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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
33

Right Steals Left's Language of Protest

From 'Nazi' to 'my body,' conservatives are the new liberals

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(Newser) – If you go to Amazon to buy Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky's classic treatise on left-wing protest, you'll see authors that other readers are also interested in: Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, and GOP Sen. Jim DeMint. For Politico, that's one of many signs that conservatives have co-opted liberal techniques, from singing the pro-labor song "This Land Is Your Land" at tea parties to wearing pro-choice-esque "Keep Your Laws Off My Body" T-shirts.

"They've taken all the progressive arguments and made them conservative arguments," one professor said. Last week's anti-Obama rally, for example, called itself a March on Washington, and its logo featured a stylized raised fist reminiscent of the black power movement—intentionally. "We’re trying to borrow some from the Civil Rights movement,” said an organizer. “This is something people said in the office. If we had been alive back in the 1960s, we would have been on the freedom bus rides."

Clennon Alexander of Florida, holds up banner as she walks in Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, during a taxpayer rally.
Clennon Alexander of Florida, holds up banner as she walks in Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, during a taxpayer rally.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Demonstrators hold up banners during a taxpayer rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.
Demonstrators hold up banners during a taxpayer rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Demonstrators hold up banners on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, during a taxpayer rally.
Demonstrators hold up banners on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, during a taxpayer rally.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Demonstrators are shown during a rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.
Demonstrators are shown during a rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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If we had been alive back in the 1960s, we would have been on the freedom bus rides. It was an issue of individual liberty. We’re trying to borrow some from the Civil Rights movement. - A leader of the anti-government Taxpayer March on DC last week

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33 comments
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Fondue
Sep 18, 09 8:04 AM CDT
Jon Stewart was right - conservatives have become liberals. Reply
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+10
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hybrid
Sep 18, 09 8:06 AM CDT
hate when your right
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+7
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Fondue
Sep 18, 09 8:21 AM CDT
thumbs up fondueyou
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+4
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Sonny_Crockett
Sep 18, 09 11:14 AM CDT
Yes he was.
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+1
hybrid
Sep 18, 09 8:05 AM CDT
Congressional Research Service: Illegal Aliens Can Receive Benefits Under House Health Care Bill read it for yourself, Joe wilson's the man http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090826/pl_usnw/congressional_research_service__illegal_aliens_can_receive_benefits_under_house_health_care_bill Reply
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