Even before Glenn Beck took the stage at the Right Nation 2010 gathering in Hoffman Estates Saturday, a sideshow started outside. While 5,400 conservatives headed inside the Sears Center, about 200 protesters joined in song and prayer outside, accusing Beck, a Fox News commentator headlining the event, of promoting hatred and racism.
They held signs accusing Beck of lying and calling him a coward.
Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, who is also scheduled to speak at the event, confronted the protesters. He screamed that they must be union members who had been duped into protesting.
Do you even know what youre protesting? he shouted. Whos with SEIU [Service Employees International Union]? What union are you with?
Breitbart rejected the protesters claims that they came from various religious organizations. He pointed to an anti-Beck sign with a union bug on the bottom.
Challenging one man carrying a Beck lies sign, Breitbart said: Name me one lie hes told. Probably hundreds, the man responded.
How is Beck a coward? he challenged another protester with a Beck=Coward sign. The protester did not answer.
Rev. Rodney Reinhart, an Episcopal pastor from Harvey, and Rev. C.J. Hawking said they organized the protest with no help from the unions.
Lets not kid ourselves this is about racism, Reinhart said. Its because we have a black man in the White House. This is about money. You have to pay $1,600 to get your picture taken with Glenn Beck. The cheapest seat in the house is $77.
The ministers encouraged members to step away from the yellow police tape surrounding the area where they were allowed to protest and to not let Breitbart engage them. Instead, they sang God Bless America and This Land is Your Land.
Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Mike Labno stood in front of the door to the event shaking hands and telling attendees, You have a choice.
His 6-year-old daughter, Emily, told attendees her father is the only pro-life, pro-gun candidate for senate.
Lets face it there is no Republican in this race, the older Labno said, dismissing socially liberal Republican senate nominee Mark Kirk. Kirk and many other of the states more moderate Republican candidates are skipping Saturday nights event, though some of the partys more conservative members were in attendance.