Politics

AP Challenges One Nation Claim That Rally Rivaled Beck’s

WASHINGTON (AP) – Tapping into anger as the tea party movement has done, a coalition of progressive and civil rights groups marched by the thousands Saturday on the Lincoln Memorial and pledged to support Democrats struggling to keep power on Capitol Hill.

“We are together. This march is about the power to the people,” said Ed Schultz, host of “The Ed Show” on MSNBC. “It is about the people standing up to the corporations. Are you ready to fight back?”

In a fiery speech that opened the “One Nation Working Together” rally on the National Mall, Schultz blamed Republicans for shipping jobs overseas and curtailing freedoms. He borrowed some of conservative commentator Glenn Beck’s rhetoric and vowed to “take back our country.”

“This is a defining moment in America. Are you American?” Schultz told the raucous crowd. “This is no time to back down. This is time to fight for America.”

With a month of campaigning to go and voter unhappiness high, the Democratic-leaning organizers hope the four-hour program of speeches and entertainment energizes activists who are crucial if Democrats are to retain their majorities in the House and Senate. The national mood suggests gains for the GOP, and Republicans are hoping to ride voter anger to gain control of the House and possibly the Senate.

More than 400 organizations _ ranging from labor unions to faith, environmental and gay rights groups _ partnered for the event, which comes one month after Beck packed the same space with conservatives and tea party-style activists.

Organizers claimed they had as many participants as Beck’s rally. But Saturday‘s crowds were less dense and didn’t reach as far to the edges as they did during Beck’s rally. The National Park Service stopped providing official crowd estimates in the 1990s.

AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka urged participants, including his union’s members, to band together.

“There is nothing, and I mean nothing, we can’t do when we stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder,” Trumka said. “We will stand together. And we will win together. And we won’t let anyone _ and I mean anyone _ stand in our way.”

That starts as soon as the crowds get back to their homes.

“Coming out of here, we’ve got to go home and ask our friends to vote, ask our neighbors to vote,” NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said.

“Ever forward, never backwards,” he led the crowd in a cheer.

But even participants recognized the challenge.

“There may be an enthusiasm gap, but we’re not going to know until we have an election,” said Ken Bork, who came from Camas, Wash. “A lot of the noise from the extreme right-wing stuff, it’s been well orchestrated by big money. But it‘s not as bad as they’re making it out.”

Rose Dixon, a health care worker from Pawleys Island, S.C., said she hopes the rally sends a message to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“Stop the obstructionism. Work together,” Dixon said. “Stop playing politics as usual and to put the American people first. We’re tired of the politics and the posturing and the games.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, addressing the crowd that swelled through the day, warned activists against apathy.

“We‘ve got to go home and we’ve got to hit the pavement. We’ve got to knock on doors. We’ve got to ring those church bells,” Sharpton said, urging the crowd to go home and volunteer for candidates.

Organizers insist the rally is not partisan. They say the message is about job creation, quality education and justice. However, the largest organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, tend to back Democratic candidates.

But the speakers hardly shied from criticizing Republicans.

“If Sarah Palin had a bright idea, it‘d be beginners’ luck,” comedian Charlie Hill joked from the stage about the 2008 vice presidential nominee.

Van Jones, who last year was forced from his job as a White House energy adviser after Beck made public his comments disparaging Republicans, said during his remarks that progressives must stand with Democrats to put America back to work.

“They don’t need hateful rhetoric. They need real solutions,” Jones said.

Beck and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gathered near the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to urge a vast crowd to embrace traditional values. Though also billed as nonpolitical, the rally was widely viewed as a protest against the policies of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats.

One Nation organizers said they began planning their event before learning about Beck’s rally, and said Saturday’s march is not in reaction to that.

“Our strength is your strength,” SEIU President Mary Kay Henry led a chant from the steps where King delivered one of the nation’s most

“We are one nation, coming together.”

Obama was spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.

___

Associated Press writer Natasha Metzler contributed to this report.

___

Online:

Rally site:

http://www.onenationworkingtogether.org

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Comments (113)

1 2 3 4
  • lynnaz
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:13pm

    Amazing – Glenn Beck is one person who planned 8/28. There were no other groups (like unions) who he worked with. Yet One Nation had how many supporters (at least 40) and they bused in union members – who were told it was mandatory to attend today. If One Nation did not have as many or more than Beck then what does that say about Glenn Beck’s popularity and ability to influence the thousands of people ALL ON HIS OWN. Beck had a rally that was NOT POLITICAL – One Nation WAS ALL POLITICAL. Must be something to involve that many different groups and be able to say that they TOPPED a rally that was planned by ONE MAN.

    Report Post »  
  • MONSTER
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:12pm

    Harry‘s Belafonte’s exact words sound a little like Cloward-Piven… And I quote…

    “Our greatest weapon is the vote, and it is the answer for much which nags at us. On November 2, in the millions, we must OVERBURDEN our voting booths by voting against those who would see the nation become a totalitarian state”.

    Report Post »  
    • tiredofdeception
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:25pm

      Yet Harry wants to see this nation become a totalitarian state. That is why he supports Chavaz, correct? Why he admires Castro?

      Report Post »  
  • 2
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:10pm

    Libs think they are 10 x smarter than anyone else so 50,000 is 500,000

    Report Post »  
  • Capt_Spalding
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:10pm

    Notice their main pic(s) are taken from the Lincoln Memorial where the most of the crowd was. The main 8.28 pics were taken from the Washington Monument! BIG DIFFERENCE!
    Congratulations Glenn and all my fellow patriots! God bless America!

    Report Post » Capt_Spalding  
    • SWEETLANDOFLIBERTY
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 6:50pm

      I was sure hoping SOMEONE was in the Washington Monument taking a photo or two! That is the TRUE photo of the day.

      Report Post » SWEETLANDOFLIBERTY  
  • sdparker
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:07pm

    Those who can‘t determine the difference between Beck’s rally and this one, are some sad souls.

    Report Post »  
  • Redd
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:07pm

    Reuters says 175K for communist rally, CBS communist aerial photographer says 87K for GBeck rally..
    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014993-503544.html

    Report Post »  
  • soarpatriot1116
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:59pm

    Ed Schultz”s 6 viewers did show up for the rally today and his staff of 5 did too….but they where under contract to show up. Otherwise…….

    Report Post »  
  • t00nces2
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:57pm

    Pretty lame.

    Not sayin’, just sayin’.

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:54pm

    Here is a nice picture of the trash they left for someone else to clean up.

    http://plixi.com/p/48403448

    Report Post »  
    • soarpatriot1116
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:04pm

      They could have had some illegals (excuse…undocumented voters) come in and pick up the trash. The unions where OFF the clock.

      Report Post »  
    • soarpatriot1116
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:10pm

      They could have had some illegals (sorry….undocumented future voters) come in to clean up. The union members where OFF the clock.

      Report Post »  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:19pm

      Did any one expect any less from the trailer trash that attended? I would like to know how long it takes to clean up this mess and how many tons. This is the same way they want to trash our Gov’t.

      Report Post »  
    • Ccbn213
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:30pm

      Sure says tons about their character!

      Report Post »  
    • LadyIzShy
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:12pm

      for shame for shame.. what the union workers didnt do thier job and clean up? I a, SO surprised..not

      Report Post » LadyIzShy  
    • CameronIL
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 12:32am

      They left all that trash to create jobs for the people who get to clean it up. They have created more work than Obama has in the past 1 1/2 years.

      Report Post » CameronIL  
    • SusansSS
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 12:41am

      Even with knowing we would be looking, they couldn’t care less. All that trash and they claim we are the ones harming the earth (rolling eyes)

      Report Post »  
  • leftylemn
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:52pm

    Hmm? Not one mention of the Socialists in the group….They were freaking everywhere!!!

    Report Post »  
  • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:52pm

    You’d think they might have had a better organized event. (having planned it for over a year after all! lol) As for the message, I don’t get a lot of “come togetherness” from people who openly call themselves leftists. I guess anyone who disagrees with their world view doesn’t count as “the people”? Maybe it’s easier to get people to hate “non-people”.

    Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
  • soarpatriot1116
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:52pm

    loved the way c-span used the 8-28 photo image and then put the one-nation data over it:

    http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/10/figures-cspan-uses-tea-party-rally-shot-for-leftist-one-nation-rally/

    Report Post »  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:50pm

    So far no one has reported on the socialist and the communist except for The Blaze. Journalism is indeed dead in America. Not even FOX reported the real truth. I am ashamed of our media.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
    • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:02pm

      They did mention today that the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and Communist Party of America were highly involved. I don’t think FOX wants to make too much of it for fear of seeming, conspiratorial? You know, COMMUNISM is a “crazy right winged” buzzword! lol At least their not hiding anymore, people will see the truth.

      Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
  • Gale Sabatino
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:50pm

    I‘m sure glad that I wasn’t standing next to communists and socialists at the “Restoring Honor Rally”.

    Report Post »  
    • A1955Rosie
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:32pm

      I’m guessing most of those were young. They‘re fresh out of mamma’s house and believe they know it all. Thank goodness for age and wisdom.

      Report Post » A1955Rosie  
  • Patriot
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:49pm

    10+2+10 = bust.

    Report Post » Patriot  
  • magsdad
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:48pm

    I‘ll be watching Glenn’s show and “I-see-nothing” Schultz’ on Monday. I really hope Mr. Beck downplays the whole thing, but I‘m sure he had his people with cameras and maybe that’ll provide some humor, but blow-hard Ed will spin this into the biggest “pro-America” rally ever. I watched most of this farce and can’t believe anyone thinks the left came out better today. I am very comfortable in the belief that if anyone watched the 8/28 rally and THIS one, only a moron can come away thinking that progressives have anything to offer. The path we are on WILL fundamentally transform our country. That makes me cry.

    Report Post »  
    • SnapTie
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 10:20am

      Special Ed reminds me of a guy i once knew. He pretended to be influential. Ed super size for me.

      Report Post » SnapTie  
  • RichardSaunders
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:48pm

    Those who want something for nothing are too lazy to take the free ride provided by the unions and show up in support of receiving that “something for nothing” …

    Report Post » RichardSaunders  
  • rhaedge
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:47pm

    I watched all day… they kept with Tight shots to make it appear like it had more people… There was plenty of green grass visible on the sides of the reflecting pool. I was at the 8-28 rally… this wasn’t even close!

    Report Post »  
  • Patriot
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:47pm

    If the unions, with their mandated member attendance and busing, can‘t muster a crowd to out do Beck’s rally than this is very telling where the nation is at politically. November will be a blood-bath for the failed Democrat politicians. To steal a line from the socialist, “Power to the People”.

    Report Post » Patriot  
  • RichardSaunders
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:46pm

    The attendance (real, not inflated or imagined) tells the story … doesn`t it? The people who attended the 8-28 event dwarfed the attendance of the socialists this weekend!

    Report Post » RichardSaunders  
  • Sharkhaywood
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:44pm

    You could almost hear the crowd saying “We will vote as many times as it takes to win.”

    Report Post » Sharkhaywood  
    • GrassRootBeer
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:13pm

      ROFLOLOLOLOL!!! Okay, now THAT is funny!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!

      Report Post » GrassRootBeer  
    • Eagle07
      Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:38am

      You are right shark and thats also why they had more people than glenn beck.with beck 1 person equals one vote with the libatards 1 person equals 10 or more votes

      Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:44pm

    why are they angry…..right now they are getting what they want….I think they only know anger….very unproductive people.

    Report Post » powhatan  
    • dressseller
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:15pm

      You are right. Liberals are the angriest and fightingest people I have ever heard of. Everything is a fight and they always seem mad at something or somebody to give them something else. Which is weird because you‘d think that when someone is handing you everything you’d be able to muster up a little bit of contentment. Not so though. I am happy being able to WORK for what I get. I’d be angry too if I was deprived of the kind of self-respect that self-reliance and reliance on God and charity brings. ……………These people who demand more and more and want to government to give them everything just don‘t realize that really they aren’t getting anything. They are being deprived of a life that could be fulfilling.

      Report Post »  
    • lucciocuz
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:41pm

      They are angry because they didn’t get ENOUGH. There are some people who still have a little money left for themselves and their family.

      Report Post »  
  • Flyboy
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:43pm

    “Van Jones, who last year was forced from his job as a White House energy adviser after Beck made public his comments disparaging Republicans….”

    Gimme a FREAKING break! “disparaging Republicans”??? How about being exposed as card-carrying POS Communist and a Truther??!!

    What a joke. You libs are worthless

    Report Post » Flyboy  
    • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:55pm

      It is funny with all this talk recently of imam Rauf’s association with a truther, I haven’t heard anyone mention Van Jones. Did Obama ever denounce HIS opinion on that topic?

      Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:45pm

      Van Jones stated people in ghetto need to work. Van Jones Says What?

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 10:05pm

      i, too, wondered why they left that out…

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • TruthLover
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 12:40am

      That’s what I was thinking! AP – get your facts straight!

      “Van Jones Says What?” LOL! When will they ever learn? If the folks in the ghetto get a job, they’ll make less money than they do on aid. A LOT less. Dang. Some days *I* wanna live in the ghetto.

      Report Post » TruthLover  
  • RCScrolls
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:42pm

    Nice try, Lets see the satelite image before its made. All you guys learnes was that 400 orginizations cant put enough people together to even come close to one truth speaking mans meeting.
    If Marxists had 100,000 Glen Beck had a million.

    Report Post » RCScrolls  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:03pm

      The Marxists have gathered their thousands, Beck his hundreds of thousands.

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • lobo99
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:37pm

      The United Methodist Church (UMC) withdrew their endorsement after many of UMC‘s members found out when Glen announced UMC’s endorsement of the rally. Thanks to Glen UMC members were informed of a liberal movement withing the Church. Many of us also found out about a counter movement called The Confessing Movement.

       
  • magsdad
    Posted on October 2, 2010 at 7:42pm

    So, I’m watching some gal and maybe her dad on stage urging people to yell, “I BELIEVE”, when they spout out crap like, “I believe all Americans should have a good-paying job”…and then the one time the camera pans to the audience, there’s like 12 people, most of whom are asleep, going, “Yeah…I believe.”…This was a pretty pathetic display of “One-nation-ness”

    Report Post »  
    • Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Czar
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:08pm

      Just a small sampling of some of the admitted communists holding today’s rally, the Democrats have decide to join with.

      AFGE: American Federation of Government Employees
      AFL-CIO
      AFSCME
      American Association of University Professors
      American Federation of Teachers
      American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
      Apollo Alliance
      California National Organization for Women
      CEEF: Center for Community and Economic Justice
      Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
      Chicago Teacher’s Union – AFT Local 1
      Code Pink
      Color of Change.org
      Committee of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism
      Communication for Social Change Consortium
      Communications Workers of America
      Communist Party USA (CPUSA)
      Democratic Socialists of America
      Detroit Democratic Socialists of America
      Illinois Single Payer Coalition
      International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
      International Socialist Organization
      International Union of Painters and Allied Trades,
      Mass Transgender Political Coalition
      NAACP
      National Center for Transgender Equality
      National Council of La Raza
      National Organization for Women
      New York City Democratic Socialists of America
      Planned Parenthood
      Progressive Congress Action Fund
      Progressive Democrats of America
      Queers for Economic Justice
      Rainbow PUSH Coalition
      Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
      SEIU: Service Employees International Union
      Single Payer Action Network Ohio – SPAN Ohio
      Teamsters
      TWU Local 100
      UAW, International Union
      United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
      United Food and Commerical Workers Minority Coalition
      United Mine Workers of America
      United States Students Association
      United Steel Workers
      US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
      Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

      Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Czar  
    • Ellie
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 8:34pm

      Yeppers, pretty pathetic turnout considering the financing behind this group of leftist lameos and the “forced” participation.

      If 8/28 was a wake up call to these folks then their Epic Failure at this rally should be a two by four to the head of the progressives in congress.

      Ellie
      Cool new Anti-Big Government & Anit-Progressive Designs now available at http://www.bettybanditdesigns.com

      Report Post » Ellie  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:43pm

      Now that the distraction is over, What’s Obama up to?

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • greytdoghome
      Posted on October 2, 2010 at 9:45pm

      I was kind of feeling sorry for them at that point…that was the head of the UAW (don’t remember who the woman was). The clock struck 4:00 and everyone thought that meant their shift was done and they needed to go home.

       
    • Mirac777
      Posted on October 3, 2010 at 7:05am

      AP? I saw this untrue quote over at AOL news yesterday.(Its here too) Either these so-called news people are so stupid they dont know the truth( I doubt it), or they are nothing but shills for the half-African Marxist in chief and afraid to expose him. You be the judge of this here:
      “Van Jones, who last year was forced from his job as a White House energy adviser after Beck made public his comments disparaging Republicans, said during his remarks that progressives must stand with Democrats to put America back to work.”

      EXACT same wording as AOL news. One lie, being spread by all the media people, ignoring that the Van Jones Energy Czar from the whitehouse was an admitted communist and cop-hater and slunk away in the middle of the night on a friday! Valerie jarrett, Obamas closest friend and advisor in the Whitehouse is on tape saying we have been watching Van for years and we knew we wanted him here in the Whitehouse admin! Get real AP, AOL and all the rest of you pathetic shills!

      Report Post »  
    • Max jones
      Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:01am

      @POVERTYSUCKS…..what IS obama up to thewe days? Well, I believe he’s trying to figure out how to hold on to a bit of power. I don‘t think that there’s a way in hell the progressives are gonna give one inch with out a dirty dirty fight. Sooner or later they will turn loose the hounds, then, watch out. You must remember that obama is an expendible bit of fluff compared to his TRULY scary masters. What they want is control, of the world. Obama himself, is a distraction. His platform and his agenda and his administration are all a huge diversion. WE get concerned about him and his and maybe we won’t start asking questions about FEMA and the stock-piles of coffins all over the country, or the internment camps(over 800 of them, staffed and ready for business) all over the country. pray continually, cherish the Word………………….max

      Report Post » Max jones  
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