Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left

Pajamas Media ^ | 4-7-09 | Roger L. Simon

[adm5]

Back when I was semi-card-carrying leftie, we used to spend a lot of time speculating who was the agent provocateur - read: FBI agent - at the demonstration.

[adm5]

Back when I was semi-card-carrying leftie, we used to spend a lot of time speculating who was the agent provocateur - read: FBI agent - at the demonstration. Usually we thought he was the most extreme character, the guy most obviously shredding his draft card in full view of the media while tossing a cherry bomb at an American flag already heavily doused in kerosene, maybe adding a little defecation into the mix. The theory was the more “out there” the acts, the more likely the motive was to discredit our “righteous” cause. This often included yet more extreme provocateurs inside the more violent groups like the Panthers and the Weathermen where real bombs, not the cherry sort, were involved.

But times have changed and for once the formerly quiescent right is gearing up to demonstrate on April 15. The left has not had to deal with something like this in recent years. Fuddy-duddy as they and their ideology may be, they have had the demo scene pretty much to themselves for decades. An element of distress (envy? nerves?) is in the air. According to Newsbusters derived from the Cavuto Show and other sources, in a startling role reversal, ACORN and the Huffington Post are planning to infiltrate the Tea Parties.

On Fox News Channel’s April 7 “Your World,” host Neil Cavuto reported that the Tax Day tea party protests on April 15 will be “infiltrated” by their political opponents and led by left-wing activist organizations. He specifically named Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

“Only eight days before a nationwide tea party, some over-caffeinated crashers aiming to lay waste to it,” Cavuto said. “Reports of very well-organized infiltrators trying to mix in and rain on this parade. Talk about taxing.”

Of course, in the parlance of a more centrist liberal, this all depends on what your definition of infiltrate is. The HuffPo is planning, like PJTV and Pajamas Media, to send citizen reporters. If that’s true, more power to them. Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom, I always say. But if they intend to participate and shape events while hiding their identities, well, that’s another matter. The same is true of ACORN. I would say to them welcome. Demonstrate, counter demonstrate, do your thing. This is America. But if someone’s out to play the agents provocateurs game, trying to make the Tea Party movement seem to be what it’s not, painting libertarians as racists or similar nonsense, well, that deserves to be exposed and countered vigorously.

So my recommendation to Tea Party demonstrators as a former leftie is to tear a leaf from my old book. Keep your eye out for the most extreme characters and then ask yourself: Is that real? Is that person who he or she says he is? Cui bono, who profits, here from what they are saying or doing? Draw your conclusions (carefully!) and then act accordingly and completely within the law.

This is adm5 now: Make sure to read the comments below this article on the link provided up top. Excellent suggestions and advice from some there.

I'm definitely going to be bringing my video camera to capture any shenanigans that might unfold. And the other thing is to remain calm and in control at all times - if someone (lefty) is trying to provoke you into some sort of violent/unintelligent response, there will be a camera there capturing the entire event and will be broadcast immediately on all MSM/net outlets to try and discredit us and our movement.

[adm5]

Here are a few of the comments on Pajamas Media.

1. Jim:

*snark*
The one with the B carved in her forehead?

Apr 8, 2009 - 12:46 am

2. william Blake:

I don’t think these people know what they are in for.

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:09 am

3. Tea Party Advice « The Original William Blake’s Blog:

[...] “So my recommendation to Tea Party demonstrators as a former leftie is to tear a leaf from my …Cui bono, who profits, here from what they are saying or doing? Draw your conclusions (carefully!) and then act accordingly and completely within the law.” Published in: [...]

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:14 am

4. Larry J:

No, all you have to do is show a big picture of Rush Limbaugh. If they react like a vampire to sunlight, you’re found your infiltrator.

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:54 am

5. David Thomson:

“The same is true of ACORN. I would say to them welcome.”

Nope, that should not be our attitude. ACORN is a government funded group. It is not comprised of private citizens. In many respects, ACORN members are Barack Obama’s storm troopers. We must not be fearful of criticizing these thugs out of fear of being branded racists. They have no legal right to participate such political activities as per se ACORN members.

Apr 8, 2009 - 6:57 am

6. kcom:

I am reminded of various events during last year’s campaigns where it turned out that “random” concerned citizens asking questions at certain debates or campaign events were, in actuality, for want of a better word, “plants”. They either worked for (or were often leaders of) campaign organizations or activist groups that had a specific stake in one campaign or the other. This was often with the TV networks’ collusion. A little creative googling the next day brought out the whole story and exposed the chicanery for what it was.

I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take pictures of anyone causing trouble and, if possible, get their names. Google could be a very good friend in that situation. If they were exposed as ACORN plants it would be helpful. Of course, to a certain degree, it will be too little to late if the networks cover them and call them Tea Party protesters and the truth as to their true motives only comes out the next day (and is ignored by the general media). But it can’t hurt.

As Roger says, anyone who shows up as a citizen reporter, honest and upfront, whether from the Huffington Post or somewhere else has every right to exercise their Constitutional rights. But no one has the right to speak for a movement they don’t really belong to.

Apr 8, 2009 - 7:55 am

7. tim maguire:

Judging by the liberals who come on conservative blogs posing as conservatives, they should be pretty easy to spot. Having not a clue about how conservatives think or believe and why, their rants typically sound as authentic as language run through translation software.

Apr 8, 2009 - 10:31 am

8. MAS1916:

Conservative participants need to get in front of the cameras. The only way ACORN and others can impact the movement is to lie about it and make the movement look silly. They will try to do this by influencing coverage.

Main stream media doesn’t want to cover this story to begin with, so we’ll have to compete. Get your thoughts and comments together, seek out the journalists (they hate to work anyway) and talk to them before the idiot lefties do.

Apr 8, 2009 - 10:42 am

9. suedenim:

As with most things, I believe we can look to Spock for guidance. As he put it (when explaining how it was easy for him to spot Kirk et al’s evil duplicates from the Mirror Universe):

“It was far easier for you as civilized men to behave like barbarians than it was for them as barbarians to behave like civilized men.”

Apr 8, 2009 - 11:33 am

10. EdSki:

I’m reminded of the scene from the Grapes of Wrath, where the locals try to infiltrate the dance at the migrant camp in order to discredit them, and get the camp closed down. If I remember correctly, all it took was a few very observant farmers (Henry Fonda) to pick out the hoodlums and very quietly and quickly, move them some where else. I seem to remember something about using fists on stomachs so they’d leave no marks.

Not that I’m suggesting any violence, but it was an uplifting scene watching the farmers handle their own issues, take care of business, and save the day.

Apr 8, 2009 - 12:35 pm

11. Instapundit » Blog Archive » ROGER SIMON: Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left….:

[...] ROGER SIMON: Tea Party role reversal: how to deal with potential agents provocateurs from the left. [...]

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:21 pm

12. thenakedemperor:

It shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s easy for a civilized man to act the barbarian, while a barbarian has no knowledge of how to act civilized.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:26 pm

13. Dave in Texas:

we’re already covering this on TCOT, all over the twitterverse.. be polite, act legally, seek out the stuff that doesn’t make SENSE… we KNOW that conservatives protesting for fiscal responsibility, for ethics and morals and God and country, aren’t going to have “KILL OBAMA” signs and aren’t going to be destructive and so forth.. but they can be subtle and still subvert the whole thing, particularly with a compliant/eager media waiting for that perfect clip to play a million times that will stain the reputations of the folks who go to these events.

BE CAREFUL. No fighting. No cursing. Be polite. If you see a sign, or hear a person, suggesting violence or some other nonconservative method of response to a problem, it ISN”T US.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:31 pm

14. DeliLama:

Bring extra signs that say “BEWARE OF LEFTISTS PRETENDING TO BE EXTREME RIGHT-WINGERS” with a movable arrow (velcro, whatever). Then watch for this type of person and follow them around with the warning sign in clear view of any cameras.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:32 pm

15. Contumacious:

Make everyone pay for something (a copy of the Constitution, etc.) with their own money.

You know how much the left HATES to reach into their own pockets.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:38 pm

16. Kevin:

Things not to bring April 15:

Confederate flag
Swastikas
White sheets with holes cut in them

If you see these, feel free to pummel them.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:42 pm

17. Conservadick:

And don’t be afraid to photograph disruptive lefties behaving badly and post them to the web. The whole internet troll approach falls apart when anonymity is stripped away.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:44 pm

18. Neil:

The return of “Fake But Accurate”!

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:52 pm

19. Nahanni:

If a moonbat does show up just do what that one Tea Party did to the MSM reporter who only wanted to interview the one Obamaworshiping counterprotester.

Surround them, point at the person and start chanting “Leftist fraud”, ACORN nutjob”, “SHAME!” or whatever works to make it impossible for the MSM to interview them and to use any video. It also would help if some folks brought rolled up signs that said “Leftist fraud” or “ACORN nutjob” to roll out and use right next to that person so the MSM can not use any silent video of them for VOC’s, either.

When they figure out that they are not going to get their desired effect of trying to make the Tea party look like a Klan rally and try to leave about 10-15 people should follow them to “escort” them away-keep chanting at them. Once they pass the police let them go on their way otherwise they might start screeching that they are being stalked or some other BS.

If you go to a Tea Party bring a camera, if some moonbat gets loose and starts screeching make sure you record it and post it on youtube plus send it to places like PJTV just in case youtube deletes it for “content” reasons because we all know how youtube is when it comes to anything that might be pro American or of a “conservative” nature.

Apr 8, 2009 - 1:56 pm

20. RebeccaH:

My advice for Tea Party protestors is to quickly identify these “extreme” protestors, and follow them around, asking loud and repetitive questions: Do you work for ACORN? What group are you representing? Who sent you here?” The quickest way to discredit purveyors of the race card is to challenge their racism, and that goes for any political orientation, such as socialism or out-and-out Marxism.

The so-called MSM don’t want to cover Tea Party demonstrations, but they will if they sense blood in the water. Just make sure the blood belongs to the left-leaning provocateurs, and not the legitimate citizens who see their government as massively failing us.

[Star Traveler]

Yeah, the FBI-agent-provocateur is the one trying to sell everyone drugs... :-)

[o_zarkman44]

Beware of people asking for your email address, posing as tea party or fair tax reps. They may be ACORN OR SOME OTHER LEFT WING DOT ORG.
Don’t get on the wrong mail list. What they might do with your email could be malicious, and even bring on harassment.

If the fair tax people are there, they will have a legitimate booth set up with legitimate literature.

[Salamander]

I asked on the MD & WV state boards *who* will be going to the Frederick MD and Martinsburg WV parties?

I need to find at least one person I can identify on sight to make sure I’m not accidentally behind enemy lines.

[sheesh...just look at me...I’m frequently mistaken for a “liberal” because of the hair, the clothes, the art work, the literature, musical preferences, etc]

I need to find someone who will recognize *me* as much as I will be able to recognize *them*.
[they won’t have a very tough time picking me out of crowd]...LOL

Help!

[fellowpatriot]

If the media shows up, you can be sure that acorn or other nuts are present at your tea party.

[o_zarkman44]

Info coming from a very good source told me that the Tea Party in Columbia , Missouri a few weeks ago had FBI and other Government and LE people taking pictures of the crowd for “inventory” and archiveal purposes.

People acting up should smile big for the cameras.
I did. And held my sign with pride.

[tacticalogic]

Think of a question or comment only someone from here would have a recognizable reaction to - eg “Am I logged on?”

[Star Traveler]

I remember from back in my college days that certain people would get paranoid at times and think there were FBI agents in the crowd or something. I don’t doubt what you’re saying; I was just commenting on my own experience... a blast from the past... LOL...

[George Smiley]

Was that blotter or microdot at work?

:-)

[George Smiley]

I posted this to *another* Tea Party’s site as a bit of friendly advice:

I’ve posted in numerous places that the National Park Service rangers don’t take kindly to disruptors and that will probably discourage them from coming to the [other, from your point of view] rally at Independence Mall on the 18th. (Lefties do opposition research, too!)

If confronted, don’t respond. Get the police involved as soon as is humanly possible. Video if you can.

You might want to set up an informal security team composed of people who all have PTT phones (Nextel, for example). Half a dozen to a dozen or so should suffice, just to keep an eye on things.

Set up a designated member of that team to stay next to the senior police official on-scene, so that your security team can relay information DIRECTLY to the police, thus helping to speed up response time.

[RegulatorCountry]

In a “prior life,” I was in management in the textile industry, and training for union avoidance came with the territory. As a result of that experience, I can spot an “organizer” from a hundred yards off, lol. It's in the eyes, sort of dead, even when the other visual cues such as clothing or body language aren't particularly noteworthy. People who are just too direct, too intent on corralling you or a group of people into a particular thought or circumstance.

The most obvious “tell” other than this would be that ringleaders typically make almost a fetish out of any type of work clothes and shoes, trying so hard to be perceived as the working man, but are overly conscious about haircuts. Current style or buzzed for men, always fairly fresh, overcompensating to avoid the longhair stereotype would be my guess.

So, if you have someone, or a group of them, who fit this description, and they're just too intense even when quiet, they're the ones to watch and have cellphone cameras at the ready.

Another tell for staging would be to pay close attention to where media congregate. Whether they're drawn to where they know the “action” is going to be, or the theatrics are drawn to them, is immaterial. That's where it'll be.

[Salamander]

LOL!!!!

So, I should sidle up to someone and nonchalantly ask them if their beeber is stuned?.

[”Psssst! Hey you! A hugh and series thing just happened; a møøse bit my sister!”]

And if I ask some “normal” person, next thing I know there’s a butterfly net over me.

Sounds like a plan!

;-D

[Salamander]

I have a black visor with “FBI” on the front and a black t-shirt that’s FBI issue.

My blacked-out windows/black Yukon looks like a “MIB-mobile”.

Should I bring them?....:)

[Star Traveler]

Yeah, don’t forget that little thingy that makes you forget everything... :-)

[darkangel82]

Just don’t over-stune, or you might self-zot accidentally.

[QBFimi]

ping

[Salamander]

I accidentally looked at it once and forgot where I put it.

[I *can* bring a small dog wearing a business suit, though]

[Star Traveler]

I used to walk my cousin’s four little weiner dogs around the block. They were like four little aliens... :-)

[Salamander]

Been there, done that but mercifully, I’ve forgotten about it....mostly....:)

[tacticalogic]

Or “All your zot are belong to kittys!”

[Thunder90]

Watch out for ANSWER, CodeStinko, World Can’t Wait, Moveon.org, ect; besides ACORN. Also, watch out for anarchist types. They want to cause trouble as well.

[Salamander]

I should get some portable speakers for my iPod and just walk around with The Immigrant Song playing in endless loop....LOL!

[I *knew* I should’ve bought that plastic Viking helmet last Hallowe’en!]

[Salamander]

Weiner dogs *are* aliens....;-D

[Star Traveler]

:-)

[tacticalogic]

Or maybe just stand next to an Exit holding a picture of Opus.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The bigger this thing gets nationwide (like the Ross Perot movement took off and scare the cr*p out of a lot of vested interests), the more of a threat this is going to be to the Socialist Party newly in power. And the more, either authorized or unauthorized (free agents), trouble makers, shills, toadies, agentes provacateur, sycophants, jerks, sods and just plain plants will be sent out there to set up the Good Guys and of course the MSM conveniently there to film it and do a hatchet job, discrediting good people. I think this is wise advice.

(Not to you here adm5, but) Any lurkers who are reading this site who have intentions of showing up and causing some trouble with these tactics in mind, are clearly warned here: you will be spotted, you will be stopped, and you will not be tolerated. Got that, ACORN-types, boot licking Obamatrons, and LIBS??

[Salamander]

Magnum or regular?.....;D

[Obamageddon]

Three weeks ago we had a small tea party in Livingston, Montana at the Post Office. When we got started, a strange guy with sunglasses jumped in and started spouting off about how he had a beef with the Forest Service harassing him for camping outside of campgrounds and how he had an AR-15 and was planning on "Standing up" to these little tyrants.

Everyone there went silent and it was obvious that this clown was a Provocateur. We told him that we wouldn't stand for any violence talk and asked him to leave. He did make a good effort to get a look at everyone there. There was also a woman taking pictures outside the group.

No doubt about it - Agents Provaceteur will be at these events!

[Salamander]

The sad thing is that conservatives are simply too decent to have anything analogous to ACORN types.

In 47 years, I do not recall ever reading a headline about “Rioting, maniacal Republicans” or “Republicans wild in the streets! Cities aflame!”

*Their* tactics work and they always get their way.

There’s something desperately wrong with this picture.

[Pajamajan]

Have video, use it. Point out disrupters to LEO's . Patriot Guard Riders? Take lots of pictures.

Somebody posted to hold up a picture of Rush Limbaugh- the imposters will act like vampires confronted with sunlight, and turn away.

Talk about the Lord- they can't stand any mention of Jesus- or, hold up a bar of soap.

Me thinks these people are going to be pretty easy to flush out, if they try this.

[RepublicanChick]

LOL, code for Freepers, I love it!

[NTHockey]

True enough. And why have we remained so silent, while our country is sold down the river?

[philly-d-kidder]

Obviousley you haven’t been to abortion Clinics on a daily basis or the march for life in the past 30 years! Yesterday alone we had 600 people in two different demonstrations the difference we pray and have attempted interventions !

[Smokin' Joe]

PRESS RELEASES!

The media are lazy, so spoon feed them the story with your press release.

Specifically state that you are a non-violent group, and that any one initiating violent or crminial acts is doing so without the knowledge or approval of anyone who is organizing the protest.

Post the press release on the web, and wherever you can, pin up a hard copy.

Do not put personal contact information on the release or ACORNS may be sprouting in your yard.

[LibertyRocks]

Excellent advice and information! I’ve only been to a few protests/rallies in my life, but what you say is true! I’ve seen it myself.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

The leftist provacateurs will be the ones yelling racist slurs about Obama, carrying placards with obscene words, and destroying public property, and getting filmed so that the media will broadcast it and blame “right wing extremists.”

[Constitutional Patriot]

“Beware of people asking for your email address”

This is a big one — good advice. Do not give your email address to anyone unless they are set-up as o-zarkman44 suggested.

[adm5]

Talk about the Lord- they can't stand any mention of Jesus- or, hold up a bar of soap.

This part made me laugh.

[RegulatorCountry]

Starting out in that industry, here, just six years after what happened, it was tense at times. All sides in that were rife with informants and, yes, provocateurs; we know that now with three decades of hindsight, trials, recriminations and repercussions that go on to this day. So, especially in the larger cities, this all could be little more than street theater or it could come apart and get ugly, more than most perceive. The worm has turned to some degree, but the same motivations toward those who make an uncomfortable amount of noise remain. I know I'm being oblique here, but read this, a brief synopsis I found with a quick search, and you might understand what I'm talking about: http://hnn.us/comments/9640.html

[\/\/ayne]

I think the sign “BEWARE OF LEFTISTS PRETENDING TO BE EXTREME RIGHT-WINGERS” is a little too specific. There may be all kinds of people trying to "hijack" the Tea Parties, some well-meaning in their own minds. I believe the first step for any suspected infiltrator or hijacker is to ask them directly what they are doing. You may be wrong about them.

The next thing to do would be to ask them politely to stop displaying the "hijack" sign and get a regular Tea Party sign or stop misbehaving in whatever inappropriate thing they are doing (such as signing up people or causing arguments.) If that doesn't work, ask them to leave and tell them they are not welcome. They may just leave. (You may want to also inform the police that are sure to be nearby. Sometimes they can convince people to leave quietly. They're experts at dealing with combative people, you know.)

Only if they continue to misbehave, don't leave and the police insist they can stay would it be time to invoke the nuclear option of the infiltrator / hijack sign. And don't make it too specific or accusatory, because you probably don't have proof they are a left-wing infiltrator, and liberal news media would love to catch a mistake like that. There is one thing you know and can prove: if they have been asked to leave, they are no longer with the Tea Party.

[FreeKeys]

You might be able to use a couple of these:

     

     

[philly-d-kidder]

[Mamzelle]

re: If the media shows up, you can be sure that acorn or other nuts are present at your tea party.)))

Pithy!!

[victim soul]

They have been doing this at Pro-Life Prayer Vigils for years.

[FreeKeys]

thanky verra muhhhhh

[adm5]

Thanks for posting those.

[Just mythoughts]

Info coming from a very good source told me that the Tea Party in Columbia , Missouri a few weeks ago had FBI and other Government and LE people taking pictures of the crowd for “inventory” and archiveal purposes. People acting up should smile big for the cameras. I did. And held my sign with pride.

Probably for ACORN 'bonus' pay outs.

[dsutah]

I’d be willing to bet that there will be a number of reformed hippies at these rallies! A number of years ago, I was at a “Pioneer Days” parade in Ogden, UT.

My then-teenage daughter(she’s 28 now)was in her school marching band. She was in that parade, and I was waiting for her unit to come by. There was a guy sitting about 15 feet away on the curb. He looked kind-of scruffy, and had long hair and a beard (I think).

Anyway, he was sitting quietly on the curb until the color guard with the flags came by. Then he stood up quietly, and put his hand over his heart until they were through playing “The Star Spangled Banner”. Then he quietly again sat down!

He looked really hippie-like, (or at least like I thought one would look) maybe a particularly patriotic one, I guess. He wasn’t flashy looking; didn’t look really young either, maybe in his 40s. He certainly impressed me! I guess that goes to show you that you can’t judge a book by looking at it’s cover!