Letter from the DCCC: Democratic Corrupt Cronies and Crooks?

Cloudy

I’m not sure why the DCCC decided that their best way to raise campaign money was through attacking Glenn Beck, but that is what they did. I received the following letter (in green) from the DCCC.

Clear

I am well aware of my convictions and beliefs, and sent this reply to the DCCC.

Carol --


Glenn Beck.

Just writing those two words side by side sends a cold chill up my spine. He's the guy that's been riling up all those tea partying, town hall hollering, Obama birth certificate denying fools on the right-wing.

I happen to be a tea-partying, town-hall-attending, Obama-past-records of all kinds questioning citizen who exercises my First Amendment rights. I also happen to watch Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly. And I listen to Mark Levin, Neal Boortz and Rush Limbaugh. As much as I know the liberals would like for all American citizens to become their docile, obedient sheep, I am not. I do as Neal Boortz cautions us to do. I check out the stories I hear and see and find other points of view. I do as Glenn Beck advocates. I ask bold questions on Twitter and Facebook and my blog. I follow the White House, Obama, and most of the official democratic organizations on Twitter. I get official notices from such groups on Facebook. I am an intelligent, well-educated and wise American citizen who cared deeply for my liberties and the Constitution and who does not follow conservatives or liberals without great deliberation and consideration.

Last week I called him 'nuts' on television but I'm afraid all I did was give nuts a bad name.

Let’s take a close look at this man you call a “nut.” We don’t shout that Obama isn’t an American citizen, We just have to wonder why he doesn’t put up either a birth certificate or Passport or school scholarship records to shut this controversy down. If Van Jones wasn’t a Communist or a “truther,” why didn’t the President back his appointee and keep him on? If the “snitch” email to the White House hadn’t been unconstitutional and unethical, why was it removed? If the lesson plans from the US Department of Education wasn’t meant to indoctrinate, why were they changed? If Yosi Sergant wasn’t acting unethically to use NEA funds to solicit propaganda and/or campaign artwork, why was he removed from his position? If Mark Lloyd isn’t a radical, why does he praise Chavez? If Anita Dunn isn’t a radical, why does she praise Mao? If Kevin Jennings isn’t immoral, vile, and perverted why would he support pedophilia? If ACORN wasn’t a corrupt organization with questionable fiscal activity, why did the IRS, the Census Bureau and Congress disassociate from them so quickly? Glenn Beck isn’t nuts. Our president is CRAZY for thinking that we wouldn’t notice that the appointees to his shadow government that writes policy and circumvents the Constitution is trying to “nudge” us (ala Sunstein) towards socialism.

I wish I could repeat some of the other names that our great DCCC supporters had for Beck in those petitions you signed, but we have to keep these e-mails G-rated.

First, I didn’t sign your petitions. I merely subscribe to your services so that I can “know my enemy.” And, were the names your great DCCC supporters had for Beck anything like: “un-American,” “anti-American,” “swastika-wearing,” “racists,” “Astroturf,” “thugs,” or, to quote you, “tea partying, town hall hollering, Obama birth certificate denying fools on the right-wing?”

Obama himself was the first person during the time of his administration to play the “race card” when he wrongly accused Cambridge police for racial profiling. Nancy Pelosi was the first person during this administration to refer to Nazis when she falsely accused Americans who were exercising their rights by questioning their elected representatives of wearing swastikas. Not a single picture could be produced that day of a single attendee wearing a swastika or carrying a Hitler or Joker sign. After her comment, however, (and perhaps thanks to her suggestion) the signs and symbols were evident the next day. The SEIU were the “thugs” at these meetings that beat up un-armed, well-meaning, peacefully assembling citizens. Perhaps our President and Speaker of the House doesn’t believe that a truly grass-roots movement is possible, since they are so used to funding and orchestrating SEIU , ACORN, children in the crowd, and fake doctors in distributed lab coats to rally for their causes. Some people rally because they believe in right. Some people march because they believe in justice. Some people question with boldness because it is their DUTY as a citizen in a Republic where the government is “of the people.”

Thank God we have committed supporters like you who defend President Obama from the attacks by Glenn Beck and his crazy ilk. And since you have the President's back, I wanted to make sure you don't miss out on your chance to join President Obama for dinner later this month.

Thank God you have informed citizens in America, who read and listen and pay attention to what is going on in DC. We wish it was an easier task. We wish the President would actually keep at least ONE of his promises and give us a transparent government. Nancy Pelosi also vowed to conduct House business in an unprecedented, transparent way. But, not only is debate not on CSPAN, it is behind closed doors. Not only are bills not online for our perusal, but they are voted on before our Congressmen read them, before they are put into legislative language and before they can be adequately scored in their final form by the Congressional Budget Office. Not only did Pelosi push for a pre-mature vote on Cap and Trade, but she offered “pork” to those few she needed to change their votes, and they caved (we hope with a sense of severe shame). Not only have Congressmen admitted that they don’t have time to read the bills, but they voted against a recommendation to wait 72 hours for a vote so that they would have time!

Contribute $5, $10 or more today and you and a guest will be automatically entered for a chance to win dinner with President Obama in Miami, Florida on October 26. Your hotel, airfare, and tickets are all included.

I’ll pass on your generous offer to send you money and “gamble” on a chance to have dinner with the President. I need that $5 to help feed my family. Vegetables are increasing in price since you favor the environment over the people that live in it. Tax increases, the failed economy and supporting your ever-growing federal government with my money are making it more difficult to put food on my own table. I doubt that you are going to work very hard to fix that, even though a vast majority of our citizens believe that the economy, NOT healthcare, should be “job one” for the government. We know that you all hope to completely wreck the economy so that you can then take over and provide for us as a truly socialist society. We’ll fight that. We’ll “holler” louder than you can imagine.

With media cheerleaders like Glenn Beck egging on the Sarah Palin-Michele Bachmann crowd of wing-nuts in the GOP spreading bizarre conspiracy theories about government death panels, FEMA concentration camps and the like, we need your support more than ever.

Once again, you’re hypocrisy is showing. NEVER let us see another criticism of a Tea Party sign after all of the names you have hurled at us in this one letter. “Wing-nuts?” It was our President himself that told Jane Sturm that her aging mother wouldn’t deserve expensive medical treatment when she could be given a pill to keep her comfortable until she died. And, it is a well-known fact that with a simple executive order, martial law can be forced upon us and FEMA can be given the power to incarcerate citizens. Is that as abusive as sending poor people miles away from the University of Chicago Hospital’s emergency room to receive care in a small neighborhood clinic just because you don’t have insurance? Michelle Obama got rich doing this. (The President never mentions Dontae Adams when he gives personal stories about poor health care in America. Dontae had his lip bitten off by a pit bull and was given Tylenol, a Band-Aid, and instructions to go to another clinic ala Michelle Obama’s Health Care Initiative.)

President Obama and the Democratic Party are fighting for our future and the commitment of Democrats like you is the key ingredient to our success.

So, make a contribution of $5, $10 or more today. And, when you do, you and a guest will be automatically entered for a chance to win dinner with President Obama in Miami, Florida on October 26. Your hotel, airfare, and tickets are all included.

Your contribution will be put to work fighting for the change you and I voted for last November. Thank you for your generous support.

I didn’t vote for him then. I won’t vote for him in the future.

Sincerely,


James Carville

Anita Dunn: Communist Witch Leading the Witch Hunt?

Clear

Anita Dunn and the White House have pledged to push back and stop news stories that are either inaccurate or unflattering. She has said that, “Fox News often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party. And it is not ideological.” Furthermore, she said, “let's not pretend they're a news organization like CNN is."

Obviously, her stance ruffled some feathers. It is one thing to fight inaccuracies in the news, it is something altogether different to fight unflattering references. (The WASHINGTON POST ran a very flattering fluff piece on Ms. Dunn today, by the way, in the Style Section.)

She was also exposed by Glenn Beck today for a speech she made to high school students in which she praised her “two favorite political philosophers,” Mao Zedong (Tse-tung) and Mother Teresa. This statement raises serious questions!

Cloudy

First of all, why is she calling Mother Teresa a “political philosopher,” and why would she, a liberal, favor her? Mother Teresa was a humble servant of God who spoke against abortion, even for the poverty-stricken women to whom she dedicated her life in Calcutta.

Mao, on the other hand, was a political philosopher of the vilest nature. He founded the People’s Republic of China, but his process for doing so included genocide and starvation, the result of which was at least 48 million dead at his hand or because of his “philosophies.”

So, again, we have to ask, “Why?” Why does Obama constantly surround himself with people who admire the very people who would be our enemies? Why does he surround himself with Communist-loving and Marxist-thinking advisors that bring a radical Socialist agenda to the table for America?

Hopefully, with these revelations, we will soon sing, “Ding dong, the Witch is Dead!"

Stop the Presses! Stop Fox News!

Clear

I know what the First Amendment says, and I support it as one of the most precious, most reverent and most important dictate of our liberties and rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Cloudy

What I don’t understand is why our current administration thumbs its nose at our First Amendment rights. The latest incident was the announcement by Anita Dunn, the interim White House Communications Director, who stated to CNN, to TIME magazine and to the NEW YORK TIMES, that Fox News is war-mongering against the President. Dunn denounced Fox News as "opinion journalism masquerading as news." Furthermore, she said that Fox, “often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party." "We’re going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent.” “As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave," she said.

This comes on the heels of three significant current events.

First, Saturday Night Live finally presented a skit that dared to criticize President Obama for doing “nothing!” Bear in mind that NBC is owned by GE who stands to make millions off of the Cap and Trade bill should it pass. GE was also a major contributor to Obama’s presidential campaign. This network has supported everything from the campaign to the White House dog choice to Michelle’s buff arms. The mainstream news, or “fringe news” as they have now become, have slobbered over, genuflected before and worshipped at the altar of THE ONE.

Second, Fox News has surpassed every other news station and news show in the national ratings. It is watched by liberals and conservatives, by people of all races and creeds, and is growing daily in popularity. During the day, the programs adhere to the slogan, “We report. You decide.” In the evening, however, Fox airs opinion shows that, like Sean Hannity, usually have a conservative slant. However, recently we witnessed Shepard Smith in a semi-rant supporting ObamaCare and Bill O’Reilly tends to stay somewhere near the middle as he loves to play the devil’s advocate. Glenn Beck brings us the “fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.” And, sprinkled throughout the day are guests and panels from every walk of life and every political leaning as on Hannity’s Great Star Team, Bret’s All American Panel, and intelligent people like Star Parker, Juan Williams, Michelle Malkin, Rev. Stephen Broden, credible judges and lawyers, a variety of Democrat and Republican Representatives and Senators, and former White House staff members from the past several administrations. They seem to gather everyone to share opinions except the President himself. He refuses. And, when the Fox anchors have exposed corruption in the administration, the President has remained silent and not even come to the defense of those that he selected and then allowed to go.

Now, if you want to discuss slanted news, please remember that ABC allowed the President to air an expensive and polished propaganda-like hour of an “infomercial” for ObamaCare, while denying the Republican Party the right to even air contradictory commercials. So, Ms. Dunn, no more accusations about another network being PRO-Republican, please!

The third event that lead up to this tirade against Fox news was that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama. This left Democrats and Republicans; liberal and conservatives; independents and Libertarians; Christians and atheists; adults and children; pet owners and pets; in other words, EVERYONE in America; asking the same question: “For WHAT?” He has not supported troops in Afghanistan, he has not closed Gitmo, and he has not done anything on the international scene except deface America’s greatness in the same way that thugs deface monuments with their spray paint cans. Even the president admitted that he has done nothing to deserve this recognition. Since Obama had no answer, it would behoove the White House staff to do something to show his worth.

My father once taught me a great lesson. He told me that basically all people want to feel good about themselves and want to feel more important in some way than others. It is part of human nature to want to be special. He explained that there are two ways to achieve that goal. The difficult way is to work hard, get a good education, improve ourselves, and constantly try to achieve the high goals that we set. The other way is easy. You merely sit back, call other people names and slap them down so that you can pretend to tread on them and make believe that you tower above them.

The White House may be taking that second, low road. Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said the White House may be lashing out at Fox "because the Democratic base is starting to be more critical of Obama.”

I’m reporting. You decide.

Beck, Boortz, Limbaugh, Bunker and Bigotry

Clear

Joe Conason blogged about how racist Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are. Keith Olbermann has accused Neal Boortz of the same. The trend is that conservative talk radio and television news shows are soaring in ratings while the liberal media outlets sulk under the table waiting for a scrap to hit the floor, and they don’t like it. The truth is everyone is vying for ratings.

I was a senior in college when I first saw a bigot on television. It was on January 12, 1971. It was a Tuesday night and I had gone to the empty family room on my floor to use the oven. The TV there was on, although there was no one watching. More and more students had TVs in their rooms, so we were losing the camaraderie of watching and discussing current programs, news, and events. Two screeching voices came on singing the most horrible song I had ever heard, and I had to check it out. I sat down with my “dinner” to watch the premiere of All in the Family, and I was shocked! I was watching a young black man making fun of an old white bigot and hearing that white bigot talking about "spicks and gooks and pollocks"! During the first commercial, I ran up and down the hall and we filled the room for the rest of the show.

Archie Bunker’s show held the top slot in ratings for over 5 years (The Cosby Show and American Idol are the only other two to ever do so), as America gathered to watch Archie, the Dingbat, the Meathead and Mr. Jefferson debate race, homosexuality, women’s lib, rape, divorce and impotence. No subject was off limits for Norman Lear and the excellent cast that he had brought together.

Cloudy

My father and I often discussed the show. We weren’t sure why it was happening, but we knew the whole nation either loved Archie or loved to hate him. Bigoted Americans evidently never realized the irony and satire of the show, so they championed behind his stance on issues. Liberated Americans did understand the satire, and championed the stance of those around Archie. Those clueless Americans with no agenda just loved the humor and were amazed by the topics that were exposed. Regardless of the category, everyone entered the discussion at the coffee pot or water cooler every Wednesday at work.

So why don’t we love bigoted show hosts or a bigoted president?

Conason said:

The behavior of those media provocateurs over the past few months is almost beyond parody. They call the president a racist, even though there is no evidence of prejudice on his part and much evidence to the contrary.

I beg to differ. In these last few months, the FIRST person to “play the race card” was the President when he, after admitting that he was uninformed about the details of the arrest of Professor Gates, said the Cambridge police acted “stupidly” because of racial profiling. President Obama, with a few inappropriate and unsolicited sentences, ushered in the Gates-gate, put “beer summit” in the dictionary and killed any chance of his administration being post-racial.

Conason and Olbermann will point to the past of Beck, Limbaugh and Boortz and accuse them of mimicking black dialect or expounding on black stereotypes or playing the music from The Jeffersons, also a top rated show. These guys are selling books, playing the ratings game and entertaining while they enlighten us. (They are not, Bette, inciting genocide!) But the liberal pundits never mention Obama’s past when he was steeped in socialist and communist communities. And, since he has thumbed his nose at his own promise of transparency and buried the records of his past, no one can completely follow a paper trail on the president. But we can follow public records and testimonies of those that worked with him, follow the teachings of Rev. Wright, read the works of Holdren and Sunstein, and read about the corrupt Chicago Health Initiative that made Michelle Obama wealthy at the behest of Valarie Jarrett… and on … and on… and on… They never point out his lies. They never point out his ineffectiveness, weakness, or inexperience that has destroyed our economy and weakened our position on the international stage.

So, we don’t laugh at his antics or love him like we did the dear, bigoted Archie Bunker.

The ACORN 8: Watchdogs

Cloudy

There are so many supposedly corrupt organizations, tax cheats, crooks and shady characters around President Obama that it is difficult to disseminate it all, especially when there are so few in the media who will cover the stories. However, recently, Andrew Breitbart and Glenn Beck provided two courageous young journalists, James O'Keefe and Hanna Giles, web and television platforms to showcase their work and thus expose the corruption they found at various ACORN offices across the United States. The taped “advice” was so deplorable that members of ACORN have been fired, more investigations started, and funding withheld pending further investigation. But, O’Keefe and Giles were not the first to look into the corruption of this community organizing /social engineering group that had many ties to President Obama.

Clear

That the organization was either in trouble or corrupt was first noticed by members last year. In May of 2008, it was first revealed to the board of ACORN that nearly a decade earlier Dale Rathke had embezzled about one million dollars and that his brother, Wade Rathke, the long time CEO of ACORN had covered it up. Both Rathkes were removed from their positions as a result. Some members immediately decided to form an investigative committee: Karen Inman, who would investigate issues related to the embezzlement; Marcel Reid, who would scrutinize the organizational structure; and Carol Hemingway, who would focus on other financial issues.

What they found was more criminality than initially suspected. It appears the group has been in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, mismanagement of pension funds, other incidences of embezzlement, and money laundering between the many other “ghost” organizations that ACORN has established in violation of its tax status. Citizen’s Consulting, Inc was the arm of ACORN that played the shell game with all funding. In one case, millions of government dollars meant to fund health care projects in poor neighborhoods was used to fund a media campaign.

As the board was discovering that ACORN was millions behind in taxes, and as the investigators were refused their requests to see the financial records of the organizations, these brave women and a handful of others, became bold whistleblowers, and the ACORN 8 was founded. Inman and Reid both appeared on The Glenn Beck Show to tell their stories.

Their message is that:
• ACORN is not living up to its original mission; and that is to give meaningful voice and empower low and moderate income members of society.
• ACORN has been corrupted from its original purpose by senior management and an organizational structure that exploits the low and moderate income membership ACORN was founded to serve.
• ACORN’s leadership has been corrupted and lacks any accountability.

The committee states:

Like you, we’re activists. We’re dedicated to helping people like ourselves — people of limited means — get a better shake. That’s why we joined ACORN in the first place. That’s why we’re fighting now to make it an open organization with clean books, honest leadership and a willingness to grow through scrutiny and criticism. ACORN has suffered through the turmoil of embezzlement of huge amounts of money by key figures in the organization. To move forward it needs to openly confront the past and eliminate the possibility of such abuse in the future. That’s what the ACORN 8 are about.

Glenn Beck: Murderer of Frogs and Corruption

Clear

Everyone in the United States must know who Glenn Beck is now. He’s been crucified and vilified for the 9-12 Project to get people back to believing in American values and principles, for saying that he thought Obama may be a racist, and, last week, for the murder of a rubber frog. Yes, it was rubber. Yes, it was a prank. Yes, they showed it was a prank on the show.

Cloudy

What I don’t understand is why all the hoopla over Glenn Beck to begin with? Unlike The One, Beck has never been glorified or worshipped or idolized. He does, however, unify. Maybe this is why he is hated. To unify was the one trait that Obama exhibited above all others when he was campaigning, but as promise after promise after promise has been broken, voters’ remorse is taking its toll on his congregation or worshippers. They are leaving the temple of “mmm mmm mmm mmm Barrack Hussein Obama” and turning to Fox News and Glenn Beck.

But, people who only watch Glenn Beck on television have no idea just how brilliant this man is. If you listen to his radio program and read his books, you will realize that, first, he is a brilliant entertainer, and, second, he and his staff are master researchers. For a few minutes a day, the GB audience watches video clips that take hours and hours to find and edit and transcribe. He runs through the past relationships of radicals in 10-20 minutes of his air time a day, but he and his staff have had to dig for hours and days and weeks through old and new, but always obscure, records.

He put out a call for “watchdogs” to stay aware and vigilant, and as a result of the callers, tweeters, researchers, staff, and his own diligence, he has been able to publically expose more corruption and have a bigger impact on US politics than Upton Sinclair when he penned, “The Jungle” or Rachel Carson with her “Silent Spring.”

He’s caused the public and Congress to question the shady manipulations and power grab of Obama’s shadow government of Czars. He has helped the courageous “watchdogs” Hannah Giles, James O’Keefe and Andrew Breitbart expose the illegal activities of ACORN to the point that all other governmental agencies are running from this group that Obama worked so closely with for years, but “just hasn’t paid attention to” lately. He’s exposed attempts at organized propaganda by the National Endowment of the Arts and the White House’s attempts to collect names, form enemy lists and hijack our personal computers. And he is currently exposing Obama for the network of socialists, communists and progressives are attempting to hijack our government. With all the lies that Obama tells and the ease of catching him in them, Beck’s staff is finding it easier and easier to pinpoint examples of corruption that we need to see.

He could never do this, however if he were not also a master teacher. I've said for years (since I'm a teacher, too) that all a good teacher needs is chalk and a blackboard and the ability to share with words and graphics what is inside his or her mind. That's the hard part. As a science teacher who understood ionic bonding, I had to find a way to transfer my understanding to 32 other brains per hour. He has to do it to millions of brains a day! But he does, even if he must murder a rubber frog along the way.

Beck also has a wonderful sense of humor. I think I witness it more by listening to his radio show where he interacts more with staff than on his Fox News show, but you can see it loud and clear on his latest book cover and in some of the crazy skits he's done in the past. The radio show admits up front that he is a blend of "entertainment and enlightenment." Although I know he infuriates those that he calls out, he is totally entertaining.

And, because I don't know if he is merely entertaining or being frank and candid, I don't really know how sincere his tears are or how real his fears are. I do believe, however, that he is UN-partisan and hell-bent on fighting corruption in government wherever it exists. And I thank him for that.

I fear he will lose his humility, though. It's hard to be famous and humble. President Obama is a prime example of that. Just this week, on an international stage, our President constantly touted his own accomplishments with lies and exaggerations as the world’s worst evil-doers praised him. If Beck doesn’t maintain his humility, I think it will be his personal downfall. Some newsman’s comment about great athletes who go bad has stuck with me for years. The anchor stated that "obscene salaries create obscene people." I don’t want Glenn Beck to become obscene. I want him to stay fresh, stay dedicated, stay humble, and stay in need of his watchdogs. We want to be his watchdogs. We want to be needed. We love helping to put our Republic back on a noble course.

At least, I do.

Party Etiquette

Cloudy

I personally don’t like conflict. I would much rather use diplomacy to solve the problems that arise in my life. So, I’ve been a bit disturbed by the disorder and anger shown at town hall meetings. I don’t understand why the representatives couldn’t answer the simplest of questions, or why Nancy Pelosi and others were labeling citizens who were exercising a constitutional right with negative names. I don’t understand why SEIU members were outside these meetings intimidating and shoving people acting within their rights. I wonder if, now that the Obama’s vacation is over and the Tea Party Express is on the way to the 9-12 celebration in Washington, the confrontations are going to become riots or rhetoric.

I’ve been thinking about guidelines for such confrontations, and have looked at the non-violent protest policies of Gandhi that were later adopted by Martin Luther King, the advice of Glenn Beck to “question with boldness,” and even my grandmother’s admonition of poor behavior. “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I’ve reflected on our nation’s beginnings, filled with protests and action: the Boston Tea Party, protests and disagreements with King George and Britain’s taxation of the colonies, and, finally, armed conflict.

Clear

I read a statement from The Freedom Works today, and had an “ah-hah” moment.

Policy goes to those who show up. It is a law of political decision-making as dependable as gravity, and as old as the American experiment in republican democracy.

Policy goes to those who show up. The vocal group wins. Samuel Adams said, “It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.” Women marched and won the right to vote. Americans who were horrified with Sinclair’s, “The Jungle,” brought about safer foods and drugs. Protests from followers of Rachael Carson banned DDT. A simple bus boycott brought about Civil Rights laws. College students marched and brought about the end of war in Viet Nam. And, the united voices of laborers brought forth safer working conditions. Adams was right when he said that the very last “interest group” that most politicians want to hear from is “The People.”

As Freedom Works pointed out, violent confrontations can escalate to the point where the parties' only concerns are victory, vengeance, and/or self-defense. Winning becomes the principal, and the original reason for protest is forgotten. Non-violent resistance avoids this trap.

Far from being cowardly, this is a strategy that requires tremendous courage, self-control, as well as a willingness to endure pain.

Glenn Beck has been asking for “boldness” and standing for our beliefs in the face of fear. It’s a page right out of our country’s birth story.

Now, we must act. It is time. “Teddy Care” is going to be thrown at us with a renewed vigor. But act with intelligence and purpose. Whether you are at a Tea Party, a 9-12 event in D.C., or in a discussion around the water cooler at work, consider a few points of common sense and etiquette.

THE LOCATION: Know the local rules and ordinances of any place that you gather.
Are signs permitted? Do you need an ID? Where can you park? Are you allowed on grassy areas? Can you have bullhorns? Are pets allowed? Is there a dress code? Can you distribute flyers or brochures? Can you sell items?

THE MESSAGE: Do your homework and know details of the issue.
Know what is in the Constitution. Study it. Study the issue that you are protesting. We seen example after example of citizens being better informed than their representatives who had not read a bill. However, we have also seen tirades by the ignorant and uninformed. Do not give the opposition ammunition! Neal Boortz warns everyone to look for other sources to confirm what you hear. Fox News tells us every day to decide for ourselves. Then, like Limbaugh, be unapologetic for what you believe.

THE DELIVERY: Be correct.
Do not take the microphone without a planned, intelligent statement. Do not carry a sign with poor grammar or misspelled words. Do not misquote others. Do not misrepresent the legislation. If you are saying something for a dramatic effect, preface it and explain it. Regardless of what you do, you will be called a “red neck,” but don’t be one. Begin each question with, “I believe in……” Then ask if they agree.

THE DEMEANOR: Look and act the part of an informed, intelligent person.
It shouldn’t have to be said, but look clean. Wear nice clothes. Make a logical point instead of an emotional rant. Take a permanent marker and write in your hand, “Stay calm.” Avoid name-calling. Remain positive and polite. If someone affronts you, calmly say, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Do as Beck says, speak without fear. However, if shoving starts, consider just sitting down. If violence breaks out, leave. Let THEM start the violence, though.

THE REACTION: Listen to what the opposition has to say.
In the town hall meetings covered on the news, there has been very little listening. We cannot have a conversation without it. Listen politely. Listen intently. Take notes. Record it so that you can digest and analyze it later. If you disagree, stay quiet and let them finish. Then say, “I disagree with you because…” or write a blog, email, or editorial about how wrong they were later. Others will watch and hear and decide.

THE QUESTIONS: Be specific and clear, whether asking in person or in writing.
Glenn Beck has offered a week’s worth of questions (http://tinyurl.com/n5goey), and I offer other examples below. Pick and choose what suits you, or, better yet, ask yourself the hard question of what you believe, then decide what answers YOU want.

I believe that fiscal responsibility is necessary for a sustainable future.
• Did you vote for raises for yourself?
• Did you vote to spend our children’s future and increase taxes on us?
• Are you capable of creating a balanced budget?
• Have you accepted money for your special interests in return for a vote?
• Do you know why the president did not purge the budget ‘line by line’ of pork?
• Will you agree to vote against anymore stimulus spending and put unspent money towards the deficit?
• How much do all of the president’s trips cost?
• Why does the first lady have such a huge, expensive staff?
• Would you give your pay until we have a balanced budget?

I believe that industry, business and manufacturing made this country great. • Would you pass environmental regulation when you have no proof of global warming theories?
• Would you place the protection of any plant or animal above the needs and security of people?
• What business experience have you had?

I believe in a representative government and the senate’s power to approve presidential cabinet appointees.
• Do you favor the number of Czars, or advisors, that have filled Washington?
• Are you aware that many of these are enemies of the Constitution?
• Can you tell us who pays for the salaries, office space and staffs for these non-elected, non-approved advisors?
• Have you read any of their published works? Will you tell us what they believe?
• Why are they, and other non-elected officials, drafting legislation?
• Why does the president out-source his job?

I believe in American citizenship. • Do you think illegal aliens and foreign terrorists should have the rights of an American citizen?
• Do you have proof that our president is a citizen?

I believe that every American has the right to pursue happiness, but does not have the right to THINGS that they do not work for, including government medical care. I do not believe that our nation is entitled to handouts.
• Do you? Why?
• Why don’t you favor capitalism and free enterprise that would naturally create jobs so that people could provide their families with the THINGS that they need?
• Do you agree that small businesses should be taxed excessively?
• Can you tell me what you have done for the American farmer?

I do not believe that the federal government is a good steward of our funds or a competent business entity. • Do you favor a single-payer, government run public option for health care?
• Will you allow the American people to see the final bill that the Congress will consider?
• Will you vote for any healthcare plan that will increase the deficit or increase costs for your constituents?
• Can you just fix Medicare first, to prove to us that you can run something efficiently?

I believe in the first amendment guarantees for our freedom of speech.
• Do you believe in free speech?
• Do you believe in freedom of the press?
• Will you support legislation that seeks to control the internet, talk radio or conservative TV?
• Did you hide from your constituents who were trying to practice free speech at town hall meetings?
• Did you support the White House efforts to collect “fishy” emails and blogs?

I believe in the 2nd amendment guarantee for our right to bear arms. • Will you support legislation that attempts to limit gun laws?
• Do you own a gun?

I believe that the constitution has given the federal government explicit and limited powers.
• Will you vote for any bill that increases the size or powers of the federal government?
• Can you explain to me how the takeover of GM or the bailout of banks is constitutional?
• Why don’t you think that the states have jurisdiction over health care?

I believe that the government has the right to know how many people live in the USA, and where they live.
• Do you favor the intrusive questions that are in the current census survey?
• Do you think that an organization proven to be involved in voter fraud should be involved in the census program?
• Are you in favor of the federal government targeting school children to gather census information?
• Can you tell me what parts of our lives you do not have the right to control?

I believe in the power of the vote.
Do you agree that you MUST be replaced if you do not do what your constituents ask of you?