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[–]jamesneysmith 31 points32 points ago

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Did you manage to meet/speak with any tea-partiers and have a pleasant conversation despite your disagreements?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 56 points57 points ago

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I did have pleasant conversations with some tea partiers, but not about the actual event or politics. Everyone I talked to was very nice and pleasant, but I didn't tell any of them my opinions on Beck or the rally (except my parents).

[–]lackofbrain 27 points28 points ago

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How did your parents take your views? Did they know beforehand?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 57 points58 points ago

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Yeah, they new my views. They hoped that me seeing Glenn in person not being political (which I admit he wasn't at this event) I would change my opinion of him. It did not change my opinion and I told them so, but we still had several civil discussions about it later.

I don't agree with my parents politically, but I'm glad we can disagree on this stuff and still be loving toward each other.

[–][deleted] 51 points52 points ago

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I'm a christian conservative, and my best friend is an atheist liberal. We are good at having discussions, then politely agreeing to disagree before it gets too heated. It's crucial for people to love each other, despite having different beliefs.

[–]CSimpson1162 3 points4 points ago

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So, do you get paid to go shopping? Or are you just really really good at it?

[–]lackofbrain 2 points3 points ago

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Good to hear it. I don't always agree with my parents, politically, but that's not really what matters anyway

[–]jamesneysmith 2 points3 points ago

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It's the same with my mother and I. We've learned just to not to discuss certain subjects because it just ends in a circular argument between two very stubborn people. And he beliefs don't really bother me, I think I just love/hate a good argument.

[–]Quicksilver4648 12 points13 points ago

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He is an atheist, not gay.

[–]Voyageur 39 points40 points ago

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Those are actually fairly equivalent to some people.

[–]Massless 3 points4 points ago

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Studies actually show that people like gays more than Atheists.

[–]HyperSpaz 11 points12 points ago

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I guess he'll get absolutely nothing for christmas this year!

[–]jamez042 17 points18 points ago

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The problem isn't that it was staged on the anniversary of the MLK speech, nor that it was in the same place. Nor that Glenn Beck was the one hosting it, or the actual content of his speech. He made it look very, very apolitical.

Only, the name of it; restoring honor. The assumption being that the current government has destroyed the honor of the United States and it's up to republicans to restore it. It's subtle, but there was a political edge to that rally, however much he says there wasn't.

[–]olafthebent 274 points275 points ago

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Is Sarah Palin really so dense that light bends around her?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 120 points121 points ago

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She made a bunch of generic patriotic statements with her annoying voice and phrasing. I could see her, so I don't think light was bending around her. :-)

[–]Marogian 141 points142 points ago

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You can still see highly dense objects causing gravitational lensing- you'll just see objects which are behind Palin from several different angles in a circular shape around her...

[–]ura1a 114 points115 points ago

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SCIENCE'D!

[–]kevinroseblowsgoats 7 points8 points ago

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I was worried for a moment when my vision suddenly went dark after reading your comment. Then I realized that you just temporarily blinded me with science.

[–]joonix 67 points68 points ago

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What letter did that apostrophe replace?

[–]Xanthobilly 150 points151 points ago

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ENGLISHE'D!

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points ago

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trolling is a art

[–]RealHollandaise 2 points3 points ago

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not to be tackled by gnomes or the feeble-minded

[–]grammer-police 77 points78 points ago

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The apostrophe is silent.

[–]photokeith 35 points36 points ago

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SILENCE'D!

[–]GrammarNazism 8 points9 points ago

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ಠ_ಠ

[–]franchdressing 8 points9 points ago

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Gramm[a]r-police

[–]grammer-police 8 points9 points ago

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fr[e]nchdressing

[–]SpeakMouthWords 19 points20 points ago

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It replaced your ability to acknowledge a Teen Girl Squad reference.

[–]mariaalegria 8 points9 points ago

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Upvote for Cheerleader! What'sherface! So-and-so! The Ugly One!

[–]nerfy007 12 points13 points ago* 

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It just wanted to...

Hang out.

[–]Jm21146 66 points67 points ago

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That is just silly, if the light bends around her how could she keep an eye on Russia?

[–]raspy_wilhelm_scream 95 points96 points ago

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Magnets.

[–]Caedus_Vao 52 points53 points ago

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I just don't understand that shit.

[–]psykulor 40 points41 points ago

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Whatever you do, don't talk to a scientist.

[–]Caedus_Vao 27 points28 points ago

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No shit. They'll just go off on their left-wing agenda and start ranting about that "Global Warming" conspiracy.

Psssshhhhhhh whatever.

[–]pallenspumpkin 6 points7 points ago

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Pssssssshhh gay. Miracles

[–]Caedus_Vao 7 points8 points ago

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Yea, and why aren't these "experts" curing homosexuality and turning lead into gold? Then America could erase her debt and assure her true superpower status once again!

[–]lazylion_ca 6 points7 points ago

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Well, to be fair, many of them have succeeded at turning gold into less gold.

[–]dmcnelly 8 points9 points ago

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I don't care what anyone says, I would fuck her intelligent.

[–]keydemographic 3 points4 points ago* 

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I'm gonna teach you to science with this dick!

[–]illuminatedwax 15 points16 points ago* 

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Being the son of people who like Glenn Beck, and being around most of the protesters, what do you think can be done about it? How can you convince these people, for example, that the truth is Thomas Paine was an deist (e: not atheist) that hated the Bible? How do you convince them that progressivism is not only not communism, but something they enjoy every day?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 9 points10 points ago

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I don't know. If I can convince my parents of this, I'll report back with what worked. :-)

[–]RattusRattus 12 points13 points ago

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I generally ask my parents where their clothes were made (not in the US), and point out that mine are from the US (at least, quite a few of them are). Then I harass them because I'm the flaming liberal of the family, yet I'm going out of my way, and spending more money, to support American labor.

Although, I've found a good starting point is to ask them how they can be a fiscal and social conservative. It's one of the easier areas of doublethink to point out.

[–]gannon6790 2 points3 points ago

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how is being socially and fiscally conservative double think? i'm just looking for some explanation. politically obvious things aren't always clear to me.

[–]RattusRattus 15 points16 points ago

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If you're socially conservative, you want people to behave in a "moral" manner, so no drugs, no abortions, etc. The war on drugs is very expensive. Not allowing abortions, restricting access to birth control, is also expensive, as children themselves are expensive. Also, the socially conservative tend to be hawkish, which is again, expensive. Essentially, it costs a lot of money to regulate the morality of a populace that does not share your viewpoints.

[–]gannon6790 4 points5 points ago

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thanks.

[–]thephotoman 4 points5 points ago

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I might correct you on one thing: Thomas Paine was a deist, not an atheist.

That said, deism is no more than a belief that there is an unmoved mover that is no longer relevant, so it's not too far removed from atheism.

[–]realid 23 points24 points ago

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2) Repeatedly stating that without religious faith our country is doomed. I don't believe in God, so it was hard to agree with this sentiment. About half the rally was devoted to religious content.

So long as you're talking faith in his God, he's cool with it. It's a fundamental pillar of the USA.

Start building a mosque, it's another story.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 16 points17 points ago

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Agreed.

[–]haneliz 66 points67 points ago

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Can you estimate how many non-white people attended?

I looked at pictures from the rally and couldn't see anyone really but middle aged white men and women.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 144 points145 points ago

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I personally saw about 10 black attendees total.

There were probably more blacks in the presentations on stage than in the audience.

[–]neoabraxas 39 points40 points ago* 

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Yup. The token negro is now a permanent exposition in those right wing nutjob rallies. It's to show what a diverse bunch they are, you see.

[–]coleman57 5 points6 points ago

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how much do they pay him/her? that's what i really want to know.

[–]DeviantGaymer 70 points71 points ago

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40 acres and a mule.

[–]rabidanimals 8 points9 points ago

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ಠ_ಠ

[–]haneliz 10 points11 points ago

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Do you know about how many people in total attended?

Did you see any other non-white people? Like asians/hispanics/etc?

It's just hard for me to believe that non-white people really are into Beck at all.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 35 points36 points ago

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I should have paid better attention, but I don't recall seeing any Hispanics or Asians. I did see an Indian dude, but he had a big camera with a big honking lens and I think he was a reporter or something.

[–]lexyloowho 37 points38 points ago

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Did he have a beard?

[–]nerfy007 27 points28 points ago

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Are you sure it was a camera?

[–]dlip 3 points4 points ago

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[–]destroyer474 75 points76 points ago

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Not to be hijacking the AMA or anything but I am an indian person with a full beard and I attended (just to people watch). I saw 0 asians/indians, maybe like 2 hispanics, and probably about 10 black people. I got a lot of dirty looks but the people who bumped into me or anything of the sort were very polite.

[–]pi31415 114 points115 points ago

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hijacking ... full beard

MUSLIN TER'RIST!

[–]dlip 21 points22 points ago

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WE HAVE TO STOP HIM. FIRST IT'S REDDIT THREADS, NEXT IT'S BUSES THAT CAN'T GO UNDER 55MPH.

[–]againer 7 points8 points ago

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I think it was called "The bus that couldn't slow down".

[–]ASucculentLamb 28 points29 points ago

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I always knew our clothes were out to get us.

[–]lake-of-fire 22 points23 points ago

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Don't worry, he's full of Shiite.

[–]ramp_tram 28 points29 points ago

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I think the number being thrown around is 87,000. Or a million if you ask Fox News. Seriously, they said a million.

[–]redmeanshelp 8 points9 points ago

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The Capitol Police's estimate, whatever it is, is likely to be the most accurate. This number is usually much smaller than the organizers of such events will give, because organizers are emotionally invested in the answer. (This is true for any gathering on the Mall, right, left, center, or penguin.)

[–]ramp_tram 8 points9 points ago

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014993-503544.html

According to this, the estimate was between 78,000 and 96,000 people and that the permit was for 300,000 people total.

[–]beardybaldy 3 points4 points ago

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How does one affiliate with this "Penguin" group?

[–]thebigbradwolf 3 points4 points ago

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  1. Buy extremely fancy umbrella

  2. Kill Batman.

They'll find you.

[–]rironin 6 points7 points ago* 

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Apparently this was the best figure Beck could come up with at the rally.

That was when I laughed and closed the video.

[–]CarlGauss 2 points3 points ago

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The music in that clip was composed by a gay fellow who supported the communist party USA, don't know how much of the crowd would be appreciating that.

[–]khamul 2 points3 points ago

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He's a professional troll and, not in those terms, admits it. He probably thought it was hilarious that he could use such a ridiculous understatement and elicit cheers.

[–]TheSmokinMantis 3 points4 points ago

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Actually the first time I had ever heard of Glen Beck was from a hispanic Mormon. It was in high school and I was giving him a ride home after we did an Improv show. He said Glen Beck was SO FUNNY AND RIGHT (this was around the time he was on some kind of tour). Later he said that his family doesn't really care for other hispanics and he started to sound racist.

[–]shady8x 15 points16 points ago* 

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This question always bothers me.

So what if there aren't black people there? Do white people's concerns only matter when black people march with them? That to me seems like a really racist mindset and the main reason why the right constantly use token black people as though a few black people there gives their message legitimacy.

Personally I don't give a fuck how many white/black/orange/gay/christian/muslim/jewish people there are at some rally. The only thing I care about is their message and whether or not I agree with it.

In this case I definitely don't.

Seriously, when you see a gay pride parade/protest do you ask how many straight people are there? When there is an NAACP conference, do you ask how many white people attended? When there is a pro immigration rally, do you wonder how many people at it don't speak spanish?

What matters is the content of the message not the color of the skin of it's supporters.

[–]tellme_areyoufree 43 points44 points ago

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Seriously, when you see a gay pride parade/protest do you ask how many straight people are there? When there is an NAACP conference, do you ask how many white people attended?

Yes and yes.

As someone who marches in my local Pride parade each year, straight participation and support are pretty big points, and probably 1/4-1/3 of the marchers are straight allies. It's something we appreciate deeply in the LGBT community and something we regularly hold up as a sign of our issues being about more than just us (but also about our straight family, friends, coworkers, etc.)

That conference that formed the NAACP consisted of 7 white folks and WEB DuBois. The participation of white people in the struggles of people of color has been a major important point over the last 150 years - where the hell have you been?

All of that aside, you miss the point anyway. We're talking about a movement with racist tendencies and roots that regularly engages in racist caricatures of the president of the US... it's a valid question, made even more valid by the claims that the tea party "transcends race," "goes beyond party," etc. It's all bullshit meant to cover their racist tracks, and this is one person asking a question to expose them.

[–]randombozo 2 points3 points ago

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if an assembly consists of only one kind of people, it's a sign that the cause would benefit only them (in this case, well-off middle-aged white people).

[–]Logan91 28 points29 points ago

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What in your opinion, after attending is the average tea party member like?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 151 points152 points ago

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White.

Protestant Christian.

Very polite and nice.

Not very educated.

Willing to believe something without checking out the facts if they want it to be true.

Willing to reject something that is true if it clashes with their world view.

Unfortunately, the last two apply to much more than the tea party.

[–]DubC444 28 points29 points ago

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That's the thing about the religious right, they're used to taking things on faith.

[–]amaxen[!] 110 points111 points ago

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It's also true of Reddit, and every other human institution.

[–]cohesion 30 points31 points ago

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citation needed. :P

[–]Psychomedic 29 points30 points ago

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[–]randombozo 2 points3 points ago

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it's a matter of degrees.

[–]verasalero 6 points7 points ago

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Average, at best.

[–]khafra 34 points35 points ago

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Did anything besides you suffering silently through ill-informed slogans happen?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 64 points65 points ago

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No, the people were very polite I did not see a single protest sign of any description.

[–]redmeanshelp 55 points56 points ago

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Signs were prohibited by the organizers -- probably because they realize that most of the signs seen in the past make the attendees look like racist ignorant fools.

So prohibiting them improved the media coverage, although probably removed accuracy.

[–]greenroom628 21 points22 points ago

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Also, there was a group of people who wanted to flash mob the gathering with "Goldline" signs.

[–]epicwinguy101 13 points14 points ago

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I suspect a sizable percentage of signs are held by opponents who just want to make the Tea Party look bad.

[–]rightc0ast 3 points4 points ago

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There have been #1 submissions here at reddit that actually were redditors using signs to make tea partiers look silly. Not that it's "redditors" ... I should say people with reddit usernames submitted pictures of themselves doing that. Then there are the CTTP and TPIO folks who do that too.

There was even that Tyler guy who got caught at a Kentucky political event walking around calling condemning Mexicans, and with a Dora the Explorer doll in a noose or something ... while waving an "I'm a Rand Paul Fan" sign.

[–]Darthfuzzy 61 points62 points ago

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When you say "convinced you to attend", do you mean that they "threatened" to take all your inheritance and put it in Goldline Gold?

[–]wbeavis 52 points53 points ago

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I would hazard to guess (from my experience) that they offered to pay for dinner at a restaurant afterwards. I'd probably sit though a silly rally for a nice meal.

[–]GrammarBeImportant 5 points6 points ago

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Yeah, I went with my parents to their church one day on the promise of them buying a meal after-wards.

[–]angrynrdrckr 38 points39 points ago

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So what did MLK's ghost look like when Glenn Beck channeled it?

[–]lufty 11 points12 points ago* 

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Why don't you ask MLK's niece? She was there.

edit: niece not daughter.

[–]savytravler 19 points20 points ago

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i believe it was his niece.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 38 points39 points ago

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Yeah, it was his niece. She gave a very nice talk. If I were still religious, I probably would have liked it quite a lot.

[–]lufty 4 points5 points ago

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You're right. Thanks.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

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Isnt Glenn Beck Mormon? I dont think that the Christians listening to him know that. Most Christians think Mormons are nuts and not Christians even though Mormons consider themselves Christians (and to be the Chosen People)

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 6 points7 points ago

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He is a Mormon, but most of his followers (should) know this. He is pretty open about this fact on his show.

[–]topsul 2 points3 points ago

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I was raised Southern Baptist. We were told that the Mormon's were a cult.

[–]Measure76 2 points3 points ago

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You were told right.

[–]afterm 20 points21 points ago

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I read the speeches were boring; do you concur?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 57 points58 points ago

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Yes, they were vague "Kumbaya", togetherness, "we need to fix our country", "religious faith needs to be restored", blah blah.

But it was truly not very political. I guess it was supposed to be inspirational, but I hate inspirational crap.

[–]Redtooth700 201 points202 points ago

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I have to agree, after having listened, there was almost no political talk at all. It seemed more like a religious/military pep rally, and a gathering support for some sort of religious revival. There was a lot about inspiring the children, inspiring the people, making people more involved and such. I know people here will hate me for the comparison, but the non-religious parts were a lot like some of Obama's speeches. Especially the working together part reminded me of his speeches in 2008, and on the same day his weekly presidential address was actually pretty close (albeit more eloquent) to Palin's whole speech.

On the religious side though, Beck's allusions to the Great Awakening made me think his point was to spark a new one in the US. I think he sees himself as the next great spiritual leader, or at least that spirituality will surge soon.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 52 points53 points ago

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This is a good analysis. Better than I could have put it.

[–]jamez042 35 points36 points ago

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But "restoring honor". What, exactly, has sullied the "honor" of the US?

[–]pl487 181 points182 points ago

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That's the beauty of it, it means whatever you want it to mean.

If you're a racist, we've sullied our honor by letting black and brown people get ahead of white people.

If you hate gay people, we've sullied our honor by letting them get "married".

If you fear that capitalism is crumbling, we've sullied our honor with bailouts that are anti-capitalist.

If you hate Muslims, we've sullied our honor by letting them build their mosques here.

If you hate government elites making decisions for you, we've sullied our honor by letting the government of the country get away from its populist roots.

The "restoring honor" phrase and others like it allow the different hatreds and fears to be blended together into a single political movement, at least as long as they have a unified enemy (Obama) to rally against.

[–]dclowd9901 41 points42 points ago

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It's like cold-reading, only you're making people more hateful with it. Nice.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

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Genocide against an entire continent of people? Overthrowing governments and installing dictators all over the globe? The President lying to the American people?

Take your pick, there are tons of other choices as well.

[–]FenPhen 6 points7 points ago

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This (often-used by Republicans) tactic is called a false dichotomy and leads naturally to you're-either-with-us-or-against-us.

[–]rotll 14 points15 points ago

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(Often used by people in power)

[–]Kaluthir 10 points11 points ago

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(Often used by people with an agenda)

[–]vjarnot 5 points6 points ago

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Holy shit! Gays do this too?

[–]rotll 13 points14 points ago

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Fabulously!

[–]iTroll_irl 5 points6 points ago

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Well, we've been getting into bed with brown people just so we can get some of their oil.

[–]chocothunder 3 points4 points ago

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Is that what we're calling it now? Their oil?

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

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Yeah, who do they think they are? Just because they happened to be born on top of our oil, doesnt mean it belongs to them!

[–]timothytrout 7 points8 points ago

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While I didn't attend in person (I only watched the highlight reel) I got the distinct impression that this was a politically motivated speech - Beck used the phrase, "The Black Robed Regiment has returned." As a history lesson(I had to look it up), this refers to a group of pastors/ministers/spiritual leaders from the colonial and revolutionary periods who used their pulpits as a platform to tell their followers who to their God wanted them to vote for. . . This seemed to me like an attempt to re-mobilize the religious extremes of our nation into voting based on their pastor's words rather than rational thought.

[–]IP_Freely 7 points8 points ago

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I believe Beck was criticizing the Black Robed Regiment for telling people who to vote for. He specifically said that if your pastor/rabbi/etc tells you who to vote for, you should run away from them

[–]YourFairyGodmother 6 points7 points ago

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You're missing the whole point. The religion-centric nature of the thing was just more in the incessant effort to paint Obama as other. Beck even invented some new religiothingclass and said something like "he's not a Christian and he's not a Muslim." It's a concerted attack on everyone they don't like - demonization pure and simple.

They played a clip on NPR of some teabagger who said she was there "because I love my country and I love god." What did that mean to me - nothing. I wanted to yell at the radio "fine but what does that have to do with why you are here?" She meant, of course, that liberals, dark skinned people, Muslims, etc. don't love their country nor are we "right with god." Beck and Palin and the rest are speaking in code - they blow a dog whistle we can't hear but which their followers understand perfectly. (Hmm, I just mangled the hell out of that metaphor but I don't want to try correcting it)

Sarah Palin does this every time when she tells the audience "You are real Americans." All identity politics all the time .

[–]sioomagate 2 points3 points ago

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The reason that you thought Glenn Beck sounded like President Obama, was because some of Beck's speech was 'borrowed' from Obama's campaign speeches from 2008.

I say borrowed, because Glenn Beck would never steal something and claim as his own.....right?

[–]EvanConover 5 points6 points ago

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Did they realize the non-religious parts sounded like Obama's speeches? I would think if they did, they'd be repulsed and start making excuses.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

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there was almost no political talk at all. It seemed more like a religious/military pep rally

Those concepts are counter intuitive. This is all about politics even if they dance around the issues while recruiting an army of useful idiots. There is a political end game here even if Beck doesn't know what it will be.

[–]florinandrei 4 points5 points ago

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There is a political end game here even if Beck doesn't know what it will be.

I've a feeling he does know a few things. But yeah, the brothers Koch probably know more - what with them likely having sponsored at least part of this thing.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

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Inspirational, in this case, equals 'rabble rabble rabble'?

[–]creator11 5 points6 points ago

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Me too nothing is less inspiring than a bunch of motivational speakers mouthing off buzz words trying to inspire me.

[–]infinity777 6 points7 points ago

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Since you agreed to go the rally in their hopes of making you a glenn beck follower maybe they would agree to allow you to show them a few daily show clips where jon stewart points out how hypocritical, deliberately misleading & downright crazy glenn beck is. Worth a shot.

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 9 points10 points ago

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I did tell them about some of the specific lies that Glenn Beck has told and plan to do something very similar to this. :-)

[–]infinity777 3 points4 points ago

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Great, I'd love to hear how it goes.

[–]Japface 59 points60 points ago

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speaking as a libertarian (from canada) it saddens me to see that what was really more a ron paul movement has been hijacked by neocons.

not surprising though.

anyway, when you were at the rally, could you tell the difference between "libertarians" and the religious neo cons, or was it pretty much all a circle jerk for palin and beck fans?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 100 points101 points ago

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was it pretty much all a circle jerk for palin and beck fans?

This describes it perfectly.

[–]john2kxx 11 points12 points ago

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As a libertarian, I can confirm that most of us have pretty much given up on the tea party movement.

[–]Mariette_dances 5 points6 points ago

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Yeah. Ron Paul basically hates the Tea Party. Their heart's in the right place (sorta), but they don't really get it.

[–]mjsolaro 16 points17 points ago

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what was really more a ron paul movement has been hijacked by neocons.

Something tells me it's not the same people attending Glenn Beck rallies as were supporting Ron Paul.

[–]cuspid 3 points4 points ago

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I can't tell if you are agreeing with Japface or disagreeing. But for those who downvoted him, here is what he means about the tea party being hijacked by neocons.

[–]blended 6 points7 points ago

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Thanks for going and doing this. This is all one question really - Do you think that any of the participants will actually be more interested in what Dr. King really had to say? Did it seem like there might be actually more interest generated in civil rights by some of this? Does it seem like people might have been moved politically toward any better understanding, since on one hand MLK is embraced but on the other Beck and Palin just spout the same old same old?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 6 points7 points ago

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<opinion>

Yeah, I think there is a good chance that white folks who would normally think civil rights are a non-issue my have gained respect for MLK and his ideas.

</opinion>

[–]blended 3 points4 points ago

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I can only hope it's true, thank you! As King said "Our needs are identical with labor's needs: Decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old-age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children, and respect in the community."

[–]keebo 12 points13 points ago

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Why?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 100 points101 points ago* 

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a) My parents asked me too.

b) I wanted to personally see what kind of bullshit was being proffered without it being filtered through the media lens.

c) The weather was really nice and it was a good day to be outside.

[–]drwormtmbg 34 points35 points ago

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all great reasons.

[–]sfultong 18 points19 points ago

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are you a real doctor?

[–]drwormtmbg 31 points32 points ago

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it says so in my fuckin name doesn't it....no, but I am a real worm.

and I like to play the drums.

[–]mepardo 9 points10 points ago

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I think you're getting good, but could I offer some criticism?

[–]Imsomniland 3 points4 points ago

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Do you walk without rhythm, so to not attract other worms?

[–]St_Dymphna 6 points7 points ago

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[–]texinyc 1 point2 points ago

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Not to get too preachy or to sound contradictory to your reasoning (I think we're of a pretty similar mind as far as this tea party stuff goes), but I also like the idea of taking the time to listen to the other point of view. It's not always easy, but I think that's the point. To me, in the context of our country's protection of free speech, I think that listening to opposing points of view is as important as sharing my own. Glad you made it out there despite your reservations on the subject matter.

[–]mringham 2 points3 points ago

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Upvote for heading to a rally for the weather. I'd do the same. :-)

[–][deleted] 18 points19 points ago* 

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Was any tea actually thrown off of ships? I've never actually seen any of them put their money where their mouth is.

edit: added a question mark bc I'm an idiot.

[–]headinthesky 26 points27 points ago

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The TEA actually means "taxed enough already" I believe

[–]expectingrain 25 points26 points ago

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There's a branch of the Tea Party called "the Lemon Party" Apparently lemons go well with tea. Might be nice of you to recommend the new branch to your Tea Party friends.

[–]rr360405 10 points11 points ago

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Well, I like the Tea Party. What is this Lemon Party you speak of? Do you have a link or something to a website? I will send it to my grandparents.

[–]donaldjohnston 11 points12 points ago

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The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, whose principal aim was to protest taxation without representation. [1][2]

[–]PrsPirate 18 points19 points ago

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It's both.

[–]michaelmacmanus 26 points27 points ago

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The TEA acronym was retconned.

[–]rabbitambulance 8 points9 points ago

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[–]ceolceol 3 points4 points ago

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We're talking about a group of people who can't even agree on their core beliefs; do you really think they agree on the name?

[–]Gimli_The_Dwarf 7 points8 points ago

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So then they support additional representation for DC in the House and Senate, right?

You know, this is the one question anyone who gets a chance to talk to a tea partier should ask.

[–]crazyjc 7 points8 points ago

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you know, america actually has some of the lowest tax rates in the world. Compared to Europe at least.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points ago

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Your facts are not welcome, commie sympathizer.

[–]Thud 3 points4 points ago

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How did the area look after the rally was over? Did most people pick up after themselves or did it look like this?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 7 points8 points ago

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I can't see the pic because imgur is blocked from my workeplace, but the place was in pristine condition. I didn't see anyone litter and all trash was properly disposed of. I wish all crowds were like this.

[–]Thud 10 points11 points ago* 

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Conservatives get a lot of crap (much of it deservedly so) but they aren't all talk when it comes to "personal responsibility." The national mall is public land, our land, so throwing your trash away, or just taking it with you when the bins are full, is part of that responsibility.

The other pic -- which you'll see later -- is from the Obama inauguration. There's dense litter on the ground as far as the eye can see. It really looks horrible (and apparently somebody ditched their grandma!)

I'm fully aware that a reddit gathering would leave the place spotless and pristine though! Right? ....Reddit?

[–]daniel2488 14 points15 points ago

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You've mentioned that the people were very polite; have you associated this with the possibility that they assumed you to be a member of the tea party?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 18 points19 points ago

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Yes, definitely.

[–]Kaluthir 5 points6 points ago

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That's pretty cynical. If a white person is nice to me, should I automatically assume that he/she is only being nice to me because I'm white and that they're a racist?

[–]theclaaaaaaw 5 points6 points ago

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Would you say that the allegations of racism being part of reasons for the creation of the tea party true? similarly, would you say that the tea party is essentially now a Republican support group?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 22 points23 points ago* 

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Would you say that the allegations of racism being part of reasons for the creation of the tea party true?

I would say that most tea party folks are not racist, although some obviously are. I do think that many of them are culturally/religiously bigoted and most are xenophobic.

Would you say that the tea party is essentially now a Republican support group?

Yes, I think that, but it's just my opinion and don't feel qualified to weigh in with certainty. I think it would be cool if the republican party would reject the more extreme Tea Party claims thereby creating division between the groups.

Edit: Deleted "I'm p".

[–]SquareWheel 7 points8 points ago

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Hey p.

[–]Didji 10 points11 points ago

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  1. How close to the stage area were you?

  2. Did you shout "You lie!" about anything? If not, why not?

  3. Any honeys?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 35 points36 points ago

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How close to the stage area were you?

Not close to it at all, and I got there two hours before it started. Could not see the stage from where I was, but the jumbotron was very jumbo and, um, tronic. And the sound system was good and I could hear and see very well.

Did you shout "You lie!" about anything? If not, why not?

No, I saw no reason to disrupt their peaceful rally. I wouldn't want a bunch of conservatives douchebags disrupting my liberal-homo-satan rally. Also, I am a non-confrontational wuss.

Any honeys?

Actually yes. More than I expected. Especially the moms.

[–]Makuch 10 points11 points ago

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liberal-homo-satan rally

Now that's a rally I can get...behind

[–]arbitraryletters 2 points3 points ago

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Better than it getting behind you, I suppose.

[–]Kaluthir 2 points3 points ago

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I thought it sucked balls.

[–]brimstone 10 points11 points ago

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What was the most personally infuriating point of the day, the moment you had to call upon every ounce of restraint and diplomacy to prevent yourself from screaming out in response to any number of the misappropriations, lies, and oversimplifications that constituted the day's dialog?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 5 points6 points ago* 

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See my edit to the original post.

[–]mjsolaro 7 points8 points ago* 

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ARGH. Right you are, matey.

edit: You people do realize that when you edit your typos, it renders my jokes IRRELEVANT, right?

[–]mringham 2 points3 points ago

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Did you hear anything that you agreed with there? Tell us the other side- give us the positives of the rally, because all we've been hearing is how terrible it was.

[–]amras 2 points3 points ago

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I live in NW DC, but was out of town for the weekend (divine providence™). When I got home Sunday night there were still large numbers of obvious Beck supporters clogging the streets. How clusterfucked was traffic/metro on Saturday though? And what did you think when Beck included "go to your mosque" during his call to prayer and return to faith?

[–]TheEllimist 2 points3 points ago

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I have a pretty specific question: did he talk at all about how we shouldn't buy Chinese goods and should instead buy Indian goods because India has free trade with us? I only ask because I had a customer at work come in and rant about this; he a) seemed to be the Glenn Beck type and b) seemed to be spouting fairly canned talking points.

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points ago

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Did you ask Beck if he raped and murdered a girl in 1990?

[–]StaircaseLogic 8 points9 points ago

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Why can't he answer a few simple questions?

[–]Jm21146 5 points6 points ago

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What was the worst thing he said that got a cheer from the crowd?

[–]KuchDaddy[S] 35 points36 points ago

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When he said that you must always be honest and stick to the truth, even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.

I raged inside.

[–]rudieboy 11 points12 points ago

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Did Jesus come back?

[–]SuperCoupe 4 points5 points ago

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Ever thought of feeding your parents hash brownies before the rally, just to see what would happen?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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how many people would you guess were present? how does this compare with Becks claim of over 100,000?

[–]gannon6790 1 point2 points ago

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im really glad you posted this and did all the replies. i've been wondering what it would be like at the rally

[–]DontHassleTheCassel 1 point2 points ago

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WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA AND JESUS?

Remember that JESUSAVES!

[–]jetmax25 1 point2 points ago

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The biggest problem i have with Glen Beck is that a majority of his audience is old retired ladies who are legitamitly scared and found somebody who it seems they can turn to. Hes telling those ladies to put all their money in gold which is already in a massive bubble and will eventually collapse like the housing market did in 2007. This will drain their life savings. Not to mention that goldline itself is a scam already. Hes getting paid millions to do all this.

[–]worshipthis 1 point2 points ago

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What I really don't get is the relationship between the deficit/small govt meme (libertarian, has merit, I get it) and GOD and JEEZUS. Is it just an alliance of convenience? How could a self-respecting small government libertarian hang out with that crowd without vomiting?

[–]vdubstep 1 point2 points ago

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I'm glad you can have civil discussions with your parents. I don't talk to my parents about anything political. I've heard my dad say things like "My name is Barack Hussein Obama and I'm a christian. Yea fucking right, he's a socialist muslim who wants to destroy the country." I don't see how I could ever talk to him about that subject. It's worse that he still brings up the whole birth certificate thing, even after both my mother and I told him that the issue is kinda dead and only for crazies.

[–]Turtlelover73 1 point2 points ago

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What exactly was the point of that rally? I still don't understand it...

[–]skysonfire 1 point2 points ago

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1) Beck kept talking about the virtues of truth and honesty and that one should always stick to the entire truth even when it hurts to do so. This was the most hypocritical thing (IMHO) he said.

2) Repeatedly stating that without religious faith our country is doomed. I don't believe in God, so it was hard to agree with this sentiment. About half the rally was devoted to religious content.

3) He kept referring to how the media would probably misrepresent what happened at the rally. He is probably right that this would happen, but in light if the misrepresentations he has made in the past, he's a pot calling the kettle black.

It almost sounds like Beck is asking people to wake up and stop watching him...plus some churchy stuff added in for flavor.