Chicago tea party supporter smashes sign made by anti-tea party protester

[sabra]

An unidentified tea party supporter, center, smashes a sign made by Martin McMahon, left, who opposes the tea party movement during a Tea Party rally at the Daley Plaza Thursday, April 15, 2010, in Chicago.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/susan_brooks_thistlethwaite/2010/04/im_frightened_the_tea_party_comes_to_chicago.html

<snip>

About an hour into the rally, there was a scuffle. I couldn't see, but the crowd became more charged. Chicago Police moved in. "What was that about?" I asked several people closer to the stage. "A guy went crazy and started shouting." "He was just a plant to make us all look crazy." This was debated among the crowd for a short while, and then things calmed down and the drone of the speeches continued.

I also talked to some of the protesters. A retired man from Chicago carrying a sign that read, "Health Care on Demand," said he was a long time social justice advocate. I asked him what he thought of the tea party movement. "Amorphous," he responded.

I also happened upon Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, the long-time anti-war tax resister, peace activist and three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee. She and other anti-war folks were also protesting taxes, only because tax dollars are used to support war. Kathy lives at a subsistence level to avoid paying taxes. "I can't imagine changing my life so I can contribute to the devastation of war," she told me. In addition, she observed that because of her commitment to living at a subsistence level, she can't own a car and she consumes very little fossil fuels, just helping to save the planet."The IRS is my spiritual director," she argued. Now that's not something you hear every April 15.

I wish I could be more like Kathy Kelly, calmly witnessing for peace as the tea party unfolds around her. But I'm frightened too. I'm frightened of the undercurrent of fear that was right below the surface of Daley Plaza in Chicago today.

[Arkana]

1. That is the single most stupid, tasteless tattoo I've ever seen.

[AndyA]

2. A Reagan tatoo? Freaky.

I mean, really...Reagan? That guy was probably pretty young when Reagan was in office. These people are nuts. And violent. :shrug:

[DeschutesRiver]

22. Saw that Reagan tatoo - -so much for their theory that the guy was a plant.

That tatoo marks him as part of their fold. I'd bet that violent little booger wasn't even born during Reagan's administration. Or surely wasn't more than a toddler - he must have missed the 18%+ interest rates, the huge unemployment and other economic problems during part of that administration.

Like all the rest of the nutjobs who love to quote Ronnie, but forget about his position on eliminating all nukes, about how we'd wake up a bunch of commies if Medicare was enacted (I mean, none of those white haired teabaggers would give up their medicare without a fight), etc. The Reagan administration was a whole lot different than most of them remember it to be - probably because Ronnie was an actor, with the irish gift of good oratory.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Looks like a skinhead

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. a skin head reaganaut. Now, THAT is scary

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Heh--A skinhead who can't afford a head shave.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

what sized turn-out?

no media seems to cover the crowds with wide angle shots or chopper views. Weird. Like we aren't supposed to see how small and insignificant this Morans I'd Like to Forget movement really is.

[Ron Green]

4. If that tattoo of Reagan is permanent,

that guy is permanently moronic.

[Enrique]

5. that guy is obviously one of the infiltrators

the tattoo was an especially devious touch.

[EFerrari]

10. I have Kissenger on my ankle, just to throw them off.

[KharmaTrain]

15. I Have A Bachmann Tramp Stamp...

:rofl:

Imagine all the woman this loser picks up, sees that tatoo and quickly move along...

Guaranteed, he still lives at home with mom...

:rofl:

[Dappleganger]

16. Good one! nt

[gatorboy]

11. Hah!!!!

Nice!

[sufrommich]

6. "He was just a plant to make us all look crazy."

I've got news for you lady, nobody with a Reagan tattoo is a plant.

[Ian David]

13. Very good point. n/t

[gratuitous]

17. Oh, that's just how devious evil DUers are!

They'll even go so far as to get a "Reagan Republican" tattoo just to confuse the issue. Evil, I tells ya. So pre-emptively evil that they'll get a tattoo months, even years in advance to discredit conservatives. Ooooh, so evil!

[county worker]

18. Problem is that you don't have to try to make them all look crazy.

Nobody would waste time doing what isn't needed.

[Bluebear]

19. Not so fast! I have a Sarah Palin tat on my 'front porch'!

Sneaky, we are!

[formercia]

21. I had a skid mark in the toilet that looked a bit like her.

I really enjoyed using the 409.

[peacetalksforall]

9. I can' t tell who is doing what to whom.

[marmar]

12. Evolution has not been kind to some individuals.

nt

[Ian David]

14. Gray-haired lady in the brown jacket must have a photo of the TeaKlan guy's face. n/t

[fishwax]

20. His Reagan looks more like James Garner to me

Maybe he was a huge Rockford Files or Maverick fan before he turned into a wingnut, and just added the label to the tattoo later.