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How Chicago Ruined The Rally For Sanity
This morning I attended the Rally to Restore Sanity satellite viewing in Grant Park, which was organized by Angie McMahon. When I first walked in I was excited and anxious, but I left an hour later disappointed and upset. What went wrong in that hour? Maybe it was when the live feed from DC was muted so a comedian could compare having an abortion to making a sandwich. Maybe it was when a security guard grabbed the microphone and cursed at the crowd because they were upset over not being able to watch the rally. Maybe it was when speaker after speaker did nothing but shout liberal rhetoric at us (Full disclosure: I consider myself to be liberal). Maybe it was the guy who dressed up in a KKK outfit, which was the complete opposite message of the rally.
Actually, I take that last one back. I honestly don’t know what the message of the Rally To Restore Sanity was because we were not allowed to watch it! And I’m not the only one upset by this. I think this collection of quotes from other Chicagoans attending Angie’s event tells the story of what happened quite well.
“I came to enjoy the spirit of the DC rally with thousands of like-minded people. Had the scheduled speakers embodied that spirit and respected the DC rally, I don’t think I would have complained.“
-Erik Robertson (Facebook)
“Astounded that [the organizers] collected funds only to refuse to broadcast the rally & use [the] forum for their own purposes. Unethical.“
-frageelay (Twitter)
“Angie is awesome, but we’re missing a one of a kind gig from our best satirists in DC to hear Yiddish jokes and liberal talk.“
-Brad Flora (Windy Citizen)
“[The organizer] needs to apologize not only to the people who came out and gave support and money, but also to the organizers of the DC Rally… because what they were organizing against was PRECISELY what the Chicago rally turned into… partisan hackery and pandering. And the pandering wasn’t even funny.“
-William Taplin III (Facebook)
“This was a complete disaster. The amount of cognitive dissonance on display from the event organizers was staggering. They interrupted an event to restore sanity to interject their own bullshit about FBI plots to kidnap anti-war protesters. They co-opted an event organized to reduce the amount of extremism in American politics in order to shout their own extremist position. It was a total failure, and I am ashamed to say I was there.“
-InvisibleCities (Reddit)
“I saw that it was clearly a political rally with a specific agenda and posted that yesterday. I guess I was fooled by the use of the name, similar logo (buyer beware of unsanctioned merchandise), and the excitement of all the other poor sheep who were so unwittingly led too. My bad.“
-Tamara Swanson (Facebook)
“They promoted this as a Stewart/Colbert event, yet if we wanted to watch them we should have stayed home? I’m fine with them having local speakers, but don’t interrupt what we came here to see. They should have had the speakers later.“
-chaosdude78 (Reddit)
“I left [the rally] because it was a tacky bait and switch. I came to Grant Park because i couldn’t make it to DC.“
-Keidra Chanley (Twitter)
“[I] left [the rally] early. I think people would’ve been more understanding if they weren’t bitched out with F-bombs by the organizer.“
-Lisa Stangland (Twitter)
“Well [the rally organizer], you were not exactly what I’d hoped. But the best way to resolve disappointment? Chipotle. This day is certainly redeemable.“
-Heather Jo Douglas (Twitter)
*Some quotes from Twitter have been altered for grammar and clarity
In summary, Angie mcMahon organized an event under the pretense that we would be watching and celebrating Jon Stewart’s message. She raised over $21,000 (full disclosure: I donated to this) to put on this event. Then the event turned out to be nothing more than a liberal version of a tea party.
The one good thing to come out of this disaster is that the money she raised will go to Chicago Public Schools. But that’s the only thing she should be proud of. Everything regarding the execution of this event was a complete disaster.
One last thing to fully disclose: Angie often retweeted me when I plugged her event on Twitter. Now I wonder if she will retweet some constructive criticism of her event.
VIVA! Las Lakeview – A Casino Night at the Harbor to Benefit FIVE Lakeview Charities
April 20, 2010- Chicago, IL –Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Inaugural event for their 501c3 arm Lakeview East Community Partnerships – VIVA! Las Lakeview, an evening, of high style gaming with master of ceremonies ” COUSIN VINNIE” from Chicago.com.
Thursday April 29th from 6:30PM to 10PM
Chicago Yacht Club: Belmont Station 300 W Belmont, Lakeview
A total of over $50,000 in prizes are available for guests to try their luck for ranging from fine art to hotel stays to dining certificates to spa packages.
A donation of $40 provides a buffet, and entertainment by Joe Ferrar and Friends of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.
Guests will enjoy an evening of “Vegas-style” entertainment: Blackjack, Craps, Spin to Win, Roulette and Texas Hold’ em Poker.
All attendees will start the evening with $20 in chips, and can purchase more as needed. All proceeds benefit Lakeview area Not for Profit Organizations.
Beneficiaries of this event include:
o Student Veteran and Military Association of Illinois
o The Nettelhorst School
o The Chicago Canine Rescue Foundation
o The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation – Sailing Scholarship Program
o Nature Explore
Winners can also turn their chips in to purchase special raffle tickets for a trip for two to Las Vegas. Raffle tickets can also be pre-purchased through lakevieweast.com
This event would not be possible without the support countless Community Merchants who donated their services and talents as prizes for game winners.
Sponsors include: Fifth Third Bank, Chicago Jet Group, Horseshoe Casino Hammond, Diageo and Vanberg & Dewulf, Chicago.com
Guests Can order tickets by phone at 773 – 348 – 8608 or online at:
http://www.lakevieweast.com/viva-las-lakeview.htm