Reading The Pictures: Underneath The Tea

I don't know. There were all kinds of seductive symbolic elements (hammers-and-sickles, U.S. flags, Hitlers, pigs, Uncle Sams, Indians, Alfred E. Nuemans, George Washingtons, cows, underdraws, Don't Tread On Me flags, tea bags -- of course) running through Wednesday's tea party protests. It's just hard for me to look at it that seriously. ...In my mind, it's like going back and analyzing those Sarah Palin election hate-fests rallies (well documented by BAGnewsNotes photographer Alan Chin's slideshow from Hershey and Shippensburg.)

If one image did draw me in, however, it was this one.

What it captures for me, in this woman's "crest fallen" version of an anti-tax/anti-Obama/anti-Government/anti-bailout/anti-(fill in the blank) Lady Liberty, is that Americans truly are hurting, angry and depressed ... and thus ripe for such cheap exploitation.

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(image: Scott Olson/Getty Images. Federal Building Plaza April 15, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

Comments

[SEQUOIABISON]

These are not new issues, Obama clearly laid out his plans to raise taxes on those earning over $250K a year during the campaign season, the country already had a giant rally on November 4, 2008 and the majority of those attending that rally voted against what these folks are protesting, these sore losers will have to wait another 4 years to have their voices heard. They should be a little more respectful and abide by the results of a fair election.

[Mintcondition]

Racism is alive and well.

[GhostNyc]

These protests were fueled misdirected anger coupled with lack of actual information. And in some cases if you pay attention to the signs of some of the participation racism hidden behind a distorted view of patriotism.

[llisa]

Exactly: "Americans truly are hurting, angry and depressed ... and thus ripe for such cheap exploitati­on."

They just don't know who to be angry at or how to better their situations.

They are not even sure WHAT they are angry about (witness the wide variety of signs.) so they just lash out at Obama as the cause of all that is wrong with the world.

i don't know if there is a coherent thought among them.

[Ohsherrie]

If Obama was a fascist as they're accusing they'd have all been hauled away and locked up faster than a Democrat at a Bush campaign rally.

[Economike]

Exactly

[JimRinX]

And I'd bet that, even though France gave us that Statue as a Gift, she also dutifuly called French Fries 'Freedom Fries'; just because FOX News (or was that Goerbles? Mao? Pol Pot?) said so!

[mommadona]

NOW, they're all inna rant.

After 'Arbusto" has left the building.

A little late on the uptake...w­hat with all that *bling*bling in the way.

[BeeOplentee]

These massive rallies should be a wake up call for the libs.

[mommadona]

why?

[aussiechick]

Yeah Why??

[RMac]

Now don't go making BO have to think.

[littlepuffycloud]

Like the massive voting turnout Nov 4, in which we peacefully and lawfully elected President Obama. Was that a wake up call for you?

[greymom]

Or the huge, I mean huge innagural celebration where there was not one arrest or incident of violence?

Your are on the fringe. You may be getting a lot of bought and paid for publicity by the folks who want to stay rich and keep you poor, but..... you are still on the fringe.

[Hopeington]

Massive? You're joking right?
Any way, if you need to know, we heard the call, woke up and voted into office,
President Barack Obama.
And by the way.....Wh­o is it that needs to wake up?

[LABC]

the only massive thing at these rallies were the craniums of some of those simps..