On Tuesday, August 4th, about 80 American Patriots gathered at the corner of Clark & Adams in downtown Chicago. With protest signs in hand, the meeting was very reminiscent of the vibe we had back on April 15th when I arrived at that very same spot.
Indeed, on April 15th, free market supporting Americans, 5,000 of us, gathered on that very corner to voice our frustration over government bailouts and mass intervention in the free market system. We didn’t have major funding resources, we didn’t have Congressmen and women on the stage, we weren’t waving pre-made signs that were passed around by well funded organizations… and we certainly weren’t organized by wealthy Republican donors.
Today presented a much different scene. We showed up to protest a rally that was supportive of government run healthcare. When the Chicago Tribune reporter asked me how we organized, I told her we used Facebook and email and had only started sending around messages less than 20 hours earlier. The reporter seemed a bit shocked and didn’t quite grasp the notion… nor could she understand just how grassroots we really are.
This is probably because the rally we were protesting was the complete opposite of grassroots. In fact, I don’t think a rally can possibly be more Astroturf in nature.
Let’s dissect the players behind today’s Chicago Healthcare Rally. The players are all listed on the flyer the organizers passed around previous to the event.
Main Street Alliance
Unlike a lot of the far left groups of the past, the Main Street Alliance is very vague in providing information about itself. On its main “about” page, it only lists one staffer, and says absolutely nothing about how the organization functions.
But a little digging helps us see that the group clearly has a lobbying arm. Here is a PDF of a letter sent to the Ways and Means Committee, and here is a Youtube clip of David Borris lobbying Congress in Washington.
Oh… and about this David Borris guy? According to campaign contribution records, Borris is a big time liberal campaign donor.
$1,000 to Howard Dean and $500 or so to Dennis Kucinich certainly begins to help us paint a picture.
Granted, Mr. Borris is free to be active and give to whoever he wishes, but he needs not pretend he’s somehow representing middle America and the average non-partisan business mind, which is apparently what “Main Street Alliance” tries to do.
Citizen Action Illinois
Citizen Action Illinois is much more open about what it seeks to do.
Citizen Action/Illinois was formed in 1997 to work on behalf of the public interest both in Springfield and Washington, DC and is built on a tradition of strong grassroots citizen organizations– in labor, the communities, and in the progressive movement. Citizen Action/Illinois is the state’s largest public interest organization and a progressive political coalition committed to creating social change both in Illinois and across the nation. The organization is based on several core values: a belief that every human has equal worth, that the purpose of our society is to allow its members to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, and that there is collective good beyond our individual interests. It seeks to promote and win public policies that reflect these values and embody social justice.
In other words, Citizen Action Illinois shares a philosophy that is essentially void of individual liberty and freedom. The group seeks progressive ideas that bring more power to government and unions, all at the expense of personal individual liberty. And it does so in the name of the “collective good.”
Who are the people staffing such a nasty organization? Click here.
Gee… what a shocker. The staff is loaded with lobbyists and special interest ilk. Sounds pretty grassroots to me! (not)
Healthcare for America Now
Last but certainly not least, there is Healthcare for America Now… arguably one of the largest Astroturf groups the country has ever seen.
The devil is in the details, and one only need look at their “about” page to find this gem of a list they say represents their steering committee.
ACORN, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Campaign for Community Change, Children’s Defense Fund Action Council, Communications Workers of America, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), MoveOn.org, NAACP, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center, SEIU, UFCW, USAction, Women’s Voices, Women’s Vote and Working America.
Lobbyists, unions and tax payer funded voter fraud front groups. Fantastic!
The Moral of the Story
In the end, it’s important for Americans to note that these pro-Obamacare rallies are well funded, well planned and well organized events put on by powerful lobbyists and special interest groups.
They’re going to come and tell you they’re a grassroots movement looking to help solve the healthcare crises. But in reality all they want is power and money, and in the process… they’ll take your liberty down in flames if that is required.
And trust me… it will be.
So to my fellow Chicagoans who showed up on such short notice to voice our opposition to this madness… I salute you. We need more of it. Lots more.
For Liberty,
-Eric Odom
UPDATE: David Axelrod of the Obama Administration is a professional Astroturf strategist
Eric Odom
Eric is the Executive Director for the American Liberty Alliance.
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Good post, Eric !!
Good points! We need to find another way to describe this so-called “health-care reform,” because this is really a health-care overhaul/Government take-over.
Eric, this story should be front page MSM news. This exposes the manufactured grassroots push for ObamaCare. The only grassroots movement is the bipartisan resistance to ObamaCare.
Great Job Eric and thanks for the info. I may link back later :>) I tweeted it to my 2000 peeps
Hi Eric:
I was travelling on business but wanted to be there yesterday. Thanks for the eye opener as to the true nature of those hosting the rally! I had no idea.
Like everything else this administration continues to hide behind the guise of “change” for the better when it’s a dictatorship they are creating.
Keep up the great work and thanks again for keeping us informed.
Eric, hopefully you can get the news out regarding Obama’s ’snitch’ program. Per the Whitehouse web site:
From the White House website:
“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”
I mean – really – a former community organizer is afraid of the people’s opinion? Why is it that protests against the war by liberals is a “grass roots” movement, but people questioning the details of the healthcare bill are enganging in “mob” action?
Are the Democrats afraid of townhall meetings which they cannot control and know the questions in advance?
Memo to President Obama – this is not the campaign anymore….you now must govern and get a consensus….it’s a lot harder than campaigning!
Our rallies are closer to the founding fathers who were out their for individual freedoms not group take over of our government. This is indeed grass roots. Unlike the left, we agree everyone should be allowed to voice their opinions not just unions, acorn groupies, or reps of associations who will benefit from the health care overhaul and takeover .
It’s really very insulting to us to have our elected officials and white house secretary think of us as raucus and uninformed citizenry. They need only come to some of the “local” rallies such as the one in Homer Glen on
July 4……it’s down to earth people who are truly disgusted in the way our country is going. No more said – God Bless America……keep it up Eric
A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!
I’m just a “little old granny” who went to 3 tea parties–Baton Rouge, LA, Houma, LA and Lufkin, TX. No one called me to “twist my arm”. I just wanted to be there to lend my support to a very-welcomed “grassroots” effort on the part of citizens of this country. Race, creed, and/or political party was not my agenda nor the agenda of what I experienced.
I also read your Recess Rally post about the AFL-CIO blog calling all of us thugs…yet they’re the group that imports protestors and bought a giant rat to any GOP/Bush rally in 2004. Talk about hypocrites.
But they have to attempt to portray us this way. To do otherwise would mean admitting that the majority of Americans do not support their agenda items – and without the public’s mandate? well…
Thanks for these two posts!
Eric – this is a great post and so important for all of us to realize that as we raise our voices, Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals are are being employed when they throw astroturf our way. And if Conservative interest groups want to sponsor organizing? I say we go for it but until then – facebook and twitter and good old-fashioned American outrage will do just fine!
I am so disgusted with the libs and what they are doing to this country, I can hardly contain myself. What is happening to this country is truly frightening and we all better wake up, stand up and speak up! This is quickly becoming a dictatorship not a democracy. Pursuant to the Constitution, we elect these people to “represent us” and to carry out the will of the people – not for them to do what they personally want. If they are not listening to us then we, in effect, have no representation. If these elected officials do not start listening to their constituents then, at the least, we need to vote all of them out of office and make it clear to the next elected official that he/she needs to listen to the people they represent. I’m still looking for gatherings, tea parties, etc. in Central Illinois. If anyone knows of any – please let me know! Thanks for listening to my rant!
Its inportant that that we particapte in what we belive, we cannot be silent any longer, our voices must be heard. This is not about republicans or democrats this is about us. We are Americans first, poitical parties must not dictate what our beliefs are, They should be representing us, we the people. We must let our voices be heard.
Thanks for the post. To call us organized is so ridiculous. I went to my 2nd teaparty/health care protest last week in Troy MI, 2000 people showed up with their signs, cars driving by honking, great support and it all originated with forwarding flyers/emails/ posting on facebook and twitter. it was amazing how in a matter of just a few days so many people showed up. Tomorrow is anothr rally in front congressman Peters’ office in Troy. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend, but certainly will be there on the 22nd. Facebook and emails are saving us, I hope.
Great post. We need to continue the efforts since the liberal media gives the administration a free pass. This is one of the most important pieces of legislation to defeat in our Nation’s history.
This was an excellent post. I emailed it to family and friends. It really makes me mad to see how hard working, taxpaying Americans who voice there concerns over the way the government is spending our money are being treated by the liberal media. I just wish there was more that we could do.
Liberty or Death…there is no other choice.
Why don’t we see more articles like this in any of the major newpapers? I support the grassroots effort and wish I could have been there. The more we spread the truth about what is happening to our country the more people are joining the efforts. In the meantime, I am concentrating on Melissa Bean who is the representative for my district. On August 22, 2009 at noon we are showing up at her office to voice our displeasure with the health care reform. I also continue to write letters to every blue dog democrat and republican to voice my opinion. Although I am a union member, the union does not represent my views and will never tell me how to vote or what to support. It is still MY FREEDOM AND LIBERTY!
Personally I think they just helped us!!! I think they just pissed off allot of PEOPLE, so we will even work harder to get out there to protest. We need to get out there in our neighborhoods to get signatures and to let people know whats in this Bill.
I have never been so angry at my government which continues to ignore the American people. I will attend any town meeting I can this month to STOP this power grab by these self centered creeps who want to destroy our country!
For the first time in my adult life, I’m ashamed of my Country, because it finally seems that oppression is making a comeback.
No one in their right mind would support the proposed health care plan if they read it. Yet, those community organizers who stand to gain power and control over the lives of every single American and non-citizen in the United States are so astute in stroking the egos of those they exploit that these unaware victims will accept whatever they are told is “good for them” without investigating a single word.
As one who stood in protest at the PrOBamaCare love fest yesterday I now that we protesters understand government interference in ANY market is wrong but is especially dangerous in regard to health care. Still, no one identified WHY it is wrong; I want to set the record straight. It is MORALLY wrong for any man to be FORCED to live his life for the sake of another. The difference between our side of the street and the PrObamaCare side of the street is that they want government to FORCE our compliance with their desires while we don’t want to force them to do anything. They sanction government sponsored slavery pure and simple but under the guise of being ‘your brother’s keeper’.
I am NOT my brother’s keeper. I will contribute VOLUNTARILY to a charity if I so choose but I will not willingly be involved in a fascist takeover of the medical field. PrObamaCare will be carried out at the point of a gun. If you don’t believe that then just stop paying whatever portion of your taxes to go Medicare and see what happens. I will not live for the sake of another man nor ask him to live for mine.
[...] The views represented do not necessarily represent those of the Chicago Daily Observer.] Eric Odom, American Liberty Alliance, with his first-hand report.First ALA Illinois lunch meeting this [...]
Thanks to all of you who went! Planning to be at Melissa Bean’s Recess Rally August 22nd and the 9/12 March on DC. Mad as hell!
[...] Which is ironic considering the fact that the pro-Obamacare rallies are completely Astroturf events, run by powerful lobbyists, special intere…. [...]
I wish I could have been there but I was out of town. I’m mad as hell also! We have to stop this madness!! I will attend town meetings this month especially if Durbin has one!!
Awesome wish I had more time and money…. Keep going we are definitely in support of this kind of thing
Hey is anything planed for Dicky Durban’s house? Protests? Anything?
Thanks Eric, you’ve done the rest of us a great service, again! We wanted badly to be there with the rest of you, but couldn’t work out the details. Great article/post. I’m looking to join in other town halls and visit congressional offices!
Great Job!!!
I really wish more people understood the dangers in what Obama’s regime is trying to accomplish. There’s a reason socalism never works and the founders rejected it as a means of government. Congrats to everyone who went to the rally. It’s great!
I was at the February Tea Party and April. I have since moved back to NC, as we have no job now and our house never sold. (I may be one of those 48% who ends up under water and I have never missed a payment!)
At any rate, I will be going to DC. The cynical side of me wants to wear a business suit and carry dead gold fish in ziplocs with Flag@WH.gov and hand them out to the Soros groups we’ll be “running” into. I have done every possible event to stand for our Repbulic. The collective “we” knew this day would come when Americans would stand up and fight. Let’s Roll for all that is Red, White and Blue
[...] brings to mind some interesting notes on contrast between this event and the Astroturf event that happened a few weeks back. Several weeks ago, we were able to organize a group of about 80-90 Patriots to counter protest the [...]
ah eric, you would be so more inclined to support a national health care
plan, if you were a diabetic and unemployed, the insurance company monopoly
needs to be stopped. Boycotts are what work, not protests by any groups,
use your organizing power to stop buying something…… then people will
listen, take a chance dont pay your taxes…. get thousands of people to
willingly take a day off with out pay, so social security taxes will not be
collected that would be powerful….. not a blog or a wimpy protest