November 16, 2009 7:46 PM

Tea Party Group Reconsiders Burning Pelosi in Effigy

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
As part of a protest next Saturday, the "TEA Party Patriots" of Danville, Virginia had been planning to burn in effigy House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a local freshman Democratic congressman, Rep. Tom Perriello.

But on Friday, as the Lynchburg News Advance reports, word got out about the plan, prompting bloggers and a national news organization to pick up the story.

Now the group is reconsidering the burning in light of the media coverage, which the group's chairman, Nigel Coleman, deemed "kinda strange."

"We've been getting a lot of flack about this," Coleman told the News Advance, adding that "a lot of people in the public are unhappy about" the plan to burn the two politicians in effigy.

Here's some background from the newspaper:
Coleman sent a news release to local media Friday about the event, which opened with: "In a move sure to spark controversy, the Danville TEA Party will close their 'Fired Up for Freedom' rally by burning Rep. Tom Perriello and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in effigy in response to the passage of landmark health care legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives."

But Coleman said Sunday that some members of his group were "uneasy" with the idea of counter-protesters and that people might mistake the TEA Party Patriots for being violent. Coleman compared the event to similar acts of protest in the nation's history, such as opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765.

The bonfire is still planned, Coleman said, but the effigy burning was in question.
Last month, anti-abortion rights activist Randall Terry called on his supporters to burn in effigy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by plpool November 17, 2009 11:42 AM EST
Tmajority of people do not want Health Care for various reasons, nor do they want larger goverment that is set apart from the people. If people want to speak out the 1st amendment protects them to do so. Congress represents the people of their District and should listen to them. Nancy Pelosi has alreadt stated a couple of times that she does not care what the people think of her. How can one trust a Speaker of the House with that attitude?
Reply to this comment
by watervliet November 17, 2009 9:06 AM EST
EXTREMIST AKA KKK ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CONSERVATISM AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE SCARY. MY FAMILY AND I JUST LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Reply to this comment
by steve8313 November 16, 2009 10:32 PM EST
Believe as I do OR DIE! Oh how I love the party of family values!
Reply to this comment
by toldyouso21 November 16, 2009 9:23 PM EST
Go ahead and do it. Be sure to have your white sheets on, add a burning cross and see if the Grand Wizard of the KKK can attend this honorary event. Get a grip idiots--more and more, it is not the reaction that is strange it is the idea that you would do such a thing for what reason, again? Come together with the rest of the country or be considered looney tunes--all 20% of you....
Reply to this comment
by hastings1967 November 16, 2009 9:05 PM EST
I wish the energy and money spent on these little "parties" was helping the less fortunate in their communities. So many of us need affordable healthcare, and thank heavens for the House passing a bill to help.
Reply to this comment
by stn_sage November 16, 2009 8:27 PM EST
I don't see a problem with this. An effigy is a symbolic representation, NOT the real person! It sends a clear message of dissatisfaction! And, it allows the members to 'get it out of their systems'...hopefully!

And, frankly...she deserves it! I can't say about the other fellow...as I have no knowledge of what he's done or failed to do!

It should have been allowed when Bush and Cheney were in office, too!
In fact, someone should make images of them, line all of them up, and set all of them ablaze! Make it a complete 'burn in'!
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 November 16, 2009 8:29 PM EST
Because adults should be able to set down and have discourse with each other and still respect each other as Americans. We can have differing opinions, even dislike a politician, without acting like a lynch mob in Iraq.
by stn_sage November 16, 2009 8:40 PM EST
"K":

Theoretically, you're correct. The public should be able to sit down with their representative and discuss issues...but there are times when that doesn't occur! Especially, when the politician has done something absolutely incorrect and refuses to take ANY criticism from ANYONE! And, then curtails ANY conversation by demonizing the public as a 'mob' and refusing to do his job and discuss matters!

Then, WHAT?!
by kansas1946 November 16, 2009 8:26 PM EST
What??? Are they friggin' cowards. You guys hate people so much, and think they are so evil, then burn away. Maybe stick a cross out there at the bon-fire to burn. I suspect we could round you up so white robes to wear also. Be proud of your hate, wear it on your sleeve. Yell it from the rooftops. If you are right then what are your worried about.
Reply to this comment
by stn_sage November 16, 2009 8:34 PM EST
"K":

I'm not a Republican, but I kinda like the idea, in my case, I do it with a sense of frivolity! Understand? Not everyone who'd do this would be...strictly speaking...a 'hate-monger'! I wouldn't jump to any conclusions on that point! Think about it a little...
by ToolMangler1 November 16, 2009 9:10 PM EST
stn_sage, This move smacks to much of a "Extremist' action (aka Terrorism) in the public eye right now.
We have the 9/11/01 terror mastermind/planner about to go on trial and here these people are coming on the coattails of the Ft. Hood massacre with another 'seeming' attack on the USA by trying to disrupt the government....
Too me, this is a no-brainer.
They had best let people know whose side they are on and Effigy Burning is not the way...
See all 12 Comments
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