Michelle Bachmann’s Capitol Tea Party
Thursday's quickly organized event was a powerful display of informed citizenry.
“Don’t you make me come up there!”
Dozens of moms from Minnesota sported sweatshirts with a parental threat aimed at Congress that most everyone would recognize.
Our elected representatives have done just that — they made us “come up there,” from as far away as California, leaving jobs and families and spending hefty sums to make what Rep. Michele Bachmann called “an emergency house call on Congress.”
Bachmann is a rising star in the conservative movement. Like Sarah Palin, Bachmann is a beautiful, articulate mother of five (who’s also cared for 23 foster children over the years). With the mobilizing talents of a megamom, she called for citizens to come to Washington to personally lobby their representatives on November 5. Shortly after her Friday announcement, Hollywood actor Jon Voight called and asked to help. By Thursday, Bachmann had a full slate of speakers and enough activist citizens — many of them first-timers — to give Congress a good dose of preventative medicine:
You came. And you came to your house. And you came for an emergency house call. And are they going to listen? Oh yeah, oh yeah, they’re going to listen. It was Thomas Jefferson who said a revolution every now and then is a good thing. What do you think?
The crowd roared.
Bachmann emphasized the historic nature of Thursday’s political struggle with a quote from Abigail Adams’ journal:
After all we’ve done, I wonder if generations unborn will know what was done for them.
Bachmann continued:
We are that privileged generation. You literally stand with us on hallowed ground. This is hallowed ground of freedom, and that freedom was purchased at an incalculable price that none of us can ever truly comprehend. And for 233 years, every generation that has come before has faithfully handed the baton of freedom to the next generation. And so now we are that privileged generation, privileged to be here today.
The day is best told by the everyday people who came — see my photo journal for stories — and by a few of the ringing quotes of speakers.
Jon Voight:
President Obama has his own obsession with trying to ram this health bill through and create a socialist America. We as freedom-loving Americans must not be scared into Obama’s radical Chicago tactics. His agenda is not for the poor. It’s solely for his political gain. His lies and propaganda are all very blatant, shown to us by those who exposed ACORN, which is as corrupt as all the president’s czars. The only success he’s had so far in his term as president is taking America apart piece by piece.
John Ratzenberger (from the TV show Cheers):
These are Woodstock Democrats. We have to remember where their philosophy comes from. It doesn’t come from America. It comes from overseas. It comes from socialism. And socialism is a philosophy of failure.
Mark Levin — best to watch his speech on video.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (OH):
I do think there is a rebellion going on in this country. How else could you get 10,000 people to show up with only a few days notice? What they are saying is “enough is enough.” There are tens of thousands of Americans who have come to Washington to say they don’t want Pelosi-care.
It’s a simple statement by Americans that they love their country, they love our way of life, they love the things that America stands for — prosperity, liberty and freedom — and they want nothing more than to hand freedom off to their kids and to their grandkids. Join us in saying no to a government takeover of health care. Join us in rejecting higher taxes and more deficits. Join us in defending our freedom. And join us in defeating Pelosi-care.
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Barbara Curtis is a wife, mother of 12, and author of nine books, including Reaching the Left from the Right: Talking About Social Issues with People Who Don't Think Like You. Visit her at www.barbaracurtis.com or at her blog www.MommyLife.net. Her fourth son will begin Marines OCS in January.
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32 Comments
1. Aisling:Was this the forum where Boehner held up his “well read” copy of the Constitution and purported to quote the Preamble while actually quoting the Declaration of Independence? I think that’s an excellent representation of just how little the Party of No understands. When your leaders misspeak and outright lie, it’s no wonder so many conservatives fight against issues they don’t understand.
Nov 7, 2009 - 3:46 am 2. Jeck:1.Aisling
“57 States”
Nov 7, 2009 - 4:54 am 3. Brian Richard Allen:1. Aisling: makes one wonder just how many Fascissocialist-Psychosis-suffering layabout quislings the mobbed-up murtadd-Muslim Mussolini-modeled modified-Marxist has, on the feral-gummint’s dole, for no better purpose than that they monitor every somewhat-patriotically-American site and post pointlessly and inanely to them.
Even one of them is way too many, that’s for sure!
Nov 7, 2009 - 5:42 am 4. JoeSwiss:I wasn’t there, but count me in this battle. These are my friends. And it’s now time to make the right kind of enemies.
Nov 7, 2009 - 6:19 am 5. Never for Obama:Unfortunately, for you liberals, Aisling, I think the common man does UNDERSTAND what you and your ilk on Capitol Hill are up to. Why do you think so many former apolitical types are protesting now?
Nov 7, 2009 - 6:21 am 6. jb:Is it just possible Sarah Palin might find a kindred partner in Michele Bachmann? Wouldn’t they become a dynamic duo?
Nov 7, 2009 - 6:44 am 7. Ruebacca:Aisling,
You “educated” liberals came to power making little arguments like above. Your opposition is evil or stupid. Evil or stupid. Evil or stupid.
BUT YOUR IN POWER NOW AND THE NATION IS NOSE DIVING INTO THE GROUND.
All we get from the left is a wall of Propaganda. Green Jobs, Saved Jobs, Evil insurance people, Evil doctors, Evil power plants, Evil white cops, I can see Russia from my house. Bla Bla Bla.
Your in-power now Aisling. Please explain how higher energy taxes, higher fees on health care, protectionism, multitrillion dollar deficits nationalized businesses will enrich the nation? Explain or shut-up.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:03 am 8. Frank Logan:Aisling, sounds like you are talking about Obama.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:04 am 9. kennyvii:There are no perfect “leaders”, Aisling and that’s why we are attempting to remain self-governed.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:40 am 10. Now and Then:1. Aisling . . . No, no, no . . . it was the embarrassingly scant gathering where they screwed up the Pledge of Allegiance.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:49 am 11. Dean:Well, at least Mr. Boehner knew some of the words from one of those important documents. I don’t think Pelosi bothered herself to read Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.
But, please, if you feel you are not taxed enough, there is a federal law that allows you send as much of your own money to DC as you would like. And if you honestly believe that the Federal government can run anything as large as a health insurance company more efficiently than the private sector, then it doesn’t matter what others say, since you are incapable of reason.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:57 am 12. gideon:Aisling. How do you say ” I am going to take over as many of the private industries as I can, as fast as I can. That way my party and I will always remain in power” in Austrian?
Nov 7, 2009 - 9:07 am 13. Praetorian:I somehow fail to see the connection of those carrying signs displayed with visions of Nazi death camp victims to an “informed citizenry.” Even GOP Rep. Eric Cantor said is was going too far. We can have a spirited debate on health care reform, and we should, but I don’t think anything we deal with in American politics compares to the holocaust.
Nov 7, 2009 - 9:46 am 14. blotto:n&t: you are still a vile, less than human piece of garbage for your comments about Beck’s handicapped child.
that makes any comments by you not worthy of direct rebuttal.
Nov 7, 2009 - 10:00 am 15. Marc Malone:#1 Aisling – What’s your point? It is a common mistake. What does that have to do with the article? What does it have to do with anything?
This is a typical Leftist tactic. Find one little thing wrong, and use it to dismiss the whole opposition. Deflect, distract, make the argument about something else. When all else fails, use argument ad hominem. Whatever you do, do not argue your case, because you can’t.
Nov 7, 2009 - 10:27 am 16. Marc Malone:Personally, I have trouble dealing with Bachmann. I mean, she has her head on straight, she’s intelligent enough, and her values are right, but there’s something wooden about her. Kinda bugs me, but I guess I have to force myself to look past all that. Gotta give her props for doing this. She does a lot of good things.
Nov 7, 2009 - 10:30 am 17. Praetorian:jb wrote: “Is it just possible Sarah Palin might find a kindred partner in Michele Bachmann? Wouldn’t they become a dynamic duo?”
Oh yes indeed! It would be a gift from God. Most certainly!
Nov 7, 2009 - 1:07 pm 18. Deb:Brian Richard Allen, I cannot stop laughing – something I needed to do all day. Thanks!
Nov 7, 2009 - 1:31 pm 19. Meryl:aisling….betcha a nickel if I locate Michele Bachmann’s pastor and listen to the last 20 years of his sermons, I won’t find a single one where he asked God to damn America.
so glad your god is staying away from Fort Hood today. His presence there would be a greater insult than his absence.
Nov 7, 2009 - 1:38 pm 20. biblio44:6. jb: “Is it just possible Sarah Palin might find a kindred partner in Michele Bachmann? Wouldn’t they become a dynamic duo?”
jb is obviously an agent of the Democratic National Committee.
Nov 7, 2009 - 2:10 pm 21. huh:I love to sux on a teabag.
Nov 7, 2009 - 2:22 pm 22. Aisling:Y’all are a hoot! That’s why I like to drop by sometimes. Believe me, if I held up a copy of the Bible and claimed to be quoting it, while reciting words from Will Rogers, it would be a very big deal. Boehner proved he didn’t know what he was preaching. But maybe for Republicans, that is a common error. I’ll concede that you would know that better than I.
What’s with how do you say “remain in power” in Austrian? Are you confusing Obama with the Governator?
Liberals are praying (yes we do) for a Palin-Bachmann ticket in 2012. The Republicans would be an even bigger joke around the world than when Bush was in office. And you’d lose so badly!
I’m not a gambler, Meryl, but all you have to do is listen to Bachmann to know she’s a nutcase. Is there a medical term for “fear of census”? And please understand this clearly, my God is a God of love. He is at Ft. Hood with all those who suffer and with their families. Why would you presume to tell me you’re happy that God isn’t there?
At least Praetorian has the grace to recognize that Nazi Death Camps do not equate to Health Care Reform. Too bad more of you and your leaders are unable to recognize the moral high ground.
Keep up the good work, guys. You’re going to continue to drive the intelligent, compassionate Repubs away with all this anger and hatred.
Nov 7, 2009 - 3:38 pm 23. Tex Expatriate:Aisling, the only political people who have to lie are you socialists and fascists. You have to get people to vote for things they are too ignorant to understand. Like you do.
Nov 7, 2009 - 4:56 pm 24. Pragmatist:Aisling says “What’s with how do you say “remain in power” in Austrian? Are you confusing Obama with the Governator?” So what is it Aisling the Obamanation dis not say Austrians speak Austrian or the Terminator is an Austrian so it must have been him who said it. Your pathetic attempt at diverting attention from your 57 State Messiah’s STUPIDITY falls flat.
Nov 7, 2009 - 7:55 pm 25. Now and Then:14. blotto:
Your blatant anti-Semitism haunts you, and it should. Perhaps I can help you reconcile . . . is Glenn Beck a “a vile, less than human piece of garbage” for his comments about a friend’s miscarriage? Once you answer that, you can move on to bigger and better bigotry. It’s up to you, blotto. Only you can help you.
Nov 8, 2009 - 7:08 am 26. Northern Light:Actually, there is no word for “power” in Austrian language.
Nov 8, 2009 - 8:03 am 27. Carol:Nor is there a word for “in” or “remain”
I hope many will consider contacting Congresswoman Buchmann to thank her for her vision and leadership. Sadly, it’s a rare thing these days, especially among Republicans. If you don’t live in her district, you can use her web form but you can call, write, or fax and note of thanks. Her staff is, as you may imagine, incredibly gracious and appreciative.
http://bachmann.house.gov/
Nov 8, 2009 - 9:34 am 28. Gary Ogletree:The trolls are making stuff up. Ignore them. The Democrat media complex will claim the barely won vote as a victory. The Japanese had a victory at Pearl Harbor. The one that led to their unconditional surrender. Palin/Bachmann? You betcha!
Nov 8, 2009 - 9:56 am 29. arthur:Bachman is a dunderhead
Nov 8, 2009 - 3:06 pm 30. ak138:On Friday evening, I had the misfortune to sit next to two loud-mouth liberals at an otherwise pleasant restaurant. At first it was all the usual boilerplate ranting they all engage in, thinking they’re original. But then they started in on Michelle Bachmann and her “little stunt.” I realized how furious she made them, and I had to smile. I hope she gave them indigestion.
Nov 9, 2009 - 3:31 pm 31. John A:Thank you for publishing this. Rep Bachmann’s simple direct methods help her outshine every Republican in the House, including John Boehner.
Nov 10, 2009 - 9:42 am 32. Dave B:I look forward to hearing more from her.
I for one am wishing for a Sarah Palin/Michele Bachmann/Mitt Romney ticket in one fashion or the other. The rest have been contaminated or compromised in my opinion. These two ladies might be the greatest political patriots since our founding fathers and Romney is just one of those people that was born to do great things, fix problems, and make great things happen. I think we have the reached a moment in our history where being “politically expedient and savvy” is going to help us get out of this mess we’re in. We need courageous patriotic leaders that will draw people to THEM and not leaders that try to pacify people so they vote for them in an effort to increase the numbers enough to gain control for a while. Let President Romney, President Palin, or President Bachmann send those guys to other countries to be ambassadors. We need leaders with guts and willing to sacrifice everything for our country and to do what is right despite the personal repurcussions. Again, I only see those three right now.
Nov 11, 2009 - 12:15 am