Scenes From The Great American Scream

Lydia Depillis: A Report From The Ground At The "9/12 Project"

(The New Republic)  Lydia Depillis is a reporter-researcher for The New Republic.

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On Saturday, September 12, America threw a gigantic temper tantrum in Washington D.C. Organizers called it the "largest gathering of fiscal conservatives in history," and they're probably right. But for an angry, anti-government fit, the march was remarkably civil. They had come in large bands--14 buses from Morristown, New Jersey; 12 from Harford County, Maryland--prepared with picnic baskets and lawn chairs. They festooned their hats with teabags and dressed in Revolutionary-era finery. Marchers smiled and waved and met new friends, laughing at each other's signs and exulting in their power. You might call it solidarity (the logo for the march was a raised fist against the Capitol Dome) but that would sound … sort of … communist.

"It's the biggest thing I've seen in my entire life," said a lady on the phone, excitedly. "Everybody has the same idea."

"I'm optimistic for the first time in a long time," said another, thinking aloud. "We're gonna get out of this mess."

Their complaint? Hard to say, really. Some, like the contingent of coal miners in hard hats with anti-cap-and-trade signs, had a concrete beef with the administration. But for most, there was both an incredible specificity to their protestations--all those czars, and ACORN, and Obama's missing birth certificate--and a fuzzy vagueness.

"We're losing America," said Kris, from Maryland. "Government is trying to take over everything."

What makes you so sure? I asked Shawn Nicholls, of Delaplane, Virginia, who had come with her young son.

"Just the people who surround the president. You have to question some of the associations," she answered. "It's like a big puzzle, and you get a few pieces of it here and there. You're trying to figure out what's going on, and you can't ignore these pieces anymore," she finished.

After congregating at Freedom Plaza, the entire mass strolled its way down Pennsylvania Avenue, with the occasional cheer of "YOU LIE," or just an undefined roar, sweeping the column. We pressed up against the Capitol steps, hearing an endless rotation of speakers exhort the crowd. Images of Obama were everywhere: wearing a Che hat, as the Joker, in culturally ambiguous tribal regalia, as a wolf in sheep's clothing. And then, as The New York Times reported later, the president himself passed over the crowd in a helicopter on his way to sell health care in Minnesota. The crowd waved, not realizing whom the copter contained.

This march, however, was only the culmination of a three-day bonanza of anti-government events, collectively known as the 9/12 Project. The most dedicated corps had come on Thursday morning, to the Armory--a vast hall in fairly desolate area in Ward 6, where the AIDS rate is 2.8 percent--and alighted on a rank of bleachers. They sat attentively, but responsively, while politicians like John Boehner and Jim DeMint, as well as FreedomWorks activists, outlined the reasons for Saturday's march.

"This isn't a Democratic administration. This is a progressive administration," explained Representative John Shadegg, of Arizona. "And they want to destroy everything that you and I think is great about this country." Shadegg is a good speaker--the way he explained health care, the Democrats had messed it up by fixing the tax code such that only employers could buy insurance, and now Obama wants to raid Medicare to fund a system of government control. This is about a radical revolution! a woman shouted behind me.

"The same government that can't run the post office?" Shadegg continued. "The same government that can't run cash for clunkers? You let them run a health care plan? I don't think so." Noooooooooo, the crowd agreed.

The longer one listened, the more it seemed like the nation was really under attack. "I'm worried about George Soros," said one woman, in a question and answer session. "I'm worried that the Democratic Party and our country have been hijacked by radical socialists!" Senator Jim Inhofe agreed. "You do have to wonder, who's really in charge?" he said from the dais. "Clearly it's the elitists and the money that's coming out of Hollywood." Boot ‘em out! a cry went up.

But as much as it appeared the forces of darkness were gathering, this was also a profoundly hopeful event. The Republicans have alternatives--they brandished a reassuring stack of paper that contained all the proposals they've been introducing, only to be ignored by the mainstream media and crushed by Democratic leadership. And with the help of ordinary citizens, there was still time to stop the madness.

"I am actually tremendously excited to be here. This is an incredible moment," Shadegg told the crowd. "And you know what makes it incredible? You. You make it incredible."

Later that day, they convened again, this time at Upper Senate Park near the Capitol, for a "Physicians Rally Against Socialized Medicine." There's something so trustworthy about people in lab coats, and the ultra-conservative group American Association of Physicians and Surgeons had gathered their members to dramatize the point. This is when Obama really started to look bad.

"Doctors have been accused of actually mutilating their patients for financial gain," an earnest-looking doctor named Scott Barber told the crowd, before describing his long, tortuous years spent training for his profession. "To be honest with you, I'm kind of livid." Right! the guy next to me shouted. Lies! cried another. "Because we do not do amputations instead of treat diabetes! We do not take out tonsils instead of treating a sore throat!"

And then, it became not only anti-doctor, but also anti-American, to suggest that the U.S. health care system even needed reform. "We have the best health care system here and everyone knows it," said another speaker. The cheer went up: USA! USA! USA!

I have never felt more welcome as a reporter than I did at a "Meet and Tweet," advertised as a gathering of tea partying women on the eve of the march, at the Doubletree Hotel.

"Are you a tweeter?" cried Dianne Shaw, sitting primly cross-legged, in a gray skirt set. About ten middle-aged women sat around a table crowded with empty wine glasses and a few bottles of Heineken, delicately munching mini cheeseburgers. I explained that I wasn't, but no matter--they sat me down to join the conversation.

One of the 9/12 Project organizers' primary claims is that their participants are political neophytes, not seasoned activists. That, at least, appears to be true: Almost everyone I talked to was doing this for the first time, and most were tremendously excited. Donna Cohen, a Pennsylvanian with short red hair, was one exception; she had marched against the Vietnam War in the 1960s, but later apologized to the troops. "I said, ‘I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you were right,'" she told me. "But this is as much fun as I've had since the ‘60s!"

The discussion drifted from outrage to outrage, lingering on health care. No one actually doesn't have insurance, the women agreed. Obama's numbers of the uninsured keep wavering; maybe he just stopped factoring in the illegals. Besides, everyone can just go to the emergency room, or one of those clinics that Wal-Mart runs.

"This administration does not understand the free market," someone pronounced.

"The only people with private insurance will be unions!" said another.

Above the chatter, Shaw, a retired voice teacher from Alabama, leaned over to get my attention. "I tell you, my Facebook is hot," she said, putting on her glasses and pulling out her iPhone. She started reading wall postings from all the people back home in Birmingham. "‘I'm so jealous. I want a full report,'" one read. And another: "‘Give ‘em a wedgie!' Or--I'm not going to say this--‘call them a doo-doo head for me.'"

"I could go on and on," she gushed. "All these people, rooting for me!"

In a weekend well-attended by women but largely led by men--nearly all the speakers at all the rallies were male politicians and talking heads--this was a rare moment of female camaraderie. It felt like they were on the edge of something big. "We should have a women's party!" someone proposed.

I was about to leave, but Judith Weiss from New York City--who had been proudly pointed out as a Jew, which was as close as the group came to diversity--flagged me down. "Can I tell you what I like about Obama?" she asked. "I think the fact that there's a normal black family in the White House. … If he could make being nerdy fashionable among black kids, he will have done a good thing." The women nodded in agreement. No racists here!

If there was a uniformity to the message at Saturday's march, it's because everyone gets their news from one place: FOX. As the stream of humanity flowed past FOX cameras, people took their pictures against the truck's logo, and chants went up: "FOX! FOX! FOX!"

The patron saint of the entire movement, of course, is Glenn Beck. "Beck 2012" signs dotted the audience, and at one point ten women got lined up in a row, each with a letter from his name: "G-L-E-N-N [heart] B-E-C-K." People speak of him not just with appreciation, but reverence. "Thank God for Glenn Beck," said Barbara Conley, a spry old woman from Harford County, Maryland. "He has instilled in me the felling of, if you speak the truth, don't be afraid, because you speak the truth."

Beck himself watched the event from his studios in Manhattan, receiving dispatches from FOX correspondent Griff Jenkins, who bounded around looking completely overwhelmed. "LOOK AT THIS CROWD," he screamed, thrusting his mic out to the mass. "You guys got something to say to Glenn Beck?"

Beck harps constantly on the theme that this isn't a partisan movement--these ordinary Americans are fed up with Democrats and Republicans. In an interview with Beck, Republicans Senator DeMint and Representative Mike Pence attempted to salvage some high ground for their party, in an almost painful process of self-flagellation and abasement. Rule #1: Glenn is always right.

"What will it take for people like you to be able to say, ‘You know what, I gotta clean out the hornets nest in my own party?'" he asked them. "I'm a recovering alcoholic. I can tell you the moment when I said, ‘Enough, I've gotta change my life or I'm gonna die.' I have not seen that from the Republican Party."

"Glenn, I think you're right," DeMint answered, after bravely arguing that the GOP was actually starting to figure things out. "I don't think we have come to the point as a party that we're willing to admit that we've got a problem. And as you know, that's when the recovery begins. ... So I still can't tell you who to trust, but I can tell you who you can't trust. I know the Democrat Party right now is solid moving us in the wrong direction. We've gotta get this Republican side together so Americans know who to come to."

The crowd disbursed gradually, like a fever subsiding. Lines for some 70-odd port-o-potties stretched dozens of people deep. For blocks, garbage cans were filled with crumpled signs. As people flooded out, D.C. residents percolated back in, some wearing Obama t-shirts, looking bemused: What in the world had just happened?

[noloyalisti]

KKK go away, President Obama won and is here to stay.

Only ignorant, right wing morons could go out and protest financial help for them. Where were these extremist wackos when the Bush Crime Family was driving is into the Depression?

[mbarris]

I don't know where you are getting your numbers for the attendance. The DC police confirmed 1.5 million people. Even if you use the President's graphic estimating the crowd for his inauguration it still comes out to approx. 1.5 people. CBS has lost all credibility as a neutral investigative agency. The biased reporting, the slanted jabs at those who disagree with Obama (this IS still America, isn't it?) and absolutely no coverage of some of the biggest political stories to break in this country until it was forced to admit they needed to at least give lip service the report. The media, newspapers and Television have lost all credibility and have no professional integrity left. The public just doesn't trust them to report the truth or just they truth they want you to know. Or the truth Obama wants you to know. This story is a prime example of that. Sal Alinsky at work.

[noloyalisti]

You must be listening to the Faux News again. They would lie to their own mothers to get ratings (and probably do). The DC Fire Department estimated 60,000. There are not 1.5 million extremist right wing wackos who can find the door to their trailers in America.

[roach9703]

Republicans, post your ideas to websites, and tell us where they are.

[noloyalisti]

Isn't that an oxymoron? Republicans with ideas? That is like one of them saying they "think" something. It implies they have a brain.

[pigsinlipstick]

Scenes From The Great American Stupid

[IAmForLiberty]

I was there. I took a short video with my camera. View it to get a little idea how many people were there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNox2t64YY

[noloyalisti]

KKK go away, Barack Obama is here to stay.

The Billionaires Against Healthcare stole the show. They made the angry morons admit that they are supporting billionaires to cut off their healthcare.

Welfare the Rich, Tax the Poor, then they can have even more money for war. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha or Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh as Bushoccio would say.

[cameraphone]

"What will it take for people like you to be able to say, ?You know what, I gotta clean out the hornets nest in my own party?'" he asked them. "I'm a recovering alcoholic. I can tell you the moment when I said, ?Enough, I've gotta change my life or I'm gonna die.' I have not seen that from the Republican Party."

OK. I can agree with this. The Republican Party is walking around lately like a angry raging alcoholic. And like a angry raging alcoholic, they are railing about government interference just like a drunk would about a sobriety checkpoint.

Imagine that! Republicans against keeping the roads safe from drunk drivers.

[Stevenapoli7]

Amercians need to vent from time to time. I wish i was there.

[skyk-2009]

My entire life these same people, the ones we saw on the streets of DC Saturday have been an embarrassment to this nation. These pathetic uneducated cowards can't even figure out their Left from their right. In EVERY German school text book, according to EVERY political Scientist in that Nation, in Italy and in EVERY other NATION of PLANET EARTH, Nazi's and Fascist are RADICAL RIGHT WING. I'm willing to bet half if not more of these people KNOW that the Klan itself holds the swastika and Hitler in the highest regard.. hell I'm willing to bet that most of them either had a swastika tattooed on them somewhere or have a family member who does. Yet they let politician's and talk show host convince them that our President is one. THEY don't have the Intelligence to figure out the reason for that! Honestly people I have see ROCKS with more intelligence that these people have and it's a terrible embarrassment for peoples of other countries to see them. They were bad in the 60's but I believe they are worse today!

[Jotunes]

my fist time reading this kinda of stuff,and i am cracking up at some of
these comments,All i see is hate,raciam and complete ignorance from both sides,and i would venture to say that most of u dont have a clue what made this country work and whats gonna detroy it
politics are gonna destroy it,both side dems and reps,,for there own dam greedy pockets and also i see no personnal responsabily from most americans,its all about me and what goverment owes' or what program i can take advantage of"its the new american way,ALL ABOUT ME"

[proudmilvet]

Or Hannityism, or Coulterism, or O'Reillyism, or Cheneyism, or Roveism, or Malkinism, or Gingrichism, or Palinism, or Armeyism, or Wilsonism, or Bachmannism, or Joe the Plumberism, ect.ect.!!

[proudmilvet]

I'll take Socialism any day over Limbaughism or Beckism! Van Jones is correct, Republicans are A**Holes!!

[popsalot3]

The bob-bob you a funny funny person. You better do your homework and
find out who caused the breakdown of our economy. I know you believe everything the Libs. tell you, but if you really really try, (if your Lib. mind will let you) you will find that the Dems. started this mess, and with the help of sweet thing Barney Frank, and Mr Dodd, who kept saying everything was going great, and then the Dems.turned down the Republican cry that things were getting out of hand. So do your home work, and stop showing your ignorance. And bob-bob pardon my French but you are F***ed up when you say most Doctors want the public option, there you go again listening to Obama, go out and talk to a bunch of Doctors, and you will find that 80% of them want Tort reform not the public option. Stop watching those Liberal talk shows,
and you might be able to figure out what is really happening in the USA.

[skyk-2009]

popsalot3, Yeah we know. We shouldn't listen to these "Lib's" who tried with all they had to get the Party of De-Regulation NOT to take the Regulations off of Banks and Lending Institutions. They screamed to the top of their lungs when Bush and the Worst Administration in our history put us back under Trickle Down Economics, a Policy that has NEVER not ONCE, worked. Yep they took a BALANCED BUDGET and SURPLUS and turned that into RECORD DEBT. Then the "Lib's" told us Bush was WRONG about Iraq, that he was LYING and taking us into a war that had NOTHING to do with the attack on us. SURE folks lets stop listening to those "Libs" and instead start listening to people who don't even know that a Nazi or fascist is RADICAL RIGHT WING. I mean EVERY text book in the Nation of Germany, Italy and every dictionary in this NATION defines them as such but to these Knuckle Draggers the President is One! Yeah makes perfect sense. LOL

[popsalot3]

This is to "noloyalist". I don't know how old you are, but you must not have finished high school, and seem to be dumber than a rock. I guess you think MSNBC, CNN, and NBC are telling you the truth. You bad mouth Fox news which you probably have never watched, but if you watch Fox for one week you will learn more about what is true than you will learn in six months from MSNBC, CNN and the other Lib. news channels. You probably are so gullible you believe everything that Obama is telling you. Like alot of the lazy people you are looking for all those free Gov. handouts that Obama is going to hand out. Also you better pray, if you know how, that this leadership does not last very long, or you won't enjoy getting old in what is now a very great country, but won't stay that way very long under this adminstration. This is for skyk-2009. We accept the election of a black man, I am black, we just want an honest black man, and Obama is not being honest with the American people. You people are wrong about the people in the march this weekend, 99% of them were concerned citizens that do not like what the gov. is trying to do them. I had family members that were there, that voted for Obama, but they are not happy with what the Gov. is trying to pull off. What language did they use in the 1850's?

[popsalot3]

This is to "noloyalist". I don't know how old you are, but you must not have finished high school, and seem to be dumber than a rock. I guess you think MSNBC, CNN, and NBC are telling you the truth. You bad mouth Fox news which you probably have never watched, but if you watch Fox for one week you will learn more about what is true than you will learn in six months from MSNBC, CNN and the other Lib. news channels. You probably are so gullible you believe everything that Obama is telling you. Like alot of the lazy people you are looking for all those free Gov. handouts that Obama is going to hand out. Also you better pray, if you know how, that this leadership does not last very long, or you won't enjoy getting old in what is now a very great country, but won't stay that way very long under this adminstration. This is for skyk-2009. We accept the election of a black man, I am black, we just want an honest black man, and Obama is not being honest with the American people. You people are wrong about the people in the march this weekend, 99% of them were concerned citizens that do not like what the gov. is trying to do them. I had family members that were there, that voted for Obama, but they are not happy with what the Gov. is trying to pull off. What language did they use in the 1850's?

[thebob-bob]

A paltry 60 thousand certifiable crazies show up. No conspiracy theory is too far out. No sin to horrible. To them, Obama is the anti-christ. No matter, the American voters threw their party out after the Republicans wrecked the economy and started a bogus war and messed up another.

As for the guys in the white coats? The most recent poll shows that doctors, more than 2 to 1, want a public option.

Meet the radical fringe. What a bunch of nutcases.

[HeyGettaClue]

It is delightful to see how an underwhelming turn-out of well behaved conservatives from a cross section of America carrying handmade signs can raise the hackles of illtempered liberals who are used to being bussed to well orchestrated events and handed a preprinted sign to express the original thoughts that they lack.

[fedup912]

And you wonder why we're watching FOX? As soon as you can get it right we'll think about watching again. Until then, good luck with ratings.

[joanne600]

LOL - ever been to a full house for an Ohio State game - this was like at least 10 stadiums full? You lefties wish it was a crowd of 60,000 just as you wish we were ill informed which we are not. You take your news from the likes of CBS and whomever else filters and explains things to you instead of looking at facts and deciding for yourselves. Ridicule away - we frankly don't give a rat's. It's ever so much fun to turn the tables on you and give you a dose of your own Kool-Aid. Keep making this about race - it's chapter one in your playbook and we know how much you love to use it. Besides, to actually look at the issues and engage in intelligent discourse would require too much work on your part.

[democracy1]

I've yet to see one of your type engage in "intelligent discourse". You just spew the FOX talking points, accuse anyone who disagrees with you as being to lazy to work and blah, blah, blah!

[LightOfReason]

You want us to seek "common ground", Ok how are you & Obama doing that?
You also wanted me to have an "opened mind" I'm willing to see all sides but don?t be so "opened minded" that your brains fall out.
You could make a great Neville Chamberlin.