Walsh: Occupy Movement ‘Anti-American'

At a town hall meeting in Gurnee this weekend, Rep. Joe Walsh, Tea Party-Ill., made it clear where the line between real Americanism and anti-American lies. It lies with Walsh. Anyone who agrees with Walsh is a real American. Anyone to Walsh’s left is a socialist trying to undermine this country’s core values.

In response to a constituent’s comment about how Occupy Wall Street is “bothering little children,” Walsh let his listeners know where the Occupy movement falls in the Joe Walsh True American Test.

“This whole Occupy Wall Street…stuff…is a well-orchestrated, well-funded far left effort to disrupt the American people and rile up Obama’s left base." A video of the scene was posted on YouTube:



The crowd responded with both applause and catcalls. Walsh told his boo-ers they’d have a chance to comment, then went on:

“I think these are generally spoiled, pampered, unfocused clueless young people and a smattering of other people who don’t understand this country and are advocating anti-American solutions. They don’t at all represent America.”

“What about the veterans who take part in Occupy Wall Street?” a woman asked. “Do you consider them anti-American?”

During an Occupy Oakland demonstration, Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen was struck in the head with a tear gas canister, which fractured his skull. Another Iraq veteran, Kayvan Sabeghi, was beaten by police, rupturing his spleen.
    
“I don’t know how many veterans are part of the Occupy protest,” said Walsh, who has never served in the military. “I can’t imagine it’s many, but anyone who would advocate socialist solutions to certain problems in this country, they don’t understand this country.”

Walsh’s opposition to Occupy was not shared by every constituent in conservative northern Lake County.

“They came out with a 14 or 15 point manifesto that basically advocated a living wage for everyone,” he continued. “Absolve all student debt. Absolve all mortgages. Everybody gets a home. Everybody gets free health care. What do they advocate? They literally advocate 14 or 15...”

“They want jobs!” a woman shouted.

“These are real people with real problems, and the government’s not addressing their problems,” another man said. “They’re giving priority to big corporations and multi-millionaires. These are real people who are very frustrated, and they have no other outlet.”

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