The Syracuse Post-Standard has a fascinating report on one of the leaders of the local “tea-party” protest this week—you know the ones fired up by CNBC’s Rick Santelli and Fox News and the like.
Joanne Wilder has never protested anything in public before. She’s never boxed with City Hall, let alone Washington…
But today in downtown Syracuse, the 60-year-old great-grandmother will lead a Tax Day Tea Party protest against the spending policies of the Obama administration and Congress.
Opens like your standard metro-desk one-day profile. Nothing special.
But then the Post-Standard gets to the motivations of her involvement—something that’s clearly not a one-off sentiment and gives a glimpse at what’s in part driving this inchoate movement:
Wilder and Smith said the events are not political, not aimed solely at Obama or the Democrats in Congress.
“This is not a Democratic problem. Not a Republican problem. It’s all of them together,” Wilder said.
They concede they did not publicly object as the federal budget deficit soared during the Bush administration.
“President Bush kept me safe,” Wilder said as an explanation.
And our boy Santelli, the Brooks Brothers populist, is indeed Wilder’s inspiration. Her counterpart, Smith, who led another protest, was inspired by the increasingly deranged Glenn Beck (last seen promoting secession on WSJ sister network Fox).
The two credited the February televised rant by CNBC commentator Rick Santelli against a federal bailout of poor homeowners who can’t pay their mortgages for transforming them from passive listeners of conservative talk radio into rabble rousers.
But check this out:
(Wilder) said she retired on disability from M&T Bank three years ago after undergoing knee replacement and back surgeries. She lives on her Social Security and disability benefits. Last year, she petitioned the bankruptcy court for protection from creditors.
She said she did not have to pay federal income taxes last year because her income was too low.
“I don’t want to see this country turn into a welfare, nanny state, where we stand in line for groceries, and we’re in welfare lines, and in socialized medicine lines,” Wilder said.
Wow. What can you say to that?
(h/t Atrios)
Excellent Ryan ... I couldn’t wait to see in what creative way you would contribute to CJR’s 2 minuets of hate on the Tea Party.
After all, modern day the new marching orders for modern day journalistic watchdogs is to dog those who watch Obama too closely.
#1 Posted by Mike H, CJR on Fri 17 Apr 2009 at 05:29 PM
This is rich...but oh so typical.
#2 Posted by Peggy, CJR on Fri 17 Apr 2009 at 06:01 PM
Per the protesting ladies' comments, I thought CJR was there to review the reporter's work, not to be snarky about quotes from the ordinary citizens mentioned within the story. Journalism review or political review? Who knows the difference sometimes?
If Ryan is really interested in cognitive dissonance, he might have some fun with white people who think we can end discrimination by discriminating against white people, rich people mouthing leftist slogans, Hollywood environmentalists who show in for rallies in limos or fly in on private jets, Presidents who celebrate Earth Day by burning up 9000 gallons of fossil fuels for travel to PR appearances . . . Oh, I forgot. New York. Never knock the fashionable. Go after the invisible ordinary people or their more visible spokesmen, such as Santelli. This sort of thing reminds me of a description of the novelist Ronald Firbank - 'He idolized the aristocracy, despised the bourgeoisie, and regarded the lower classes as his own private brothel' - intellectually-speaking, that is.
#3 Posted by Mark Richard, CJR on Thu 23 Apr 2009 at 02:23 PM
Typical extremist right-wing nonsense that should be called-out on a daily basis. Thank you.
#4 Posted by Eric, CJR on Sun 19 Jul 2009 at 03:00 PM
Wow, terrible review. If a burglar robs a convenience store every week but comes back in 30 years to give it all back, then does it mean the store owner is implicitly consenting to the scheme by accepting HIS money?
#5 Posted by terpie, CJR on Sun 19 Jul 2009 at 03:24 PM