I support the Occupy Movement and I support the re-election of Barack Obama. I do not see the two as incompatible, but rather as essential.
OWS has changed the conversation, bringing economic inequality into the discourse after the silence of decades. President Obama is far, far better than any alternative in 2012 and I proudly support his re-election.
Today, a few Occupy protesters "mic checked" the President in New Hampshire.
A few minutes into his speech at the high school, a protester shouted “mic check,” and others joined in with shouts. The crowd quickly drowned the protesters out with chants of “Obama,” but a few minutes later, Obama said “families like yours, young people like the ones here today — including the ones who were just chanting at me — you’re the reason that I ran for office in the first place.”
Think Progress
I'm fine with the protesters protesting and with President Obama's response.
There is issue activism, which I see OWS as, and electoral activism, which I generally see progressive Dems as. Each has an important role in making change.
And as a former community organizer, I suspect President Obama understands the value of independent grass roots pressure. That's good for OWS and for President Obama.
[Footnote: the protesters may or may not reflect a consensus view of the various Occupy movements, but that is not important to me. Those few folks there have the right to raise hell non-violently and I think the President and crowd handled it fine.]
Update I: Gooserock gives us more info on the protesters.
No It Was a Specific Charge Being Made By HS Kids (1+ / 0-)
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They released a press statement pointing to thousands of protester arrests and yet still no important finance arrests.
May have had nothing to do with OWS other than utilizing some of its resistance tactics.
We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"
by Gooserock on Tue Nov 22, 2011 at 03:03:07 PM CST
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It's good to see high school students being activists!!!