MIAC Returneth

GET LIVE TWITTER UPDATES FROM THE MIAC HEARING

*HERE*

A trio of local conservatives sound off on what they hope Wednesday's MIAC hearings at the State Capitol will achieve and if the recent killing of a Kansas abortion doctor will alter the debate about who law enforcement needs to track.

*WATCH CLIPS ABOVE*

Nixa State Rep. Ray Weter said the goal of the Missouri Information Analysis Center hearings should be to differentiate between what's a legitimate approach to targeting and what's an overreaction. He said the report didn't offend him personally, but that his constituents reacted intensely to certain labels used. Rep. Weter called the suspect who is charged with the killing of a Kansas abortion doctor "an outlier," and not a problem Missourians had to worry about.

Right to Life's Dave Plemmons said the goal of the hearings should be to determine "who knew what, when they knew it and why they thought it was ok to issue this on a state level." He called the actions of the Kansas suspect "anti-abortionist," but not "pro-life." Plemmons believes law enforcement has the right to track those with a previous criminal history, but not people who are just associated with a particular group or belief.

2010 State House candidate Kevin Elmer said he wanted these questions answered: "How are they applying it? Where did it come from? What's the reasoning behind it?" He found the MIAC report so general that it could target "anybody who shows up for an abortion debate."

Hearings on the function and procedures of MIAC begin Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City at 2 p.m. They will be chaired by Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon.

The hearings come after this controversial security document targeted some conservative groups and ignited a political firestorm in Jefferson City that lead to elimination of the report and the replacement of the MIAC director.

Dixon has said the hearings would help ensure that future reports produced by MIAC are "properly and adequately supervised."

To read a timeline of The Notebook's coverage of MIAC for the past few months, click HERE.

Matt Blunt Fires Back Over MIAC

In a statement sent to The Notebook Monday, Governor Matt Blunt said while he did create the Missouri Information Analysis Center, he is not responsible for the "offensive report" it produced.
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"I certainly do not plan on responding to every false charge or false news report," the former Governor began, "but recent assertions regarding the offensive MIAC report warrants a response."

"Let me be clear about the recent, offensive MIAC report that profiled Missourians that hold conservative political views," Blunt said, in a statement e-mailed by spokesperson Rich Chrismer. "While I did create the Missouri Information Analysis Center to act as a fusion center to gather and disseminate tactical intelligence about specific crimes, I did not create the MIAC to profile citizens based upon political views - liberal or conservative. To my knowledge MIAC never issued anything similar to the recent report while I was governor. If they had, I would not have defended it. I would have taken corrective action immediately and certainly held those responsible, accountable for their actions," Blunt added.

"The assertion that I am somehow responsible for an offensive report that was issued more than a month after I left office and that profiles conservatives is so absurd that one would not think it requires a response from me, but evidently it does," Blunt enclosed.

The 8-page MIAC report referred to anti-abortionists, anti-immigration advocates and supporters of certain third party candidates as potential terrorist threats.

After growing political pressure, the Nixon administration scrapped the report last week, and the Governor said his predecessor was responsible for MIAC. While the report is dated Feb. 20th, there are some signs the report was created while Barack Obama was still President-elect. It's not yet clear exactly when the specific report was compiled or who wrote it.

A Case For & Against MIAC Reports

AGAINST

Speaking at the special committee hearing Wednesday, political activist Catherine Bleish called MIAC's centralization of intelligence "a very dangerous" threat to democracy.

"It seems to me from listening to testimony today that the MIAC center was created by a government that is fearful of its people in some way," said Bleish.

"This is a very big red flag. What business do we have walking that fine line of identifying people as potential terrorists?," she asked.

*WATCH HER MAKE HER CASE ABOVE*
ALSO: VID CHECK: About :59 seconds in, notice the MIAC director's reaction (while he's packing up), when Bleish mentions concern about coordination between law enforcement agencies.

FOR

Cole County Sheriff Greg White urged lawmakers to continue to allow MIAC to issue strategic reports because he said they help reduce potential acts of violence and keep Missourians safe.

"Being the poster child for Right to Life, I would tell you, I wasn't the least bit offended by the document published," Sheriff White testified, referring to the "Militia Movement" report.

"We need the strategic arm of MIAC restored . . . To think that we would not do strategic work within the fusion center is to say that it's ok to commit certain acts of violence," he added.

*WATCH HIM MAKE HIS CASE ABOVE*

MIAC Report Researched Under Blunt, Written Under Nixon

A controversial state security report which targeted certain right-wing and third-party groups as terrorist threats was researched in 2008 and written in 2009, The Notebook learned Monday evening.

According to the State Highway Patrol, work began on the now defunct 8-page Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) "Modern Militia Movement" document back in July of 2008, during Gov. Matt Blunt's term.

But the report was completed during the first month of Governor Jay Nixon's administration.

"The MIAC employee began research on the report during the first week of July 2008," said Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull. "They completed the written report during the last week of January 2009," Hull added.

February 20th is the date listed on the document.

The revelation of the report's evolution clears up the mystery over when the document was produced, but will likely not resolve the blame game between the Blunt and Nixon camps.

Nixon has noted that the agency and report was formed under the Blunt administration. Blunt said Monday that he had no knowledge of such a report during his term. The timeline detailed by the Highway Patrol revealed that work on this document was done under both administrations.

A spokesman for Blunt said Nixon's reaction to the report was more pertinent than the timing of when it began. "The drafting of a report by a bureaucrat is significantly different than its promulgation and defense by the governor and the department director," Chrismer said. "Governor Blunt has said that he was not aware of any report issued while he was governor that was similar to this offensive one and indicated what action he would have taken had there been one," he added.

Captain Hull's comments also shows that top levels of both administrations were -- and are not regularly immersed in the details of such reports.

For the amount of MIAC reports that are released, they couldn't and shouldn't be, explained another law enforcement official.

Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about the MIAC controversy, said there are some days where he receives "two or three MIAC reports a day." He said the reports can range from covering events like a jail escapee to a crime in a particular region.

"We're not out to target Ron Paul supporters with bumper stickers. I'd resign today if I knew anyone was doing that," said the Patrolman.












Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Nixon Blames Blunt for MIAC

Gov. Jay Nixon told reporters Thursday that no one in his administration, nor anyone he hired, reviewed the MIAC security report before it was distributed to police across the state.

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Nixon said that a lack of oversight from Gov. Blunt's administration led to the distribution of the report on the modern militia movement, reports The News-Leader's Chad Livengood.

"Nixon noted the Missouri Information Analysis Center was "formed under my predecessor," writes Livengood.

But just last week, when Nixon was originally asked about the report, he defended the work of the MIAC. "It's something we do every day and we're going to continue to do," he said to KRCG.

STATE GOP SAYS NIXON HAD TO KNOW ABOUT MIAC PROCESSES:

Republican Party Chair David Cole notes that Nixon toured MIAC with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano just a few weeks ago.

"Are we now to believe that Nixon didn’t know anything about the processes and procedures that were in place at the Fusion Center understanding that he recently took the Homeland Security Secretary there???," reads the release sent out by GOP Executive Director Jared Craighead.

"Nixon’s ridiculous new defense is particularly troubling and disingenuous since he has stood by the controversial report encouraging political profiling even as members of his administration began to back away from it," added Cole.

MIAC Hearings Begin Wednesday

A special House committee will begin holding hearings on the "function and procedures" of the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) this Wednesday.

The first hearing will be held in the Capitol's House Hearing Room 3 at 2 p.m.

It's expected to focus on "an informational overview" of MIAC.

"This interim committee and the public hearings reflect our responsibility as legislators to examine how state agencies are operating within the parameters set for them," said Committee Chairman Bob Dixon. "Law enforcement needs the proper tools and information to prevent unlawful activity, but it's our duty to safeguard civil liberties and privacy and make sure sufficient public accountability exists."

The committee was created by Speaker Ron Richard in response to the controversial MIAC report that labeled some right wing groups as potential terrorists. Additional hearings are expected in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.

For more of KY3's coverage of the MIAC controversy, click HERE and HERE.

Dixon Calls For Hearings on MIAC

Springfield State Rep. Bob Dixon is calling on the House to hold hearings on how the Missouri Information Analysis Center forms its security reports.

The call comes after a controversial security document targeting some conservative groups ignited a political firestorm in Jefferson City that lead to elimination of the report and the replacement of the MIAC director.

Dixon said the hearings, the majority which could occur this summer, would help ensure that future reports produced by MIAC are "properly and adequately supervised."

"I think we can all agree safeguards need to be in place so that no one fears or suspects profiling by political affiliation or protected speech," Dixon said in a media availability at Missouri State University Tuesday. "Frankly, what better way to clear the air and combat misinformation than public hearings."

***

DIXON SAID HE WANTS HEARINGS TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How did the process work?
• What are the sources that were used?
• How did they arrive at the "perceived threats?"
• What level of threat did this report merit?

*WATCH A CLIP OF DIXON ABOVE*

Due to time constraints in the legislature, Dixon said the ongoing committee could use the summer to study the issue and then make recommendations. "It might be a longer term study . . . because we've got a lot going on right now," Dixon said.

***

Asked to comment on the House's move to permit college students to carry concealed weapons on campus, Dixon told a KY3 photographer he "didn't have time" to answer the question.

Dixon is a 2010 candidate for Springfield's State Senate seat.

June 1st Bullets

A sleepy day in Missouri politics, a slow enough start to possibly take some vaca later this week?

Hmmm . . . Here's our bullets to catch-up:

• MIAC COMMITTEE -- Rep. Bob Dixon announces he'll chair an Interim Committee on "State Intelligence Analysis Oversight" to review the origins of the controversial Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) report that outraged conservatives earlier this year. Dixon, who is running for the 30th District State Senate seat in 2010, released a statement of high praise from Speaker Ron Richard. "Representative Dixon has been vocal in expressing his concerns about the report issued by MIAC and he is one of the driving forces behind the creation of this committee. I believe he is the ideal choice," Richard said. No timetable was mentioned for hearings.
  
• GM GOES BANKRUPT -- And Sen. Claire McCaskill released this statement: "I’m looking forward to GM coming out of bankruptcy a stronger, better company. Ultimately, I’m pleased that we’ve managed so far to save important middle class jobs like those at the Wentzville plant and just across the border at the Fairfax plant in Kansas. I’m also anxious for the U.S. automakers to no longer rely on the federal government and, in the end, for the taxpayers to get their money back."
• REAL HOUSEWIVES -- This is a bit preposterous, but Abigail Blunt has been mentioned as a potential candidate for BRAVO's Real Housewives of D.C. The wife of Congressman Roy Blunt is afterall, one of the "Top 50 Corporate Lobbyists in D.C., and known for her fashionable wardrobe," according to Politics Daily. I don't know what Team Blunt would like less, reading more about Abigail's lobbyist credentials or watching her on reality TV. Although I will say Real Housewives of New Jersey is worthwhile late-night wind down tube.
• REPORT: BLACKS STOPPED MORE -- Black motorists are significantly more likely than other drivers to be stopped by Missouri law enforcement officers - a disparity that has grown greater during the past decade, according to a study from the Attorney General's office. An annual demographic report on Missouri traffic stops released Monday shows black drivers were 67 percent more likely than white or Hispanic drivers to be stopped in 2008. Not shocking. Same report was released last year. Question is: Do policy makers or law enforcement think they need to do anything to address/fix this?
• WHAT'S CID STAND FOR? -- Community Improvement District. Springfield currently has seven of them. Click here to find out why critics are raising some red flags before Council approves two more.
  

Lieutenant Governor to Weigh in on MIAC Uproar

ENTER, KINDER

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder will hold a morning news conference Wednesday that will call for action against the head of the Department of Public Safety because of his role in a controversial security report, the KY3 Political Notebook has learned.

Kinder is expected to make a significant announcement regarding alleged "political profiling" by Public Safety Director John Britt.

***

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

The announcement is in response to a political firestorm that has erupted over a MIAC security report that has many conservatives outraged and offended.

Britt has apologized for references to certain political candidates -- but is standing by language that refers to Anti-Abortionists, Tax Resistors, Christian Identity members and Anti-Immigration advocates as potential security threats to the state of Missouri. Conservatives believe the report paints potential threats with too broad a brush.

Gov. Nixon: Don't Judge MIAC on A Few Lines

Gov. Jay Nixon said he hoped that a special committee looking into the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) would not base its evaluation of the intelligence program on a "few sentences" in a single report.
***
Nixon made the comments during a economic development bill signing at the Chamber of Commerce in Springfield Wednesday, in response to a question from KY3 Photojournalist "Country" Tom Schultheis.

"I only hope that the legislators that are looking into it, look at it from the beginning of the process to the end of the process and not focus on just a couple of statements that are in there," Nixon said, referring to the "Modern Militia" report that leaked to the public in February. "I'm hopeful that the legislature, in their review . . . will be thoughtful, calm and apolitical," he added.

Called the "sharing of intelligence," a vital part of law enforcement.

"It's my hope that another branch of government doesn't attempt to baffle or lessen the clear safety that can come from legitimate intelligence analysis," the Governor concluded.

House Members to Attempt Amendment on Public Safety Dept. Budget Over MIAC

"It will be a unified response"

A bipartisan coalition of Missouri House members is planning to sign on to a budget amendment that would prohibit the Department of Public Safety from using any state or federal money for "political profiling."

***

Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon tells The Notebook that the proposed amendment will be offered on the floor Wednesday in response to the political firestorm over the MIAC security report.

Dixon said several meetings were held at the state Capitol on Tuesday to discuss how best to respond to lawmakers problems with the language included. "It's just outrageous. The report is so sloppy. When you begin going into specific political candidates, it's really on the edge. Like Big Brother. It's got a lot of people upset," Dixon said in an interview.

Dixon said that there's strong bipartisan support for the amendment. "It will be a unified response," Dixon said.

Rep. Jim Guest will offer the amendment on the floor Wednesday during debate over HB 8. Rep. Chris Kelly will be the leading Democrat to sign on.

The amendment reads the following: AMEND House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 8, Page 1, Sec. 8.005, Line 5, by adding immediately after the word "Equipment" the following . . . "and provided the Missouri Department of Public Safety shall not spend state or federal funds for political profiling."

There was some discussion within the coalition to try to draft an amendment that would reduce the Missouri Information Analysis Center's budget and move funds to a Cybercrime task force -- but Dixon said that approach was rejected after some discussion.

***

ALSO: NIXON STILL STANDS BY REPORT

In a follow-up with spokesman Jack Cardetti Tuesday, he said that Governor Nixon still stands by the report but agrees that "it could have been done better."

"The Governor believes that law enforcement officials have one of the most dangerous, difficult jobs in society . . . and should have more information, not less," Cardetti said. When pressed on specific characteristics, Cardetti responded, "He certainly believes portions could have been explained or worded better."

Cardetti said specific questions should be directed to the Department of Public Safety.

The Notebook asked the Department of Public Safety to elaborate on some of the specific characteristics listed in the report, including .”Christian Identity, Militant Abortion, Tax resistors, Anti-immigration.”

SPOKESMAN MIKE O'CONNELL E-MAILED THIS RESPONSE:

"I sent you the Director’s letter yesterday. As is mentioned in the letter, law enforcement officers "do the most dangerous job of anyone in our society and regularly put themselves in the path of great danger, bodily harm and death to protect innocent citizens. As such, it is our regular practice to provide as much information as we can to law enforcement agencies and their officers so they are fully cognizant of any situational hazard which they may encounter."

REPUBLICANS: APOLOGY DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH

"A tepid apology from the Director of the Department of Public Safety does not go far enough in assuring Missourians that they will not be targeted by law enforcement for holding mainstream views," said David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party in a statement Tuesday. "Gov. Nixon unequivocally defended this report after its release. It is time for him to offer a public apology and unconditional retraction."

DEVELOPING . . .

VIDEO: The MIAC Hearing

"A FINE LINE"

The head of the Missouri's Highway Patrol said the state is no longer producing strategic security reports, like the one on the militia movement that sparked controversy earlier this year.

But at a special State House hearing in the State Capitol Wednesday, Colonel James Keathley also said he couldn't entirely rule them out in the future, especially in the light of recent violent events around the country.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***

*WATCH EDITED CLIPS OF THE HEARING ABOVE*

Some Highlights:

Col. Keathley: "I'm not going to sit here and say that there will never be another strategic report."

Rep. Shane Schoeller: "Let's be frank, most people, they get emotional, they may get excited, but they're not going to do any harm."

Rep. Jim Viebrock: on the suspect in the abortion doctor killing: "The person committing that crime is not a terrorist, that is a murderer."

At the Heart of It: Lawmakers want to know how law enforcement decipher between a passionate political protester and a deranged dangerous person?

Keathley's response: Some indication of criminal activity.

Wednesday's hearing lasted more than two and a half hours, and that did not include the tour of the MIAC facility located on Militia Drive in Jefferson City. Other special hearings are scheduled for his summer in Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City.

Highway Patrol Scraps MIAC Report

DAY 3: FALLOUT

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT FROM JEFF CITY HERE

The head of the Missouri State Highway Patrol shut down a controversial report linking conservative groups with the modern militia movement, which opposes government laws and administrative rules. The report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) portrays militia members as commonly associated with fundamental Christian, anti-abortion and anti-immigration movements. It also says members are usually supporters of various third-party presidential candidates. The report even mentioned Ron Paul, a Republican congressman who ran for president.

Next MIAC Meeting Monday, Aug. 31st

Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon announced the next public meeting on the controversial MIAC report and state intelligence oversight will be held in Grandview Monday, August 31st.

The meeting is set for 11 a.m. at the Grandview Community Center on 13500 Bryars Road in Grandview.

Individuals wishing to testify should call 573-­751-9809 or e-mail eric.jennings@house.mo.gov

WATCH our first report on the 1st hearing in Jefferson City.

Breaking: Blunt Fires Contractor For Hiring Illegals

Governor Matt Blunt has ousted a state contractor who he says hired illegal workers to clean Jefferson City buildings.

From the Governor's office at 7:12 p.m. . .

"I will not tolerate illegal activity, immigration or otherwise, among our state contractors," Blunt said in a press conference at the capitol tonight. "I commend our Housekeeping Manager Vernon Morris, whose keen attention ultimately led to the detainment of suspected illegal workers. His efforts, coupled with new expertise now available through the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) played a significant role in helping to uncover the suspected illegal workers. Enacting tough new contract language will send a clear signal to all contractors: if you knowingly hire illegal workers, the state of Missouri will not do business with you."

Blunt has cancelled the state's contract with Sam's Janitorial Services and barred them from doing further business with the state after local and federal law enforcement agencies identified dozens of suspected illegal immigrants working under falsified documents.

Vernon Morris, a state employee who serves as the Housekeeping Manager, first noticed inconsistencies in the contract staffs documents and tipped off the Capitol Police.

The Blunt Administration worked with U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Office as state law enforcement worked with MIAC to identify illegal workers.

The Governor has used an executive order to direct state agencies to audit all contractors to ensure that contract employees are leligibleelgible to work in the country. He order also allows him to terminate contracts if it is determined a contractor employs illegal immigrants.

He further directed that tough new provisions be included in all future state contracts to allow the state to immediately cancel contracts if it determines the contractor knowingly has employees not eligible to work in the U.S. The new provisions will further require all contractors to certify that all their employees meet state and federal employment eligibility requirements. The new contract language will ensure that Missouri may always cancel contracts when illegal employment practices are uncovered.

After an almost two month investigation, a joint enforcement operation was initiated this evening. ICE and local law enforcement detained suspected illegal workers from Sam's Janitorial Services when they came into work this evening. After questioning, illegal immigrants will be transported and detained in Kansas City before they are returned to their home country.

Sam's Janitorial Services is operated out of Oklahoma. The contractor provided services in four state office buildings in Jefferson City. Their first contract with the state was awarded in 1998.

Kinder Wants More Answers About MIAC Report

"AN OUTRAGE"
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder said answers provided by the Highway Patrol about a leaked state security report are inadequate, and that the controversy deserves a more thorough explanation from top officials.

"It doesn't look back at all. It doesn't answer any of my concerns about how this report got out there and whether in fact, as you asked, there are other reports we need to know about. And how far back does this go,?" Kinder said in an interview with KY3 News at the Capitol Wednesday.

***WATCH FULL CLIPS***

Kinder: Put Britt on Leave

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder has called for Department of Public Safety Director John Britt to be put on administrative leave because of the MIAC security report.

***

The House is set to take up a budget amendment Wednesday afternoon that would prohibit the Department from using any state funds for "political profiling."

DEVELOPING . . .

FOR KY3 NEWS @ 5, 6 & 10

Week 27: Midway Report Card

NIXON'S MIDTERM GRADE: B

(Midterm grade calculated by averaging first 26 weeks of scores)
WEEK 27 GRADE: F

The most basic yet vivid example of a government failing its people came to light this week in the form of murky water. The Kansas City Star's revelation that the Nixon administration's Department of Natural Resources withheld a Memorial Day report about high E.coli levels is damaging on several fronts. It's triggered an investigation into whether the Sunshine Law was broken. It's fueled public cynicism about government secrecy and theories about what else state bureaucrats aren't sharing. And it's reminded us how dirty parts of the Lake of the Ozarks can get at a time when tourism is already paddling harder to stay afloat. It's not fair to directly fault the Governor on this, but this is his administration and Harry Truman's famous saying comes to mind. In addition, it's a story that people can easily identify with. On this alone, by no fault of his own, Nixon lost the week. But as expected, the Governor also blinked in his stand-off with Lieutenant Gov. Peter Kinder over the Tour of Missouri. Still, by the end of the week Nixon dissed his rival again by not notifying the top Republican in state government about his overseas trip until hours before he told the press. If Nixon isn't engaging Kinder this early in his term, it's not likely their relations will improve as we inch closer to 2012. Most people don't expect the two to be drinking buddies, but you'd think a confidential heads-up about traveling into a war zone would be a courtesy granted.

***
Since this is the midpoint of Nixon's first year as Governor -- here's a quick summary of his grades for the first 26 weeks:

BREAKDOWN: He's gotten 6 A's, 12 B's, 7 C's, 1 D

HIGH POINTS: Inauguration Speech, New Jobs in Republic (3/1), 60% Approval Rating (4/12), Jobs Bill Passes (5/17), Bipartisan Praise for Healthcare Training at Colleges; Kinder Bungles Criticism (5/31), Dodging Criticism for Budget Ax (6/28)

LOW POINTS: Misses Deadline to Pass Jobs Bill By Spring Break (3/15), Backtracks & Scraps MIAC Report Amid Controversy (3/29), Tourism Money Not Released As Promised; STL Rep. Accuses Gov. of "Ignoring the Plight of Blacks" (5/3), Threatens to Cut '09 Tour of Missouri (7/12)

PERCENTAGE CHANCE OF RE-ELECTION: 73%
(If the election was held today)

--- To read all of Nixon's Grades CLICK HERE ---

2009: The Biggest Stories in Missouri Politics

It was the year of the stimulus, swine flu and in Springfield -- a controversial sales tax.

Three major Democrats took the reigns of power -- Barack Obama as president, Jay Nixon as governor and Jim O'Neal in the mayor's office in Springfield.

WATCH MY FINAL KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***The Notebook's Top 10 Stories in Missouri Politics in 2009***

1. Sen. Kit Bond Retirement Announcement Spurs Shake-Up
2. E.Coli-gate
3. Sen. Claire McCaskill's summer townhall meetings
4. Tea Party rallies/movement
5. Sarah Steelman's decision not to run for U.S. Senate
6. Lawmakers resign amid corruption/ethical charges
7. Assault charge filed against former House Speaker Rod Jetton
8. Gov. Nixon's Budget Cuts
9. Billy Long's rise in the 7th District
10. Controversy over MIAC report


FINAL LIST still DEVELOPING . . .

VIDEO: Full Coverage of Springfield's Tea Party

IMAGES FROM THE TEA PARTY
In 60 Seconds
Springfield, Mo.
4/15/09

More Video of my Q & A with Attendees . . . Courtesy of the hardest working photographer in all of television, Taka Yokoyama.

Plus: Raw Opinions on Roy Blunt, Kit Bond, Claire McCaskill and Sarah Steelman
(Click on the final TWO clips)

*WATCH IT ALL BELOW*
THIS IS CONSERVATIVE AMERICA

In the first clip, Mark Brown voices his opinion about why President Obama should be impeached for his economic policies. "He's not doing what he promised. He's a liar," said Brown. Brown dismissed a question about Bush-era spending, saying it's "nothing like it is now."

Angela Galiana attended the rally holding a picture of her three children and said she was worried the President would saddle them with overwhelming debt. She said the main reason she attended was tax policy. But even though Galiana would benefit from Obama's tax cut this year, she said his long-term policies impacting businesses would override any gain this year. "He's taking higher class citizens who are making over $250,000 . . . It's not fair," she said.

Janice Parker said she stood on Chestnut Expressway to show her displeasure with political profiling in the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) report. "All I know is, they were trying to profile, and I didn't care for it," Parker explained.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 6 COVERAGE HERE
***
COUNTERPOINT:
Drury University Professor of Economics Steve Mullins offered a counterpoint to the protests, noting that the current debt level as a percentage of the economy is lower now than it was during President Reagan's administration. "These people weren't protesting then. These people haven't been protesting for the past eight years, where we've spent more than $500 billion dollars a year more on wars, tax cuts and a Medicare prescription drug benefit."

Mullins said that while he believes some of the Tea Day party attendees have genuine concerns, many were there for purely partisan reasons. "Why just under the current administration does borrowing and budget deficits scare you so much," Mullins asked. "When you put these numbers in perspective, they're not as scary as some of the critics could make them out to be."
***

"We're Going on A Spending Frenzy"

Karen Richmond was one of the most articulate Tea Partiers we met -- and she's a conservative who feels abandoned by GOP leaders.

So I asked her what she thought about a variety of Missouri pols -- and their fiscal conservative credentials.

On Roy Blunt: "He's been there too long . . . I really liked Jim Talent."

Richmond just offered a hearty belly-laugh when we asked if one particular Missouri Republican was a true conservative.

To see who she laughed off, CLICK ABOVE.

"They're Not Listening To The People"

DON'T WANT PORK
"I'm against Republican representatives not listening to us."

Sandy Thompson is self-described independent who feels sold out.

"I think we need to clean out the Congress and we need to clean out the Senate," Thompson said.

*WATCH HER RATE MISSOURI POLS ABOVE*