Randomly threw on a comfortable cotton sweatshirt from the ‘08 campaign when I got home from work. Ran to 5-Guys in Meridian (Idaho) where I was harassed with heckles by multiple individuals because I was wearing Obama attire. I won’t repeat what these folks said here, but I must admit it made me question my faith in neighborly love. Is that how we engage in debate now? One woman said "I bet this bum doesn’t have a job."
Reads a post on the Facebook Page of Boise City Councilman TJ Thomson.
The incident set off a firestorm of a dialogue.
"I've never seen so many comments on a Facebook thread," said Julie Fanselow, a freelance writer who is the former Communications Director of the Idaho Democratic Party.
Thomson's story drew a flurry of responses from people on all sides of the political discourse. The conversation regarding Thomson's incident is running so deep and heated that responders are vigorously branching out to topics from American history to global warming as they chime in about what happened.
This highlight is from Brian Rich:
Obama's presidency is the hydrogen peroxide poured on the gaping wounds opened by Bush. It's going to hurt at first, but in the long run we'll be a lot better off.
While motivational speaker Jon Colson: adamantly claims that there is no racism among members of the Tea Party and that racist media clips of Teabaggers have been staged.
I'm "saddened by the viciousness of it all!" wrote Jeanne Pauls.
Since more dialogue is generally better than less -- and this incident has obviously tapped into the core feelings that many Americans deeply harbor -- in a discussion with TJ we agreed that getting feedback from the Kos audience would be beneficial.
Below is a selection of posts from this ongoing dialogue that may be hitting other newswires shortly:
Andrew Crisp: Sorry to hear that TJ. I doubt they could really articulate their hatred. That seems to be a constant with Obama bashing.
Cathie Havlina: lol you Bum TJ good thing you weren't with me, I'd answer: "You're right lady, ever since that bush dude was in office MANY ppl have lost jobs"
Jon Colson: You were wearing Obama attire?
Cathie Havlina: I have a T-shirt that reads Havlina's for Obama now I'm tempted to wear it to the next Tea sackers meetings. hmm? what to do?
Drew Ebright: Absolutely disgusting. There is no place for that. Intollerance needs to be punishable by law.
Steven Mercado Wow. "....doesn't have a job."???? Holy cow, that's a story and a half. This is the kind of stuff I want to really change when it comes to social discourse and dynamics in this country, starting with this State. This is a big reason why I'm in school with a Comm. major and double minor in Sociology and Marketing to help promote a better way for people to treat each other and not judge so quickly, if at all.
Jon Colson: I have to admit. Because I do not live in Boise, I did not pay much attention to your campaign, but if I had ever seen you in an Obama shirt, I would not have been rude, but there is no way I would have supported you if I lived in Boise. Nothing against you, but Obama has been a nightmare.
Drew...that is rather funny. You are spewing intolerance.
Cathie Havlina: Jon? Obama has been a nightmare? Were you out of the country the previous 8 years in the prior administration. Just asking?
James Du Toit: Jon: TJ has been wonderful for Boise! We look forward to many, many more years of his leadership and insightful service.
Erin Cutler: Cole Wow!!! This makes me very sad.....
Cathie Havlina: Wishing you Good things TJ. I'd vote for you but, now I have to go dream about My Avenger/Hero/Human Being with Brains aka President Obama ~ hope for people that graduated from college with more than the "Gentlemans C" g'nite
TJ Thomson : Jon - I have a stack of sweatshirts I cycle thru when I get home each night. One is from the '08 campaign... but it shouldn't matter what I am wearing. I understand there is some disrest out there, but what I do at the City level is a far cry from what happens in D.C. In Boise we fight every day for fiscal discipline, conservation, and increased living standards. I am proud of that.
Bob Franks: Good for you TJ!
Steven Mercado I'm proud to have TJ as one of our City Councilman! True leadership.
Patricia Gander Rich: To me, you'll always be that amazing guy firing up the crowd, thoughtfully and intelligently answering every question fired at you and smoothing the waters when things got tense. You are part of the reason we have this amazing president and all we can do is keep the hope alive until the naysayers figure it out.
In answer to your question, yes, this is the way it is right now. Nasty and stupid. But it won't stay that way!
Kassie Cerami: I wear my stuff all the time and PROUDLY!! I only get heckled in Utah.
Jon Colson: Cathie...Yeah, I saw Bush turn around a recession that was handed to him. I saw 6 years of unprecedented growth. I saw the democrats take over control of Congress and block all legislation...then I saw Bush take a left turn and sign the TARP bill which sped the downturn of the economy. Since then I have seen Obama push to spend more than all ... See Morepresidents in history combined. I have seen those spending bills do NOTHING but make the country more frightened and spend less, spiraling the economy even worse. I have seen the biggest violation of privacy IN HISTORY pushed and rammed down the throats of a public that did not want it (health care bill...if you have not read it, do not even begin to deny it. I have read it. And liberals complained about the wiretapping??????)
I have seen Obama ignore the wishes of the people. I have watched Obama circumvent Congress when he could not get his agenda passed and go to the EPA and the FCC to push his crap anyway. I have seen Obama put devout communists and criminals in positions of power. YES HE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! If you are not pissed off, you are not paying attention.
Jeff Jenicek: Well you should be glad you don't live up here in the North, but I also have to admit your a better man then me because I give up on these people. I don't know how many people I have heard say how terrable Obama is and when questioned have no idea why except because everyone else says it. One thing I will say the Repubs are winning in getting heard.
Jon Colson: TJ...that is what I meant. You have always come across as a moderate, but fiscally conservative. How can anyone who has a SHRED of fiscal conservatism have an ounce of support for the socialist-in-chief? Obama is the epitome of waste. And if I were in Boise, I would have questioned your judgement if I had seen you in an Obama shirt.
Brian Rich: There's a reason why you were elected in Boise and not Meridian, Nampa or Caldwell. These people are idiots and it's too bad you can't be in public with an old sweatshirt and just live your life.
But then again, it's more common to see testicles hanging off a truck bumper and a sticker that says "Palin 2012" than anything rational or friendly in Meridian. Sorry you had to be at the butt end of ignorance.
By "these people" I meant the people who criticized you, not all people in Nampa, Caldwell and Meridian.
Chryssa Rich: This makes me so upset. Our community is lucky to have you and we need more people like you...I wish I could've been there to speak up in your favor.
Jon Colson: This is hilarious. Drew spouts off about intolerance by being intolerant. Brian spouts off about unfriendly by being being rude and calling names. Keep it up, guys. This is great for a laugh. Hypocrites.
Steven Mercado: Jon: TJ is a good leader for a reason and doesn't have paranoia as a center influence to his political mind. That's all I'm going to say cause I'm tired, lol.
Jon Colson: Do you guys read before you respond? I never said that TJ had done anything wrong. I said that IF I lived in Boise and had seen him in an Obama shirt PRIOR to his election, I would not have voted for him based on my opinion of his judgment. I also said that I am surprised that a moderate who is fiscally conservative would support Obama. I VALUE FISCAL CONSERVATISM AND COMPLIMENT TJ FOR THAT.
Sorina Madrid-Cannon: Try wearing an Obama shirt in the South...
David Robinson: So how was your 5 guys?
Kassie Cerami: Jon: The point isn't "let's all argue about Obama's performance" the point is that we should be able to wear ANYTHING WE WANT and not have insults hurled at us.
TJ and I ran the Obama campaign in Idaho together so I can assure you he is as sincere and full of integrity as any leader or public servant comes. Idaho politics is complicated and TJ understands all aspects of the specific and special needs that it entails.
I am proud to know TJ and to have worked on the Obama campaign with him. He is exactly the man he seems...a fair, open-minded, and strong leader and public servant.
Cammie Pavesic: You all can wear your Obama attire tomorrow at the counter Tea bagger rally:) Capital steps at noon.
Patricia Gander Rich: Back to the point, folks. One ought to be able to wear a T-shirt with the POTUS' name on it without being verbally accosted! And it is SAD that we have come to this. (Making a rude comment on FB is hardly the same as walking up to someone an insulting them because of their T-shirt!)
Jon Colson: Kassie...AGAIN, I have said nothing negative about TJ. From what I have seen, I think he as been great for Boise. I simply made a comment that I was surprised that he supported Obama because fiscally they are opposites.
Elements Therapeutic Emerald AmyCook: Thank goodness we live in America.. Freedom of Speech!! I love our country!! Sounds like some people need a MASSAGE! Just a bit of social media marketing.. Have a good night!
Tucker Slosburg: So it's now a terrible stigma to not have a job in a down economy? These guys don't know what they're talking about. Keep up the good work TJ.
Jon Colson: Cammie... I will say that anybodyl that refers to the TEA Party members as "tea baggers" is a disrespectful disgusting fool. We know where your disgusting mind is.
Chryssa Rich: I propose the next Idaho for Obama reunion take place at 5 Guys in Meridian. Who's in?
Patricia Gander Rich: Jon, I speak for several of us here when I say insulting Obama is insulting us.
You can count on me, Chryssa! I love the idea!
Joseph Alcala: Some peoples kids. What do you do?
11 hours ago
Patricia Gander Rich I'm changing my FB photo to one where I'm wearing one of my Obama shirts in honor of TJ.
Brian Rich:Wow Jon you should teach "revisionist history 101" because you just made up so much crap right there it's hard for me to fathom. If you knew anything about economics, you'd know the recession was caused by Greenspan's loose economic policies going back to the 80s, not by anything the Democrats have done in the past few years. This economy was ruined before the first new Democrat was elected in 2006, and no it wasn't any one president's fault and neither party is to blame.
Your partisan hack theories are still cute, though.
Jon Colson: Patricia ... If you take what was said about someone else upon yourself, that is an internal problem and with all due respect, I would suggest counseling.
TJ Thomson Thanks for all the support my friends. The good news is that I really enjoyed my burger.
Jon Colson Brian...You are partially correct. It was STARTED before the democrats were elected in 2006, but they blocked legislation that would have helped early on. Then Bush joined them in their stupidity with TARP and Obama has thrown gasoline on a fire.
BTW...you might want to tel Obama. He still blames it on Bush.
Cammie Pavesic: LOL. Jon, Glenn Beck called them Tea Baggers in the beginning. One of my favorite signs of theirs...
http://www.facebook.com/...
Brian Rich: Jon, why is it arrogant conservatives always resort to condescending remarks as soon as they're in trouble?
Besides, you're the one who just got all teary-eyed over the use of the word "teabagger," and I'm pretty sure it's more noble to empathize with the president than with a group of racist, fringe lunatics who think being a friendly neighbor is socialism.
Angela Babcock Motta: Sometimes I miss Idaho and then I remember the political atmosphere. And then I feel bad for leaving the state with one less progressive to counter it :(
11 hours ago · Bob Davis well when you wear the colors of the regime you cant blame hard working people for complaining.
Jon Colson: Brian...I RESORTED TO REMARKS? You were the first one to start calling people names.
Second, you are a product of the media. It is absurd to call the TEA Party members racist. The representation of minorities across the country is almost identical to the racial make up of the population. There is not one bit of racism at the rallies. Are there racists? Of course...just like there are in BOTH parties. However, it is ironic that democrats keep playing the race card when they have ALWAYS been the party of racism...INCLUDING today, when the democrats put forth entitlement legislation that is DESIGNED to keep the poorest Americans addicted to the government nipple.
Cammie...Glenn Beck called them teabaggers at the start because of the call for 1,000,000 tea bags that they were going to drop in the water in a protest. He also did not know at the time that there was a derogatory use for the term...do I believe him that he did not know? YES. How can I believe such a thing? Because I did not know either and did not even bother to look it up. I did not even know what the term meant until someone put a disgusting picture on Facebook about a week ago.
Brian Rich: Like many people have pointed out, the main point here is that TJ Thomson, a fiscally intelligent (there's nothing uniquely conservative about managing money wisely) moderate, can't go to a BURGER JOINT in Meridian without being harassed for his clothing. Just for wearing an Obama sweatshirt.
Meanwhile, I've seen more racism, fake rage and total fanaticism from the right after only one year of Obama's presidency than I saw from the left after eight years of disaster from Bush. There's a lesson of tolerance here and I think if you look at the last ten years, one party has been exceedingly tolerant of failure and misery, while the other party has been tolerant of...nothing. One year of a progressive president and they're acting like the sky is falling.
Obama's presidency is the hydrogen peroxide poured on the gaping wounds opened by Bush. It's going to hurt at first, but in the long run we'll be a lot better off.
Bob Davis: wow the race card, the bush card, the rage card, the tolerance card.....I think you hit all the liberal talking points.
11 hours ago
Desirae Downing: I find it extremely dissatisfying that a an individual would make a blanket statement like you did at the beginning of this discussion, Jon. An elected city official should not even have party affiliation, however, in our "great" democracy, they do. Party affiliation in a city office is relatively insignificant, and any educated voter would know this. Regardless of TJ's personal political belief's on a national level, he is the best that there is for Boise, and making the statement "if I had ever seen you in an Obama shirt, I would not have been rude, but there is no way I would have supported you if I lived in Boise" is not only borderline ridiculous, but it also displays a great level of ignorance and a lack of education.
Brian Rich: Actually Jon, if you go back and read what TJ wrote, it was quite clear that the first name-calling came from the idiots at 5 Guys who can't keep their mouth's shut over another guy's sweatshirt. And once the ignorant jerks open their mouths, I'm not going to sit back and say "thank god for free speech!" because shouting insults at a guy while he eats his dinner isn't exactly the ideal use of free speech.
I'm a product of the media? News flash, you can't blame the media when they're just pointing cameras at racist signs being held up at Tea Party rallies. And I'm not a product of the media, I'm a product of reality, which is what you can find through the media if you know how to weed out the Faux News.
Thom George: Jon, no need to defend Glenn Beck's ignorance, he does that himself every time he opens his mouth.
Jon Colson: Brian ... perhaps that is because some of the reported racism has been staged for effect. They have been caught in the act more than once.
And to date I have not seen a video game about assassinating a President pointed at Obama. And the media has been having a slobbering love affair with Obama. I have heard a lot of CLAIMS of racism at these TEA Party rallies, but considering the number of video cameras around these things...many TRYING to catch racism...IT IS NOT THERE!
And by the way...Conservatives hate the socialist agenda, not the person. We are equally disgusted with Pelosi, Reid etc. as we are with Obama. It IS NOT RACE! It is policy. Hell, if my own mother (or father so you do not blame sexism) were a politician with Obama, Pelosi, Reid's agenda, I would not support them, either and would campaign against them.
I know one hell of a lot of conservatives and one hell of a lot of TEA Party members....NOT ONE RACIST AMONG THEM. If there were, I would be disgusted by it.
Finally, if you want to see the worst displays of racism I have seen in a long time, look no farther than Jeremiah Wright and go take a read of Obama's books. And whatever you do, do not try to paint me with the racist brush. My family reunion looks like a beautiful rainbow in monochrome. A racist in my family would not work.
Brian Rich I'm done here. TJ is a nonpartisan, extremely intelligent elected official who has helped achieve great things already in his short time on the council. I've wasted enough of my time on FB going round and round with fringe lunatics (mostly on KBOI Boise's page) and I'm not going to take any part of it spilling further onto TJ's page.
fantastic work TJ and if you need a burger in peace in the future, let me know and I'll cook you a half-pound bacon and cheese angus burger on my grill in the back yard. On the house.
Gary Winter: holler Burgers? BURGERS?! Do you know what that does to your carbon footprint? ...LOL :D
p.s. I'm very happy to see that political debate is alive and well in the Treasure Valley.
Jon Colson: Gary...Yeah, cows are supposed to be bad for the planet...so I do all I can to help...I eat the cows. lol
Jeanne Pauls: Man, that got em stirred up! I posted a news article that gave Obama credit for the improving economy and was hit with the "Obama is a Muslim" rant and "we are praying he goes away...." Saddened by the viciousness of it all!
Jill Sulgrove: Wow. Sorry you had to experience that TJ. Although I'm liberal I've always loved living in Idaho, no matter how politically frustrating it can be at times, and this situation is truly disheartening. I had really hoped Idahoans were above that kind of behavior. I guess I'm naive and/or idealistic?...
Laurie Pearman: TJ, I realize that you can't possibly spend all your spare time talking and discussing with everyone you run into. However, I'm curious, did you say anything to any of them? In the average situation would you? Seems like you should stockpile a few retorts for the future...something to make hecklers think (if possible...) or at least to make them feel foolish for being rude to a stranger. In the end, it is the nature of the game I suppose...
Walter Bithell: I proudly wear my Obama attire. I've been more than heckled many times. Once incident up in Northern Idaho bordered on physical violence even though I had my 2 small children with me. I won't back down. As an American, I have the right to support the President of the United States. And you, as an American, as a Democrat and especially as a veteran, have the right to support the Commander in Chief. I know you are in public service and have to temper your words and actions with caution. But...fuck those people. Their actions are un-American.
Taso Kinnas: Right out of the New York Times: "Tea party supporters are wealthier and more well-educated than the general public"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
To be fair, I read an article yesterday talking about President Obama's long term fiscal goals and he is aiming to get our national debt to 3% of GDP. We are currently at a wee bit over 10% GDP. If I find the article again, I will post it. As someone who is a big fan of Ron Paul politics, in my opinion, President Obama has 'talked' a more liberal agenda than he has 'walked' so far.
TJ - that is pretty lame you got heckled for what you were wearing. I am sad to hear that.
TJ Thomson: Thanks again for your kind comments my friends.
To answer your question, Laurie, I did not respond to the hecklers at the restaurant. I was out-numbered and way to hungry. :)
For more of this discussion (a whole lot more) see TJ Thomson's Facebook Page.