Posted by
Mark Polege on Friday, May 15, 2009 12:00:00 AM
Obama supporters & Tea Party protesters unite in Arnold, Missouri as President Obama makes a town hall visit at Fox High School.
Though the main event was inside the school's gymnasium, there was plenty of action outside around the intersection of Jeffo & Tenbrook Road. Based by the Walgreen's parking lot with a stand selling Obama T-shirts, buttons, & portraits, the demonstrations spread to the other 3 corners of the intersection of Tenbrook Rd. & Jeffco Blvd near the high school's main entrance.
Protesters began to surface one after another with their signs & T-shirts. Obama supporters began to show up in fewer numbers & fewer signs in support of the newly elected president. In addition to the T-shirt stand, a few people were selling Obama pins. Both sides voiced a comment here and there, sometimes in response to each other or to the small anti-abortion group that was also in attendance with their large posters & signs.
One of the anti-abortion supporters monopolized the air waves initially, until Dana Loesch (The Dana Show) & Jim Hoft (Gateway Pundit) appeared & gathered protesters across the street to the high school sidewalk. After a period of time a portion of the street was blocked off & President Obama & his motor cage arrived. Despite the gathering of people at the main entrance to the high school, Obama & the motor cage entered the school grounds through a back entrance. There was a distinct sigh of disappointment and even some booing.
Shortly after this, Dana Loesch of the local Tea Party organizers began to speak again about the problems in Washington being big government & big spending. She also made a point of expressing to Obama supports as well as other protesters that both parties are guilty of the problems we face in Washington & the rest of the country. As she continued the Obama supports only countered by chanting, "Obama!" After a short period of time both sides quieted and many of the Obama supports dispersed while the Tea Party protesters remained until President Obama left by helicopter from the school's football field.