Chuck DeVore, Me And Dylan Ratigan On MSNBC

The video is up. See below. I've been consistent in my skepticism regarding the Nashville event. I'd also note that they seem to be taking some steps to address some concerns of critics, though I continue to have some issues around it. That said, MSNBC host Ratigan was mistaken if he believed I was there to demean the movement as a whole. Given the one attendee they chose to highlight had a remark about Hitler to share, I find Ratigan's claim of not looking to demean the movement to be disingenuous, at best.

Hopefully this event will come and go and people will move on. Though I see Palin has now signed on to some effort by the Tea Party Express. Personally, I'd prefer the movement not become the soapbox for any single political personality right now. The majority of conservative political activists will be at CPAC very soon. As Palin at least gave air to some unfounded criticisms of that event, I've no idea what she has in mind. Her taking a check for an alleged Tea Party event, while dumping on many loyal activists soon to enjoy CPAC, does not strike me as the way to bring unity to the cause of conservatism across the grassroots.

"If you take 1,000 so-called Tea Partiers and ask them what this movement is, you'll get 1,000 different interpretations," said Mark Williams, a talk-radio host and chairman of the Tea Party Express, which will begin a nationwide bus tour next month featuring Palin. "I've had pro-lifers practically standing next to pro-choicers, and gun-control people standing next to people with a pistol strapped to their hips. But they're all waving American flags and speaking out against the galloping socialist agenda."

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Comments

[alwaysfiredup]

I'm not aware the criticisms were actually unfounded. Link?

[Kentucky Colonel]

It would have been nice if Ratigan had allowed you to actually speak more. Once you told him that he had mischaracterized your position, he obviously didn't have much use for your comments.

I was prepared to jump you over giving them more fodder, but you kind of threw a wrench in his plan. It was pretty obvious that Ratigan has no clue about the TP movement.

[unseen]

hmmm national televised speech carried by FOx news, possible CNN and Cspan. Yet its a failure. You were sure spot on on this one Dan. i understand you do not want someone becoming a leader of the movement that way the anger stays local and the GOP candidate can continue to stroke that anger and yet distance themselves form the movement. I get that.
the problem is that the GOP wants it both ways.

They want to use Sarah Palin yet not give her power.

They want to use the tea party and yet give them no power.

It will not work
if the GOP leadership does not change soon they will b ethe whigs of this generation

[Dan Cleary]

That was a lot of Ratigan BS to put up with for a very short amount of Dan Riehl :-(

[Al in St. Lou]

By the time I got on-line to set my DVR, I'd missed the first thirteen minutes of Ratigan's show, so I'm glad I got to watch it here. I have to agree with the Colonel from the Bourbon State. Ratigan didn't let Dan get any time to talk after the one clarification.

[Nathan R. Jessup]

Dan, I understand your point as well. Am I naive in seeing the Tea Party as a group of Americans who wish to restore the power to the people (where it belongs)?

I worked closely with Scott Brown throughout his campaign; I hosted a fundraiser with Scott at my house and enjoyed the victory party with him at the Park Plaza Hotel etc. I have to say, he is as real a person as we could ever hope for...he responds to emails within an hour or so, looks you directly in the eye and gives 100% attention...the list goes on. I am happy to see someone like Scott heading to Congress and feel the Tea Party had a lot to do with the win in my home state of Massachusetts.

There is someone else people might not know about that embodies what a public servant ought to be: Thad McCotter. Watch him address the House with STRAIGHT TALK:

http://the-raw-deal.com/2010/01/28/thaddeus-mccotter-my-new-hero/

I love this guy.

Nathan R. Jessup
http://www.the-raw-deal.com

[Dan Riehl]

"Dan get any time to talk after the one clarification."

Once it becamse obvious they wouldn't get the soundbytes they wanted, I gather he quickly decided to move on. Probably a good idea. I wasn't far away from linking Dylan's discussion of crabgrass to that look he has going on with his hair. ; )

[Gary Ogletree]

People want to see Sarah Palin. Who cares what you want? You're turning into Paul Begala.

[Al in St. Lou]

LOL! Dylan's show is so lame, they don't rerun it. Now, on Fox News, all the best shows get rerun a few hours after they're first broadcast. I think MSNBC was doing a lot better when Dan Abrams ran it. Even then, I could only stomach Scarborough's and Abram's shows. The only reason I watched this guy was to see Dan. I hope he gets invited to a show on Fox or CNN.