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Politics of protest - War protesters say they want debate and dissent [but FReepers strike fear]
Dallas Morning News (subscription) ^ | Aug 16, 2005 | Opinion: Viewpoints/Carl Morgan

Posted on 08/16/2005 2:56:13 AM PDT by Jim Robinson

Edited on 08/16/2005 3:43:30 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Politics of protest

War protesters say they want debate and dissent, but only if it's their debate and dissent

CRAWFORD – I guess we made a wrong turn.

This became obvious when a Secret Service agent approached the car and asked what we wanted. We were too close to President Bush's ranch.

According to radio station KLIF-AM (570), we were to park at Bubba's house (no joke) and meet with other Bush supporters to counter Cindy Sheehan's cooperation with increasingly distasteful anti-war groups. I was with six Protest Warriors, a conservative group that "protests the protesters."

When we explained this to the Secret Service agent, she became amicable – smiled even – and was extremely helpful. This was emblematic of every law-enforcement officer we encountered.

We passed through a carnival of anti-war tents and tables, protesters strutting fearlessly in front of us, before we could find parking and I could start doing what I'd set out to do: talk to people.

I asked a supporter of Cindy Sheehan whether I could talk to him. He refused – unless I could show him a press pass.

{snip}

In fact, no Sheehan supporter would give his or her name, let alone talk. I had arrived with the Protest Warriors, but I carried no sign and wasn't acting obnoxiously conservative, unless an unmarked shirt and jeans scream conservatism. I had wanted to hear both sides. Instead, I was faced with considerable hostility.

Finally, a girl started talking to me – and she made a lot of sense. "Everybody has a right to be here," she said.

But before she could go any further, a man whispered to her: "They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them." A "Freeper" is a member of the online conservative news site FreeRepublic.com.

Then I met Gary Qualls, whose son was killed in the battle for Fallujah. He wore his son's boot tags and handed out information regarding his death. He received little media attention and was visibly upset when relating his son's story.

{snip}

Ms. Sheehan and her supporters are asking the media and the country to probe Mr. Bush with challenging and adversarial questions. But how can they expect Mr. Bush to answer, when they will not?


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: cindysheehan; fr; protestwarrior
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1 posted on 08/16/2005 2:56:15 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
So what do they know, Freepers are the best/nicest people around. Without any question, the best on the road outside of Crawford,TX.

Wish I could be there, then again, maybe its just as well I'm not.

2 posted on 08/16/2005 3:09:13 AM PDT by depenzz
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To: Jim Robinson

Jim,

Consistently during live threads and in post-FReep action reports, our members ask the question of whether we received equal media coverage to that being given to the left. It seems that this is the wrong question. The true question is whether the MSM reduced their overall coverage of the event as a result of our being there. If it become difficult to report on the event without mentioning large numbers of folks articulting a conservative point of view, it becomes the pragmatic choice of the MSM to simply reduce the coverage of the event, which no longer advances their dictated story line.

So a successful FReep will simply reduce the overall news coverage of an event!


3 posted on 08/16/2005 3:12:21 AM PDT by Huber (The Botfly - An Insect of Peace, Islam - A Religion of Peace...)
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To: Jim Robinson

God forbid they get into a debate with someone who presents facts and stands by their principles.


4 posted on 08/16/2005 3:12:46 AM PDT by antienvironmentalist
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To: Jim Robinson
a man whispered to her: "They're Freepers. . ."

Words that strike fear in the the heart of every Leftist!

5 posted on 08/16/2005 3:13:10 AM PDT by Flyer ( * Post Grad - University of Google *)
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To: Jim Robinson
I'm a FReeper !!! You're a FReeper !!! Wouldn't you like to be a FReeper too !!!! Be FReeper , Yeah, Be a FReeper !!!

Thank you very much !!! For the opportunity to be a FReeper :-)

6 posted on 08/16/2005 3:14:12 AM PDT by Deetes (God Bless the Troops and their Families)
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To: Jim Robinson

There is nothing new here. Everything they are doing is exactly what they did and how they operated during the Vietnam protests. We were told who we could talk to and what to say then as well.
These people are despicable.


7 posted on 08/16/2005 3:14:15 AM PDT by 13Sisters76
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To: Flyer
Words that strike fear in the the heart of every Leftist!

As well they should. FReepers are armed with the truth and dangerous.

8 posted on 08/16/2005 3:21:32 AM PDT by magslinger (Gun control laws are like OSHA for criminals-Thomas Sowell)
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To: Huber

Never thought of it that way... indeed.


9 posted on 08/16/2005 3:21:50 AM PDT by AliVeritas (Ignorance is a condition. Stupidity is a strategy.)
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To: Jim Robinson
But before she could go any further, a man whispered to her: "They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them." A "Freeper" is a member of the online conservative news site FreeRepublic.com

IOW, "we leftists the creme de la creme, don't need to talk to such riff-raff".

Lefties are the epitomie of elitism.

10 posted on 08/16/2005 3:27:25 AM PDT by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: Jim Robinson
"They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them."

Man Jim--you sure unleashed the Archangel Michael on the demons from hell when you started Freerepublic.com. A few hard working Americans who just show up, speak the truth, and carry out their Constitutional right to assemble peacefully strikes fear into the hearts of the entire Left wing movement?!

This proves their arguments were made of tissue paper, and their foundation built on wet sand.

11 posted on 08/16/2005 3:38:48 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Jim Robinson
"They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them."
Perhaps he was more worried that the girl would start listening to them instead of him.
12 posted on 08/16/2005 3:40:23 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: TXBubba; The Bat Lady; pbrown; Jeff Head; basil; 2nd amendment mama; pamlet; Gracey; Leapfrog; ...
We've really intimidated them:

"They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them." A "Freeper" is a member of the online conservative news site FreeRepublic.com.

13 posted on 08/16/2005 3:42:25 AM PDT by TaxRelief
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To: Jim Robinson
asked a supporter of Cindy Sheehan whether I could talk to him. He refused – unless I could show him a press pass.

A press pass? So, no "dialog" unless the other party has a press pass? Hmm. Interesting.

14 posted on 08/16/2005 3:44:28 AM PDT by Alia
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To: Huber

Communist sympathizers are not inclined to be open to friendly discussion.


15 posted on 08/16/2005 3:45:42 AM PDT by Jacquerie (Democrats soil the institutions they control)
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To: Jim Robinson
how can they expect Mr. Bush to answer, when they will not?
How, indeed?

16 posted on 08/16/2005 3:53:16 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: Jim Robinson
This person is a SWTSU (now Texas State) alumni - I AM SO PROUD!!!

Alkhin
SWTSU Class of 1989

17 posted on 08/16/2005 4:00:00 AM PDT by Alkhin (Ask me about Usborne Books!)
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To: Jim Robinson
But before she could go any further, a man whispered to her: "They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them." A "Freeper" is a member of the online conservative news site FreeRepublic.com.

I can`t believe that there would be censorship of this womens views from the left,shocking.

By the way,does that make us nouns or adjectives.

18 posted on 08/16/2005 4:06:05 AM PDT by carlr
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To: philman_36
"They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them."

Sounds like junior's got a knot in his thong.

19 posted on 08/16/2005 4:09:43 AM PDT by johnny7 (“I like ya, Lloyd. I always liked ya. You were always the best of 'em.”)
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To: Jim Robinson
"They're Freepers. You don't need to be talking to them."

The unspoken REST of the story: "They might confuse you with the facts, and reveal the inconsistencies in what we've told you you must believe."

FReepers = cult deprogrammers, LOL!

20 posted on 08/16/2005 4:12:21 AM PDT by TheSarce (The Silent Majority is finding its voice!)
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