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Subscribe to RSSOccupy Wall Street protesters are planning coast-to-coast demonstrations Tuesday in honor of "May Day" or International Workers' Day. The protesters are calling for a general strike and are encouraging workers to stay home. The Morning Joe panel discusses.
As Occupy protesters hit the streets for a nationwide general strike on Tuesday, some in the movement fear the emergence of two new activist outfits made up of "old left" advocacy groups and unions is an attempt to turn them into a "pet" for the Democratic Party and President Obama’s reelection effort.
The new groups, 99% Power and 99% Spring, include backers such as MoveOn.org, Rebuild The Dream, AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, CODEPINK: Women for Peace, and The Ruckus Society. The groups bring money with them – something in short supply for Occupy – but their efforts are being eyed warily by those who helped launch the Occupy movement.
Adbusters, the Canadian magazine that made the initial call for people to Occupy Wall Street on Sept. 17 of last year, has been running a blog series on their website, "Battle for the Soul of Occupy," in the last few weeks. In it, the publication has decried attempts to "neutralize our insurgency with an insidious campaign of donor money and co-optation."
"This counter-strategy worked to kill off the Tea Party’s outrage and turn it into a puppet of the Republican Party. Will the same happen with Occupy Wall Street? Will our insurgency turn into the Democrats’ Tea Party pet?" Adbusters wrote in an April 12 post. "Will you allow Occupy to become a project of the old left, the same cabal of old world thinkers who have blunted the possibility of revolution for decades? Will you allow MoveOn, The Nation and Ben & Jerry to put the brakes on our Spring Offensive and turn our struggle into a ‘99% Spring’ reelection campaign for President Obama?"
Skepticism of electoral politics runs deep in the Occupy movement and it could affect the ability of Democrats to mobilize activists during the 2012 campaign, despite attempts to appropriate the "99 percent" rhetoric. But Todd Gitlin, a former leader of the 1960s group, Students for a Democratic Society, who has just published a book on Occupy, believes the concerns of some in the movement are "outlandish."
Protesters hit the streets for May Day rallies
"It was inevitable that there would arise political actors that want those same reforms, although they don’t necessarily share the real-time spirit of the movement. These are the membership organizations, like the unions and MoveOn … who did turn out for the big marches in October and November, and who are numerically very large but were always from the beginning being met with suspicion on the part of the Occupy movement," said Gitlin, a professor of sociology and journalism at Columbia University.
"This represents actually a misunderstanding on the part of some of the Occupy people who feel weak, so they’re afraid of co-optation because they feel that the co-opters have the power to puncture their balloon," he added.
Still, the new groups don’t sit well with Charles M. Young, a writer at thiscantbehappening.net and a 1960s-era activist. He attended one of the mid-April training sessions held by The 99% Spring on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, which he said was led by representatives of the Democratic Party and Wall Street lawyers, and where Obama buttons were offered for sale.
Up host Chris Hayes leads the conversation on civil disobedience in light of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the groups that are emerging to teach protesters non-violent demonstration tactics.
Young, 61, feared that Occupy could be "pulled to the right" by partnering up with them and felt the effort was part of a bid to keep the "Kucinich Democrats" from leaving.
"It looks very much like what they call an AstroTurf movement, you know, something from the top down," he said, noting he left the meeting "disillusioned." "I don’t remember anybody saying that there was a need for the 99% Spring before it came out."
"It does seem to be mostly the Democratic Party trying to keep the left in line for Obama and keeping things obedient, and that’s just not enough given the issues involved," he added.
In an email statement, Justin Ruben, MoveOn's executive director, said his group has electoral goals, but that his organization has "zero interest in trying to alter [Occupy] in any way."
"Growing economic inequality and the increasing influence of 1 percent cash in our political system are huge problems, and problems that MoveOn members care deeply about. Our response includes working to engage more activists in the fight for fairness for the 99 percent and to introduce activists to powerful tactics like non-violent direct action. That's what the 99% Spring is about," he said.
"Regarding elections, yes, there's no question that MoveOn sees elections as profoundly important, and we will be engaged in elections this year -- just as we've engaged in elections since our inception in 1998. But of course we work with lots of allies that don't engage in elections, and we respect that choice," he added.
Dorian Warren, an assistant professor of political science at Columbia University, said schisms on the left today are similar to those during the civil rights movements. There were "intense fights between the old guard" groups like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the youth-led Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, he said. In hindsight, the youth-led group played an important role, serving as "the left flank of the movement," he said. "That’s sort of the role Occupy is playing."
But Occupy should be skeptical and challenge the progressive establishment, he said. "Until September, the strategies of these groups, whether it was ‘inside the Beltway’ game or just traditional interest group politics, that was not working, and so the more radical tactics that Occupy innovated is what shifted the political terrain and they should stay focused on doing that."
The 99% Spring and 99% Power have given a nod to Occupy for leading the way, though they also said they had been drafting plans to engage in more public protest and focus on corporate accountability before Occupy existed. They had targeted the fall for their campaign, but then Occupy took off, which in turn helped them convince others of the viability of their own strategy, said George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action.
Occupy reinvented: '99 percent' protesters target General Electric
"It opened up some space for some of the things that we’ve been working on for a long time, and it was really just kind of liberating … in terms of what was possible and also in terms of kind of confirming what we thought," he said.
Goehl said members of Occupy have joined his group’s trainings – or led them – and some consider themselves as part of 99% Power. He said when he was in Des Moines last week at a protest, three of the 12 people arrested were from Occupy.
"I think what we’re seeing is … a growing number of threads that do speak to the need to be fearless truth tellers around what’s truly going on in this country to both engage in nonviolent direct action and to challenge the dominance of the corporate sector both, you know, in our economy and in our politics," he said. "And I think that, you know, Occupy is a thread of that, 99% Spring is a thread of that, 99% Power … it’s all part of the same thing."
He said that the notion that any electoral objectives were part of their strategy was "completely false."
"The organizations that actually started this idea don’t really run big electoral programs. It’s not been that kind of the focus in terms of strategies and tactics," he added.
In the end, Warren, the politics professor, said he thought there could be "too much focus on who’s co-opting Occupy versus Occupy just doing its work."
Success during big events like Tuesday’s May Day actions will actually depend on how many people that the unions, MoveOn and other groups turn out, Warren said. "In that sense, Occupy’s fate is linked to these other groups and these others groups’ fates are linked to Occupy."
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If you have to guess what is going on just click here and get the truth( something you won't get from msnbc).
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-fbi-arrests-five-anarchists-for-allegedly-trying-to-blow-up-a-cleveland-area-bridge/
OWS boys at work.
to Pat - that story is on MSNBC.com now -
I found that MSNBC does not report any news that looks bad for Obama or the Dems, but once a story gets out from other news organizations, only then will MSNBC "break" that news.
MSNBC is the WORST - a pathetic joke !!!!
the tea party was co opted by no body we are people who are the vast majority of america. center right people are make up crosses all racial lines and parties and independants. when all you have is a party of democrats who it seems fund and praise the ows people is it any wonder the center right shifts to the other party since we are a two party country. now it seems democrats are worried not because of the tea party they are worried the anarchists and college students are skipping both parties and just not voting. which will be the death knell for all democrats not just obama. by the time we get to sept and obama looks to lose you will see most democrats trying to save there own butts. the party like the hypocrits they are. maybe in the future they will learn to read a bill costing hundreds of billions of dollars a year before they pass it! what happened in 09 was the most cravest act of any party in the history of america. the chicago thug had arrived!
Just like the Occupy, the left's response to the T-P.
Same circus different CLOWNS!!
And thank god the beginning of the end is visible for OWS and all the bought and sold spin offs.
The only good thing is the word is getting out who is really behind the OWS, and it's going to be a cement shoe this coming election for the Democrats. They be fooling no one.
Obama and his gang of thugs are the very people who created the mess that we are in today, and also have profited off of it greatly!!! Look up who is funding (really funding, not MSNBC reports) OWS, and you will be surprised how biased and corrupt and in the pockets they are. I'd post it myself, but you wouldn't believe it, you have to educate yourself if you are not going to be a party troll.
Funny how liberals seem to keep forgetting how corrupt their politicians are, they only want to remind us of how corrupt the other side is.
PS: Unfortunately, while the T-P cannot field their own candidate, they do have way too much influence on the GOP. Hopefully Romney will be able to minimize them. I was hoping Obama would minimize the Progressive nut job radicals, but he apparently is one of them. Who knew?
HEY MSNBC,
I'll bet you'd love to be as "damaged" as Rush.
As a matter of fact, he'll probably be talking on his show today how "dammaged" you jackasses are.
See, two can play that stupid, illogical, non-sensical game.
Of course they will get ridden like fair ground ponies. Every special interest group will have a turn. They will be used by everyone, Left, Right, Centrists. Everyone.
The Left will use them to make the Right look bad. The Right will use them to make the Left look bad. And the rest will use them to make everyone look bad.
They won't even get a reach-around.
Dopes, you already are the Dems. and Union pets. You just aren't bright enough to realize it.
The "Occupy Movement" has a new slogan.............................
"You work hard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so we don't have too."
Sorta the reverse of a good toilet bowl cleaner. I've been wondering, where do communists get money in the first place? If they despise working, accumulating wealth or jobs, who or what pays the freight at a commie rally?
Why would any political part make "pet" of the occupiers? With all of the damage they have done at their rallies let alone the desecration of the American flag, makes you think they represent a foreign country attacking our country. The disrespect they show our flag alone should be enough to shun them.
too late. ows now owes its existence to the liberal left. just like the radical mooslims hijacked the movements in the middle east. ---now you guys are just obama's political arm--- can't you tell by the give me, give me mantra?
So "Occupy" doesn't want to be a political party pet. OK. Then what do you want? A dictatorship? A monarchy? A new political party with teeth? I hear a lot of yammering going on and no plan, even after all this time. Talk is cheap. And most of the country has already tuned you out. There's enough griping and complaining going on elsewhere. Unless you have a viable solution, no one gives a damn. That's a fact.
MRWSR: The money trail was found and followed last year - leads directly to the unions, leftist-commie organizations (Acorn and its spawn, Move-on.org, American Socialist Party, American Communist Party, Congressional Progressive Caucus,etc, usw).
While these useful idiots might look foolish and unorganized they are not- their supporters are well organized and their goal is well documented: the over throw of the American culture and way of life. More than likely it will be resolved "on the field."
nothing here folks... keep it moving
Pack the jails full with these Commies! Who needs the leeches of society complaining that they don't get enough free government handouts at the expense of MY tax dollars. Or that these losers DESERVE to be taken care at the expense of others. Who needs 'em!
The NAACP has been pets of the democrats for decades. The unions, well, the unions aren't as much pets as they are part owners.
The unions are in control with money money money, and it will continue until someone stops it. The more the unions get from the democrats the more they give back in favors.
justredd, it's called money laundering!
The SEIU have been handling the laundering.
I have 2 words for the Occupy people who feel they are turning into pets of the Democrats. TOO LATE. Who do you think funds you and organizes you? Your movement was controlled from the get go. You were suckered and bamboozled as they say. Ever wonder why you overlooked and cozied up to rich liberals who said they were on your side? Think about it. The whole Occupy movement is directed solely at Republicans. Not the entire spectrum of the 1% which includes people from all political and social backgrounds. You should have realized this, but you were too busy lobbing feces, standing on bridges, and trashing parks to figure out you were being used.
Oh sure they are not part of the Dumbocrats, no not that party. They would never march and riot why that has never happened in thier sorry ass history. And even sadder is you saps buy this crap, but you can never underestimate the stupidty of the American people.
If we want to solve the debt crisis, the solution is very simple...kill all - ALL - the entitlement programs. If people actually got off their butts and worked for a living, there would be no need for all this nonsense. OWS, your entitled to nothing! NOTHING!!!, you want change, then get a job and work for it....I cannot fathom how lazy and irresponsible this country has become....we have all forgotten how this country came to be..it's such a shame...I don't know if all these new uprisings are tools for the main parties, but I can assure everyone, that everyone who belongs to them are in fact tools...I've worked for over 30 years, I've paid my taxes, that probably makes me a sucker...but I'm not out in the rain, bitching about something that I believe I'm entitled to, that I haven't worked for..
It seems the Occupiers have finally realized the Democratic Liberals are using them to the promote the socialist agenda, and they don't like it.
So, what do the Occupiers want and how do they envision it will function?
They do not know what they want, except for everything to be easier for them. Function is not a word in their vocabulary.
99% OF THE OWS are losers...only 1% of them have any mind and sense!!
I wonder if everyone did follow their call for a 'revolt' and stay home what would happen. Suddenly the OWS will have NO internet access (no one working it to keep it running)...NO cell phone access (no one working to keep it running)...NO FOOD from ANY store (no one working it to keep it running)....NO medical ER help (no one working it to keep it running)...No electricity, no police (crime will rise to overcome them with NO "1% gestapo" to keep the dumb OWS safe)...No gas...No nothing...then the LOSS of revenue for companies and loss of revenue in taxes will cause more layoffs and less services for people who need it, etc etc.
oh, and please feel free to NOT complain. as the BORDERS will be opened to terrorists and such, as NO ONE WILL be working at any location to help keep them out...a free day to enter the USA..the irony is that then several bombs will go off at ALL these OWS sites because TERRORISTS love to blow up stuff where LARGE amounts of people are!!!!
yeah, please stay home and show that the OWS are just IDIOTIC children or follish losers who would NEVER have amounted to anything because they want to be taken care of like a child!!
occupy is dead, its been dead and anyone that could have made a difference stopped listening 6 mos after they formed and their goal made public. which was actually no goal at all
occupy should have watched some clips from the 60's race riots or taken some tips from the london protesters, when interviewed the brits said that no one would listen or pay attention till they set stuff on fire.
no one is ever gonna listen till you affect the money flow, ya have to hit them in the wallet! then you can have their attention. till then you got nothin
Inciting Violence are you now, What is your Agenda? Terrorism?
i would venture that the revolutionary war involved a bit of violence and terrorism
but then im not involved with occupy but i am able to observe effective and non effective communication and so far ows is ineffective
Every Body Get a lap-top and Occupy the Internet Commodes!
I was very interested in movement and had some hope they might do some good until they allowed Dems to hijack their movement. These same people they loaned their soap box out to were behind the curtains doing insider trading and collaborating with huge labor unions who buy the way are huge businesses and made no sense having a presence in the first place. It went doan hill from there for me. Support a president who took more money from wall st than all previous presidents prior to him? Does that make any sense? Then occupy parks etc, leaving strapped communities with working class people to pay the huge clean up and overtime for police? That make sense? How could anyone get behind this?
Does "occupy" know that Goldamnn Sachs was the bigest contributor to Obama's election?
It's just that occupy & the democratic party have similar goals. To assure the constitution is saved. That the upper 1% do not rule the country with an iron fist like the movie hunger games where the mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo cut off food stamps & the poor 99% people scramble for every crumb of bread.
Thanks Marshal for the laugh.
The Dems want to save the Constitution? Really? Obama has trampled on it more than Bush did!
The Dems are in the 1%, and just as much in-bed with the greed monsters. Look at Obama's list of contributors, so many banks and wall street and richie-rich folks.
99% people scramble for every crumb of bread? you really need to lay off the kool-aid. You are definately a bit dramatic, but worse, you are falling for their LIES hook line and sinker. You are quoting FICTIONAL movies as if they are facts. WOW!!!!!
But you are a good Obamatron, your indoctrination went well!
Does anyone even really take Occupy seriously?
To me they are just a public nuisance and a bunch of whiny protestors - those who "want and expect" from the gov't instead of taking personal responsibility to create a good life for themselves. They have always been a tool of the Dem's
An inconvenient truth.
The left is ignorant enough not to see Obama's affiliation with wall street. So yes they will try to adopt Occupy as a steeping stone for the next election.