Thousands Gather in D.C. to Support Dems' Agenda
Updated at 5:16 p.m. ET
Tapping into anger as the tea party movement has done, a coalition of progressive and civil rights groups marched Saturday on the Lincoln Memorial and pledged to support Democrats struggling to keep power on Capitol Hill.
"We are together. This march is about the power to the people," said Ed Schultz, host of "The Ed Show" on MSNBC. "It is about the people standing up to the corporations. Are you ready to fight back?"
In a fiery speech that opened the "One Nation Working Together" rally on the National Mall, Schultz blamed Republicans for shipping jobs overseas and curtailing freedoms. He borrowed some of conservative commentator Glenn Beck's rhetoric and vowed to "take back our country."
"This is a defining moment in America. Are you American?" Schultz told the raucous crowd of thousands. "This is no time to back down. This is time to fight for America."
With a month of campaigning to go and voter unhappiness high, the Democratic-leaning organizers hope the four-hour program of speeches and entertainment energizes activists who are crucial if Democrats are to retain their majorities in the House and Senate. The national mood suggests gains for the GOP, and Republicans are hoping to ride voter anger to gain control of the House and possibly the Senate.
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka urged participants, including his union's members, to band together.
"There is nothing, and I mean nothing, we can't do when we stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder," Trumka said. "We will stand together. And we will win together. And we won't let anyone — and I mean anyone — stand in our way."
That starts as soon as the crowds get back to their homes.
"Coming out of here, we've got to go home and ask our friends to vote, ask our neighbors to vote," NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said.
"Ever forward, never backwards," he led the crowd in a cheer.
But even participants recognized the challenge.
"There may be an enthusiasm gap, but we're not going to know until we have an election," said Ken Bork, who came from Camas, Wash. "A lot of the noise from the extreme right-wing stuff, it's been well orchestrated by big money. But it's not as bad as they're making it out."
Rose Dixon, a health care worker from Pawleys Island, S.C., said she hopes the rally sends a message to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
"Stop the obstructionism. Work together," Dixon said. "Stop playing politics as usual and to put the American people first. We're tired of the politics and the posturing and the games."
The Rev. Al Sharpton, addressing the crowd that swelled through the day, warned activists against apathy.
"We've got to go home and we've got to hit the pavement. We've got to knock on doors. We've got to ring those church bells," Sharpton said, urging the crowd to go home and volunteer for candidates.
Organizers insist the rally is not partisan. They say the message is about job creation, quality education and justice. However, the largest organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, tend to back Democratic candidates.
But the speakers hardly shied from criticizing Republicans.
"If Sarah Palin had a bright idea, it'd be beginners' luck," comedian Charlie Hill joked from the stage about the 2008 vice presidential nominee.
Van Jones, who last year was forced from his job as a White House energy adviser after Beck made public his comments disparaging Republicans, said during his remarks that progressives must stand with Democrats to put America back to work.
"They don't need hateful rhetoric. They need real solutions," Jones said.
More than 400 organizations — ranging from labor unions to faith, environmental and gay rights groups — partnered for the event, which comes one month after Beck packed the same space with conservatives and tea party-style activists.
Organizers claimed they had as many participants as Beck's rally. But Saturday's crowds were less dense and didn't reach as far to the edges as they did during Beck's rally. The National Park Service stopped providing official crowd estimates in the 1990s.
Beck and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gathered near the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech to urge a vast crowd to embrace traditional values. Though also billed as nonpolitical, the rally was widely viewed as a protest against the policies of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats.
One Nation organizers said they began planning their event before learning about Beck's rally, and said Saturday's march is not in reaction to that.
"Our strength is your strength," SEIU President Mary Kay Henry led a chant from the steps where King delivered one of the nation's most
"We are one nation, coming together."
Obama was spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Tapping into anger as the tea party movement has done, a coalition of progressive and civil rights groups marched Saturday on the Lincoln Memorial and pledged to support Democrats struggling to keep power on Capitol Hill.
"We are together. This march is about the power to the people," said Ed Schultz, host of "The Ed Show" on MSNBC. "It is about the people standing up to the corporations. Are you ready to fight back?"
In a fiery speech that opened the "One Nation Working Together" rally on the National Mall, Schultz blamed Republicans for shipping jobs overseas and curtailing freedoms. He borrowed some of conservative commentator Glenn Beck's rhetoric and vowed to "take back our country."
"This is a defining moment in America. Are you American?" Schultz told the raucous crowd of thousands. "This is no time to back down. This is time to fight for America."
With a month of campaigning to go and voter unhappiness high, the Democratic-leaning organizers hope the four-hour program of speeches and entertainment energizes activists who are crucial if Democrats are to retain their majorities in the House and Senate. The national mood suggests gains for the GOP, and Republicans are hoping to ride voter anger to gain control of the House and possibly the Senate.
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka urged participants, including his union's members, to band together.
"There is nothing, and I mean nothing, we can't do when we stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder," Trumka said. "We will stand together. And we will win together. And we won't let anyone — and I mean anyone — stand in our way."
That starts as soon as the crowds get back to their homes.
"Coming out of here, we've got to go home and ask our friends to vote, ask our neighbors to vote," NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said.
"Ever forward, never backwards," he led the crowd in a cheer.
But even participants recognized the challenge.
"There may be an enthusiasm gap, but we're not going to know until we have an election," said Ken Bork, who came from Camas, Wash. "A lot of the noise from the extreme right-wing stuff, it's been well orchestrated by big money. But it's not as bad as they're making it out."
Rose Dixon, a health care worker from Pawleys Island, S.C., said she hopes the rally sends a message to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
"Stop the obstructionism. Work together," Dixon said. "Stop playing politics as usual and to put the American people first. We're tired of the politics and the posturing and the games."
The Rev. Al Sharpton, addressing the crowd that swelled through the day, warned activists against apathy.
"We've got to go home and we've got to hit the pavement. We've got to knock on doors. We've got to ring those church bells," Sharpton said, urging the crowd to go home and volunteer for candidates.
Organizers insist the rally is not partisan. They say the message is about job creation, quality education and justice. However, the largest organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, tend to back Democratic candidates.
But the speakers hardly shied from criticizing Republicans.
"If Sarah Palin had a bright idea, it'd be beginners' luck," comedian Charlie Hill joked from the stage about the 2008 vice presidential nominee.
Van Jones, who last year was forced from his job as a White House energy adviser after Beck made public his comments disparaging Republicans, said during his remarks that progressives must stand with Democrats to put America back to work.
"They don't need hateful rhetoric. They need real solutions," Jones said.
More than 400 organizations — ranging from labor unions to faith, environmental and gay rights groups — partnered for the event, which comes one month after Beck packed the same space with conservatives and tea party-style activists.
Organizers claimed they had as many participants as Beck's rally. But Saturday's crowds were less dense and didn't reach as far to the edges as they did during Beck's rally. The National Park Service stopped providing official crowd estimates in the 1990s.
Beck and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gathered near the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech to urge a vast crowd to embrace traditional values. Though also billed as nonpolitical, the rally was widely viewed as a protest against the policies of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats.
One Nation organizers said they began planning their event before learning about Beck's rally, and said Saturday's march is not in reaction to that.
"Our strength is your strength," SEIU President Mary Kay Henry led a chant from the steps where King delivered one of the nation's most
"We are one nation, coming together."
Obama was spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
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Many create gods and Christ?s in their own image and even quote from the scriptures merely so they can continue with their personal and political agenda?Nothing whatsoever to do with CHRIST, SERMON ON THE MOUNT ANYONE? but everything to do with the MALE EGO. I?m reminded of the time when george (born again Christian?) bush constantly said that he spoke to god when it was obviously the EGOTISTICAL GOD he created in his own image.
A little glimpse from the past..
When you?re not talking politics, what do you and your father talk about?
George bush: ?Pu$$y?
(psssst. trying to prove to everyone that he?s heterosexual and not gay and bisexual...) Ivy league graduate?
To David Fink of the Hartford Courant at the 1988 republican convention. Geoge bush gave us that stupid and tactless quote around the time when he told the world that he was a born again Christian? I?ve seen people change when they said they were born again Christians. If george bush was truly sincere the Iraqi war and torture would never have happened, plus his filthy and stupid and tactless quotes(which were many) would never have been part of his rhetoric. George bush always reminded me of those who said they were born again Christians when leaving prison only to do the same crime over again and back to prison they went.
MAKING A stupid statement like that doesn?t necessarily mean you?re closer to god. I hope you know that?Anyway
remember Jeff Gannon the male hustler who frequented the white house quite often? Judging from george bush?s past I?m sure jeff and George had a sexual rendezvous. Anyway, jeff had a mighty big dick according to the pornographic photos he had scattered all over the internet., so I?m sure george was enjoying his rendezvous with jeff as soldiers were needlessly dying in Iraq.
Another glimpse from the past.
Shaken father writes to president bush. Published in the Home
News Tribune 2/05/04
Dear President bush;
With heavy heart, tears in my eyes and a home full of sorrow, I pick up my pent to write you about a brave soldier, 2nd Lt. Seth J Dvorin, US Army. My son was killed in Iraq on Feb 3, 2004 fighting in a war. Seth was a good boy, well-mannered, smart, kind and understanding. He joined the Army in an effort to serve his country. And serve his country he did Seth made the ultimate sacrifice. Burying a child will no doubt be the hardest task that his mother and I shall ever have to do. The one question I would like you to answer is ?Why did my son and every other soldier that was killed, maimed and wounded have to suffer settling your vendetta??
My son is gone just when he was laying a strong foundation to build upon for the rest of his life. Now, president bush his life has been snuffed out in a meaningless war. Where are all the weapons of mass destruction, where are the stock piles of chemical and biological weapons? Please mr president, pray for all our fallen heroes and as a tribute to these heroes get our boys and girls out of Iraq now before to much more blood is shed. Since you waged this unnecessary war on saddem Hussein the world has become a horrible place to live in. I know my boy is safe now, in a new world free of hate and prejudices where God is his president, but you tell me president bush why he had to go so soon and in such a violent way.
Respectfully yours,
Richard M. Dvorin
In celebration of gay marriage a little glimpse from the past?
http://bushssecretlifein84.tripod.com/
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I will be voting republican for governor. He is Rick Snyder and he personally hasn't attacked his opponent Verg Bernero, who has quite a mouth on him.
My god...there were over 4 million people there. It was really up lifting.
==================================================================================================================================================
It's true ,I was there.There were at least 60 thousand people in the pretzel vender's line!!
I can hear it now......More Welfare!!! More Welfare!!! More Welfare!!! Don't make us work or pay taxes!!!!!! We need more money to buy drugs!!!!!===============================================================================dungo,you forgot Welfare cadillacs!! Welfare cadillacs!!Watermellon!! Watermellon!!Fried chicken !! Fried chicken!!Colt 40's!! Colt 40's!! Afro-sheen!! Afro-sheen!!DUNGO...why don't you put the wheels back on your house and get out of town??
p.s george bush has no twin brother so that was definitely george reading to the school children very nonchalant without a care in the world knowing that New York was being attacked,talk about apathy. You could also tell that the apathetic egotist never gave a damn for those who perished on 9/ll when he gave his cheap photo op performance at ground zero speaking through the blow horn. You could really tell that it was all for show and nothing more.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR