Saturday, September 12, 2009

Signs of These Times   [Jay Nordlinger]

Back at the time of the tea-party protests — when the “stimulus” was the going issue — several people on this site made a particular point. I remember Jonah Goldberg making it, in particular. The protests were homemade, and touchingly so: unslick, amateur, unorganized. Self-organized, so to speak. At the typical big rallies — organized by the Left — you see thousands of identical signs. A “sea” of a particular sign. At these tea parties, everybody made and brought his own: just like, you know: America, at least in some imagined state.

I was reminded of this when reading this Washington Post report about today’s march. The reporters — good for them — said, “Most signs were handmade.” I especially enjoyed, “Having government manage your health care is like having Michael Vick watch your dog.”

In covering and observing politics over the years, I’ve seen plenty of rallies dominated by SEIU. SEIU seems ever present, always on the case, or at your throat. “In your face,” as Obama likes to say. They carry identical signs and wear identical jackets and identical caps. They can seem like a mob (sorry). I like this homemade business — refreshing.

Some weeks ago, Speaker Pelosi called the anti-Obamacare protesters “AstroTurf” — i.e., not grassroots, not real. That is, as Congressman Wilson — and President Obama — might say, a lie.

09/12 08:03 PMShare