Bush Admin pushing fed employees and contractors to attend pro-Bush rally

[mcg]

The following email was sent to many federal employees and contractors regarding this pro-Bush rally in slight disguise, some information is blanked out:

"America Supports You Freedom Walk

MEMORANDUM FOR - EMPLOYEES
Subject: Last Day to Register for Sunday 9/11 Freedom Walk
This is a reminder that you must register online by Friday September 9th at 10 a.m. if you plan to participate in this coming Sunday's America Supports You Freedom Walk. The Freedom Walk will honor the men and women of America's armed services, and remember the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. To register, go to www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil
On Sunday morning, you will be directed from the Pentagon Metro station to the Pentagon South Parking. Once there, there will be another sign directing you to the Department of - contingent, which will include Secretary - and other senior - officials.
This message was authorized by the Executive Secretariat."

One reason it is obviously a thinly-veiled pro-Bush rally is that on the home page of www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil, there is a link to a video called "Commander-in-Chief: America Supports You".

Not too subtle, eh? An ambivalence in meaning.

This is disgusting for several reasons. Once again, the Bush administration is abusing federal facilities and our tax dollars for political campaigning. There are federal regulations prohibiting this kind of activity. Oh, but they are being so cute about it, on the surface claiming this is about 'supporting our troups' while at the same time having a link to this video. It's really quite dishonest, and there's an implied smear, a false message that anyone who doesn't support Bush and his policies doesn't support our troups, is unpatriotic, blah blah blah. And once again, there's false propaganda about the Iraq war (a link to 9/11, WMD, defending our county) which has been completely debunked.

[AnnieBW]

1. My Husband Got It

My husband, who is a contractor at the Energy Department, got it. I probably did too, since I'm a Fed. But it went straight into my "delete" bin like my other junk e-mail does. Frankly, I had other plans long before this was announced.

Like washing my hair. ;)

[journalist3072]

2. I'm a federal employee

And we've gotten reminders from our agency as well.

[eleny]

3. This must mean they aren't getting applications to attend!

If they have to solicit it means the whole thing was a bust. Once again, it won't be a genuine deal but concocted.

[bigbrother05]

4. It's a shame

Another staged photo op.

[MadisonProgressive]

5. If you want to get a good look at some freepers

keep you TV tuned to Fox News on 9/11/05. They're the only ones that will be out there proping up this maladministration.

[kineneb]

6. will attendees be wearing brown shirts??

and raising right arm in air? Sounds fishy to me.
Heil Bush (Not).

[mcg]

7. They wore Pentagon-approved T-shirts.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-09-11-bush-terrorattacks_x.htm

"It was a demonstration unlike legions of others in the capital. The T-shirts were Pentagon-approved, signs were banned and Cabinet secretaries, usually the target of protest, cheered on the throngs. ...

References to the politically divisive Iraq war were muted, but support for President Bush's policy was, for many, a subtext of the day. ...

Mimi Evans, 56, whose son is serving with the Marines in Iraq, flew from Cape Cod to express her displeasure with what she saw as the politicization of Sept. 11 commemoration. "I felt this event was exploitative in that it connected 9/11 and what our military is doing now.""

Considering the emails, it is likely that many of the people there were attending to impress their government bosses/clients, maybe get that promotion, get your contract renewed, ...

The psychological dynamics of this stink. They grouped people together by Department and made people register. Why? To know who and who did not attend? To stifle dissent? Why do they think they have the right to ban signs?

[Joanne98]

8. Here's my rant from earlier. Fake Movements don't count!

If you're watching the FAKE Freedom March on c-span 1, look closely and you will see signs that say, Energy, labor, etc.. I'm just guessing but I think the Pentagon had to get the people for their FAKE march from the Federal Goverment Agencies. Look at all the people of "color". See, George Bush DOES care about black people and they care about him too. (coff) Let's get something straight. CONSERVATIVES HATE FREEDOM! Police states are UNFREE! In fact police states are PRISON COUNTRIES were citizens have NO RIGHTS! If conservatives love freedom why are they turning America into a police state? Also, notice how they are trying to COPY the REAL movements of the sixties and change them into a mirror opposite of what they stood for. This is soooo cynical and sooooo Madison Avenue. A Corporate verison of the counter-counter culture. And it looks stupid too. It looks like the TEE VEE commerial that it is. I suppose this was Karen Hughes's idea. Or maybe they re-hired Charlottee Beers. The least they can do is come up with their OWN STYLE! Notice the "black" civil rights music playing in the background. (coff) They're going to have to realize that FAKE MOVEMENTS can't compete with the REAL THING! Which is alive and growing as we speak. Good luck PHONEY's. We'll be waiting for your quarterly earnings report to see if your ADVERTISING campaign is working.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

[mcg]

9. They did get people from Federal Government Agencies.

See the first post of this thread.

Yes, this was as fake and staged as they come.

They even had people grouped by Department and supplied banners. The Bush administration is treating the Federal Government as if it is part of the Republican party, their propery to exploit, which, ahem, it is not. This is a gross abuse of power and a distortion of the views of many, and I'd say most, of those who work for the government. They are trying to imply that the Departments in general support Bush's policies. I, for one, do not support his stupid and evil policies and would not succumb to pressure.