Pic Of The Moment: Shutdown Day 14: Palin And Cruz Join Regrettable Tea Party Protest

[EarlG]

Imagine The President's Daughters Looking Out Their Window To See This....

Debt limit defeat turns conservatives into neo-Confederate fantasists

Follow @demunderground

[rurallib]

1. confederate flag: the symbol of treason

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. flag holders: the symbols of insanity

[AlbertCat]

7. confederate flag: the symbol of treason

Well, the flag they are waving is the KKK flag.... because the real Confederate battle flag is not the thing you see on pick up trucks, and beach towels, and the SC State House or at this protest.

So it's really just the symbol of White Supremacy.... embraced by more than just uneducated Southerners.

[santamargarita]

15. It's the rag of treason, racism and nothing this country stands for.

[gopiscrap]

10. yup that's why I think it should be defined as hate speech

[davidpdx]

76. True, they might as well been holding a flag with a swastika and wearing white pillow cases

on their heads screaming "we're going to lynch that Kenyan guy". If it smells like shit, then that's what it is.

[gopiscrap]

77. yup

[hermanm69]

16. A T-bagger lynch mob

Going after the black man in the whitehouse. T-baggers= KKK

[gopiscrap]

19. welcome to DU

[gopiscrap]

20. I totally agree with you!

[tavalon]

69. Welcome

I wanted to thank you for using the moniker that the teabaggers first chose for themselves. They don't get a do over as far as I'm concerned.

[nomorenomore08]

72. Welcome! I see you have good taste in avatars...

[yuiyoshida]

3. LIKE!

[Snake Plissken]

4. The Tea Party = Westboro Baptist Church 2.0

[DissidentVoice]

31. I would say the John Birch Society 2.0

Not that I think you're incorrect, but to me the TP is just the JBS in faux-Revolutionary garb.

JBS -

Just
Bull
Shit

[William769]

5. Kick & recommended.

[DebJ]

6. Hm, since they think the South won the Civil War, why aren't they in Richmond? n/t

[nolabear]

8. I feel for the vets that were there to protest and got hijacked.

I get the impression from the videos that there were people desperately trying to stop the pushing around of police and the violent rhetoric. They didn't fight in order to be taken advantage of by extremist fringers and Confederate sympathizers. And yes, I include Cruz and Palin in that (I can't get the picture of those two having wild fantasies about one another out of my head).

[DinahMoeHum]

9. A better use for that Confederate flag. . .

. . .would be as a toilet.

[Coyotl]

11. Classic!

Caption this: Ted Cruz protesting the #GOPshutdown
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023845907

Only one thing askew with the picture. It wasn't a Tearrany Party protest, it was a Vets protest that the Tea Party commandeered.

[blkmusclmachine]

75. Cruz Could Force Default All By Himself:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-14/ted-cruz-could-force-a-debt-default-all-by-himself

[daybranch]

12. Now the modern teaparty admits where their sympathy lies

This is a very powerful image and it creates a strong and lastin g truth in the minds of viewers. The picture conveys far better than words that the teaparty takes their ideas from a group rationale , not of bringing freedom to America during the revolution but of enslaving many so their rich masters could take more and more. We white people must understand that all are under attack. Our black, American Indians, Asian , and Hispanic brothers are not alone as targets in our democracy. The teaparty believes it has the God Given right to enslave for the the benefit of their rich bosses The tea party must come out from under the sheets- Oh I guess they just did. Lets spread this image everywhere with a simple question-does this show who they are or even without.

[DissidentVoice]

32. They claim that there are "all races" in the TP

So I've heard them say.

However, I cannot recall ever seeing a Black, Native American, Asian or Latino (Ted Cruz notwithstanding) person in their little "marches."

I'm also not counting the hideous caricatures of President Obama (everything from Adolf Hitler to a stereotypical African "witch doctor&quot they carry on their placards.

They get really angry with me when I ask where they were when George W. Bush inflicted (with the inexcusable help of too many compliant Democrats) his Constitution-shredding Patriot Act (also inexcusably renewed by President Obama) on the country.

They also get angry when I tell them it's quite odd that they didn't come out of the woodwork and start yelling about "the Constitution!" until Barack Obama was elected.

[Doc Holliday]

52. In my experience...

...questions about the chronological sincerity of someone's belated outrage over this issue or that (or the Constitution) are invariably met with a blank stare. Sometimes there's drool involved...not always. It's like: "Uh...what are you talkin' about, man?"

There are far too many dumbasses in our country who've been convinced that pretty much everything that's wrong with America today is Barack Obama's fault.

Fuckin' Ted Cruz....one more thing for Texas to be ashamed of. Thanks a pantload, Ted.

[DissidentVoice]

60. I love it (and no doubt you do too, being a vet)

I love it when they try to tell me "you don't care about the Constitution!"

I tell them "if I didn't care, I sure wouldn't have raised my right hand and swore an oath to protect and defend it (along with my State Constitution) from all enemies, foreign and domestic."

[caledesi]

38. Good post and welcome! EarlG,thanks.

Gee,is Palin is still milking her 15 minutes!

[workinclasszero]

13. A crowd of hateful ignorant white republican tea baggers waving the symbol of slavery

in front of the White House with a black President and his family inside.

Gee we sure have come a long way eh?

I bet those scum were having fantasies of lynchings back in the "good ole days".

This footage will make great campaign commercials next year and in 2016.

Show everyone what these scumbag racist republicans really stand for!

[Coyotl]

14. ^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^

[cilla4progress]

17. Feels like last gasps

hopefully Pres. Obama and Michelle (whom I also feel for) are able to explain it in this way to their daughters.

[DissidentVoice]

34. I feel for them too

You should hear (well, actually, I wouldn't wish that on anyone) some of the horrible racial slurs heaped on the FLOTUS and their children.

[tavernier]

18. They don't just hate people of color

They also hate old people, foreigners, people with different accents, people who don't go to THEIR church, people who wear different looking clothes, hair, shoes, jewelry, people who are not masculine enough, feminine enough, pretty enough... And possibly a few more.

Mr. Cruz , you've already got several strikes. I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you. That guy over there sittin' on the back if his pick up truck next to the gun rack has been squinting at you pretty mean like since you said your last name...

[noiretextatique]

49. indeed: they hate everyone

senor cruz has better watch his cajones around that crowd.

[Doc Holliday]

53. The state of modern multimedia demagoguery

being what it is, I'd say that it's a case of 'they hate whoever they're told to hate.'

[Nancy_Thompson]

21. Million Vet March Organizers Condemn Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, and the Tea Party

The tea party, Sarah Palin, and Ted Cruz tried to hijack the Million Vet March for political and personal gain, and event organizers condemned them for politicizing the march.

According to a message on their website, the problem began when a local DC organizer turned the march into a tea party rally, “The political agenda put forth by a local organizer in Washington DC was not in alignment with our message. We feel disheartened that some would seek to hijack the narrative for political gain. The core principle is about all Americans honoring Veterans in a peaceful and apolitical manner.”

In a post on their Facebook page, organizers went into more detail,

It is our official position that the purpose of this march and the accompanying rallies is focused on the re-opening of the Veterans memorials and keeping them open. While we understand that a Constitutional republic requires the equilibrium of checks and balances to maintain the democratic process, the memorials, monuments and parks built in honor of Veterans should NEVER be closed, blocked or restricted from use. We take the official position that no government office holder shall have ability to abridge the freedom of access to these hallowed grounds.
We have, as a group, been prevented from certain groups that have piggy-backed off our grassroots efforts, to effectively create a comprehensive media message campaign. We made the mistake of trying to partner with some Washington insiders that thwarted many of our genuine concerns for keeping this apolitical and grassroots. While we support many of those groups common causes for Veterans, we do not support the manner in which they go about it. We chose instead to not incite or create panic.
We chose to listen to all Americans and all Veterans that have asked us to keep going on despite the disingenuous politicians, political action committees, talking heads on the televisions and press reports attempting to hijack the message. This included many threats of personal and political attacks on our group’s character, businesses, colleagues and our true intentions. While our hearts were heavy by the disheartening acts of a few powerful Washington elite and political extremists jumping on the opportunity to make money, we decided to stay true to our message of a non-partisan effort to assist Veterans.

A few powerful Washington elites? I believe that would be Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, and the political extremists are Sarah Palin and the tea partiers. The “incite or create panic” line refers to those tea partiers who tore down the barricades at the WWII memorial and marched to the White House. The extremists waved the confederate flag in front of the White House and chanted things like impeach Obama.

I suspect that Cruz and Palin were not invited, and a Facebook account of their behavior for one vet who was there fits the description of using the event for political gain, “I was disappointed when Ms. Palin and Mr. Cruz walked up to us to say hello but then walked down to the center to try to use us for they’re own purpose so I left to visit the viet nam memorial ty Brats.”

Tea partiers are proud of themselves for taking an event about veterans and turning it into another platform to showcase their hatred of this president, but they should be ashamed of themselves. The people who turned the march into an anti-Obama rally shamed and humiliated our veterans. Every vet knows that it doesn’t matter what political party a president is from, they are still the Commander in Chief. The organizers of this event may or may not be conservatives, but it is clear that they didn’t want the tea party mob, or Palin and Cruz’s grandstanding at their event.

Veterans are about honor and sacrifice. The Republicans who politicized the event brought dishonor to the very values that our veterans embody. To self-promoters like Palin and Cruz, veterans are nothing more than props to be used for political and financial gain, and they are proud to have tarnished our nation’s veterans with their selfish extremism.

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/13/million-vet-march-organizers-condemn-sarah-palin-ted-cruz-tea-party.html

[freshwest]

37. I'm not buying their excuses nor their march. People are doing without food, shelter and medical,

and instead of organizing against that, they follow the lead of the GOP in abusing federal workers for the privilege of visiting a monument.

This was a RW PR stunt, from its very beginnning. This was not apolitical. Nothing about this shut down is apoltical. They are blaming Obama for something the GOP did. They picked a side. These marches were orgnaized by the GOP the first day of the shutdown as PR stunts to gin people up. Then these guys play the second chorus. It's not a coincidence.

These people were not naive about what they were doing. There was no sense of proportionality to the real damage being done by the shut down, since they didn't go to the House and tell them to get their act together..

My dad served in WW2 and parks being closed down would not be his first priority. That's for another battle while the nation's social contract and the New Deal have been shredded by the GOP. He would have been raising hell long before this and other parks were closed.

As a member of the CCC in the Great Depression he built parks and other public works. He didn't see them as more sacred than the people they were built to serve. He was a teacher in the arrny, served in the Pacific, was a union machinist and then a businessman.

He knew people are more important than things, so he did not die a wealthy man but was mourned by hundreds who he helped. He would not waste time on something like this if he were still alive. I knew him and my family well, there is no way they would have marched over a park while people were doing without.

This report reads like the complaint of a privileged Libertarian group with all their needs being met, while others are being left behind. Why weren't they doing a march in the halls of the House in D.C. who engineered the shutdown?

It didn't turn into a PR stunt by Cruz and Palin at the end. It was a RW stunt from the beginning. The entire thing was frivolous while people are going without work, losing their homes, and flooding food banks, and now in their old age, being threatened with no payments or 41% on the dollar in benefits. Those people did not inspire action. Is it because they would never march for the ones the GOP call moochers?

This group missed the mark of the big problem so badly, I cannot believe this was begun with good intent. They were there to spit on the system that had nothing to do with the shutdown. I consider all these actions to be abusive and arrogant like berating the help who have no say, by those who consideer themselves to be their 'betters.' At this point, the GOP have made all federal and other public workers, from fire fighters to teachers and park workers, convenient whipping posts. This is unworthy behavior.

No offense to your post, not directed at you at all, but after reading that defense they put out, I could not let it pass. I'm looking at the big picture and this is was wrong from the outset.

I'll bet they all voted for Romney and Ryan with his cut throat budget, too. I know some vets who say this kind of march is BS, for the reasons I cited on the big picture, and it's irrelevant.

Others just hate Obama, and look for any excuse to impeach him and hurt government, since the people dared to elect a black Democrat. This is not what they want, but claim they went to war to protect, back when they believed in America.

Now they believe in Rush and Faux News.

Venting at them, not you. I hope you understand.

[pitbullgirl1965]

50. They're full of it

I was blocked after I posted the yahoo with the confederate flag and asked what a treasonous flag was doing there. That coupled with agreeing with other people that food, shelter and medical care trump a memorial
Oh they let some internet memes up bashing President Obama too.

[the_chinuk]

22. Klan of the Pander Bear, herd formation.

[fascisthunter]

23. good lord she's so stupid

and so are her supporters. The reason has a following is because she's a fanatic who, like themselves is stupid, and an unconsionable sociopath to boot.

[BainsBane]

24. If only they would secede

We could start getting things done again.

[jjewell]

25. "Let's march down to the White House and wave a Confederate Flag at the black President."

EarlG, you've outdone yourself....

[Blue Owl]

26. NeoConTederate Cruz

n/t

[heaven05]

27. A photo like this with 'true amerikkkans' voicing their sentiments

about the present POTUS does not surprise me in the least. The RW has let the world see the hateful underbelly that amerikkka has ALWAYS possessed and I fear now, will never be rid of. The cat's out the bag. Hateful, hateful people, Palin, Cruz, Goober, et al.

[Gothmog]

28. Juanita Jean had to comment on Ted Cruz' jacket

http://www.juanitajean.com/2013/10/13/i-knew-i-shouldnt-have-walked-away-from-the-computer-for-five-hours-i-knew-that-was-too-long-for-ted-cruz-to-stay-out-of-crazyville/

It’s because he was wearing Rick Perry’s “I am not gay” jacket.





That jacket has become famous as the Texas lyin’ politician jacket.

All lying Texas politicians wear this jacket

[MADem]

30. That's a "Barn Coat" up this way, and Scott "Head Up Ass" Brown, former MA senator,wore one too...

His platform was as follows:

He wears a barn coat.
He drives a pick-up truck!
Vote for Scott Brown!

It worked in the special election, but he couldn't make the sale with a coordinated opposition campaign (good thing).

[pitbullgirl1965]

62. HA! Real barn coats

are stained green with cow s**t, with a sprinkling of urine, and a dash of afterbirth. And where the hell are his barn boots?
Gawd these idiots.

[MADem]

63. You have to wait for him to open his mouth to see the cowshit, I'm afraid.

And he got those boots up his ass, courtesy of the citizens of the commonwealth, when they elected Liz Warren instead of him!!!

[TBF]

35. lol

[KansDem]

29. "Wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"

[TBF]

36. No kidding - it's the one reason I really fear revolution in this country.

Because THIS is what could take over ...

[DissidentVoice]

61. I'll believe it...

I'll believe it the day I see them actually try to face down armed and trained National Guard troops.



I was in the Air National Guard...and I know that my colleagues on the "green side" (Army Guard) are well-trained in suppressing insurrection.

I really wasn't, unless one could count the psychological effect an F-4 or F-16 in full 'burner could have flying low over some of these shitbirds...

[DissidentVoice]

33. What I personally find offensive...

Well, basically the whole picture.

But I am a veteran of the United States Air Force Air National Guard. I have also served as a volunteer in the Civil Air Patrol (volunteer auxiliary of the USAF) and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The current National Commander of the CAP is African-American (Major General Charles L. Carr), and his Deputy Commander is Latino (Brigadier General Joseph R. Vasquez).

In the back of the picture I see the USAF seal. No doubt the seals of the other four services are there too.

It sickens me that they would attempt to tie the Confederacy to those who served in the military.

I had colleagues of basically every colour and creed in uniform.

Even in USAF Basic Training, at least one of my flightmates was Jewish, several were black and one was Native Hawaiian.

My training superintendent (a "Blue Rope," the highest rating a Military Training Instructor in the USAF can earn) was a huge black Master Sergeant with the James Earl Jones "Voice Of Doom" (when HE spoke, you LISTENED and STFU)...I'd like to see one of these shitbirds wave a Confederate flag in HIS face.

A Jewish Chaplain counselled me (probably saved my life!) during Basic Training...even though I am a Christian he had no problem relating to me.

To try to link the Armed Forces to their agenda pisses me off no end.

[tofuandbeer]

46. +1

[Doc Holliday]

55. When I was a soldier

we were non-political by regulation. You didn't go to rallies, you didn't get involved in campaigns. You most especially didn't go near anything while in uniform, particularly if you were overseas. The C-in-C was your ultimate boss regardless of party affiliation. End of story.

When you get out, that all changes. You can organize, have events, make your voices heard. But nothing says you have to let a bunch of desperate half-baked politicos in need of face time in front of the cameras hijack your gig.

I'd have invited them to sit down and enjoy the event...might even give 'em a shout-out just for being there...but I would never have invited them to speak.

[DissidentVoice]

58. Exactly!

I think the line was "do not take part in anything implying endorsement of, or which would bring disgrace upon, the United States Air Force (I'm sure it's the same for the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard)."

And, yes, the CinC was the CinC and if you didn't like him/her you kept your mouth shut, especially in public. I was in the Air National Guard and, for Guard members, the same prohibition applied regarding your State Governor.

Sarah Palin was State CinC of the Alaskan Army and Air National Guard. She quit her job without completing her term. Where I stand, that is dereliction of duty.

[icarusxat]

74. And, brought disgrace...

why anyone in the United States with an ounce of patriotism even looks askance at this deranged person is beyond me. She has invited way more contempt than askance...

[Cleita]

39. Looks like we are extending the Civil War into this century.

Marching with the Confederate flag is not free speech to me. It's sedition or even treason. It's people who no longer recognize our national government and constitution as being legitimate and want to replace it with one represented by that flag.

Why aren't these people being arrested and charged with sedition or treason, like our whistleblowers Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden? What they are doing is really far more reprehensible than what the whistleblowers did.

[Berlum]

40. These Republicons are a disgrace

a total disgrace.

[tavernier]

41. I was surprised that Andrea Mitchell

seemed to be upset about it. She usually sides with the republicans, but she appeared genuinely offended. Perhaps she she knows that the KKK is in line with the skin heads and Jews are next on their hate list. Funny how these "journalists" go along with crap until it starts getting personal.

[eppur_se_muova]

42. Nothing says FREEDUMB like the flag of a country that went to war to preserve slavery. nt

[PearliePoo2]

51. Bingo!

Idiots..all of them and dangerous too.

[Cha]

43. Brilliant EarlG!

Thank you so much.

[blackspade]

44. Wave the traitors flag teahadists!

There is only one place for this flag: a museum.

[DhhD]

45. KKK Lynching System was a part of the past. It seems the past is in revival.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAlynching.htm

[DhhD]

47. Confederate Flags

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America

[Jamaal510]

48. Palin and Cruz

are nothing but demagogues who capitalize on people's fears and otherism in order to make a quick buck.

[SunSeeker]

54. As others have pointed out, this was klan rally for all intents and purposes. nt

[Beacool]

56. They took a Confederate flag to their protest??????????

Wuuahhhahhhaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!



I had a day from hell at work and I needed a laugh.



Rafael and Palin know just how to win mainstream voters, don't they? At this rate, they will be lucky if they win the WH sometime in the next century. They have already pissed off women, gays, minorities and anyone with an ounce of common sense and decency.

[TBF]

64. They may even lose Texas at this point.

I am going to be helping out on Wendy's campaign for governor down here mostly for the purpose of making sure we get lots of labor organized and registered to vote. Demographics say we win Texas in 15-20 years. If this nonsense keeps up we can take 15 years off that estimate.

[Beacool]

71. Do you really think so?

That would be fantastic, although I'm not sure whether TX is ready to turn blue. Wendy would be a great governor.

[TBF]

78. I think running a popular dem like Wendy is a good start -

and the right time to do it, especially with the GOP in the condition it's in. The thing is that there is a lot of support for Hillary here amongst labor. Even when we were organizing for Obama we were hearing "we want Hillary" - and she did win the primary against him. It's still a ways off but I think it's time to start putting a little effort into this state. The Castro twins have attracted a lot of attention as well. Unfortunately the cities can only do so much, it's the rural areas that are still holding us down.

[Beacool]

80. Well, that would be great news.

There are a lot of Hispanics in TX and they don't vote Republican (except the Cuban block, but that's not a TX issue). I hope that little by little the state will turn blue.

[chuckstevens]

57. The Swastika

For an African American, that flag is like a Swastika for a Jew. Shame on all the Tea Partiers! Do us all of favor and please go back down South to "Dumbfuckistan" and leave the rest of us alone.

[TBF]

65. Don't send Cruz back here - he belongs to Canada.

I have no idea where Caribou Barbie resides currently but it needn't be in the south as far as I'm concerned.

[The Wizard]

59. hosebags (NT)

[muntrv]

66. 3 words for these "Confederate Veterans": General Sherman's March.

[ltheghost]

67. Wow

This is just sickening to look at. I think they really want another civil war. To waive the Confederate Flag outside of the White House is just beyond the pale of decency.

[tavalon]

68. Whoops, they let their racism out into the open

Are they getting that brazen or is this just stupid is as stupid does? In for a penny, in for a pound it seems.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

70. Words fail me!

[liberal N proud]

73. Oh the stupid

[gordianot]

79. Whatever their twisted message the Confedrate Battle Flag wrecked it.

The Teabilly who also waved his Marine flag managed to do what volumes of speeches has difficulty managing the image for this shutdown is solidified.