Teabaggers harrassing historical re-enactors at Williamsburg

[Enrique]

they sound like history students from Glenn Beck University...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/31/AR2010073103051_2.html?wprss=rss_nation&sid=ST2010073103099

(...)

The executives who oversee Williamsburg said they have noticed the influx of tea partiers, and have also noted a rise in the number of guests who ply the costumed actors for advice about how to rebel against 21st-century politicians. (The actors do their best to provide 18th-century answers.)

(...)

Sometimes, the activists appear surprised when the Founding Fathers don't always provide the "give 'em hell" response they seem to be looking for.

When a tourist asked George Washington a question about what should be done to those colonists who remain loyal to the tyrannical British king, Washington interjected: "I hope that we're all loyal, sir" -- a reminder that Washington, far from being an early agitator against the throne, was among those who sought to avoid revolution until the very end.

When another audience member asked the general to reflect on the role of prayer and religion in politics, he said: "Prayers, sir, are a man's private concern. They are not a matter of public interest. And nor should they be. There is nothing so personal as a man's relationship with his creator."

And when another asked whether the Boston Tea Party had helped rally the patriots, Washington disagreed with force: The tea party "should never have occurred," he said. "It's hurt our cause, sir."

That may not have been the answer the man expected from the father of our country. But even in that spirited crowd, no one was going to tell George Washington he was wrong.

[provis99]

1. they haven't figured out that George Washington was a Federalist.

He nearly fought for the British, except that he was miffed that they hadn't given him a promotion that he though he deserved.

[HopeHoops]

15. Teabaggers aren't exactly scholars, especially with American history & the Constitution.

Actually, given the amusing spelling errors on their signs, I doubt most of them can read beyond a 3rd-grade level.

[lame54]

18. They haven't figured out that he wasn't the real George Washington

[EFerrari]

37. . . .

:rofl:

[KamaAina]

39. And a Deist.

The only fundie among the Founding Fathers was Patrick Henry.

[JVS]

2. I just know this will get ugly at some point.

Some slob in a confederate flag T-shirt is going to haul off on one of "them fancy talking, wig wearing, libruls that hate Amurka!"

[MadMaddie]

19. Yea, it's that historical context thing that they don't get!

They keep rewriting history to their liking.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. What most TPers don't know is the Boston Tea Party was the result

of a tax exemption for the British East India Company.

They like to rewrite history for their own political agenda.

[realisticphish]

7. yeah

effectively functioning as an embargo on other companies, assuming buyers were going after the lowest price

[Kurovski]

10. So, to be accurate, the teabaggage should protest

oil company exemptions (for starters)

[Mike Daniels]

28. News flash to the baggers - The Founding Fathers weren't against taxes

just being taxed w/out having any input in the matter.

The baggers seem to think that because their POV was rejected by the majority of voters in 2008 that somehow this equals the same situation faced back in colonial times.

It's coming to where I don't know if they just don't see the difference or if they are just willfully and genuinely ignorant of any history that doesn't subscribe to their pre-planned agendas.

[formercia]

41. The Boston Tea Party was an action against a British Corporation

The Tea Party is funded by Corporations.

Is there something wrong with this picture?

[MajorChode]

4. "There's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it."

--William James (1842-1910)

[xultar]

5. When Karl Rove authorized the release of the crazies for DoMA I don't think

he knew WTF he was doing.

I'm cracking the fuck up. I AM CRACKING. THE. FUCK. UP Y'ALL!

[johnaries]

6. .

:rofl:

[Froward69]

8. Real History is pretty harsh

to conservatives.

[Wounded Bear]

9. No shit...

Conserves spend most of their time trying to prevent history from happening. Change is a liberal constant.

[Enrique]

23. reactionaries would be a better word for them

a true conservative has accepted the 1964 Civil Rights Act, for example, and Social Security and Medicare.

The teabaggers and the RW radio people still haven't given up on those battles. They're reactionaries.

[trotsky]

16. LOL

That says it all. :thumbsup:

[AspenRose]

34. That's why they are always trying to rewrite, reframe and/or ignore it.

Exhibit A: Texas textbooks.

[gratuitous]

11. The Tea Baggers realize they're talking to actors . . . right?

I'm going way out on a limb here, ascribing a modicum of intelligence to these yahoos.

[Historic NY]

12. Adults say the dumbest things...I've often wonder where they get..

some of these crazy ideas. Its obvious history wasn't a strong subject with them or they just don't read.

[Radical Activist]

13. I've seen conservatives do this at historical reenactments before.

They keep asking questions related to modern times. It makes it difficult for the actor who has to say they don't know who George W. Bush is, for example. They have a difficult time understanding the concept of someone staying in character and in period.

[lunasun]

14. I have stayed in one of the small homes in Colonial Williamsburg for the holidays

what a wonderful,inspirational and educational place ..
..I never even thought about those stupid asshats flocking there and trashing the place up
UUUGH

[JoeyT]

17. Can't wait to see how they act at a civil war re-enactment.

Ten bucks says they pelt the Union re-enactors with trash and demand the Confederates be allowed to win every battle.

[Wednesdays]

22. What's this *demand* stuff?

They'd don the gray uniforms themselves, and grab some rifles. With live ammunition.

"Heh, let's see ya hold Cemetery Ridge now, Yankee!"

[political_Dem]

20. I'd like to see them take the test required for citizenship in this country.

Unfortunately, that action might get their citizenship revoked with their lack of knowledge regarding U.S. History. The sad thing is that probably most schoolchildren would outscore these clowns.


The Teabaggers are fooling no one. Everyone knows that they are making America look bad with their spirited portrayal of proud ignorance.

As long as they don't see themselves as the butt of many jokes, let them go on and make 'em laugh.

[LynneSin]

21. This just showcases the true stupidity of the teabaggers. Asking actors for advice!

:eyes:

Well I know one place I won't be visiting for a long long time.

[Patiod]

24. The actor shown in the article's pictures is a good friend.

He's been playing Jefferson since the 90s. People ask a LOT of questions. The easy ones are the people trying to trip him up: "What's you favorite view from Monticello?" He has read everything Jefferson has ever written, so they rarely stump him.

He says people ask some really wacky questions about current events, though, and he has to come up with 18th-century-appropriate answers. Such as being appalled that someone would discuss abortion in public - more of a midwife's concern. He was in the job when the whole Sally Hemmings thing broke, and I think his response was "a gentleman would never discuss something like that." But the political things he can't dodge, so he's just careful to stick to Jefferson's character.

But you're absolutely right - even though he has a degree in history, and he's essentially an actor. An actor who has gotten to meet Presidents, heads of state, supreme court justices, but an actor nonetheless.

[City Lights]

25. What a pathetic bunch of losers.

:thumbsdown: to teabaggers.

[myrna minx]

26. K&R n/t

[MilesColtrane]

27. Those stupid baggers probably don't realize that those are actors.

[superduperfarleft]

29. Can these classless idiots stick to going to goat-humping festivals

instead of ruining Williamsburg? The last thing I want to do when touring Williamsburg is having some doughy bagger shouting BS when I'm trying to actually, you know, LEARN something.

[MellowDem]

30. Priceless nt

[pipi_k]

31. Whatsamatter...no petting zoos nearby where they can go...

to kick the little kids and throw sticks at the animals?

[YOY]

42. Yanno the "Dead Milkmen" wrote a song about that in the 80s...

n.t.

[MattBaggins]

32. Gather your Armies. That's what they would say. I saw it on TV.

[hootinholler]

33. One teabagger accidently gets one right...

"We live in a very dangerous time," Nieves said. "People are looking for leadership, looking for what to do. They're looking to Washington, Jefferson, Madison."

"I want to get to know our Founding Fathers," he added. "I think we've forgotten them. It's like we've almost erased them from history."

The baggers have erased them and replaced them with something they were never.

-Hoot

[Initech]

35. TEA: Timid, erupting airheads

[gaspee]

36. For some reason

This story made me literally LOL!

They are so damned stupid.

[YOY]

38. Shame they didn't ask Jefferson...talk about verbal slaughter.

n/t

[flvegan]

40. "ZOMG! Mr. Washington, will you autograph my dollar bill??!!

This is SO going on eBay!"

[Blue Owl]

43. "My mom's basement is better than your mom's -- Na na Na na Na na..."

n/t

[upi402]

44. They can atttend cuz they're on Socialist Security and not working

Chickens love their Colonel Sanders