Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left

Pajamas Media ^ | 4-7-09 | Roger L. Simon

[adm5]

Back when I was semi-card-carrying leftie, we used to spend a lot of time speculating who was the agent provocateur - read: FBI agent - at the demonstration.

[adm5]

Back when I was semi-card-carrying leftie, we used to spend a lot of time speculating who was the agent provocateur - read: FBI agent - at the demonstration. Usually we thought he was the most extreme character, the guy most obviously shredding his draft card in full view of the media while tossing a cherry bomb at an American flag already heavily doused in kerosene, maybe adding a little defecation into the mix. The theory was the more “out there” the acts, the more likely the motive was to discredit our “righteous” cause. This often included yet more extreme provocateurs inside the more violent groups like the Panthers and the Weathermen where real bombs, not the cherry sort, were involved.

But times have changed and for once the formerly quiescent right is gearing up to demonstrate on April 15. The left has not had to deal with something like this in recent years. Fuddy-duddy as they and their ideology may be, they have had the demo scene pretty much to themselves for decades. An element of distress (envy? nerves?) is in the air. According to Newsbusters derived from the Cavuto Show and other sources, in a startling role reversal, ACORN and the Huffington Post are planning to infiltrate the Tea Parties.

On Fox News Channel’s April 7 “Your World,” host Neil Cavuto reported that the Tax Day tea party protests on April 15 will be “infiltrated” by their political opponents and led by left-wing activist organizations. He specifically named Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

“Only eight days before a nationwide tea party, some over-caffeinated crashers aiming to lay waste to it,” Cavuto said. “Reports of very well-organized infiltrators trying to mix in and rain on this parade. Talk about taxing.”

Of course, in the parlance of a more centrist liberal, this all depends on what your definition of infiltrate is. The HuffPo is planning, like PJTV and Pajamas Media, to send citizen reporters. If that’s true, more power to them. Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom, I always say. But if they intend to participate and shape events while hiding their identities, well, that’s another matter. The same is true of ACORN. I would say to them welcome. Demonstrate, counter demonstrate, do your thing. This is America. But if someone’s out to play the agents provocateurs game, trying to make the Tea Party movement seem to be what it’s not, painting libertarians as racists or similar nonsense, well, that deserves to be exposed and countered vigorously.

So my recommendation to Tea Party demonstrators as a former leftie is to tear a leaf from my old book. Keep your eye out for the most extreme characters and then ask yourself: Is that real? Is that person who he or she says he is? Cui bono, who profits, here from what they are saying or doing? Draw your conclusions (carefully!) and then act accordingly and completely within the law.

This is adm5 now: Make sure to read the comments below this article on the link provided up top. Excellent suggestions and advice from some there.

I'm definitely going to be bringing my video camera to capture any shenanigans that might unfold. And the other thing is to remain calm and in control at all times - if someone (lefty) is trying to provoke you into some sort of violent/unintelligent response, there will be a camera there capturing the entire event and will be broadcast immediately on all MSM/net outlets to try and discredit us and our movement.

[adm5]

Here are a few of the comments on Pajamas Media.

1. Jim:

*snark*
The one with the B carved in her forehead?

Apr 8, 2009 - 12:46 am

2. william Blake:

I don’t think these people know what they are in for.

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:09 am

3. Tea Party Advice « The Original William Blake’s Blog:

[...] “So my recommendation to Tea Party demonstrators as a former leftie is to tear a leaf from my …Cui bono, who profits, here from what they are saying or doing? Draw your conclusions (carefully!) and then act accordingly and completely within the law.” Published in: [...]

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:14 am

4. Larry J:

No, all you have to do is show a big picture of Rush Limbaugh. If they react like a vampire to sunlight, you’re found your infiltrator.

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:54 am

5. David Thomson:

“The same is true of ACORN. I would say to them welcome.”

Nope, that should not be our attitude. ACORN is a government funded group. It is not comprised of private citizens. In many respects, ACORN members are Barack Obama’s storm troopers. We must not be fearful of criticizing these thugs out of fear of being branded racists. They have no legal right to participate such political activities as per se ACORN members.

Apr 8, 2009 - 6:57 am

6. kcom:

I am reminded of various events during last year’s campaigns where it turned out that “random” concerned citizens asking questions at certain debates or campaign events were, in actuality, for want of a better word, “plants”. They either worked for (or were often leaders of) campaign organizations or activist groups that had a specific stake in one campaign or the other. This was often with the TV networks’ collusion. A little creative googling the next day brought out the whole story and exposed the chicanery for what it was.

I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take pictures of anyone causing trouble and, if possible, get their names. Google could be a very good friend in that situation. If they were exposed as ACORN plants it would be helpful. Of course, to a certain degree, it will be too little to late if the networks cover them and call them Tea Party protesters and the truth as to their true motives only comes out the next day (and is ignored by the general media). But it can’t hurt.

As Roger says, anyone who shows up as a citizen reporter, honest and upfront, whether from the Huffington Post or somewhere else has every right to exercise their Constitutional rights. But no one has the right to speak for a movement they don’t really belong to.

Apr 8, 2009 - 7:55 am

7. tim maguire:

Judging by the liberals who come on conservative blogs posing as conservatives, they should be pretty easy to spot. Having not a clue about how conservatives think or believe and why, their rants typically sound as authentic as language run through translation software.

Apr 8, 2009 - 10:31 am

8. MAS1916:

Conservative participants need to get in front of the cameras. The only way ACORN and others can impact the movement is to lie about it and make the movement look silly. They will try to do this by influencing coverage.

Main stream media doesn’t want to cover this story to begin with, so we’ll have to compete. Get your thoughts and comments together, seek out the journalists (they hate to work anyway) and talk to them before the idiot lefties do.

Apr 8, 2009 - 10:42 am

9. suedenim:

As with most things, I believe we can look to Spock for guidance. As he put it (when explaining how it was easy for him to spot Kirk et al’s evil duplicates from the Mirror Universe):

“It was far easier for you as civilized men to behave like barbarians than it was for them as barbarians to behave like civilized men.”

Apr 8, 2009 - 11:33 am

10. EdSki:

I’m reminded of the scene from the Grapes of Wrath, where the locals try to infiltrate the dance at the migrant camp in order to discredit them, and get the camp closed down. If I remember correctly, all it took was a few very observant farmers (Henry Fonda) to pick out the hoodlums and very quietly and quickly, move them some where else. I seem to remember something about using fists on stomachs so they’d leave no marks.

Not that I’m suggesting any violence, but it was an uplifting scene watching the farmers handle their own issues, take care of business, and save the day.

Apr 8, 2009 - 12:35 pm

11. Instapundit » Blog Archive » ROGER SIMON: Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left….:

[...] ROGER SIMON: Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left. [...]

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:21 pm

12. thenakedemperor:

It shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s easy for a civilized man to act the barbarian, while a barbarian has no knowledge of how to act civilized.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:26 pm

13. Dave in Texas:

we’re already covering this on TCOT, all over the twitterverse.. be polite, act legally, seek out the stuff that doesn’t make SENSE… we KNOW that conservatives protesting for fiscal responsibility, for ethics and morals and God and country, aren’t going to have “KILL OBAMA” signs and aren’t going to be destructive and so forth.. but they can be subtle and still subvert the whole thing, particularly with a compliant/eager media waiting for that perfect clip to play a million times that will stain the reputations of the folks who go to these events.

BE CAREFUL. No fighting. No cursing. Be polite. If you see a sign, or hear a person, suggesting violence or some other nonconservative method of response to a problem, it ISN”T US.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:31 pm

14. DeliLama:

Bring extra signs that say “BEWARE OF LEFTISTS PRETENDING TO BE EXTREME RIGHT-WINGERS” with a movable arrow (velcro, whatever). Then watch for this type of person and follow them around with the warning sign in clear view of any cameras.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:32 pm

15. Contumacious:

Make everyone pay for something (a copy of the Constitution, etc.) with their own money.

You know how much the left HATES to reach into their own pockets.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:38 pm

16. Kevin:

Things not to bring April 15:

Confederate flag
Swastikas
White sheets with holes cut in them

If you see these, feel free to pummel them.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:42 pm

17. Conservadick:

And don’t be afraid to photograph disruptive lefties behaving badly and post them to the web. The whole internet troll approach falls apart when anonymity is stripped away.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:44 pm

18. Neil:

The return of “Fake But Accurate”!

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:52 pm

19. Nahanni:

If a moonbat does show up just do what that one Tea Party did to the MSM reporter who only wanted to interview the one Obamaworshiping counterprotester.

Surround them, point at the person and start chanting “Leftist fraud”, ACORN nutjob”, “SHAME!” or whatever works to make it impossible for the MSM to interview them and to use any video. It also would help if some folks brought rolled up signs that said “Leftist fraud” or “ACORN nutjob” to roll out and use right next to that person so the MSM can not use any silent video of them for VOC’s, either.

When they figure out that they are not going to get their desired effect of trying to make the Tea party look like a Klan rally and try to leave about 10-15 people should follow them to “escort” them away-keep chanting at them. Once they pass the police let them go on their way otherwise they might start screeching that they are being stalked or some other BS.

If you go to a Tea Party bring a camera, if some moonbat gets loose and starts screeching make sure you record it and post it on youtube plus send it to places like PJTV just in case youtube deletes it for “content” reasons because we all know how youtube is when it comes to anything that might be pro American or of a “conservative” nature.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:56 pm

20. RebeccaH:

My advice for Tea Party protestors is to quickly identify these “extreme” protestors, and follow them around, asking loud and repetitive questions: Do you work for ACORN? What group are you representing? Who sent you here?” The quickest way to discredit purveyors of the race card is to challenge their racism, and that goes for any political orientation, such as socialism or out-and-out Marxism.

The so-called MSM don’t want to cover Tea Party demonstrations, but they will if they sense blood in the water. Just make sure the blood belongs to the left-leaning provocateurs, and not the legitimate citizens who see their government as massively failing us.

[Star Traveler]

Yeah, the FBI-agent-provocateur is the one trying to sell everyone drugs... :-)

[o_zarkman44]

Beware of people asking for your email address, posing as tea party or fair tax reps. They may be ACORN OR SOME OTHER LEFT WING DOT ORG.
Don’t get on the wrong mail list. What they might do with your email could be malicious, and even bring on harassment.

If the fair tax people are there, they will have a legitimate booth set up with legitimate literature.

[Salamander]

I asked on the MD & WV state boards *who* will be going to the Frederick MD and Martinsburg WV parties?

I need to find at least one person I can identify on sight to make sure I’m not accidentally behind enemy lines.

[sheesh...just look at me...I’m frequently mistaken for a “liberal” because of the hair, the clothes, the art work, the literature, musical preferences, etc]

I need to find someone who will recognize *me* as much as I will be able to recognize *them*.
[they won’t have a very tough time picking me out of crowd]...LOL

Help!

[fellowpatriot]

If the media shows up, you can be sure that acorn or other nuts are present at your tea party.

[o_zarkman44]

Info coming from a very good source told me that the Tea Party in Columbia , Missouri a few weeks ago had FBI and other Government and LE people taking pictures of the crowd for “inventory” and archiveal purposes.

People acting up should smile big for the cameras.
I did. And held my sign with pride.

[tacticalogic]

Think of a question or comment only someone from here would have a recognizable reaction to - eg “Am I logged on?”

[Star Traveler]

I remember from back in my college days that certain people would get paranoid at times and think there were FBI agents in the crowd or something. I don’t doubt what you’re saying; I was just commenting on my own experience... a blast from the past... LOL...

[George Smiley]

Was that blotter or microdot at work?

:-)

[George Smiley]

I posted this to *another* Tea Party’s site as a bit of friendly advice:

I’ve posted in numerous places that the National Park Service rangers don’t take kindly to disruptors and that will probably discourage them from coming to the [other, from your point of view] rally at Independence Mall on the 18th. (Lefties do opposition research, too!)

If confronted, don’t respond. Get the police involved as soon as is humanly possible. Video if you can.

You might want to set up an informal security team composed of people who all have PTT phones (Nextel, for example). Half a dozen to a dozen or so should suffice, just to keep an eye on things.

Set up a designated member of that team to stay next to the senior police official on-scene, so that your security team can relay information DIRECTLY to the police, thus helping to speed up response time.

[RegulatorCountry]

In a “prior life,” I was in management in the textile industry, and training for union avoidance came with the territory. As a result of that experience, I can spot an “organizer” from a hundred yards off, lol. It's in the eyes, sort of dead, even when the other visual cues such as clothing or body language aren't particularly noteworthy. People who are just too direct, too intent on corralling you or a group of people into a particular thought or circumstance.

The most obvious “tell” other than this would be that ringleaders typically make almost a fetish out of any type of work clothes and shoes, trying so hard to be perceived as the working man, but are overly conscious about haircuts. Current style or buzzed for men, always fairly fresh, overcompensating to avoid the longhair stereotype would be my guess.

So, if you have someone, or a group of them, who fit this description, and they're just too intense even when quiet, they're the ones to watch and have cellphone cameras at the ready.

Another tell for staging would be to pay close attention to where media congregate. Whether they're drawn to where they know the “action” is going to be, or the theatrics are drawn to them, is immaterial. That's where it'll be.

[Salamander]

LOL!!!!

So, I should sidle up to someone and nonchalantly ask them if their beeber is stuned?.

[”Psssst! Hey you! A hugh and series thing just happened; a møøse bit my sister!”]

And if I ask some “normal” person, next thing I know there’s a butterfly net over me.

Sounds like a plan!

;-D

[Salamander]

I have a black visor with “FBI” on the front and a black t-shirt that’s FBI issue.

My blacked-out windows/black Yukon looks like a “MIB-mobile”.

Should I bring them?....:)

[Star Traveler]

Yeah, don’t forget that little thingy that makes you forget everything... :-)

[darkangel82]

Just don’t over-stune, or you might self-zot accidentally.

[QBFimi]

ping

[Salamander]

I accidentally looked at it once and forgot where I put it.

[I *can* bring a small dog wearing a business suit, though]

[Star Traveler]

I used to walk my cousin’s four little weiner dogs around the block. They were like four little aliens... :-)

[Salamander]

Been there, done that but mercifully, I’ve forgotten about it....mostly....:)