The American Freedom Network

Lansing, MI Tea Party Report

    Joe the Plumber headlined an event today at the Capitol, and drew a noontime crowd of 5,000 (Detroit News).  In 11 years of working in downtown Lansing, this was by far the largest rally that this writer has witnessed, including those where food was served.  With statuary on the Capitol Lawn dedicated to, among others, the Michigan volunteers who fought in the Civil War, with a classic Roman Revival Capitol dome giving the scene an air of nobility and austere, republican virtue, the peaceful crowd’s thunderous cheering could be heard at a distance of a half-mile.  Mostly older, with a generous admixture of children, they seemed to be a cross-section of midwestern Americana, middle-class, radically moderate, and galvanized into action by an existential threat to the American way of life.  These were our neighbors, by the looks of them, and not professional protesters, advocacy group hacks, or the usual run of Capitol steps camera-hogs, and their concern and anger seemed both genuine and non-violent.  It’sd a pity that the Legislature was not in session to witness it. 
I can only hope that their message, mine also, is heard and heeded.