(August 27, 2010 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
Glenn Beck’s much anticipated 8/28 Rally aptly dubbed “Restoring Honor” went off seemingly without a hitch yesterday – save for the race-baiting display of partisan / Black-White politics put on by the Reverend Al Sharpton down the street. The rally had been the buzz of the Beltway for days leading up to the event with many on the Left ready to exploit any misstep taken by Beck and his fellow organizers or any in attendance. While I have no doubt they tried mightily, the relative lack of coverage compared to that leading up to the event, must be an indication that the MSM was left wanting.
(August 27, 2010 - Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)
For weeks, Beck told his audience, “Leave your signs at home.” It appears the thousands of people in attendance took heed of his many requests as they filled the National Mall for a day of “Restoring Honor.”
I must admit, I had no idea what to expect from this rally. I have made it quite clear that I am not the biggest fan of Glenn Beck. While I appreciate his message, ideologically speaking we tend to come from very different branches of the same tree. That said, I was eagerly awaiting feedback from the event to see how it truly came to form.
By all accounts, the day was a huge success. While attendance figures will surely be a topic for debate, it looks like a shortage of people was not a concern. An enormous crowd showed up to hear Beck’s plan for infusing principle back into our fine Nation.
Photo Via Gateway Pundit
On the matter of attendance… Here’s how the all-knowing media has broken it down. No real surprises – a few played it – WAY DOWN and a couple more appear to have been – well lets just call it “a little more impartial.”
From Instapundit:
UPDATE: Liveblog coverage at The Daily Caller.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Park Service estimates crowd at over 300,000.
MORE: Reader Lisa Schell writes: In other words, Glenn Beck’s rally drew more people than Keith Olbermann has viewers.
And for the Low-Ball Figure
CBS says 87,000 –
And to My Surprise….
The New York Times and NBC reported 300,000
Somewhere in the Middle From the Left Coast Rebel:
The Other McCain also had unique perspective as his sidekick Smitty was in attendance.
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The event was obviously headlined by a speech from Beck himself, but highlights of the day most certainly included an appearance from Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Alveda King, addressed the crowd on the 47th anniversary of her uncle’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“I am attending this rally to help reclaim America,” she told “Good Morning America’s” Ron Claiborne today from Capitol Hill. “I’m joining Glenn to talk about faith, hope, charity, honor. Those are things that America needs to reclaim. Our children need to remember to love each other how to honor each other, their parents, God and their neighbors. I agree with Glenn on all of those principles. So that’s why I’m here. For me it’s principles over politics.”
Video via American Power:
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As I mentioned earlier, the only stain on this otherwise remarkable day was the fact that the Reverend Al had to force himself into the spotlight injecting race into a day of celebration. In typical Reverend Al fashion, he managed to once again remind the American People that racial bigotry, prejudice, and divisiveness is still ever-present in contemporary culture. Unbeknownst to the fine Reverend is the fact that he is among the few remaining holdouts standing between this great nation and true racial equality and understanding.
On a day where his fellow Americans were celebrating at the site dedicated to our nation’s greatest hero of Equality – Abraham Lincoln – and where the Civil Rights Movement’s greatest voice once gave its greatest speech, Reverend Al chose to plant himself somewhere else. The man that purports to stand for breaking down barriers to racial equality; who supposedly champions an open dialog on race; who considers himself a “man of God”… chose to be somewhere else rather than at a rally celebrating both God and equality.
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(August 27, 2010 - Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images North America)
As to Reverend Al’s decision to organize a rally of his own, I say more power to him. He has every Right to do so and I applaud him for exercising said Rights. That said, I sincerely believe that Reverend Al yet again missed a wonderful opportunity for a teachable moment. While I have no doubt that Sharpton believed his rally served a noble purpose, how much good could have truly been done if he would have joined forces with Beck for just one day? Think of the attention he could have brought to the event. More importantly, think about how much attention he could have brought to the two issues he holds closest to his heart – God and Racial Equality. As a “man of God” and a man committed to the cause of liberty for all Americans regardless of race, color, or creed; how much more could he have done for that cause if he was simply humble enough to actually go the extra mile for his convictions?
(August 27, 2010 - Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images North America)
We all know the real story here. Sharpton didn’t want to waste a Golden Opportunity to exploit race for personal gain and he didn’t want Beck to steal his thunder. He believes that only black Americans have a right to speak about racial equality or a lack thereof. He seizes every opportunity such as this – not to advance his cause or promote his stated objectives, but to pat himself on the back; reinforce his victims-oriented mantra; and support the golden goose that is racial politics which lines his pockets and prevents him and many like him from fading into irrelevance. If he truly cared about the cause of Liberty, he would have stayed home or joined Beck for the good of his message. I’m reminded of the fine words of Ronald Reagan – “There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I think you might be able to learn a little something from that line Reverend Al…. Just a thought.
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Michelle Malkin had a few things to say regarding the Reverend as well and fear / race mongers who “feared for the lives of minorities brave enough to join the wretched mob…
“I waited with race-baited breath for a reporter to head over to Sharpton’s rally and question the lack of diversity there, but it never happened.”
Very glaring from M&M also… she posted video clips of the Mall after the Restoring Honor rally and after the Obama Inauguration. Quite a different scene. Think there must have been a few Boy Scouts in one of those groups.
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(August 27, 2010 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
In sum… I have to say that the rally appeared an absolute and total success. I have watched quite a bit of the event now and must say that I was sincerely impressed with it through and through. While I do not completely agree with Beck’s take on the role of religion in government or his views on the Founding Fathers’ take on the matter, I do 100% agree that this is, was, and was meant to be a nation of principle and virtue. While I personally believe said contributions to a national character are derivative of many sources including but not limited to religion, I am extremely encouraged by the tone and tenor of this conversation. Beck is right. It has been missing from the dinner table; it has been missing from Capitol Hill; and it has been missing from the great political debates of our day.
After spending an afternoon picking through coverage of the event and the blowback from both the Left and Right, I have taken away one resonating point. There is a bond that unites each of us as Americans. It is unique and it is universal. It is individual and it is collective. It is the commitment to principle and virtue – both in our personal lives and in our government. Our Founders saw the need for this central core and they interwove it into every aspect of our government. We can save the debates about a whether we are a Christian nation or “which God” we actually reference in “One Nation Under God” for another day. Today I am proud to see that 300,000 of my fellow Americans gathered on hallowed ground to celebrate the importance of principle and virtue. Moments like these make the Christian Nation and Which God debates seem futile when for a day so many can simply celebrate a nation that allows them to assume the answer is their own.
(August 27, 2010 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
For a Final Take on the Rally I will defer to Allahpundit at HotAir:
You have a very refreshing take on race, religion, and culture. I am profoundly pleased to have stumbled upon your site at Free Republic. I regret that I cannot offer you cover there but I will be a frequent visitor going forward and look forward to reading you in the future.
I regret that you cannot provide me cover there either. I get murdered over there whenever I post ANYTHING. I think many of the readers there look for a headline, read a few lines, and then write a book telling you what a RINO idiot you are. Its a bit frustrating but I like the feedback and I can’t help but believe that the vast majority of readers there get the message. They just fear to utter a word for the risk of being shot down.
I appreciate the compliment. I can admit that I do have a slightly unconventional take – at least in this world of “conservative” politics. I am encouraged when the overall message finds its way through.
Thanks for the comment.
Dude. I can’t believe you didn’t make the trip for this event. You hate Sarah Palin and you “trecked” it to Nashville for the Tea Party Convention. I thought for sure you would have made the trip to DC for your boy Glenn Beck. HAHA. I think you may finally be coming around on Palin and Beck. Call me crazy but I think you are starting to understand them. I told you the other day, but I am happy your back at it. Love reading you man and love seeing new posts. Keep up the good work.
I can’t say that I’m coming around on Beck and / or Palin but I do agree that I might have finally figured out Beck’s value in the bigger picture. I think he may have also. For a movement or an advocate to push for an infusion of faith, principle, and virtue back into America and American politics, I think it is absolutely necessary that they come from a past similar to Beck’s. He is openly a flawed human being and people can relate to that. It doesn’t smack of I’m better than you preachiness. Also, the fact that he is a Mormon goes a long way to bringing more people to the fold. A life-long Evangelical would only succeed in bringing along other Evangelicals. I think Beck can appeal in a unique way in that department.
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