Monday, September 14, 2009

My take on the teabaggers: Very white, older and very, very angry

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pzlNDXXLnUNFBf-mhlRwusxKTnp3ntfoZB0q005g6IAEOp4bJ-WERE4zs3JS0LS5VX8BhspFGY24TXc89Ggdl80SsdFU8pEyyFvT1T_wJ3zhQRNjNPCDfZt6_UHKdaEYGFthj-cW7Mo/s1600-r/bkgd-headera.png

Today, as we all know, was Teabagger day in D.C. This morning, my running partner, Courtney and I did our long run along the Mall so we could check out the scene. We were among them.

Early on, the organizers had predicted millions would attend. Not even close. I was at the inauguration and saw what millions looked like. This was very far from it. Very far. The Washington Post reported there were "tens of thousands." Teabaggers have been tweeting a fake picture (of a sunny day and today wasn't sunny) apparently to claim they had a bigger crowd. Mike Stark has a video showing the size of the crowd, which really didn't extend too far down the Mall. In fact, the National Black Family Reunion took up most of the mall today. Yes, that event was taking place at the same time the teabaggers were protesting. (At 14 seconds into Mike Stark's video, you can see the white tents for the family reunion on the other side of a big patch of empty lawn.) Quite a juxtaposition.

I've been rooting around to find photo galleries of the protesters. Josh Nelson captured the essence of the event here. And, I did see that "Obamacare" hearse. Huffington Posthas an array of photos, as does Think Progress. My overall take: The teabaggers were a very white, very angry and older crowd. There were a smattering of confederate flags around. The only thing missing was the white robes and hoods. Let's just say, if one of them had a concession stand selling white robes and hoods, they'd have made a bundle.

I'd like to make a friendly suggestion to the teabaggers: Get a hobby, do some volunteer work, or better yet work out and get some exercise.

http://www.americablog.com/2009/09/my-take-on-teabaggers-very-white-older.html

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