Michael Graham
National Review Online
4/15/2010
…For weeks, local liberal activists had talked openly about infiltrating the event with bogus racist or homophobic signs (quick question: If the tea partiers are racists, as the liberals allege, why do the lefties have to bring the racist signs themselves?). The local media was awash in handwringing about the “angry mob” descending on the Common.
One local alt-weekly, the Boston Phoenix, ran a less-than-credible cover story attempting to portray the tea-party movement as an active ally of racist militia movements. Another liberal publication published signs for tea-party opponents to use to “greet” Palin. One featured two elephants copulating. Another referred to her as a “crazy bitch.” And in a bizarre twist from the “feminist,” anti–Second Amendment Left, another sign showed Palin’s face on a bleeding tea bag with bullet holes all around.
In that climate, who knew what to expect? Would the nonstop insults and ridiculous accusations drive some attendees to react angrily, rather than thoughtfully, under the glare of the media spotlight?
I had nothing to worry about. The crowd was spectacular — funny, enthusiastic, happy, respectful. Many people I talked to seemed disappointed that so few liberal plants and counterprotesters showed up. They wanted the chance to prove that they were rational, reasonable, and ready to debate…
The article continues at NRO.
