Events~Past
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Thank you so much!
I am humbled by my fellow Americans educating the public about the importance of reading the legislation being proposed so you can point things out to your reps that their staffers either missed or failed to point out.
Sad but true!
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Target Center
Minneapolis, MN
President Obama Pitches his Health Care Reform:
While there was a huge rally in Washington D.C. in opposition to:
•The Mounting Deficit
•Ever Growing Government
•The Free Market system in a Government strangle hold
Mr. Obama and other elected officials fled our nation’s capitol. Our esteemed Senator, Amy Klobuchar (D), flew in to Minnesota with President Obama, as he came here to bolster support for his Health Care Reform plans.
With the nation’s 9/12 map looking like this, is it any wonder why he chose Minnesota to make his appeal?
I had come to the Target Center down 1st Av., from the North, the first thing I saw was a 54’ trailer with Teamsters logo covering the whole side panel. It was beautifully done, and it dominated the scene. On the other end of the block were two Charter Busses along 7th St. blocking 1st Av. Between the tractor-trailer and the busses, I saw a number of people lining the street across from the target center. Who were these guys? People from all walks of life, for the most part they were:
•Planned Parenthood
•Environmental Groups
•Communists
•Marxists
•Socialists
•Union Members
•Citizens concerned about how this plan would effect them
From most reports, thousands were in attendance at the Target Center to hear our President give a “rah-rah” pep-rally for his overhaul of our health care system. One attendee said that it was about 80% identical to his address to the congress Sept. 9, 2009, which seemed to echo many of the points in the proposed HR3200.
There were strongly held opinions on both sides of the issue, and passionate exchanges across the lines that divide, each side trying to convince the other of the validity of their claims. While both sides agreed that some kind of reform is necessary, they disagree on just what kind of reform will “fix” the problem. Tort reform seems to be a point on which both sides can agree, as malpractice law suits seems to drive the cost of services. Those who opposed Obama’s plan were greatly outnumbered, but that did not deter them from making their concerns known. The scene did get hairy when the pro-Obama crowd poured into the streets after the speech, chanting “Yes we can!” Some apparent union muscle, began shouting at and shoving some of the opposition protesters. As far as I know that’s as heated as things got outside the Target Center on Saturday afternoon.
The U.S. Secret Service was there performing their civic duty. I saw two gentlemen in dark wool suits talking to one of the people from the crowd, and heard something about the “2nd Amendment”. I asked another bystander what was going on, and he said, “They’re infringing on this guy’s right to keep and bear arms.” The Secret Service officers looked at us and continued questioning the other gentleman. I couldn’t believe it, this guy had a permit to carry concealed, and hadn’t violated any laws. He wasn’t threatening anybody, nor brandishing. I asked the officers if I could take a photo, and was told, “No”. I asked, “Really?” The officers were good natured and couldn’t engage in conversation with us, as the one kept stating over and over, “We’re a-political…when we’re in this uniform, I have my personal views, but in uniform I’m a-political” I even asked if he had the President’s ear, could he send a message… the answer was, again no. I wanted the President to know that if he’d listen to the people he was elected to serve they might not feel so threatened. They verified this guy’s information and let him go. The officers said that they had to document everyone. Later on in the rally I thought you really have to admire these guys, they have a hell of a job to do. And as I said earlier, they were polite about the whole incident; stating over and over “just doing my job.”
I don’t fault the Secret Service, but rather the lawmakers who have brought us to this point.
Last time checked, the Second Amendment states that, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” What does “infringed” mean? It is a transitive verb, that means: “to break (a law or agreement); to fail to observe the terms of; violate – infringe on (or upon) to break in on; encroach or trespass on (the rights, patents, etc. of others).”
I understand that these guys were just doing their job, but really, how far have we come as a nation that the freedoms and liberties our forefathers fought to secure and pass on to their progeny, are so easily violated? How are we not to believe that we’re moving toward a “Police State”?
*Response from the subject of the secret service story:
“Very well said man. They were exceptionally nice and respectful towards me. From the Minneapolis cop, the 2 Henn Co. Deputies and the Secret Service, they all treated me with respect which is why I chose to cooperate. I have been treated far worse by other law enforcement agencies and having my carried guns taken twice before.”
Here are some pic’s from 09-12 in St Cloud.
http://mnteaparty.shutterfly.com/
We have a few photos of the St. Cloud Tea Party that happened this summer in St. Cloud, feel free to link to them.
-Cassie Hart
KNSI producer