I am seeking comments about LaRouche &

[IndyOp]

their fight against privatizing social security. I am all for fighting against *'s piratizing social security. I wound up on their phone list after signing a petition in favor of contesting the election and am now getting phone calls from a really pushy guy who is asking for donations. When I told him I that I did not give donations over the phone, but would check out the website he launched into a spiel about how I 'just don't get it' and how the fascists were coming to get me and my family. I felt threatened.

Has this organization accomplished good work? What can you share pro & con regarding LaRouche and his supporters? Is this just one overly intense guy or is this typical of this group?

:mad:

[Cha]

1. Was his name..Rick Sanders?

Cause that's the "pushy guy" who kept calling me for awhile!

[IndyOp]

7. I didn't ask his name. How did you get rid of him? (nt)

[Cha]

11. I told him I didn't have any money..

I gave it all to the Democratic party!

[IndyOp]

15. Good answer! (nt)

[mcscajun]

2. LaRouche is a total nut job...

...if he had clout, he'd be dangerous. Problem is...his supporters have been worming their way into positions in local governments across the country...so that makes them dangerous.

I wouldn't give any organization connected with them one thin dime...ever.

from Wikipedia:
He is frequently described as an extremist or a cult leader, and is accused of being a fascist and anti-Semite. He denies these charges. He is regarded by his followers as a brilliant and unfairly persecuted individual.

In 1988 LaRouche was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax code violations. He continued his political activities from behind bars. He was released in 1994 on parole after having served five years.



On edit: Added Wikipedia info on LaRouche

[IndyOp]

8. Holy sheepdip - conspiracy and mail fraud?

There are reasonable reasons to violate tax code (not that I have done it in case anyone from the IRA is reading this post) -- but conspiracy and mail fraud sounds like money-raising scam.

The part about his being a fascist and anti-Semite is scary. He wants anti-Jewish instead of anti-Arabic fascism?

:grr:

[Liberal In Texas]

3. It might be the old "Enemy of my enemy" thing

Personally I think he's a nut.

[roguevalley]

4. he's been in prison for cheating people of money, if memory

serves me. I remember most people equated him with the same level of respect you would give the John Birch Society. He's not to be trusted.
That's all I remember and I remember from when he was very, very active and not yet in the slammer.

[BBradley]

5. Be very afraid.

LaRouche is at best the self-obsessed leader of a miniscule fraction of voters, or at worst the dangerous self-obsessed leader of a miniscule fraction of maniacal voters. I remember I asked DUers about him for a project I had to do for Government class, the references they gave me were astounding. The man is crazy. My dad had a run in with him and his crew while he (my dad) was working with the Carter Campaign in Philadelphia. He said that they were strange, hostile, and that they generally held contempt for anyone that didn't follow the gospel according to LaRouche.

[madmom]

6. I also received a phone call...

from the LaRouche org. I was in the middle of fixing dinner and he wouldn't shut up finally he ask for my e-mail address I said no-way, then ask if he could send some literature in the mail, since he already had my address(probably from voter registration) I said sure. I got them glanced over them then tossed them. Received another call but it was on answering machine.So to answer your question I would say yes they are all pretty intense, unless we spoke to the same guy.

[IndyOp]

12. Gag - the guy on my phone definitely would not shut up.

Okay, I'll just screen my calls for a while or hang up fast the next few times he calls until he goes away. My mistake was listening to him for 5+ minutes the first time he called.

I signed a lot of petitions to contest the election - one of them must've been hosted by the LaRouche people even though they did not identify themselves. I don't know what information I put on the petition when I signed it. They may have my name, number, address, email. I am starting to feel creepy about signing any internet petitions posted by anyone other than a major, reputable group like MoveOn or Sojourners or Human Rights.

:mad:

[yellowjacket]

9. I have battled these folks many times...

They are outside Farragut North Metro here in DC at least twice a week handing out literature. If you don't take it, they have a snide remark ready for you. They also got on the Metro trains right before the election and sang anti-W hymns, which was kind of funny, but weird. There was an article in the Washington Post about a kid who joined his campaign and turned up dead. Unfortunately, the article has been archived and is no longer free, but here's the snippet:

"In early 2003, telephoned to say he'd met a activist who wrote for a French-language LaRouche newspaper, Nouvelle Solidarite. The literature he gave Jeremiah to read in French didn't always make total sense, but Jeremiah chalked it up to his difficulty translating unfamiliar political terms, his mother says. The following March, on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Jeremiah ..."

It was a really good article. Basically, it said the La Rouche campaign was like a cult.

[IndyOp]

14. The only other contact I have had, other than the phone calls was

the group of LaRoucher's at the Columbus Rally on Jan 3rd -- someone shoved a booklet at me about privatizing social security. I refused it because I knew I wouldn't read it and hate to take booklets or fliers it just means wasting paper. Then the kid (college-aged) got more pushy and I just walked off. Near the end of the 3-hour workshop when Rev. Jackson was trying to introduce Will B. (who had written a special hip-hop song to help fund the "Get On The Bus" trip) a group of LaRouchers entered and starting singing a hymn. They would not stop when Jackson tried to politely ask them to stop, so Will just started performing and drowned them out.

Go Will! :kick:

[Catherine Vincent]

10. What is the deal with those LaRouche followers?

Most of them I have come across are college age kids. They are very forceful. What kind of hold does this guy have on those kids?

[TheFarseer]

13. It would be surprising

if LaRouche supporters WEREN'T a little crazy!