Posted on 08/30/2005 9:12:57 PM PDT by smoothsailing
The Buzz
Eric Pfeiffer Reporting
Crawford: Behind Enemy Lines
Buzz reader Curtis Loftis went undercover with the protesters last week and sent in the following report:
I arrived at the original Camp Casey at 2:30 in the afternoon. It was hot and dry and the assembled demonstrators were in a melancholy state. I quickly made friends, stressing "cocktail" conversation, not political discussion. My goal was not confrontation, but a desire to understand what was actually happening here in Crawford…and being incognito was the only way this would happen.
After bonding with several nice ladies from the central coast of California, I drove with these new buddies to the larger, tented camp where Ms. Sheehan and Company was to be found. There I found a well funded, well orchestrated public relations campaign, run by media professionals complete with the highest quality electronic equipment available. From Satellite trucks and cell phone to wireless computer access, every modern convenience to enhance the "message" was there…and being used by left wing, socialist and Marxist (self-described) media representatives and Bloggers.
The environment was collegial, and everyone had a purpose. There were rules such as no drinking, no bad behavior and the like that were ruthlessly enforced. Everyone had to be on message, and the message was the point of everything…stray from the message and you are out. Even the protesters' signs were monitored less they distract from the message.
Most of the Sheehan protesters were either professional (paid staff of Fenton Communications or the radical organization Code Pink or the like), or were long time protesters, some admitting to beginning vigils against the government as early as 1965. I had conversations with approximately 50 of these people over 48 hours, and all seemed like interesting and engaging people. We talked sports, and cars and how wonderful California is, and just about everything that could be discussed without my divulging that I am a conservative. But when "scratched" just a little with some mild political talk, they all responded the same way…"it is Americas fault". No matter what the issue, each and every one of them had the same default…"bad things are America's fault".
Toward the end of my time there, I decided to innocently toss into the conversation different issues just too illicit a response. One issue I politely deposited into our talks was of the peasant unrest in rural China, and the brutality shown to the peasants by the government and their hired thugs. There response to this problem was…"well, look how we treated the blacks in America", or, "gays are being beaten everyday in America". So the cliché of the "hate America" crowd is indeed true. It is as if the protesters were intellectually bulimic, and having ingested all of the hate America bile, they looked forward to regurgitating it as a show of their steadfastness to their cause of peace and love.
Cindy Sheehan spent most of her time huddled with VIPS in and air-conditioned trailer. When she ventured out it was for a scripted and often televised moment. She was always trailed by her media people, and they were quick to keep her on point. During one conversation I had with her I tried to ask her a pointed question about how much time she would actually be on the bus tour to Washington (I had discovered she would only be on the tour for two days, and would be away giving speeches during the rest of the trip…and I wondered if she were being paid for these speeches) Her media person grabbed her arm and led her back to the trailer, and away from me. The message was protected. I was left standing there…alone, and feeling a little less secure about my status at Camp Casey.
But just a few minutes later, she emerged from the trailer, smiling, and performing for the cameras. Like the chicken at the local carnival that plays tic tac toe, she eagerly performs for any microphone. She is relentless, and professional, well financed and on message. And the message is "All things bad are America's fault".
By the way, the above pic is not of Curtis. It's one I snapped while attending the pro-Bush rally on Saturday. Just thought it fit nicely with his report.
[ 08/30/2005 09:30 AM]
I saw this earlier.
We need more selfless souls to infiltraite
and quietly report
Thanks for post.
Hello, hello.
Maybe now after that nasty Camp Cindy Spy Thread I can redeem myself.
Keep up the good work. I'm glad we're getting this info from that camp of wackos.
"Everyone had to be on message, and the message was the point of everything…stray from the message and you are out. Even the protesters' signs were monitored less they distract from the message"
Yeah, definitely sounds like a Communist Police-state Paradise.
we were made to chip away
I wasnt on the spy thread.
The libs definatly had plants at our rally, Its time we gave them turn about.
SCARECROW
Do? Why, if I had a brain, I could --
(sings)
I could while away the hours,
Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain
DOROTHY
(sings)
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain
SCARECROW
Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk
before,
And then I'd sit -- and think some more.
I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain
yeah, the spy thread was terrible.
When it was first posted, I'll admit: I was against sending spies to Camp Cindy. Fortunately, after much heated discussion, I was persuaded. Especially after reading this, you realize just what's going on.
Contact JrEweing he made it ;)
Sorry,but we've seen that movie before.
I missed that thread. Got a link?
"After bonding with several nice ladies from the central coast of California"
In defense of the real central coast of California aka SLO County (the only "red" bit of the California coast) I would like to state that most people mistakenly identify places like Monterey, Santa Cruz, or Santa Barbara as part of the "central coast".
While there are a few liberals in SLO (San Luis Obispo) County, the majority of the folks there are conservative.
Yes, I did read that, thanks.
In the end, I realized that my earlier comments on the thread were not really grounded...I hadn't done any research or looking into the matter. They were based really on my gut reaction when I first read about the spy.
Although for days, people would read my first comments and try to argue with me after my persuasion. That got kind of annoying.
"And the message is "All things bad are America's fault"
Four legs good. Two legs bad. Baaaaaahhh!
The leftists are nothing but walking zombies.
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