FROM ROLLCALL: IT’S ‘DICKENS-MEETS-RED-CARPET’ AT CHAMBER HOLIDAY BASH
By Greater Long Beach
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Via Rollcall.com)—Occupy protesters in Washington, D.C., continued their sit-in on K Street on Thursday night, descending on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday party.
The chamber, which has outspent other advocacy groups in lobbying and election expenditures for years, has been a favorite target for Occupiers since tent cities first appeared in urban centers in September.
Instead of eggnog and good will, business giants were greeted by taunts and a human red carpet designed to force the well-heeled to tread on the less fortunate. It was a holiday horror scene that Christy Setzer of U.S. Chamber Watch—a labor-backed group established before the 2010 elections—described as “Charles Dickens meets red carpet,” complete with carols sung by the unemployed.
A mock invitation for tonight’s “2011 Holiday-Themed We are the One-Percent Celebration” sent to reporters Thursday advertised “a slideshow presentation of our most recent misleading campaign ads and a photo booth sponsored by Bank of America Chevron and Boeing” and stressed that guests “looking to Buy a Legislative Agenda Especially Encouraged to Attend.”
A representative for the Chamber of Commerce declined to comment.
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Citizen Journalist Quotes of the Day –- An Era of Corruption
“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.” — Thomas Jefferson
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a moneyed aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” — Thomas Jefferson
“If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained — we must fight!” — Patrick Henry
“The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces as public enemies, all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the Bankers in the rear.
“Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe… corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money powers of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in the hands of a few, and the Republic is destroyed.” — Abraham Lincoln
(Source: dojgov.net — Spirit of America Liberty Quotes)
I first saw the picture and was certain that was Randy Gordon in the tan coat at the top of the stairs, trying to decide where he was going to step. Was a little disappointed to realize this wasn’t happening in Long Beach. However, I’m sure there are lots of holiday parties going on in Long Beach, hosted by Chamber members, with a similar guestlist of those “looking to Buy a Legislative Agenda.”
It will be interesting to see what Occupy does with the 25th itself. I’m guessing it’s off limits.
“I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the Bankers in the rear.”
strange how nothing has really changed
On the mark Dwight. Here’s some change x: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four