The SWAT Team That Wasn't

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023591.php

THE SWAT TEAM THAT WASN'T.... The rule rarely fails: if far-right blogs are worked up about a story that seems kind of odd, the story isn't true.

Today, the fuss among conservative bloggers is over President Obama's visit to a civic center in Quincy, Illinois, the other day. The event wasn't especially remarkable, but outside the event, there was an assortment of protestors who wanted to express their outrage over ... whatever it is conservatives are upset about this week.

To hear far-right blogs tell it, a "SWAT team" was called in to infringe on the rights of these oppressed patriots, because that rascally President Obama is "fundamentally afraid of the American people."

Please.

The only problem with that? The SWAT team wasn't called in. Local police, wearing riot gear, briefly marched down the street to clear it for the president's motorcade.

The officers "did not come close to the crowd," but that didn't stop an enraged Tea Party activist from shouting, "This is communism!"

And now right-wing blogs are all over it.

Back in September, there was a fair amount of talk in professional media circles about the need for major outlets to take seriously the kind of stories bubbling up on far-right website and talk radio. I'd like to think anecdotes like this "SWAT team" nonsense are a reminder that the boy that cries wolf deserves less consideration, not more.

—Steve Benen 4:00 PM

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. RWers apparently get treated far better than peace protesters

Hello! We're PEACE protesters!!!

[SteppingRazor]

2. Having tasted tear gas and seen people shot with rubber bullets during the Bush era...

I'm always bemused by these tea partyers complaining over their constitutional rights being violated, especially in this instance.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Surface Water Assessment Team.

i.e. experts in oil spills and how fight them.

Obama yesterday said they were sending Surface Water Assessment Teams to the Gulf, Rush (and a few DUers) ran with it, now there are Special Weapons and Tactics teams popping up all over RW (and a few DUers) fantasyland.

[blogslut]

4. Of course it bogus

The majority of their outrages are made of nothing but poopy farts.

[gratuitous]

5. Delicate little flowers, aren't they?

Now, when they get herded into First Amendment Zone cages, shot with rubber bullets, tear gassed, Tasered, ridden down by horses, shoved, clubbed, arrested on bogus charges and hauled off to jail; and then, three weeks later, when the event is long over, to be notified by mail that the charges have been dropped; THEN I'll listen to their bleating and lend it a modicum of credence. Until then, however, they are as they have always been, whiny ass titty babies.

[watrwefitinfor]

7. +1

[Rex]

6. More proof that it is useless to argue with a Teabagger, only THEIR

rights matter...when George and Dick were listening in on the families phone conversation? Perfectly okay with them, they had nothing to hide they loved the racist, warmongering sons of a bitches. Keep an eye on Teabaggers, they will stab you in the back at first chance, because they really don't believe WE deserve any rights.