Posted on 09/16/2010 7:56:32 PM PDT by flowerplough
Glenn Beck is no stranger to public criticism. Usually, that criticism comes from entrenched critics. But today, Beck was chided by some of his most loyal fans. What’s got everyone so upset?
Beck’s stance on playing dress-up.
Recently, Beck started imploring Tea Party supporters to lose the costumes, and homemade signs, so as not to give detractors ammunition. ( ... )
He repeated the charge on this morning’s radio show, taking umbrage with one costume in particular: “What’s more effective, you as Betsy Ross or you as somebody who looks just like their neighbor, not dressed as Betsy Ross?”
( ... )
“I‘m not saying you can’t go dressed as Betsy Ross or the Statue of Liberty –that would be a totalitarian state … [But] if you want to truly make a difference, it is now time that the Tea Party takes the next step. … And first impressions make all the difference.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
You are right. The goal of a protester is to have people NOT notice you.
And...One more thing:
We should STOP STOP STOP letting the mainstream ( Marxist) media define what we are “allowed” to do or say! On this point, Beck is completely WRONG!!
Tea Party people are grassroots - for real. And they need to stay that way. Once the Tea Party is part of the GOP, their inexperience can pull the party down, hold it up to ridicule, or lead it in a rational direction away from puffed up conservative elites.
Dems never pull in backer-groups - they want their voice - and input - and votes, but not their baggage. We should be the same.
The Tea Party has too much to offer to be astroturfed.
See post #243
I admit that here in Connecticut, I've had to convince several Republican acquaintances (read: moderate northeast Republicans) that people who participate in the Tea Party movement are NOT "extreme", "far-right" or "kooky", but merely mainstream Americans (of all races, religions and political affiliations) who are fed up with high taxes, outrageous government spending and, specifically, ObamaCare being forced upon us. In other words, the sleeping giant has been awakened and is ticked off big time!
We've seen some beautiful, historically accurate colonial costumes at just about every Tea Party we've attended, and also some really humorous costumes that send a message (ie a clever "Obama as King" outfit) that everyone can relate to in an instant.
So we have a few people in colonial garb or funny costumes, plenty of American, Gadsden and state flags, the left has their giant puppets and other weird props, LGBT rainbow flags, flags of other countries, and - rarely - American flags.
I disagree on the signs, though... we've got to send our message somehow. Of course it doesn't help "our side" when infiltrators like the Lyndon LaRouche democRATs show up at our rallies with their hateful Obama/Hitler signs.
I'd be curious to hear from other FReepers, specifically about the "Tea Party costumes"...
I say keep the signs.
Well said... I agree.
jag, you or the others can dress however you want, if you don’t care about how your message will be distorted.
Conservatives will rightly vote with the Tea Party. But independents and undecideds (I know it’s sad that people can still be so wishy-washy) are the ones that will move the vote from D to R. WE KNOW that the MSM will do whatever they can to malign and distort what the Tea Party represents, so why give them ammunition?
No, I have not attended a rally. I have an elderly parent whose side I cannot leave at this time.
BTW, I agree w/Nutmeg. Signs are important to get out the message.
pelosie just kicked out Walters sign holders.....so i can understand why Beck says what he does about signs...you leave a space for the opposition to bring there’s, or place a racist etc. sign out there.... and that is what the news focuses on.
I’ve got mixed feelings about this too. Appearances matter- so does expressing yourself in funny, quirky ways to make your point.
At this juncture- I tend to agree with Beck but I don’t think his request will necessarily matter. There will ALWAYS be people who will do what they want no matter who asks them not to or how much it may harm their cause. Human nature and the rebel within I guess!
The La Rouche gang and plants from the other side will work against us anyway- and THEY are the photos we’ll always see plastered on the front page.
Damned if you do...
I would strongly recommend that folks be themselves, and dress and carry signs and flags as to they feel they must!
Why switch from a WINNING formula?
Most "legitimate" Tea Party protesters I've seen at the numerous rallies we've attended in Washington DC, NYC, Stamford, CT, Boston, MA and Hartford, CT are spelled/worded correctly.
The problem is with the liberal infiltrators who purposely make signs to make us look bad, and the Lyndon LaRouche democRATs who always show up with their disgusting "Obama as Hitler" signs. Both groups skillfully blend in with the Tea Party folks, and the "untrained" eye assumes they are part of the Tea Party rally.
The lamestream media NEVER misses photographing/filming those signs... :-(
Yup... great post in #250. These rallies are necessary to send a message, but of course they are hard to control.
Perhaps he would rather everyone wear these?
I see very few people at rallies (big or small) with costumes on, and usually they are tasteful and period oriented as well as being patriotic.
: > )
The Tea Party is “We The People” from all walks of life, all economic backgrounds, all religions, all races. The Tea Party consists of patriots who cherish freedom, cherish their country, and want our children and grandchildren to live in a free society with safety and security for all. How they express their love of country, IMO, doesn’t matter. It’s their passion and their dedication to bringing back the government that our founding fathers established. We must, however, expose the enemies who try to infiltrate and try to discredit our movement.
Pundits and the MSM pretend to not understand that the American people are the Tea Party. We intend to preserve, protect, and defend this nation from the enemies within. I can’t wait to vote the enemies of America out of office beginning on November 2nd. Let’s Roll!
I was about to say "notice the lack of American flags", but it appears to be a rally based in Germany, from what I can tell. Still... imagine that same rally in the US, sans the American flags. We've seen it many times over the years...
Well said (as always!), ExTexasRedhead! (#255)
You're exactly right... we were at that 8/28 rally, and it was NOTHING like a Tea Party rally. To be honest, I'm glad I attended the 8/28 rally, but it was a bit too "tame" for my blood... ;-)
You're exactly right. I should have mentioned that the number of people in costume is always very small, and they are usually very tasteful period costumes.
So beck now is hawking aprons? Geesh, what's not for sale with this guy lately??
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