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NY-20 Gibson's Tea Party

by: acosta

Sat Oct 23, 2010 at 21:19:05 PM EDT

I showed up with friends to the visibility outside the Murphy v. Gibson debate this past Thursday at WMHT in support of Congressman Murphy. It was terrifying. There were much more than 100, possibly 150, Gibson supporters versus our small group of 25 or so Murphy supporters. They were just as nasty, disrespectful and vitriolic as their counterparts across the country. They shouted at us and over us. They approached us and went after us personally with awful comments and even veiled threats.

When Congressman Murphy came out to greet us, they were disrespectful and yelled at him inches from his face. He was calm and cool. One protester felt triumphant after Scott went inside and shouted "eh, he's scared. Look at him shaking in his boots." Wait, was that his goal? To intimidate? So much for democracy. Move to Afghanistan if you enjoy that tactic.

I'm angry. I'm fired up. I wanted to post this hopes this incidence lights a fire under everyone who reads it as it has lit a fire under me.

It is incumbent upon me, upon all of us, to make sure that fear and anger do not take over our democratic system. We must triumph this election or be taken over by people who would yell hate speech and threats at me simply for exercising my right to support the candidate of my choice.

It is my goal to work my a$$ off until Nov 2, then sit back and gloat on November 3.

acosta :: NY-20 Gibson's Tea Party

Tags: Scott Murphy, Chris Gibson, (All Tags)

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NY-20 Gibson's Tea Party | 4 comments

The local tea partiers can be (4.00 / 1)

a nasty piece of work.

Inspired by the rantings of Glenn Beck, Alex Jones, et al., many of them believe that Democrats are socialist/communist/fascist traitors who hate the Constitution, and that the end justifies any means to stop the treason.

That same night, there were 50 or so Democrats doing visibility for Gillibrand outside her debate in Troy, and nary a tea partier.

The local tea partiers had also promoted, for a while, a visibility/harassment rally that night outside Jack McEneny's fund-raiser at the Albany Hibernian hall.

They cancelled that, presumably to concentrate on getting a big visibility/harassment crowd outside the Murphy/Gibson debate.

So, is there any video of their harassment?

If not now, there should be next time.

by: devtob @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 21:19:53 PM UTC

Tea partiers come in different stripes (0.00 / 0)

I just encountered 1-- exactly 1-- tea partier at a demonstration against hydrofracking in front of a Cuomo supporters event in Cortland (I'm kinda schizoid-- I first stood outside with a sign, then went inside to hear Cuomo do a seriously right-wing speech). He was very heavily shouting and threatening, even all by himself. I thought maybe he got off on people looking at him.

But, the opponent of our Assemblywoman is a Tea Partier, too, and he spreads his disinformation with a more measured tone, as do his Tea Party supporters who pack debates. Sure, they call Shelly Silver Satan, and claim that NY is no longer the Empire State, but the Vampire State.... but, they don't yell in your face.

It is a fractured movement, with little coordination. Thankfully, the more out-of-control chapters and individuals (like, say, Paladino) are likely to scare people enough that they may look twice at the lies and simplifications that the others deliver in more acceptable tones of voice.

by: robinia @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 23:28:18 PM UTC

Gibson's in-house fanatic (0.00 / 0)

I am a neighbor of Chris Gibson, and I've found him to be very gracious. That is why I am so disappointed in the way he has allowed goons like those described here to become such a big part of his campaign. And they are a key part of his staff,notably his volunteer coordinator Brad Littlefield.'
Up until recently, Littlefield was posting at Resistnet.com, home of "the Patriotic Resistance." All kinds of militia-like craziness.

Gibson reminds me of McCain, an honorable man who decided to sell his soul for the sake of winning. Sad, but it'll be a lot sadder for us if he wins.

by: Valatius @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 22:19:34 PM UTC

Chatted with Gibson & tea party supporters in Chatham (0.00 / 0)

Went to Tea Party rally for the Gibson bus tour in Chatham to do some interviews. I had a chance to again speak with Gibson and I can't but like the guy personally - and that personal appeal and sincerity is a large part of why he is ahead. I am sure he was a great officer for his men and women in Iraq - and I am pretty confident he recognizes that was was a total mistake.

In a better time, Gibson could be the kind of rational Republican Eisenhower or Teddy Roosevelt was - but this is simply NOT that time.

The 15 or so self-described Tea Party activists who waited an hour for Gibson illustrate the kind of pressure he will be under if he is elected and, by some chance, he chooses not to slavishly follow Boehner's orders to obstruct or reverse every vestige of progress. The people I met seemed okay at first, like most people do, but taken together, they had some crazy ideas. One lady was talking about how the media never said anything good about My Lai - and I'm telling you she was a nice person, the kind you're happy to have as a neighbor.And there was a guy who told me he had a degree in geology and could prove that global warming was a hoax. Murphy's belief in the reality of climate change is what really seemed to enrage this guy.

So, sadly, I can't vote for a rational man whom I respect, since he has chosen to align himself with the irrational forces which have taken over one of America's two great political parties.

by: Valatius @ Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 20:01:49 PM UTC