Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Protesters Dissed by Tennessee Congressman

I happened to be near Capitol Hill when I came across a protest by mostly George Washington University students protesting out-of-control spending by Congress. As I observed the protesters, I noticed that they were for the most part ignored by the Democratic congressmen heading into a Democratic event at the Liasion Capitol Hill Hotel.

The protesters shouted, "No more spending."

Most Congressmen smiled, some waved, but all proceeded into the hotel for their gathering without engaging the protesters. That is until Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) arrived.

He turned to the mostly co-ed protesters and said "You're cute, but you're on the wrong side."
The civicly minded protesters were clearly deflated. Protester Lauren Atenco (Not a GW student) told me, "They tell us to become active and then they dismiss us and talk down to us when we show our concerns."


Most of the others seemed to hold the same view.

Two protesters still in a good mood before Congressman Cohen's remark. The protester on the left was visibly bothered by his remark and pointed Cohen out to me as he left the event.
One of the protesters told me Congressman Cohen should apologize. One said, "The least the congressman can do now is hold a meeting with us so that we can express our concerns about the out-of-control budget and so that he can demonstrate to us that he understands that just because we are young, it doesn't mean we don't know that budgets need to be balanced, whether it's are our own or that of the nation."

20 comments:

  1. With a Big deficit, big debtor, big government, it is young people who are being left with the tab. Don't these Congressmen don't get it?

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  2. "Don't these Congressmen don't get it?"

    Many don't. But I think it's safe to say that the few that do are either terrified or in denial.

    This is just another mark in the scorebook for libertarian class analysis. There is the political class and the few connected to the political class-- both of whom are privileged-- and everybody else, who get the shaft. This story is just a small example.

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  3. "Wherever there are cute protesters, I'll be there."

    --Robert Wenzel

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  4. Bob,

    So true. I am beginning to notice a pattern in Wenzel's preferred form of journalism-- hunt down the "hot" story.

    First anon,

    Think about this simply for a minute: govt produces nothing on its own. All politicians can do is redistribute wealth from one person to another. That being the case, do you think the role of politician is to solve problems (created by other politicians) or to work on someone's behalf to redistribute wealth to that special interest?

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  5. Thanks for covering our protest Mr. W.
    Maybe someday our representatives will actually listen.

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  6. Lauren,

    They aren't your representatives. They represent the people who they are stealing (from you) for.

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  7. hopefully this will be a waking up moment for those beautiful young ladies...I had a similar moment when i met James Carville (i used to be a brainwashed democrat)....working for kucinich and then for ron paul has woken me up to the fact that dem vs repub is an extravagant farce with the same purpose as "let them eat cake" or the gladiator games....both sides are owned by the central bankers...themoneymasters.com to learn truth

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  8. maybe if they protested nude there would be more appeal - these children should be studying and working towards the real cause of this eco-disaster - the perps of 911!

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  9. "Those who make peaceful protest impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
    - J.F. Kennedy

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  10. The protesters had a point of view and expressed it. Cohen had a point of view and expressed it. This isn't anything earth shaking.

    Next journalistic drama topic please.

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  11. Cute?

    More like stupid, ugly, and insane.

    Bickering about "spending" while you are engaged in (at least) three illegal wars which are destroying your country while you destroy the lives of 100% innocent people abroad is either moronic or maliscious. Take your pick.

    Do you think wars are free of charge!?

    Note to GW students: We know you are the future leaders of the USA. We know you are going to try to make wars every bit as evil and illegal as your predecessors. Your vapid little protests aimed at subhuman sociopathic scum congressmen will do NOTHING.

    End the wars. Stop giving aid to terrorist nations like Israel and Egypt. THEN you can bicker about "spending" and other BS partisan issues.

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  12. Ha these "kids" will be running your world and nursing homes.

    All politicians are dirty. Every single one.

    The first time you realize that and stand up for yourselves-as a whole-instead of picking sides-then you'll get somewhere. You are being played so easily with the divide and conquer technique that it is cringe worthy.

    But probably your collective hate of a particular person or side will keep you so distracted that you can't unite against the global lunatics that are about to tank your lives.

    Oh well. The wheel turns.

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  13. When a politician says that "young people should get involved", they mean that they should donate time, effort, and money to help the "Republicrats" in their fight against the "Demoblicans"; or support Jesse James who is running against Frank James.

    Thinking for yourself and getting involved "outside the box" is not really encouraged.

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  14. The Voluntaryists have it right:

    Statement of Purpose: Voluntaryists are advocates of non-political, non-violent strategies to achieve a free society. We reject electoral politics, in theory and in practice, as incompatible with libertarian principles. Governments must cloak their actions in an aura of moral legitimacy in order to sustain their power, and political methods invariably strengthen that legitimacy. Voluntaryists seek instead to delegitimize the State through education, and we advocate withdrawal of the cooperation and tacit consent on which State power ultimately depends.~http://www.voluntaryist.com

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  15. Standing around chanting isn't being politically active. Those people haven't been paying attention. Millions marched against the war in Iraq but it still happened.

    Active is what the banks are and what the military contractors are and what the oil companies are - buying regulators, lobbying politicians and funding their campaigns etc. and voting during the selection of candidates rather than just waiting for the candidates that have already been selected.

    Plus having an actual clue about the issues helps.

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  16. Wait... So you think you should be engaged in a serious dialogue because you waved a sign? Really?

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  17. "Cute?

    More like stupid, ugly, and insane.

    Bickering about "spending" while you are engaged in (at least) three illegal wars which are destroying your country while you destroy the lives of 100% innocent people abroad is either moronic or maliscious. Take your pick.

    Do you think wars are free of charge!?

    Note to GW students: We know you are the future leaders of the USA. We know you are going to try to make wars every bit as evil and illegal as your predecessors. Your vapid little protests aimed at subhuman sociopathic scum congressmen will do NOTHING.

    End the wars. Stop giving aid to terrorist nations like Israel and Egypt. THEN you can bicker about "spending" and other BS partisan issues."

    You sound ridiculous, why would you attack the youth that are trying to make a difference by calling them stupid and ugly? If you have a point to get across next time I suggest you stick to the facts rather than using derogatory language to try to discredit your opponent. No one will understand your point if you just rant and make yourself sound like a petty individual by insulting young college girls.

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  18. Anybody wonder why America needs congress? I can't come up with a good reason. How 'bout you?

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  19. John M. from MemphisJune 11, 2010 at 11:56 AM

    Apparently the protesters from GW need to enroll into some economic courses. You NEVER cut spending during a recession.

    Keep in mind that G. W. Bush and a Republican dominated Congress (until '06) were spending (as McCain put it) "like drunken sailors."

    They were spending in a time of prosperity, whereas Obama is spending in a time of recession. Look up Keynesian economics...both parties have stood by that type of policy for decades.

    So the Congressman was right, and at least he took the time to recognize them instead of walking past them as many others did.

    Once the recession is over, if this type of spending continues then you will hear more than just the neo-cons complaining.

    And fluffy is right. While Bush was spending the surplus Clinton left us and while we went into an illegal war and violated habeas corpus rights, these supposed fiscally conservative constitutionalists stayed at home and never made a peep. Once Obama gets into office, they all-of-a-sudden become willing to get angry and to publicly raise their voices. My question is WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU WHEN THIS COUNTRY NEEDED YOU MOST?!?!?!?!?!?!? The hypocrisy is unparalleled by anything else in recent history.

    Those protesters need to pull their silver spoons out of their mouths and look at their own reflections.

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