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Shocking: Almost 100% Accurate Media Report on Lincoln NE April 11 Tea Party

Hasting KHAS Ch. 5 Report on April 11 Tea Party at NE State Capitol - Just click to watch

Sorry to be stunned by media accuracy, but there you are. This is the best report I’ve seen on our event in Lincoln. The only thing inaccurate was the report of 200 attendees.

As I’ve referenced previously, there were around 400.

What I found so stunning was, instead of focusing on the signs about guns and Obama, they actually opened the report with the singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America. Also, they ended on a positive note.

Kudos to Hastings Ch. 5!

“Honey, I Shrunk the Tea Party” At Axxiom for Liberty

At the State Capitol, Lincoln, NE, April 11, Photo Taken By Dana Turner

Lady Axiom has an excellent post rounding up many of the cases of media bias in the reporting about April 15th’s Tea Party events.

Oklahoma Tea Party- Perspective. *update* Honey! I shrunk the Tea Party!

In addition to citing many examples of media bias, the Lady also points out the attempted hi-jacking or co-opting of any grassroots movement by political parties and organizations doesn’t mean the whole thing is a conspiracy.

I would add that I have seen the media bias locally. The only local newspaper, The Lincoln Journal Star, would at first not even mention the event we had scheduled for April 11. I asked the folks on the email list to let the Journal Star know they’d like to see coverage.

Just prior, one of the folks I’d heard from alerted me to the response she’d received from the City Desk when she’d inquried about lack of coverage. The Assistant Editor asked for information about the event as if she’d not heard about it before. In addition to my having sent a Press Release, I know of at least two other people who had sent the same thing.

Since they’d completely ignored the March 15th rally in front of Sen. Ben Nelson’s office, it didn’t surprise me that they’d act as if any related event information hadn’t been received.

Ultimately, the story was printed on page B5. The only good thing about the position of the blurb (can’t call it anything else) is that it was next to the obituary section.

When they reported on the event itself, they didn’t talk to any of the organizers and, most importantly, they cited “roughly 150″ people attended. The Capitol Police Deputy assigned to security detail for our event estimated 350-400. The professional entertainer who counts heads for a living to compare to gate take-in used a counting procedure and estimated 375-400. He later backed that up with a close examination of photographs.  The Journal Star has as of yet to correct their mistake.

Besides attempts to totally ignore the story and minimize the number of participants, the Journal Star is apparently removing comments they don’t like from the online version of the story. My own comment (the first one made there) and four others were removed that I know about.

Finally, while our April 11 event was placed in the “Local” section on Sunday, the April 15 event that was apparently sponsored by the Nebraska GOP and very well-funded by a wealthy businessman with less than questionable ethics was featured as a page one story today.

The Federal Government Now Locking Down Your Location

The US Census Bureau: Now Big Brother?

Today, a fellow Nebraskan, located in the rural, northeast part of the state reported to me that Census workers are using a hand held device that looks like the signing device carried by UPS workers to log citizens’ GPS coordinates.

Keep in mind the official Census doesn’t begin until 2010.

As the census worker approached the front door of the home, he was logging the information into the device. Apparently, the census information being taken is being tied to the GPS coordinates. Obviously, the information is going to be uploaded to a central database.

What on earth would the government need to log your GPS location for?

My friend questioned the Census Bureau worker closely. He asked the worker directly what he was doing with the hand held device and the worker stated he was logging the GPS coordinates of the residence. He stated that he was doing this everywhere he went and that Census Bureau workers across the country were doing the same.

He noted that workers had been instructed to log the GPS coordinates of anything that look like a dwelling, including park benches and cardboard boxes.

He particularly questioned the worker about why it was being done. The reply, not helpful or comforting. The worker said he had signed a binding agreement that he could not discuss the project with anyone, including his wife.

Clearly, this kind of intricate system with the hand held devices could not have been devised overnight, and certainly not since the Stimulus Bill was passed on February 17.

We have to ask ourselves what the Federal Government would be doing logging all our locations when the Census isn’t even supposed to begin for almost a year and why would they need to pinpoint your location so specifically?

Day of Event Information & Parking

AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING:

West Side of Capitol – close up

West Side of the Capitol – wide shot

The rally will be held on the West Side of the Capitol building in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln.

I know some people expressed a wish that we convene on the North steps. Please be advised that the Capitol structure is undergoing renovations on the north side and parts of the steps there are closed. It was determined by myself and my husband, the Tourism Supervisor, and the Capitol Police, upon inspection that the loose pavers and barricades in this area, and the complete closure of the stairway requiring restricted, single file access to the upper north steps and balconies presented safety problems.

There are several things to note regarding the rules established by the Capitol Commission:

• Signs must be hand held: (I know, I know) wood, metal, plastic poles and standards are prohibited.
• Participants must remain on hard surfaces, terraces, and sidewalks. Groups are to keep off the lawn and shrubbery, and are not to climb on retaining walls and balustrades.
• No leafleting is allowed within the State Capitol or Grounds, except at or beyond the public sidewalks.
• Open flames are prohibited in the State Capitol and on Capitol Property.

**IMPORTANT NOTES**
It has come to our attention that some groups are going to target Tea Party events for several nefarious purposes. Among them are bringing in the very kinds of signs mentioned above to embarrass our efforts. Other goals of such groups is to circulate through the crowed and attempt to procure contact information. Apparently these people will be posing as like-minded individuals, looking to “connect” with others.

For the above reason, anyone associated with organizing this event or working at the site that day will be given a lanyard name tag so they are easily identified. They will all have a standardized look with the image from the flyers that have been sent out with several emails. Further, we will not be circulating any sign-up clipboards throughout the crowd. We will have a sign-in sheet and petition available at a table only. Please do not share your contact information with anyone you don’t already know.

Our purposes for using a sign-up sheet are thus:
Count the number of people in attendance with some accuracy.
Contact you in the future for upcoming activities and events.
WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH ANYONE. It will be kept locally and secure.

We will have a proclamation available for your signature that was written by Nebraskan Ryan Sellers. He is organizing the April 15 rally in North Platte. Ryan’s proclamation is being used by other organizers across the country. Since this proclamation is not an official document being used for a ballot initiative, you will not need to provide additional information other than your signature to add your voice to others.

—> If some people would throw some lawn chairs their trunks, we should be able to accommodate some of the older folks that are going to attend.<—

**PLEASE BRING YOUR CAMERAS TO THE EVENT

– BOTH STILL & VIDEO.**

I will be providing instructions for a central upload (hopefully an improved situation from March 15) for photos following the event so everyone can enjoy them and we can use some to make some slideshows and YouTube videos.
In addition to providing enjoyment, we will be able to get the word out about our event on the Internet in absence of good media coverage.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS & PARKING

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Mapquest directions from specific major roadways. Just click on the route for the map.

From West, via I 80E

From East (Omaha) via I 80W

From South (Beatrice and a route for Crete)

From North (Fremont)

PARKING

Of course, you will want to try to park as close to the Capitol as possible. We requested that the Capitol Commission open up the South parking lot for us as its normally closed on Saturdays.  Administrative Services had not as of yet cleared this request as of late Thursday afternoon. I will do my best to update this. Hopefully, they will get this finalized.

Besides the South parking lot, there are spots all around the Capitol property.

Should space nearer the property become limited, you may need to locate one of the parking garages in the downtown area.

Click **HERE** for a downtown Lincoln guide, including parking garages

Click **HERE** for an interactive map

Tea Party Featured on Professor’s Blog

Just click the picture to read the post

My Message to KLKN-TV: Please UnConfuse the Public

This is the email I sent to the Assistant Assignment Editor at KLKN-TV

I am writing regarding the confusion that has been caused for people in the Lincoln area about the day, time, and location of the Tea Party events. I was hoping that KLKN would give a minute or two at some point to the details of the Tea Party at the Capitol after having agreed to do the interview with Reille last week. Her report included no specifics.

Despite whatever I may have hoped, I don’t feel entitled to this coverage. However, if more time is spent on the details of an event of an extremely similar nature, particularly one that is scheduled to occur after the one at the Capitol, it would seem that in order to prevent confusing the public, there should be a minimal level of detail given. The Bob Bennie event was treated as primary and the one at the Capitol “related”. Daniel Pearlman stated the time of the event was 11AM. Considering I had sent a press release to three people at KLKN, the correct information was available.

The public is now confused and I am now receiving a flurry of  and phone calls. I have pasted a few examples at the bottom of this message. I kindly and humbly request that KLKN correct the error and inform the public of the proper date, time, and location of the event at the Capitol.

Admittedly this confusion is not solely due to the KLKN report. Mr. Bennie apparently has a lot of resources to pay for advertising. Our event is simply being organized by a small grassroots group with no funding other than out of our own pockets.

I am going to be issuing another press release because of the confusion which includes a bit of detail about our program.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Shelli Dawdy

Example of emails I am now receiving:

I am a little confused on the date and time of the tea party because I have seen an ad on the local T.V. station  that states the tea party is on the 15^th.  Yet on the website it is mentioned to be on the 11^th. Which should I believe?

My husband saw a sign posted outside the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, NE stating that there will be a tea party there on April 15 starting at 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Is this information correct? How much time should we allow before 4:00 p.m. in getting there? Bring a tea bag or bags? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I have seen heard that the rally will be moved to the Lancaster Event Center on the 15th April, or is that a separate group?

Thanks

Hello,
I was planning on making it down for the event on the 11th at the Capitol.  However a friend of mine read on the internet that it was moved back to the 15th.  Just wondering when it was going to be.  Thanks.

Caravan

A number of people have indicated interest in a coordinated caravan across I-80 on the day of the event. The route and timing proposed are being worked on at this time. The idea is this: starting west in North Platte (see below), the caravan would “pick up” additional participants at exits at noted times. A designated gather point near the exits would be helpful. In addition the major exits on I-80, there has been some interest in possibly connecting some outlaying towns like Columbus by using a slight “detour” from the normal route to Lincoln. Please leave any comments you may have regarding these ideas and check back as the proposed plan develops. Finally, several people have mentioned an interest in carpooling from outlying areas to the event. If you don’t know anyone in your local area who may be coming to the event, send us an email and we will do our best to connect folks. Otherwise, from the standpoint of logistics, it would obviously be best if carpooling could be arranged locally. Please help us keep some handle on the possible number of attendees and any arrangements that would indicate a high level of interest in any part of the state by using the Email Form, link provided below. **Please help us to understand the level if interest in the idea by using the Email Form.** Proposed Starting Point: North Platte Wal-Mart 1401 S. Dewey St. Meet 7:00 AM – 7:30 Am Leave parking lot no later than 7:30 AM

The Lincoln Journal Star…the black hole for press releases

As predicted, the Lincoln Journal Star somehow has not received any press releases.

I mentioned in my most recent email update for those on the Tea Party that folks may want to take a moment and let the Journal Star that the event should be covered in their publication.

I knew we would have difficulty getting any attention from them based not only on their regular reporting but on their having ignored the March 15 rally in front of Sen. Nelson’s office.

Having made my suggestion to everyone on the email list, at least one of my fellow “party goers” decided to make contact. She received the following reply from the Assistant City Editor:

“Please provide information about your Tea Party Protest so we consider it for coverage – where it will be, what time, who is expected to attend, contact information for organizers, etc.”

Ok…

A phone number was listed so I decided to call it to inquire as to the best method for sending press releases ( I had already done this, but…what the heck) to ensure that it was actually directed to the right department.

I was given the same email address that I had already been using.

I noted to the gentleman who had answered the phone that I had already sent the release to that address. He said:

“Why don’t you try it again?”

Is there some swirling black hole in cyberspace into which my messages containing Press Releases is getting sucked?

We shall see….I may try Pony Express next.

Media Coverage: Video Link to Ch. 8 Report

In case you didn’t see it yet, I’ve captured the video from the Wednesday KLKN TV Channel 8 report that was the “Top Story”  at 6PM.

You can find the video on the right side bar in the “Vodpod Videos” widget.If you click on the video’s icon, a goo-sized viewing screen will pop out.

The videos from Ch. 8 are very difficult to work with. I wanted to include it in a post directly here, but it simply wouldn’t cooperate it.

If you are interested in a bit of story to go with the video, I have posted on regarding the interview on my blog. Just click the link below:

Lincoln Tea Party / Sen. Ben Nelson Top Story on Ch. 8 News

Hopefully, Ch. 8 will do a story more fully discussing the upcoming April 11 event. At the very least, at least it begins to get the word out there.