Wrapped in the Flag. A book about the new John Birch society...the Tea Party. Part 1

[madfloridian]

By a woman who was raised as part of the Birchers in the 50s.

Claire Conner knows about the radical right. She was a member of the John Birch Society in 1959 at age 13, photographed in a Birch photo spread in LIFE magazine at 14, a good little Bircher for many years. Her father was in Birch leadership for 32 years. Claire hears old John Birch ideas in the rhetoric of today's right wing Republicans.These ideas are taking us down a dangerous path to a country controlled by big business, fundamentalist religion, anti-government libertarians. A place with a weak central government, no safety net and no regulation.

More about the book and its author at this link.

If you've ever wondered what happened to the John Birch Society, author Claire Conner of Dunedin can tell you. The radical right-wing group that was briefly a player in national conservative politics in the 1960s is back, under a different name: tea party.

She should know. Conner's new memoir Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America's Radical Right is a fascinating inside look at the Birchers in their heyday and her story packed the house last month at the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading at University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Here is Part 2. Conners becomes a progressive.

[madfloridian]

1. Link to book at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/080707750X/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=36322808198&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=962961117190694863&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_i36rxaomg_b

[madfloridian]

2. Part 3 John Birch Society,the Koch Brothers, and the rise of new right wing politics.

[madfloridian]

3. Part 4 What do these people want? Table set for Ronald Reagan.

Published on Apr 29, 2013

These right wingers have an agenda. Listen to this video to discover how wealthy men built tax free foundations based on Birch ideas and partnered with the religious right. Discover more about this powerful right wing coalition. You'll learn much more about these folks in my book, Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America's Radical Right, coming July 2 from Beacon Press. You can pre-order today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Indie Press. See more at www.claireconner.com.

[Triana]

4. I posted a few of her videos here a couple months back...SO glad to see them

posted again!

Very deserving of all the attention they can get!

[madfloridian]

5. So sorry I missed them. Thanks for letting me know.

This place moves so fast sometimes hard to keep up.

[mtasselin]

6. Thank You

Thank you Claire, I hope the American people wake up in time, because they have no idea what is coming at them. If this happens it will take a lifetime to get our country back.

[madfloridian]

7. Most welcome. Here is her Twitter feed if interested.

https://twitter.com/wrappedinflag

[CaptCaribbean]

8. Nice Work

Should be standard viewing/reading for the vast ignorant masses. As far as the Crotch Brothers are concerned, its all about stealing money from the middle class and keeping it. All the other political regurgitation is designed to keep you distracted. Stupid "Family Values " Republicans are too ignorant to realize they're being financially fleeced by the same sleaze that has hijacked YOUR LEGISLATORS. The MEDIA, as well, has been commandeered by the same said scumbags and their allies. What America needs is a new leader that embodies the energies Cenk, Elizabeth and Jack Kennedy.

[Voice for Peace]

9. I'm finding this astonishing, in the most d'OH! kind of way

[ewagner]

10. Read it recently....

Having first-hand experience with "Birchers" in my youth, I found the book a chilling reminder of those days and a startling revelation that the Birchers had not gone away, they went underground.

Thanks Claire for such an insightful work.

[madfloridian]

11. I ordered it last night, looking forward to reading it.

[strikeforce]

12. folks,do not underestimate these offsprings

of the john birch society.like jesus said,"BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS ,YOU CAN TELL THEM BY THEIR FRUITS".

the group ALEC are in bed with these astroturf groups also. every little move they make(voter i.d.,vouchers,...) is towards their ultimate goal.

[sarchasm]

13. KnR