Hot Air Tour Stop, The People’s Republic of Portland, Oregon
Jeff Reynolds
Chairman, Multnomah County Chapter
Americans for Prosperity
A large crowd turned out after work hours on a Wednesday evening to give a Patriotic welcome to Al Gore, Chief Anthropogenic Global Warming Alarmist. Here in River City, a visit by such a luminary is a big deal. The fact that there was opposition was an even bigger deal, and caused the full onslaught of media to descend and provide coverage.
Americans For Prosperity (www.americansforprosperity.com) saw an opportunity to make a prominent statement in a very blue state, and took full advantage. The program featured Tim Phillips, President of Americans for Prosperity, and Jeff Kropf, State Director of AFP Oregon (http://myafpor.org). Other speakers also included Richard Burke and Matt Evans of AFP Oregon, Jeff Reynolds, Chairman of the Multnomah County Chapter of AFP, Thomas Hann of We The People, Atmospheric Scientist Chuck Weiss, PhD, Dave Candlish of Oregon Patriots, and Todd Wynn of Cascade Policy Institute. This dynamic and educational program encouraged the crowd (and the viewers at home) to question the junk science of Mr Gore as well as the monumental effects on the economy that would be wrought by Cap and Trade.
Organizers estimated that around 400 people attended the rally. Grassroots activists showed up from as far away as Lincoln City, Bend, Olympia and Seattle. About 40 people attempted a counter protest across the street, but were generally drowned out by spontaneous chants of “Al Gore Lies!”
The rally was remarkable for its loud but peaceful tenor. Even between rival groups, activists maintained law and order. Furthermore, the rally was far from antagonistic or pessimistic. Characteristic of the National Health Care House Call on Nov 5, The Sept 12 Rally in DC, the Tax Day Tea Parties across the nation, and the rest of the patriotic rallies held to resist the advance of statism in our government, the Hot Air Tour Stop was marked with optimism and hope for a better future that comes with a return to a Constitutional Republic. There was no ugliness to this crowd, just a group of people concerned about each other and concerned about the future of the country they love.
Across the street, the best illustration of the opposition was the observation that in the lobby, there were tables and tables stacked to the rafters with nothing but books by Mr. Gore, which he had absolutely no intention of coming out to sign. The message was clear – this evening, for him, was far more about profiteering over a manufactured crisis than it was about the truth.
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