerted and highly public effort to kick out. It would be in their own best interest to do so, but they haven't, which is why the entire movement has been hijacked by the bad behavior of a few. That dye was cast long ago and nothing can be done about it. The movement is tainted by them and by those who remained silent or who found it amusing that some would invoke images of Nazis and racism. You screwed up. You made your own bed and now you don't like that you're stuck sleeping in it. Funny how those who prattle on about accountability now won't suck up and be accountable.
Steve Rogers says: Wow this could be a job for Captain America.
Good one. Few people know that Steve Rogers was Captain America.
@Bruce
Certain CBC members and Democratic aides and so on have made accusations that racial slurs were directed against members of the CBC. No proof of that or that they were spat upon. Only accusations. Now the Barney Frank incident is something different.
You have no proof that racial slurs were directed against them. None. So far only been accusations have been made. I imagine that were these things to have occured, proof of the racial slurs would have surfaced by now.
What happened to your objectivity on this column? Accusations of racial slurs isn't proof that said slurs occured, yet you act as if it is by writing that "Angry protestors... yelled ****** at a few members of the Congressional Black Caucus" even though accusations aren't proof.
You screwed up when you wrote that. You should have written that 'accusations have been made that they yelled ******' or something to that effect.
Your bias leaked out for all to see.
Your credibility: gone.
This has been an interestring thread.
One last thing:
It was wrong to call Barney Frank a fa**ot. That is homophobic. But when homosexuals derisively call heterosexuals "breeders" (which is quite common) that is heterophobic. Works both ways.
I wonder what's worse? The childishly arrogant, close minded folks that think they have the right to spit on those they disagree with? Or the childishly arrogant and deliberatly ignorant people that defend them; even to the point of lying?
The media were everywhere. So, I assume, were cellphones. Where's the video of this alleged incident?
Then where is the video HenryHanks nobody can't seem to find a video? It isn't like black people haven't made false claims of racism in the past now is it Mr. Hanks, it seems to be a pattern with a lot of these so-called black activist groups.
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