Chicago Tribune Ignores Thousands at Tea Party Express Protest

Chicago Tribune Ignores Thousands at Tea Party Express Protest

By Mike Bates (Bio | Archive)
September 8, 2009 - 10:39 ET

You might think a major metropolitan newspaper that boasts "The Midwest's largest reporting team" on its front page would report on a suburban demonstration attracting thousands of people. In the case of the Chicago Tribune, you'd be wrong.

Today's Tribune print edition makes no mention of yesterday's Tea Party Express protest in New Lenox, Illinois, located only 36 miles from Chicago's Loop. The Southtown Star did cover the event on its Web site, noting:

About 6,000 people packed the hillside venue at The Commons Performing Arts Pavilion for the protest, part of a nationwide Tea Party Express tour that includes speeches, musical performances and updates from a traveling Fox News correspondent.

Monday's audience was the largest yet, organizers said.

Today's Tribune devotes two stories, six pictures, and two maps to Oprah Winfrey's "takeover of downtown Chicago Monday." And there are stories on disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's media blitz to hawk his new book, Chicago students getting free haircuts with which to start the new school year, and how more stores are now accepting food stamps.

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Then there's the story titled, "After all the fuss, president to urge kids: stay in school," complete with a photo of Obama smiling. A large picture of a woman holding a "Health Care Can't Wait" sign accompanies an Obama's Labor Day AFL-CIO speech story, subtitled "President decries 'lies' about health care plans, says debate time is over."

The Tribune even finds space to devote to an article to a suburban man who's installed a faux drawbridge for his Tudor-style home.

Yet the Chicago Tribune, with "The Midwest's largest reporting team," doesn't report on a true grassroots phenomenon. As this is written, there's no mention of the story on the newspaper's Web site either. Maybe the mainstream media are just hoping that if they ignore them long enough, Tea Parties, and the people who attend them, will just go away. I don't think so.

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conservies should start getting creative

September 8, 2009 - 10:41 ET by candance

Call a liberal newspaper, tell them five people are gathering to protest Big Oil, and then laugh when they show up with breathless excitment.

Newspaper coverage

September 8, 2009 - 10:47 ET by Mike Bates

Years ago, I marched with a Captive Nations group protesting a company trading with the Soviets. We happened to be across the street from the Sun-Times building. A reporter passed by on his way to some NOW event (with half the people we had in attendance). Wanna guess which event was covered in the next day's paper? Nah, you know.

Th

September 8, 2009 - 10:49 ET by jessieH

The more the govt. owned media ignor us, the more angry we become. I can't wait till 9/12 in DC! Think they will hear us, then?

Can you hear me now?

September 8, 2009 - 10:50 ET by Mike Bates

They're gonna do their best not to.

JessieH, It is going to depend on the spin...

September 8, 2009 - 18:06 ET by goldenthroat

Don't worry - they'll cover it all right - BUT - spin it that the thousands that will be at the rally are borderline insane and unamerican along with being misguided and misinformed idiots.

Oh, yeah - I forgot to throw in "racist", too.

That's the only way they'll be able to cover it. Anything but the truth would be out of their league.

Can't wait to hear what "legend in my own mind" Keith Olberdork, lesbo liberal Rachel Madcow and "thrill up my leg" Chris Matthews will have to say about this one...

"How can you be in two places at once when you not anywhere at all?" - Firesign Theatre

Guess they want to prove

September 8, 2009 - 10:51 ET by FeynmanFan

Guess the Tribune just wants to prove that they're irrelevant.

"I support the President but not his policies" - Blonde

September 8, 2009 - 10:52 ET by jessieH

Let's let Opra pay the tax on healthcare. In this country, not obama's....

Oprah pays

September 8, 2009 - 10:55 ET by Mike Bates

You may recall when Oprah tried a little social engineering through personal charity. It did not go well. She learned the hard way that some folks don't want to improve their situation.

not familiar with that

September 8, 2009 - 11:49 ET by jon_torlin

I haven't heard about this, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch Oprah if you paid me a million dollars(2 million, maybe).

What was this?

-Jon

Oprah's generosity

September 8, 2009 - 12:05 ET by Mike Bates

A decade ago, Oprah generously pledged a great deal of money to a program intended to help 100 families living in public housing get off public aid. There were 1,600 people who applied. Two years and $1.3 million (more than half from Oprah) later, a grand total of three families succeeded in getting out of public housing. This was despite using professional counselors, psychologists, trainers, etc.

and there it is!

September 8, 2009 - 14:59 ET by jon_torlin

There you go. Proof positive that throwing money at a problem has a very VERY slim chance of working. I wonder if those three families could have gotten out anyway.

I'm sure the libs would call that a success because three families got out though.

Thanks for clarification.

-Jon

Notice to the MSM and all

September 8, 2009 - 10:55 ET by Scuba Dude

Notice to the MSM and all politicians:

"IGNORE AT YOUR OWN PERIL"

The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER

The Reporters for the Chicago Tribune...

September 8, 2009 - 11:02 ET by Red Jeep

...had their eyes closed yesterday so they didn't see the protesters. If they don't see you you don't exist. In a sense that's like a baby closing its eyes and thinking that it disappeared.

Tea Party in New Lenox

September 8, 2009 - 11:09 ET by merlin61

My daughter and I attended the "Tea Party Express" party in New Lenox. It was fantastic. I wish everyone could see the lines of cars trying to get off the expressways from north and south just to get into the arena where this party was held. The tea party people believe there were 10,000 people there, and I believe them. Eight (8) counter-protestors showed up and left early when people just ignored them. It was very peaceful, and wonderful and I wish you could measure the patriotism expressed by all. I can't wait to see what happens on 9/12 when it gets to DC. Wake up Washington, we are coming to tell you what we want, and if we are not listened to, wait till the elections in 2010 and 2012. We will vote those out who do not listen.

lines of cars

September 8, 2009 - 11:17 ET by Mike Bates

I wish everyone could see the lines of cars trying to get off the expressways. . .

I was in that line, seeing many American flags and posters ahead.

The line of cars

September 8, 2009 - 11:22 ET by merlin61

Yes Michael, and I was one of those flag holders putting the flag out the roof of our vehicle. I am a 72 year old grandmother and was proud to be there and told my granddaughter who also attended that she was watching history being made.

The line of cars

September 8, 2009 - 11:25 ET by Mike Bates

What was notable, I thought, were how many young Moms and Dads were there with their small children. Of course, they're the ones who'll pay most for Obama's insanity.

Obama addressed the AFL-CIO

September 8, 2009 - 11:38 ET by Firmworm

Obama addressed the AFL-CIO at an old amusement park East of downtown Cincy called Coney Island. Right next to Coney is River Downs, a horse race track that has been there for close to 100 years and is struggling to survive every year. They held their biggest race the Cradle Stakes. It's like the Kentucky Derby for the Cincinnati area. Obama's visit forced closing the only road to access the track from 12 noon till 2 p.m. First post time is one o'clock.I've been told it cost the track untold possible wagering on the earlier races. Piss poor planning on Obama's part and the AFL-CIO. Of course our local media was oblivious.

ya know....

September 8, 2009 - 11:53 ET by jon_torlin

For someone who claims to be helping the economy (ok, so it's really Biden saying that, but I digress...), those actions described are the exact opposite, but that's about par for the course.

I'm waiting for someone to loudly tell him "if you want to really help us, leave us alone!"

-Jon

If the SCM doesn't cover it...

September 8, 2009 - 11:11 ET by R D Helm

...then it didn't happen.

-Dave

Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz

If the SCM doesn't cover it...

September 8, 2009 - 11:18 ET by Mike Bates

And posterity won't have a record of it either, Dave.

posterior?

September 8, 2009 - 21:40 ET by jon_torlin

Calling the SCM/SRM/MSM a bunch of asses for not having a record is kinda funny though.......if it wasn't something they were being every single day. You'd think they'd take a vacation or something.

-Jon

PS: Yes, deliberate play on words for those in Rio Linda...

for those in Rio Linda...

September 8, 2009 - 23:52 ET by Mike Bates

Thanks for the clarification!

So, you mean all those

September 8, 2009 - 12:06 ET by mattm

So, you mean all those years, going back to the sixties, that the media told us that they want to amplify the voice of the people, and that they are watchdogs against oppressive and overreaching government, you mean that was all a lie? Are you saying that the media only cares about "the voice of the people" when it favors one side, the statist side of the political spectrum?

Hard to believe....

Michael, one of us had

September 8, 2009 - 12:08 ET by ConservativeRex

Michael, one of us had better be writing the history of what is happening now. Because you know good and well these lefty's will revise and print it to suit their needs and purposes. Posterity needs to have a clear view of the truth.

Revisionist, Conservative Rex

September 8, 2009 - 13:20 ET by Mike Bates

Posterity will be able to view contemporaneous accounts as long as the Net stays as it is. But I'm wondering what a Google search 50 years from now on "tea parties" will show.

Hey Mike. NO ONE puts The

September 8, 2009 - 12:58 ET by QueenMum

Hey Mike. NO ONE puts The Oprah in a corner, doncha know. ;)

The RC and I will be visiting Chicago later this week. Glad we'll be missing Oprah's Grand Parade.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

RC, QM?

September 8, 2009 - 13:33 ET by Mike Bates

That's royal consort, correcto? We peasants need to know.

Correcto, Sir Michael of

September 8, 2009 - 13:38 ET by QueenMum

Correcto, Sir Michael of Bates.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

I noticed the other day

September 8, 2009 - 13:33 ET by Indiana Joe

I noticed the other day that, when referring to the tea parties, many talking heads continue to call them "tea-bag parties." Apparently the subtle early belittling has become the lexicon now, repeated by people who have no idea of the connotation of that term.

And we're supposed to take what these people say as valid information? They're clueless wonders, the whole lot of them.

"Four legs good... two legs better!" - George Orwell

I think, IJ

September 8, 2009 - 13:38 ET by Mike Bates

that increasing numbers of folks are aware of the belittling. My bro-in-law's ophthalmologist provided him with the urban dictionary definition only yesterday. The doc, BTW, says he'll close up shop if ObamaCare is imposed.

My doc already has...he

September 8, 2009 - 15:21 ET by bigtimer

My doc already has...he sees what's coming...he's retiring.

Anyone catch Pelosi and Reid a bit ago....they say the OCare is already done, just 20% left to finish....they want bipartisan support don't ya know, but if they don't get it, why Reid says they will use the Nuclear Option to pass it...of course they are all smiles...especially Pelosi saying her usual harp about the big bad insurance companies, she says the trigger option threat (think Snowe) that may be included if the Insurance companies don't do as they say will be used, Single Payer Option will be the way.

They do not care a one single bit about the voices of Americans, the millions of them, who are outraged by all of this.

Lovely isn't it...

...you say you want a revolution...well...you can count me in.

'Go Green...Recycle Congress'

Retiring physicians, bigtimer

September 8, 2009 - 18:40 ET by Mike Bates

Last time I saw my cardiologist he became so upset just talking about Obama that I feared he was going into cardiac arrest.

Who's gonna take care of all the Boomers when Obama drives doctors out? Pelosi and Reid?

Mike... It is very

September 8, 2009 - 18:47 ET by bigtimer

Mike...

It is very interesting talking to your docs privately....and I have over the last two years...been quite the eye-opener.

Obviously, we aren't the only ones who have either, millions see/know what is happening, what is coming unless there is a stop to this one way train...what I've seen so far from various congress-critters there isn't going to be a way to derail that train, it may not be coming full speed ahead as planned, but it will chug along and pick up more passengers as the years go by...to our detriment.

'Go Green...Recycle Congress'