Obama Builds a Big Tent . . . for Conservatives (VIDEO)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 08-31-10 | JOHN FUND

[GOP_Lady]

The rally demonstrated how the Obama administration's excesses have brought different strands of the conservative movement together.

It will drive liberals crazy, but Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" Rally probably outdrew Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's original "I Have a Dream" rally, on which it was patterned. Mr. Beck's rally also lived up to its promise to be non-political. Weaving through the crowd on Saturday, the most partisan sign I saw read "I Can See November From My House."

On a BBC panel discussion afterward, one of my fellow participants insisted the rally was political nonetheless because so many who attended share what he called a "quasi-religious" view that the U.S. Constitution should be interpreted as it was written. Leaving aside the confused exercise in pop psychology, he was right in one sense: The rally was yet another demonstration of how the Obama administration's excesses have brought different strands of the conservative movement together.

Mr. Beck's operation could never have pulled off such a large event on its own. But the Tea Party Patriots were able to come up with 350 volunteers within 24 hours of being contacted by Mr. Beck. FreedomWorks, a group headed by former Rep. Dick Armey, provided logistical help and held a get-out-the-vote training session the night before (at which Mr. Beck appeared). Americans for Prosperity, another Tea Party group, arranged for buses to converge on Washington from all over the country.

[GOP_Lady]

I am listening to the podcast of Glenn's show today.
Glenn said that he wore a bullet-proof vest at the rally yesterday.

[GOP_Lady]

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[WestSylvanian]

Yeah, it was obvious he had one on underneath his shirt. It also looked like he was accompanied by bodyguards.

[GOP_Lady]

People of faith working together.