Reporter's notebook: What really happens at Tea Party rallies

CNN ^ | April 7, 2010 | Shannon Travis

[Free ThinkerNY]

(CNN) -- When it comes to the Tea Party movement, the stereotypes don't tell the whole story.

Here's what you often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: offensive posters blasting President Obama and Democratic leaders; racist rhetoric spewed from what seems to be a largely white, male audience; and angry protesters rallying around the Constitution.

Case in point: During the health care debate last month, opponents shouted racial slurs at civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis and one person spit on Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. The incidents made national headlines, and they provided Tea Party opponents with fodder to question the movement.

But here's what you don't often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: Patriotic signs professing a love for country; mothers and fathers with their children; African-Americans proudly participating; and senior citizens bopping to a hip-hop rapper.

Last week, I saw all of this during a five-city Western swing as the Tea Party Express national tour made its way across the country. CNN was along for the ride, and I was charged with planning CNN's coverage for five stops in two states: St. George, Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah; and Grand Junction and Denver, Colorado.

[bk1000]

“During the health care debate last month, opponents shouted racial slurs at civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis...”

No proof of that in spite of cameras everywhere. Besides, Lewis has zero credibility since I heard him on a recent election day in a radio ad state urgently that if Atlanta blacks didn’t get out and elect the black running for city council, that blacks would lose power and whites would turn fire hoses on them again. He is a race pimp no better than Jackson or Sharpton.

[SmokingJoe]

You're hopeless

You are the one that makes things up against the Tea parties out of thin air. You have a problem with the truth.

“You have a bigger problem than an off-hand comment by me. “

You made the accusation(like any normal race baiter). You provide the proof.

“The whole Tea Party movement seems to be content to let the MSM define their public image for them.”

The Tea Parties are winning the propaganda war. There have been at least 3 polls between yesterday and today, that show the the American public highly favorable of the Tea Parties, including this one:
“Tea Party 48% Obama 44%”
http://mensnewsdaily.com/sexandmetro/2010/04/07/tea-party-48-obama-44/

And this:

and this:
Tea Party Going Mainstream? Polls Suggest Movement Gaining in Popularity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2488256/posts

The MSM are defining nothing. If I were the MSM, I'd worry more about the MSM’s own poll numbers, which show the public totally fed up with the media.

“Media Bias a ‘Bigger Problem’ Than Large Campaign Contributions, Rasmussen Re-Confirms “
Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters continue to think that media bias is a bigger problem in politics today than big campaign contributions”
http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2010/20100407022551.aspx

As it turns out, the Tea Parties are doing better with the American public than 0nbama or the media themselves, despite the massive effort by the MSM to smear the Tea Parties. It's just not working. Too many alternative media outlets out there right now.

“Feel free to continue, son.”

You are repeating yourself old chap.
You last post had this to say:
“I'm through — “

Only for you to turn round, come right back, and continue spewing your usual garbage again. You are so used falsehoods, you can't even keep your own word, made to yourself, with om one forcing you to do it.
What a sad pathetic fellow you are, Mr Tea Party smearer.

[r9etb]

All that, and you still have a serious media problem. You'd rather whine at me, and cry about "lying reporters," than fix it.

That's all I need to know about you, Joe.

[namvolunteer]

Dude, you’re making wild accusations that you’re being called on, and you go off on a tangent that you’re some master political strategist and nobody is as smart as you.

You created your own quagmire (using “in fact”)and it is bogging you down. Nobody is listening to your strategy because they see you can’t get out of a trap of your own making. Some strategist!

You are using the words “in fact” and “I seriously doubt” but you have absolutely no basis in fact. You are arguing with an eyewitness.

[FourPeas]

During the health care debate last month, opponents shouted racial slurs at civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis and one person spit on Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

Nope. Not "[c]ase in point." There is no evidence whatsoever that either of these things occurred.

[r9etb]

Dude, you’re making wild accusations that you’re being called on,

I said above that it was speculation. I'm pretty sure I'm right. That's the extent of it.

As for the rest -- all I see is whining and crying about lying reporters, and folks who refuse to focus on the actual problem this issue presents for the Tea Party movement.

I'm happy to believe you guys don't have a clue -- and there's plenty of evidence on this thread to support it.

[SmokingJoe]

All that, and you still have a serious media problem.

The media have a serious credibility problem with the American public. Read the polls. That's why the Tea Parties continue to go from strength to strength despite vicious MSM attacks. Same with Sarah Palin. Look how rich and powerful she has become despite being attacked by the MSM more than anyone else has in recent history.

” You'd rather whine at me, and cry about “lying reporters,” than fix it.”

You lied about the Tea Parties. You smeared the Tea Parties. And we are still waiting for your proof to back up your accusation. Not that it matters either way. If the MSM couldn't do it, I fail to see how you can.

[RedMDer]

Game, set and match.

[timestax]

If this photo offends you, don't go to Tea Party Rally

[spodefly]

Case in point: During the health care debate last month, opponents shouted racial slurs at civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis and one person spit on Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. The incidents made national headlines, and they provided Tea Party opponents with fodder to question the movement.

CNN LIES!!!

There's $100,000.00 in it if you can prove it happened.

[GOPJ]

But here's what you don't often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: Patriotic signs professing a love for country; mothers and fathers with their children; African-Americans proudly participating; and senior citizens bopping to a hip-hop rapper.

Ummm, the REASON you "don't often see" is BECAUSE LIBERALS run the MSM and they would rather go with a lie. A lie that props up their preconceived notions and hatreds of all things and people conservative...

Who wants to bet this reporter is out of a job next year...

Anyone?

[backwoods-engineer]

During the health care debate last month, opponents shouted racial slurs at civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis and one person spit on Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

Well, I guess this reporterette is going to stick to what she knows: LIES and PROPAGANDA. CWII is coming, and people like this are going to make sure it happens.

[backwoods-engineer]

Are you sure it's a lie? I'm not. I'm sure, in fact, that there are a few idiots in the Tea Party rallies who would and probably did do exactly what was alleged.

WRONG, DUDE. I know someone who was there. The N-word did not happen, and the spitting was due to Cleaver being in the guy's face.

Stop helping the other side.

[kcvl]

Shannon Travis, CNN Political Producer

[Dead Corpse]

Reward is up to $100k.

Either post proof or STFU. Seriously.

[r9etb]

WRONG, DUDE. I know someone who was there. The N-word did not happen,

Hearsay -- actually, it can't even be dignified as hearsay, as it's a claim of not hearing -- doesn't even rise to that level. No sale.

and the spitting was due to Cleaver being in the guy's face.

Which is to say, it happened. Vastly over-stated by Cleaver, of course, but it happened. Oops.

Stop helping the other side.

Yeah, right.

[r9etb]

Either post proof or STFU. Seriously.

I long ago gave up on the hope that you'd get a clue. You could take that $100k, and probably not even be able to buy a clue.

The problem is not what I said, nitwit -- it's the fact that the Tea Party has no way to combat the MSM claim, because those idiots are too "proud" to get themselves organized.

[r9etb]

You lied about the Tea Parties. You smeared the Tea Parties.

My Gawd, but you're a crybaby....

[r9etb]

You lied about the Tea Parties. You smeared the Tea Parties.

OBTW, liar liar pants on fire ... if you read my original comment you will see that I did not "smear the Tea Parties." I said there are probably a few idiots who do not represent the vast majority.

[SmokingJoe]

OBTW, liar liar pants on fire ... if you read my original comment you will see that I did not “smear the Tea Parties.” I said there are probably a few idiots who do not represent the vast majority.

Still pushing your lies and your BS huh?
I have repeatedly quoted you word for word on exactly what you said in your post, which you have equally repeatedly continued to ignore and dodge, and gone off on your own little trip anyway.
You DID smear the Tea Parties by saying someone DID use a racist epithet against these race baiting black congressmen.
At least 2 Freepers who were actually there, called you out on it, and you have continued to prevaricate, lie and beat around the bush. I have repeatedly demanded that you produce ANY evidence to support your assertions that racist epithets were used, and you have equally determinedly continued to dodge the issue and spew out even more BS than before.
Those are crickets you hear chirping..still waiting for you to provide your evidence of racist attacks by the tea partiers. I am not gonna hod my breadth.