Jeff Williams was in Washington for the 9/12 March. He was surprised by the distorted coverage of the March by mainstream media, and the disdain shown the Marchers by Washington insiders. In making his point about teachable moments, he spotlighted a characteristic of the Marchers that has been mentioned frequently in online coverage of the event — and adds a humorous twist:
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Even the way that the massive crowd cleaned up the grounds as the event drew to a close was ultimately symbolic of the respect the participants hold for our nation and its’ capitol, unlike the widely publicized photos which were taken after President Obama’s inauguration, of the mall ankle deep in refuse. Apparently this mob is not only angry but also tidy, perhaps even a bit fastidious – even recyclables were collected and sorted.
These are people who clean up their own messes.
These are people who are self-reliant and take responsibility for their own behavior. They shoulder consequences, take their licks, learn their lessons and get on with getting on.
They do not need a “community organizer” to point out what needs doing and how to do it.
They were proud of their country electing “the first Black president.”
Yet repeatedly since Inauguration Day they have been belittled, slurred and insulted — not just by Democratic members of Congress, not just by Democratic apparatchiks high and how, not just by Obama appointees but by Prez B Cool Hisself.
A lesson they have taken to heart is that they misjudged the consequences of electing the particular man, Barack Obama, president.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I will be deeply surprised if Prez B Cool can change his personal approval rating, or the approval rating of his health care reform proposals, by continuing his speaking blitz. Change requires either getting a message to people who haven’t heard it yet — most people have — or changing the minds of people who already know. To change minds, Prez B Cool has to be persuasive and believable.
He’s past his expiration date on persuasive and believable.
The folks on the mall last week sorted recyclables from non-recyclables.
Incumbents of both parties should ponder that.
Tags: 9/12 March, March on Washington, Politics, tea party
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