AMERICAN LEGION: An Open Letter to Homeland Security on ‘Rightwing Extremists’
Editor’s note: David K. Rehbein, an Army veteran and national commander of The American Legion, sent the following letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in response to the recent Homeland Security report warning about “Rightwing Extremism.”
Secretary Janet NapolitanoDepartment of Homeland SecurityU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityWashington, DC 20528
April 13, 2009
Dear Secretary Napolitano,
On behalf of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, I am stating my concern about your April 7 report, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence and Recruitment.”First, I want to assure you that The American Legion has long shared your concern about white supremacist and anti-government groups. In 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan still yielded unspeakable influence in this country, The American Legion passed Resolution 407. It resolved, in part, “…we consider any individual, group of individuals or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law…”The best that I can say about your recent report is that it is incomplete.
The report states, without any statistical evidence, “The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”
The American Legion is well aware and horrified at the pain inflicted during the Oklahoma City bombing, but Timothy McVeigh was only one of more than 42 million veterans who have worn this nation’s uniform during wartime. To continue to use McVeigh as an example of the stereotypical “disgruntled military veteran” is as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam.
Your report states that “Rightwing extremists were concerned during the 1990s with the perception that illegal immigrants were taking away American jobs through their willingness to work at significantly lower wages.” Secretary Napolitano, this is more than a perception to those who have lost their job. Would you categorize union members as “Right Wing extremists”?
In spite of this incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased report, The American Legion and the Department of Homeland Security share many common and crucial interests, such as the Citizen Corps and disaster preparedness. Since you are a graduate of New Mexico Girls State, I trust that you are very familiar with The American Legion. I would be happy to meet with you at a time of mutual convenience to discuss issues such as border security and the war on terrorism. I think it is important for all of us to remember that Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are.
Sincerely,
David K. RehbeinNational CommanderThe American Legion
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Please tell me this is false?
Ok, a few weeks ago, I blogged about the Missouri memo which specifically targeted rightwingers, Ron Paul supporters and generally anyone who openly opposes BO's socialist plans for this country. Then the memo was pulled, which was a pretty good sign.
Then I get this in an email from a friend. He basically asked me to PLEASE tell him this is a fake. I checked the watermark on the background against a document I have that I know to be real from Homeland Security...the seal appears to me to be genuine. Ok, so check one. Spelling and grammar checks out as to be written by a professional, with good grasp of the English language(maybe eliminating the possibility it was written by a non- English speaking person in an effort to cause trouble between the gov't and the people--I know, thats kinda far fetched but hey, thanks to 9-11 I question everything) I showed this to a few other people who have long experience with gov't documents and none of them found anything wonky with the report. So, I'm going with a reasonable certainty this is a genuine document...and it scares me.
The opening paragraph says
(U//FOUO) This product is one of a series of intelligence assessments published by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch to facilitate a greater understanding of the phenomenon of violent radicalization in the United States. The information is provided to federal, state, local, and tribal counterterrorism and law enforcement officials so they may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks
against the United States. Federal efforts to influence domestic public opinion must be conducted in an overt and transparent manner, clearly identifying United States Government sponsorship.
Ok, so I don't have a problem with them hunting down terrorists, until I read further and find out just who they view as potential terrorist. Highlighted words are my own.
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Page 2 of 9
(U) Key Findings
(U//LES) The DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no specific
information that domestic rightwing* terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues. The economic downturn and the election of the first African American president present unique drivers for rightwing radicalization andrecruitment.
— (U//LES) Threats from white supremacist and violent antigovernment groups
during 2009 have been largely rhetorical and have not indicated plans to carry out violent acts. Nevertheless, the consequences of a prolonged economic
downturn—including real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability
to obtain credit—could create a fertile recruiting environment for rightwing
extremists and even result in confrontations between such groups and
government authorities similar to those in the past.
— (U//LES) Rightwing extremists have capitalized on the election of the first
African American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new
members, mobilize existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal
through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning.
(U//FOUO) The current economic and political climate has some similarities to the 1990s when rightwing extremism experienced a resurgence fueled largely by an economic recession, criticism about the outsourcing of jobs, and the perceived threat to U.S. power and sovereignty by other foreign powers.
— (U//FOUO) During the 1990s, these issues contributed to the growth in the
number of domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups and an increase in
violent acts targeting government facilities, law enforcement officers, banks,
and infrastructure sectors.
— (U//FOUO) Growth of these groups subsided in reaction to increased
government scrutiny as a result of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and
disrupted plots, improvements in the economy, and the continued U.S. standing
as the preeminent world power.
(U//FOUO) The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.
So, in a nutshell...everyone but the liberal leftards should be under suspicion for terrorist activities...fellow Americans;INSPITE of having NO evidence that any group or person is planning an attack. Talk about the politics of fear...my God in heaven have we come to neighbor spying on neighbor? Im SO glad the war on foreign terrorism is over and there are no more threats of "man caused disasters" since BO was elected---now he can focus on weeding out those radical Conservatives.
This is the definition of rightwing extremism according to this document:
U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to asingle issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.
So, whatever you do, don't talk about the crazy, evil MUSLIM jihadists, or the cowardly Palestinian terrorists who use children for human shields, or ILLEGAL immigrants, or STATES RIGHTS to reject unConsitutional laws or regulations, or the DELIBERATE MURDER OF THE UNBORN in this country...or else you might wind up on the LIST...
Then I get this in an email from a friend. He basically asked me to PLEASE tell him this is a fake. I checked the watermark on the background against a document I have that I know to be real from Homeland Security...the seal appears to me to be genuine. Ok, so check one. Spelling and grammar checks out as to be written by a professional, with good grasp of the English language(maybe eliminating the possibility it was written by a non- English speaking person in an effort to cause trouble between the gov't and the people--I know, thats kinda far fetched but hey, thanks to 9-11 I question everything) I showed this to a few other people who have long experience with gov't documents and none of them found anything wonky with the report. So, I'm going with a reasonable certainty this is a genuine document...and it scares me.
The opening paragraph says
(U//FOUO) This product is one of a series of intelligence assessments published by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch to facilitate a greater understanding of the phenomenon of violent radicalization in the United States. The information is provided to federal, state, local, and tribal counterterrorism and law enforcement officials so they may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks
against the United States. Federal efforts to influence domestic public opinion must be conducted in an overt and transparent manner, clearly identifying United States Government sponsorship.
Ok, so I don't have a problem with them hunting down terrorists, until I read further and find out just who they view as potential terrorist. Highlighted words are my own.
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Page 2 of 9
(U) Key Findings
(U//LES) The DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no specific
information that domestic rightwing* terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues. The economic downturn and the election of the first African American president present unique drivers for rightwing radicalization andrecruitment.
— (U//LES) Threats from white supremacist and violent antigovernment groups
during 2009 have been largely rhetorical and have not indicated plans to carry out violent acts. Nevertheless, the consequences of a prolonged economic
downturn—including real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability
to obtain credit—could create a fertile recruiting environment for rightwing
extremists and even result in confrontations between such groups and
government authorities similar to those in the past.
— (U//LES) Rightwing extremists have capitalized on the election of the first
African American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new
members, mobilize existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal
through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning.
(U//FOUO) The current economic and political climate has some similarities to the 1990s when rightwing extremism experienced a resurgence fueled largely by an economic recession, criticism about the outsourcing of jobs, and the perceived threat to U.S. power and sovereignty by other foreign powers.
— (U//FOUO) During the 1990s, these issues contributed to the growth in the
number of domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups and an increase in
violent acts targeting government facilities, law enforcement officers, banks,
and infrastructure sectors.
— (U//FOUO) Growth of these groups subsided in reaction to increased
government scrutiny as a result of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and
disrupted plots, improvements in the economy, and the continued U.S. standing
as the preeminent world power.
(U//FOUO) The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.
So, in a nutshell...everyone but the liberal leftards should be under suspicion for terrorist activities...fellow Americans;INSPITE of having NO evidence that any group or person is planning an attack. Talk about the politics of fear...my God in heaven have we come to neighbor spying on neighbor? Im SO glad the war on foreign terrorism is over and there are no more threats of "man caused disasters" since BO was elected---now he can focus on weeding out those radical Conservatives.
This is the definition of rightwing extremism according to this document:
U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to asingle issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.
So, whatever you do, don't talk about the crazy, evil MUSLIM jihadists, or the cowardly Palestinian terrorists who use children for human shields, or ILLEGAL immigrants, or STATES RIGHTS to reject unConsitutional laws or regulations, or the DELIBERATE MURDER OF THE UNBORN in this country...or else you might wind up on the LIST...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Surrender Monkey in Chief...sad but true
Barack Obama: President Pantywaist - new surrender monkey on the block
Posted By: Gerald Warner at Apr 10, 2009 at 10:20:05 [General]
Posted in: Politics , Eagle Eye
Tags:
Barack Obama, G20, Kim Jong-il, nato, North Korea
President Barack Obama has recently completed the most successful foreign policy tour since Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. You name it, he blew it. What was his big deal economic programme that he was determined to drive through the G20 summit? Another massive stimulus package, globally funded and co-ordinated. Did he achieve it? Not so as you'd notice. Barack Obama in Prague on his astonishingly successful tour
Barack is not the first New World ingenue to discover that European leaders will load him with praise, struggle sycophantically to be photographed with him and outdo him in Utopian rhetoric. But when it comes to the critical moment of opening their wallets - suddenly it is flag-day in Aberdeen. Okay, put the G20 down to inexperience, beginner's nerves, what you will.
On to Nato and the next big objective: to persuade the same European evasion experts that America, Britain and Canada should no longer bear the brunt of the Afghan struggle virtually unassisted. The Old World sucked through its teeth, said that was asking a lot - but, seeing it was Barack, to whom they could refuse nothing, they would graciously accede to his wishes.
So The One retired triumphant, having secured a massive contribution of 5,000 extra troops - all of them non-combatant, of course - which must really have put the wind up the Taliban, at the prospect of 5,000 more infidel cooks and bottle-washers swarming into the less hazardous regions of Afghanistan.
Then came the dramatic bit, the authentic West Wing script, with the President wakened in the middle of the night in Prague to be told that Kim Jong-il had just launched a Taepodong-2 missile. America had Aegis destroyers tracking the missile and could have shot it down. But Uncle Sam had a sterner reprisal in store for l'il ole Kim (as Dame Edna might call him): a multi-megaton strike of Obama hot air.
"Rules must be binding," declared Obama, referring to the fact that Kim had just breached UN Resolutions 1695 and 1718. "Violations must be punished." (Sounds ominous.) "Words must mean something." (Why, Barack? They never did before, for you - as a cursory glance at your many speeches will show.)
President Pantywaist is hopping mad and he has a strategy to cut Kim down to size: he is going to slice $1.4bn off America's missile defence programme, presumably on the calculation that Kim would feel it unsporting to hit a sitting duck, so that will spoil his fun.
Watch out, France and Co, there is a new surrender monkey on the block and, over the next four years, he will spectacularly sell out the interests of the West with every kind of liberal-delusionist initiative on nuclear disarmament and sitting down to negotiate with any power freak who wants to buy time to get a good ICBM fix on San Francisco, or wherever. If you thought the world was a tad unsafe with Dubya around, just wait until President Pantywaist gets into his stride.
Posted By: Gerald Warner at Apr 10, 2009 at 10:20:05 [General]
Posted in: Politics , Eagle Eye
Tags:
Barack Obama, G20, Kim Jong-il, nato, North Korea
President Barack Obama has recently completed the most successful foreign policy tour since Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. You name it, he blew it. What was his big deal economic programme that he was determined to drive through the G20 summit? Another massive stimulus package, globally funded and co-ordinated. Did he achieve it? Not so as you'd notice. Barack Obama in Prague on his astonishingly successful tour
Barack is not the first New World ingenue to discover that European leaders will load him with praise, struggle sycophantically to be photographed with him and outdo him in Utopian rhetoric. But when it comes to the critical moment of opening their wallets - suddenly it is flag-day in Aberdeen. Okay, put the G20 down to inexperience, beginner's nerves, what you will.
On to Nato and the next big objective: to persuade the same European evasion experts that America, Britain and Canada should no longer bear the brunt of the Afghan struggle virtually unassisted. The Old World sucked through its teeth, said that was asking a lot - but, seeing it was Barack, to whom they could refuse nothing, they would graciously accede to his wishes.
So The One retired triumphant, having secured a massive contribution of 5,000 extra troops - all of them non-combatant, of course - which must really have put the wind up the Taliban, at the prospect of 5,000 more infidel cooks and bottle-washers swarming into the less hazardous regions of Afghanistan.
Then came the dramatic bit, the authentic West Wing script, with the President wakened in the middle of the night in Prague to be told that Kim Jong-il had just launched a Taepodong-2 missile. America had Aegis destroyers tracking the missile and could have shot it down. But Uncle Sam had a sterner reprisal in store for l'il ole Kim (as Dame Edna might call him): a multi-megaton strike of Obama hot air.
"Rules must be binding," declared Obama, referring to the fact that Kim had just breached UN Resolutions 1695 and 1718. "Violations must be punished." (Sounds ominous.) "Words must mean something." (Why, Barack? They never did before, for you - as a cursory glance at your many speeches will show.)
President Pantywaist is hopping mad and he has a strategy to cut Kim down to size: he is going to slice $1.4bn off America's missile defence programme, presumably on the calculation that Kim would feel it unsporting to hit a sitting duck, so that will spoil his fun.
Watch out, France and Co, there is a new surrender monkey on the block and, over the next four years, he will spectacularly sell out the interests of the West with every kind of liberal-delusionist initiative on nuclear disarmament and sitting down to negotiate with any power freak who wants to buy time to get a good ICBM fix on San Francisco, or wherever. If you thought the world was a tad unsafe with Dubya around, just wait until President Pantywaist gets into his stride.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Bow,The Nukes and the Promised Land
It makes me sick to my stomach every time I see this video of an American president clearly BOWING before the king of Saudi Arabia.
But, now of course, the White House is denying that it was an obsequious display of grovelling before the entire world, by claiming that nono silly people, it wasn't a bow, Dear Leader is just so tall you see, he had to bend over to grasp with both hands the king of Saudi Arabia's hand. Well watch the video for yourself and note the position of Dear Leaders second hand during the bow--then make up your own mind. Why are they lying?
In the mean time, Iran has declared that Obama and the rest of the world has given up on trying to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions when they announced that over 7,000 centrifuges have been installed at its uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan province.
"This has led to the acceptance of Iran's nuclear energy right by the new US president, Barack Obama."
This coming during the Passover of the Jewish people and at the beginning of the holiest time of the year for Christians. Of course, we shouldn't be concerned that Iran is going to use all that enriched uranium for anything other than supplying energy to the Iranian people, right? Of course they are not going to do exactly what they said they would do---wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Dear Leader's lack of moral clarity and political courage has placed tiny, surrounded Israel in a very undesirable spot. For Israel to have any hope of survival, they must strike Iran soon and they are going to most likely have to do it alone. I think every man, woman, and child in Israel must know their hope of America standing beside them evaporated on the night Obama took office.
If Israel is to survive, I believe that Israel only has one chance to get it right, and I am sorry to say I believe she will have to do it alone. ""Israel knows it must do take out the nuclear weapons capability of Iran. And yet, Israel will not be able to do it. Not because it doesn't have the military might to do so. And not because it lacks the will. But because Barack Obama will order the United States Air Force to stand in its way if it tries. Between the airfields of Israel and the reactors and research labs and storage facilities of Iran sit the armed forces of the United States and its hundreds of planes, missiles and radar. With our bases in Iraq and those floating in the Persian Gulf, the United States separates Israel and Iran. Obama would have to give his okay for Israel to pass. Obama will not."
But, now of course, the White House is denying that it was an obsequious display of grovelling before the entire world, by claiming that nono silly people, it wasn't a bow, Dear Leader is just so tall you see, he had to bend over to grasp with both hands the king of Saudi Arabia's hand. Well watch the video for yourself and note the position of Dear Leaders second hand during the bow--then make up your own mind. Why are they lying?
In the mean time, Iran has declared that Obama and the rest of the world has given up on trying to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions when they announced that over 7,000 centrifuges have been installed at its uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan province.
"This has led to the acceptance of Iran's nuclear energy right by the new US president, Barack Obama."
This coming during the Passover of the Jewish people and at the beginning of the holiest time of the year for Christians. Of course, we shouldn't be concerned that Iran is going to use all that enriched uranium for anything other than supplying energy to the Iranian people, right? Of course they are not going to do exactly what they said they would do---wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Dear Leader's lack of moral clarity and political courage has placed tiny, surrounded Israel in a very undesirable spot. For Israel to have any hope of survival, they must strike Iran soon and they are going to most likely have to do it alone. I think every man, woman, and child in Israel must know their hope of America standing beside them evaporated on the night Obama took office.
If Israel is to survive, I believe that Israel only has one chance to get it right, and I am sorry to say I believe she will have to do it alone. ""Israel knows it must do take out the nuclear weapons capability of Iran. And yet, Israel will not be able to do it. Not because it doesn't have the military might to do so. And not because it lacks the will. But because Barack Obama will order the United States Air Force to stand in its way if it tries. Between the airfields of Israel and the reactors and research labs and storage facilities of Iran sit the armed forces of the United States and its hundreds of planes, missiles and radar. With our bases in Iraq and those floating in the Persian Gulf, the United States separates Israel and Iran. Obama would have to give his okay for Israel to pass. Obama will not."
Thursday, April 9, 2009
HuffPo Is Coming to the TEA Parties--just so you know
A few days ago I posted some concerns that echoes several other bloggers concerns that groups like ACORN may try to cause trouble at the TEA parties and get pictures in order to discredit the real TEA party attendees. Please read this letter from the Huffington Post actively recruiting "citizen reporters".
"The Huffington Post wants to have citizen journalists at as many of these events as possible. If you think you'd be interested in attending one of the Tea Parties and reporting back to us with dispatches, photos, or video, click here to sign up. We'll contact you shortly with further instructions."
So, being the curious sort, I clicked and signed up with another email address. Pretty benign, until you get to the example of the images they hope to capture, from the G-20 Protest. Weren't those called riots? SO, if anyone approaches me to "interview" me, I will be polite but firm and then take my picture with them.
Yep, if they get my picture Im going to get their picture. I'm also going to have a second sign that might say something like "Special Guest from HuffPo" and follow that person around with the sign. Or maybe not, I don't know right now, but at any rate, just wanted to put the information out there that the left is planning to "inflitrate" the TEA parties and it is my opinion they are hoping to find pictures that will discredit us and our cause. You know, its a good thing we are "wasting our time" LOL
=================Here are the Instructions from the email================
Thank you for joining the Tea Party reporting team.
Next week, on April 15, we need you to be inside the crowd taking photos and video, jotting observations, and using Twitter to give HuffPost readers the on-the-ground coverage of the Tea Party protests. Locate the event closest to you HERE (click on your state listed on the right side of the page).Not everyone is a writer and not all people want to take photographs, which is why we have laid out four ways to be part of the team.1) Pen and Pad Reporting: Each protest presents a unique story. We definitely want to know the basics: how many people were in attendance? Where there any prominent speakers, and what did they say? Which slogans did the crowds chant, and what did they paint on their signs? We're also interested in understanding what kind of people showed up and why--so feel free to ask them if you feel comfortable doing so.
We are asking for dispatches of no more than 600 words. Email your report to submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com by noon on April 16th. (Check out our reporting standards for further guidance.)2) Picture the Protest: Take your camera and capture the best images from the gathering. Protest signs and banners make for good photographs, as do families and establishing shots of the entire crowd. Email your pics to photos@huffingtonpost.com. Incude your name, city, and state in the subject line and a brief description of each photo in the body of your email. For inspiration check out the slide show from the G-20 Protest in London. 3) Film the Show: Some HuffPosters have already shown interest in filming their local Tea Party. We don't have specific guidelines on video production, however we suggest that you edit your footage to less than five minutes in length and that you identify all interviewees. You can publish your video to YouTube and email us the link, or send your mpeg file to submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com usingYouSentIt.
4) Twitter the Facts: It's impossible to give an exhaustive report in 140 characters, but Twitter's short form is great for quickly getting across basic facts and observations. Using your cell phone or mobile device, you can "tweet" the approximate attendance or a choice quote. IMPORTANT: We'll only see your tweets if you include #huff in ALL of your messages. Also, remember to include your city and state so that we know where you are. (Sign up for an account with Twitter here.) If you have any questions, email submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com.
Good luck,
Matt
"The Huffington Post wants to have citizen journalists at as many of these events as possible. If you think you'd be interested in attending one of the Tea Parties and reporting back to us with dispatches, photos, or video, click here to sign up. We'll contact you shortly with further instructions."
So, being the curious sort, I clicked and signed up with another email address. Pretty benign, until you get to the example of the images they hope to capture, from the G-20 Protest. Weren't those called riots? SO, if anyone approaches me to "interview" me, I will be polite but firm and then take my picture with them.
Yep, if they get my picture Im going to get their picture. I'm also going to have a second sign that might say something like "Special Guest from HuffPo" and follow that person around with the sign. Or maybe not, I don't know right now, but at any rate, just wanted to put the information out there that the left is planning to "inflitrate" the TEA parties and it is my opinion they are hoping to find pictures that will discredit us and our cause. You know, its a good thing we are "wasting our time" LOL
=================Here are the Instructions from the email================
Thank you for joining the Tea Party reporting team.
Next week, on April 15, we need you to be inside the crowd taking photos and video, jotting observations, and using Twitter to give HuffPost readers the on-the-ground coverage of the Tea Party protests. Locate the event closest to you HERE (click on your state listed on the right side of the page).Not everyone is a writer and not all people want to take photographs, which is why we have laid out four ways to be part of the team.1) Pen and Pad Reporting: Each protest presents a unique story. We definitely want to know the basics: how many people were in attendance? Where there any prominent speakers, and what did they say? Which slogans did the crowds chant, and what did they paint on their signs? We're also interested in understanding what kind of people showed up and why--so feel free to ask them if you feel comfortable doing so.
We are asking for dispatches of no more than 600 words. Email your report to submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com by noon on April 16th. (Check out our reporting standards for further guidance.)2) Picture the Protest: Take your camera and capture the best images from the gathering. Protest signs and banners make for good photographs, as do families and establishing shots of the entire crowd. Email your pics to photos@huffingtonpost.com. Incude your name, city, and state in the subject line and a brief description of each photo in the body of your email. For inspiration check out the slide show from the G-20 Protest in London. 3) Film the Show: Some HuffPosters have already shown interest in filming their local Tea Party. We don't have specific guidelines on video production, however we suggest that you edit your footage to less than five minutes in length and that you identify all interviewees. You can publish your video to YouTube and email us the link, or send your mpeg file to submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com usingYouSentIt.
4) Twitter the Facts: It's impossible to give an exhaustive report in 140 characters, but Twitter's short form is great for quickly getting across basic facts and observations. Using your cell phone or mobile device, you can "tweet" the approximate attendance or a choice quote. IMPORTANT: We'll only see your tweets if you include #huff in ALL of your messages. Also, remember to include your city and state so that we know where you are. (Sign up for an account with Twitter here.) If you have any questions, email submissions+teaparty@huffingtonpost.com.
Good luck,
Matt
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