Don't Tread on Me

Check out our New Youtube page for video of the protesters in Wakarusa yesterday.

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Wells County Voice traveled to Elkhart County yesterday to see who and what groups would be gathering near the Monaco RV Factory where President Obama was to visit. The President was presenting the firm a grant of 2.4 billion dollars to help develop electric motor and battery technology.

There has been a significant increase in attention from the administration to groups who oppose a variety of the President’s policies, most notable the health care reform plans. Congressional members have encountered vocal and poignant constituents when they have returned to their districts for town halls meetings. Lately, the White House has described these citizens as ‘manufactured anger’. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has described them as ‘astro turf’ and ‘Brooks Brothers’. Others have described them as angry mobs and a threat to the presidency. Wellscountyvoice.com decided to take a look for ourselves.

Here is what we found.

There were (obviously) two distinct groups.

Group 1: Tended to be older though not exclusively. Most were in the 40 plus age bracket with a reasonable percentage in the 60 plus group, although there was a contingent of young politically active leaders who led the speakers and entertainment. Signage was nearly all hand made. Most had chairs and coolers – they seemed intent to stay awhile. Their “area’ has a stage where speakers addressed the crowd and in between speakers, music (mostly country) played. The group was almost entirely Caucasian. I must have counted 50 American flags along with another dozen or so ‘Don’t Tread on Me” versions. Informative literature was being passed out everywhere – from many different individual groups and interests. The parking lot for this group was bumper to bumper – I wondered how everyone would leave as many cars were literally parked in. This group stayed around for a few hours after the President left. They held a Press conference which included several speakers including local business owners (no one fron the Insurance Industry). The business who owned the land they were on was cooking BBQ chicken and had on hand ‘facilities’. This group broadcasted the President’s speech to the crowd and they attentively listened and reacted.

Group Two: The average age tended to be younger 25-35. 60/40 Caucasion/African American mix. Almost all of the signage was mass produced. Signs were a mixture of Health Care Now, Big Business Must Pay, and ‘Green Issues’. Several younger people were passing out mass produced stickers for everyone to wear. There were no formal speakers and no entertainment. A few people had blankets to sit on but most just stood. The size of the crowd was seemed larger than the size of the Group 1 but their parking lost was 1/3 as full. Their lot did include large busses. Local police informed us that three buses came from St Louis (six hours away). There were three or four union groups – their mass produced signs and T-shirts identified them clearly. One group was from a Steelworkers union which I was told came from the Gary, IN area. I saw one American flag in this crowd. I saw no literature being passed out only the stickers and signs. There were a few ‘cheerleaders’ who effectively drummed up the group in a chorus. Group 2 cleared rather quickly once it was announced the President had left.

The two groups did not mingle. On occasion folks from Group 2 would walk through the Group 1 area attempting to pass stickers out but they were eventually encouraged to return to their ‘area’. There was a fairly lively space where the two groups’ lines ‘met’. Each tried to chant each other down and a few exchanged in some debate. I found all the discussion to be cordial. I never saw tempers raised in either Group. Everyone behaved themselves and the areas were well picked up after the event closed.

You can decide for yourself which group sounds ‘grass roots’ or ‘astro turf’. I never did see a Brooks Brothers suit, I am not even sure I saw anyone except some members of the press in a tie. Nobody seemed ‘angry’ but people were emotional. It never seemed like mob. As far a threat to the Presidency is concerned the speakers for Group 1 included messages of Love and Prayers for the President. As Fox News says – We report – You Decide.

Who sounds ‘Maunfactured’?