It's Time for "Tea Parties" on Wall Street and K Street
President Barack Obama valiantly tried to regain his voice and momentum in his SImage removed by sender. Ron Danielstate of the Union Address. Facing growing anger and frustration by an absent-minded electorate which has increasingly fallen prey to conservative attacks against his policies, Obama went on the offensive, reminding the American people what a horrible mess his administration inherited from eight years of Bush-Cheney. I was not too thrilled with some of the President's policy proposals, notably the "freeze" on discretionary spending beginning in 2011 and energy proposals which include a renewed emphasis on nuclear power and offshore drilling. But, it was gratifying to see Obama stand up and hold conservatives accountable for the reckless policies that brought this nation and the world to the brink of economic catastrophe.
Obviously reacting to the "Scott heard around the world" with the stunning loss of Ted Kennedy's seat to a Republican, one wonders why President Obama and the Democrats did not go on the offensive sooner. Not only have the President and the Democrats been too timid in their policy proposals, they have failed to continually remind the electorate of the root causes of the current crisis -- eight years of pro-rich, "free market" policies which allowed Wall Street and the financial sector to run amok and the federal government to incur staggering deficits. It is absolutely incredulous that working people and the middle class would see the conservatives as having any credibility on the issues of national debt and deficits when Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush left office with huge deficits. How is it that the "Tea Party" movement could direct its anger and venom at President Obama and the Democrats, railing against "big government" and out of control spending instead of aiming their fire at the real villains, the Barracudas on Wall Street and K Street.
They can do it because the Republicans are skilled at fueling, exploiting and misdirecting the outrage of the American people away from their misdeeds toward the "tax and spend liberals" who are "ruining the country." They can do it because the liberals/progressives/Democrats refuse to be relentless in exposing and educating the people about the reactionary history and policies of conservatives when it comes to addressing the concerns of labor, working people, the middle class, women and people of color. Liberals and Democrats act like sheep in the face of wolves, bent on devouring them for lunch. They are too timid and tame before ruthless adversaries who will stop at nothing and know no shame in their goal of achieving a "Waterloo" moment to regain power.
Liberals and Democrats must be bold and clever enough to turn the tables on the conservatives. For example, it would have been great to hear President Obama or other major Democratic leaders challenge frustrated voters to have a "Tea Party" on Wall Street or K Street. Democrats should remind the American people that it was not big government but "big financial institutions," the banks, mortgage houses and insurance companies, entities bloated with revenues from risky bets on the market that became "too big to fail" that are responsible for the painful plight that millions now suffer in this country. These same institutions are now bristling against being reined in by new regulations proposed by President Obama. The same conservatives who are backing the Tea Party Movement are siding with the banks and financial institutions in their opposition to regulations that would prevent them from engaging in the same risky behavior that brought on such pain and suffering. Democrats should challenge the Tea Party movement to have a Tea Party where it really matters - on Wall Street.
At all costs, we must deliver for ordinary people, the working class/middle class, the poor and people of color and keep them on our side rather than allow them to be manipulated and misguided by the rabid reactionaries on the right!
Young Urban Voices Looking Deeper into the Tim Tebow Ad
(BCNN1) - The so-called controversial Tebow Super Bowl ad was not what people expected. There was no overt anti-abortion message, but only the demonstration of a loving and humorous mother-son relationship.
In the ad, Pam Tebow against a plain white background holds a baby photo of her now 22-year-old son, Tim, and calls him her “miracle baby.”
“He almost didn’t make it into this world,” Pam says. “I can remember so many times that I almost lost him.”
She then goes on to say her son is all grown up but she still worries about his health.
“[W]ith all our family’s been through, we have to be tough,” Pam says, when suddenly Tim tackles her.
“Timmy!” she scolds, popping back up as if nothing happened. “I’m trying to tell our story here!”
Tim pops up, joins his mother, apologizes and puts his arms around her.
The two disappear from the screen but their voices can still be heard.
“You still worry about me, Mom?” Tim asks.
“Well, yeah,” Pam says. “You’re not nearly as tough as I am.”
The 30-second commercial served just as a brief introduction to the "miracle baby" story.
Focus on the Family released its full interview with Pam and her husband, Bob Tebow, who tell the story of how Tim came into the world.
Pam and Bob, who heads the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, both describe it as a “God story.”
The Tebows already had four children. But in 1986 as Bob was preaching in the Philippines he weeped over the loss of millions of babies in America who were aborted and never given a chance. He then prayed, "God, if you want another preacher in this world, you give me Timmy."
Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, is known for painting Bible references on his b-lack under-eye markings. He is also an outspoken evangelical and serves with his father’s ministry overseas every summer.
When asked how he raised his five children so well, Bob responded, "We are just ordinary people that trust God."
The missionary couple said they raised their kids to look at Scripture and taught them to aim higher than just graduating from college, getting a job and getting married. They raised their kids to aim to “live a significant life” and instilled in them eternal values, character and work ethics.
All five Tebow children began taking mission trips when they were 15 years old. The children learned about third world countries which gave them a “heart for people in other countries.”
“I think they also learned the power of the Gospel, that it is real and that it transforms lives right in front of their eyes,” Pam said. “You don’t see it as much in America compared to a country that is very responsive. That is a big part of their lives.”
The 30-second ad with Pam and Tim Tebow aired Sunday night during the Super Bowl which drew about 100 million viewers.
The exact content of the ad was not revealed until it was aired, but some pro-choice groups claimed it would attack abortion and tried to convince CBS to pull the ad. After Sunday's airing, the Tebow ad has been perceived as lighthearted and not controversial.
