So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington?

By Duane Lester - September 14, 2009 - 52 Comments -

As I was driving home from my activities Saturday, I was listening to XM radio. They were discussing the 9/12 protests and said that tens of thousands of protestors were present.

After I was home a while, I found time to sit down and read the news, I was surprised to read a headline claiming “up to two million march to US capitol to protest Obama’s spending…”

That’s quite a disparity. So what’s the truth?

Michelle Malkin has a screenshot she took from a webcam that shows the masses standing deep:

Moonbattery has time lapse video of the crowds gathering.

And from Gateway Pundit (where I first saw it) comes a USA Today graphic outlining how many people attended Obama’s inauguration:

So how many were there?

I’m going with a kabillion. Seriously, though, it looks like an awful lot more than “tens of thousands.” One to two million doesn’t seem out of line.

The national park service says "It is a record…. We believe it is the largest event held in Washington, D.C., ever."

[29]

Rohrbaugh

I know how many were there: Over half of America. Those of us who could not get off work (because we are paying the bill for all the outragious social programs in this country), were there in spirit. That is actually close to 200 million. We are tire of paying the tab for the slothful among us who refuse to provide for themselves and their families. We cannot afford any more taxes to the government without taking food from the mouths of our own families. Let them continue to push for a bloated and ever growing, increasingly intrusive government and see where it gets them. “The flower of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and of tyrants!” Give me liberty . . . or I’ll come and take it.
Rohrbaugh

I know how many were there: Over half of America. Those of us who could not get off work (because we are paying the bill for all the outragious social programs in this country), were there in spirit. That is actually close to 200 million. We are tire of paying the tab for the slothful among us who refuse to provide for themselves and their families. We cannot afford any more taxes to the government without taking food from the mouths of our own families. Let them continue to push for a bloated and ever growing, increasingly intrusive government and see where it gets them. “The flower of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and of tyrants!” Give me liberty . . . or I’ll come and take it.
http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

Well, I can tell you that the number that makes the most sense to me is 1.5 Million. (I hear that the park police estimate was 1.2 million). I was there in the flesh and anyone that thinks it was merely 10′s of thousands is either intentionally lying or was simply not there.

I will write up my experiences later today along with some of my pics and post it here for you all to see. :-)
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

Well, I can tell you that the number that makes the most sense to me is 1.5 Million. (I hear that the park police estimate was 1.2 million). I was there in the flesh and anyone that thinks it was merely 10′s of thousands is either intentionally lying or was simply not there.

I will write up my experiences later today along with some of my pics and post it here for you all to see. :-)
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
Mike

Half of America was not there you loon. If there was actually 2 million people, that is less then 1% of the USA population. 0.64% to be exact.

Bill

No knucklehead. He said that over half of America was there in spirit joining thoses who were actually there.
http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

most of the commenter here actually read what they are responding to prior to typing a response. Had you done that you would have understood the comment better. Keep in mind that my estimate of the number (1.5 million) ONLY includes the march in Washington DC. There were protests in MANY cities all across this great country of ours. Figure that for each person that made it to a protest they know a lot of other people that didn’t make it but that feel (and will vote) the same way next November.
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
44Grim

yes, 2 million people is about 1 for every 150 people IN AMERICA, in DC for this one event. that should scare our politicians, because if everyone who wanted to go, took off work and paid their way, 100 million is probably not out of the question, but wouldn’t have been feasible.
Rohrbaugh

I may be a loon but at least not a leftist-statist loon. Or, for that matter, the type of loon who impulsively responds to a comment without reading the comment.

Mike

Half of America was not there you loon. If there was actually 2 million people, that is less then 1% of the USA population. 0.64% to be exact.

Bill

No knucklehead. He said that over half of America was there in spirit joining thoses who were actually there.
http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

most of the commenter here actually read what they are responding to prior to typing a response. Had you done that you would have understood the comment better. Keep in mind that my estimate of the number (1.5 million) ONLY includes the march in Washington DC. There were protests in MANY cities all across this great country of ours. Figure that for each person that made it to a protest they know a lot of other people that didn’t make it but that feel (and will vote) the same way next November.
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
44Grim

yes, 2 million people is about 1 for every 150 people IN AMERICA, in DC for this one event. that should scare our politicians, because if everyone who wanted to go, took off work and paid their way, 100 million is probably not out of the question, but wouldn’t have been feasible.
Rohrbaugh

I may be a loon but at least not a leftist-statist loon. Or, for that matter, the type of loon who impulsively responds to a comment without reading the comment.

Mike

Hey knucklehead, he is just making crap up. LIke he knows what half of America thinks.

http://www.rfcradio.com Andrew Riley

Of course he doesn’t know what half of America thinks, Mike. But you obviously do, right?

Dumbass.
Rohrbaugh

I don’t claim to know what half of America thinks, just watching the polls that say that 53-58% of American voters are against the way that Obama is handling the Health Care situation. Sorry about the way the facts turned out.

Mike

Hey knucklehead, he is just making crap up. LIke he knows what half of America thinks.

http://www.rfcradio.com Andrew Riley

Of course he doesn’t know what half of America thinks, Mike. But you obviously do, right?

Dumbass.
Rohrbaugh

I don’t claim to know what half of America thinks, just watching the polls that say that 53-58% of American voters are against the way that Obama is handling the Health Care situation. Sorry about the way the facts turned out.

Mike

My comment was intended to say “Half of America would not be there you loon”. Excuse me for putting ‘was’ instead of ‘would’.
Mike

My comment was intended to say “Half of America would not be there you loon”. Excuse me for putting ‘was’ instead of ‘would’.
Martin

Where were all of these people when we passed the original TARP and the spending for a war that didn’t need to happen…This has to do with race and losing…

http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

“this has to do with race” LOL you make me laugh. Yup, the African Americans, Latinos and Latinas etc. that I saw there are all upset about the race of Congress. Wait, HUH? The only reason that people are claiming that the protest was racially based is because they are terrified of the movement that has begun. This movement is from conservative America and will not stop till the liberals in Government (from both parties) are gone from power.

Sorry to burst your bubble about that tho.
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
44Grim

Martin, you troll. I am beginning to think you actually live under a bridge coming up with ways to bash those who oppose your viewpoints. I apologize for not realizing just how far Bush had gone and protesting him more. Where are you now, Martin? imo, that’s FAR worse than people who woke up and joined the anti big-government party late to be mad at Bush because he’s a Republican (but not a conservative one) and then not be mad at Obama for expanding on the same things.

Way to take a talking point from a pundit, martin, and not realize that it makes you look just as bad or worse, when you realize “I was against a much smaller beast, but when Obama came around and expanded Bush’s programs, I was compliant”. Yes, we should have fought against Bush’s lack of conservativism when he passed his ‘bail-outs’ for us in the form of an extra $300 or $650. By the time TARP came around, most of America already didn’t want it, and I WAS against that. I was pissed at McCain for rallying against it, and then voting for it like a tool. This past election was Obama and Obama-lite. I voted Obama-lite because he was the least of the 2 evils, and I really think Palin would change up Washington DC. It’s quite clear Martin, that you voted for Obama. If you still feel he was a good choice, then you’re not thinking logically, and you can NOT rave against Bush, because Obama has done as much to destroy our country in 6 months than Bush did in 8 years. He wants to do even more, and you back him like a mindless sheep. Think of your kids for a second, and the debt that they’re going to have because of all this stuff you want. Yes, Bush made quite a few mistakes, Obama is expanding on his mistakes and not fixing anything. I’m sorry I got the party late, but I guess it’s better to arrive late than to bail on the party when a far-leftist gets in office.
Globie359

when “we” passed CRAP…….. Do you have a mouse in your pocket or are you Fat (Barney) Franks Chief Peter Puffer…..

Martin

Where were all of these people when we passed the original TARP and the spending for a war that didn’t need to happen…This has to do with race and losing…

http://www.allamericanblogger.com Douglas Weber

“this has to do with race” LOL you make me laugh. Yup, the African Americans, Latinos and Latinas etc. that I saw there are all upset about the race of Congress. Wait, HUH? The only reason that people are claiming that the protest was racially based is because they are terrified of the movement that has begun. This movement is from conservative America and will not stop till the liberals in Government (from both parties) are gone from power.

Sorry to burst your bubble about that tho.
.-= Douglas Weber´s last blog ..So How Many Were At the 9/12 Protest in Washington? =-.
44Grim

Martin, you troll. I am beginning to think you actually live under a bridge coming up with ways to bash those who oppose your viewpoints. I apologize for not realizing just how far Bush had gone and protesting him more. Where are you now, Martin? imo, that’s FAR worse than people who woke up and joined the anti big-government party late to be mad at Bush because he’s a Republican (but not a conservative one) and then not be mad at Obama for expanding on the same things.

Way to take a talking point from a pundit, martin, and not realize that it makes you look just as bad or worse, when you realize “I was against a much smaller beast, but when Obama came around and expanded Bush’s programs, I was compliant”. Yes, we should have fought against Bush’s lack of conservativism when he passed his ‘bail-outs’ for us in the form of an extra $300 or $650. By the time TARP came around, most of America already didn’t want it, and I WAS against that. I was pissed at McCain for rallying against it, and then voting for it like a tool. This past election was Obama and Obama-lite. I voted Obama-lite because he was the least of the 2 evils, and I really think Palin would change up Washington DC. It’s quite clear Martin, that you voted for Obama. If you still feel he was a good choice, then you’re not thinking logically, and you can NOT rave against Bush, because Obama has done as much to destroy our country in 6 months than Bush did in 8 years. He wants to do even more, and you back him like a mindless sheep. Think of your kids for a second, and the debt that they’re going to have because of all this stuff you want. Yes, Bush made quite a few mistakes, Obama is expanding on his mistakes and not fixing anything. I’m sorry I got the party late, but I guess it’s better to arrive late than to bail on the party when a far-leftist gets in office.
Globie359

when “we” passed CRAP…….. Do you have a mouse in your pocket or are you Fat (Barney) Franks Chief Peter Puffer…..

Martin

You just said Obama has done more to hurt our country than Bush did….That is hysterical. You must have this delusional view of things if you think those two things are true and therefore, should be locked up quickly.

This does have to do with race. Conservative America is scared of black president and are freaking out at a pretty fast rate. Conservative America “doesn’t want multi – culturism” as Rush put it.

If Obama would of went for social security reform instead of healthcare the people would of been marching against that….

Here is a question no one can answer for me. Since Obama has been put in office, what in your life has changed because of his policies?

44Grim

Obama HAS done just as much, if not more than Bush did in his 8 years. Do you have proof otherwise, or do you just dispute things like this by calling people racist again? How many communists did Bush bring into his administration? How many car companies did Bush take over? How many times did he say “no taxes for people under $250k” and then promise to pass health care AND cap and trade? (just so you know, those are opposing statements… you can’t grow the government that much and NOT raise taxes).

Yes, you just proved how incompetent you are. Bring up Jindal as a Conservative Presidential candidate and then say that conservatives are racist. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. joke must be on you! Oh, and you forgot Huckabee.

I’d be against his social security reform if it was as twisted as his “health care” reform. his version of health care ‘reform’ is take-over by the government and then we start rationing. that’s a great plan… NOT! if his version for social security reform included some of the same ideas, I’d be against them just the same. I think we need to reform SS just as much as health care, and move it back to it’s own set of books (so that the government can’t use the money going in for it’s own pet projects). but no, you never come with solutions. you come to call people names and get them riled up because you CAN NOT THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Dear Martin, how much of what Bush did affected you? i can play devil’s advocate, too.
nice talking points on a liberal blog for liberals to read, but when you try to apply them, they don’t make much sense. Kinda like Obama’s speeches… “private companies can compete with government agencies, just look at the Postal Service”… sounds good at first, but it makes the sound of government take-over sound even worse!

check this out Martin, we’ll see if you can understand it:
http://ibdeditorial.com/IMAGES/cartoons/toon090909.gif

Martin

You just said Obama has done more to hurt our country than Bush did….That is hysterical. You must have this delusional view of things if you think those two things are true and therefore, should be locked up quickly.

This does have to do with race. Conservative America is scared of black president and are freaking out at a pretty fast rate. Conservative America “doesn’t want multi – culturism” as Rush put it.

If Obama would of went for social security reform instead of healthcare the people would of been marching against that….

Here is a question no one can answer for me. Since Obama has been put in office, what in your life has changed because of his policies?

44Grim

Obama HAS done just as much, if not more than Bush did in his 8 years. Do you have proof otherwise, or do you just dispute things like this by calling people racist again? How many communists did Bush bring into his administration? How many car companies did Bush take over? How many times did he say “no taxes for people under $250k” and then promise to pass health care AND cap and trade? (just so you know, those are opposing statements… you can’t grow the government that much and NOT raise taxes).

Yes, you just proved how incompetent you are. Bring up Jindal as a Conservative Presidential candidate and then say that conservatives are racist. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. joke must be on you! Oh, and you forgot Huckabee.

I’d be against his social security reform if it was as twisted as his “health care” reform. his version of health care ‘reform’ is take-over by the government and then we start rationing. that’s a great plan… NOT! if his version for social security reform included some of the same ideas, I’d be against them just the same. I think we need to reform SS just as much as health care, and move it back to it’s own set of books (so that the government can’t use the money going in for it’s own pet projects). but no, you never come with solutions. you come to call people names and get them riled up because you CAN NOT THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Dear Martin, how much of what Bush did affected you? i can play devil’s advocate, too.
nice talking points on a liberal blog for liberals to read, but when you try to apply them, they don’t make much sense. Kinda like Obama’s speeches… “private companies can compete with government agencies, just look at the Postal Service”… sounds good at first, but it makes the sound of government take-over sound even worse!

check this out Martin, we’ll see if you can understand it:
http://ibdeditorial.com/IMAGES/cartoons/toon090909.gif

Martin

Palin
Santorum
Jindal
Cheney

in 12! wooo hoooo
Martin

Palin
Santorum
Jindal
Cheney

in 12! wooo hoooo
martin

2 million? That is funny….

Palin in 2012, with Beck as the VP

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/sep/14/tea-party-photo-shows-large-crowd-different-event/
martin

2 million? That is funny….

Palin in 2012, with Beck as the VP

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/sep/14/tea-party-photo-shows-large-crowd-different-event/
Globie359

Hey Dumb ass……….. He is as much White as Black……… I personally wish he were black instead of Mulatto, It sucks to share 1/2 race with that Stateist.
Globie359

Hey Dumb ass……….. He is as much White as Black……… I personally wish he were black instead of Mulatto, It sucks to share 1/2 race with that Stateist.
Martin

I’m just glad you capitalized Dumb ass. The last part of your reply essentially sums up my point. It’s not the policy, it’s the race the conservatives are not happy with. Conservatives were ok with record spending and the past admin ripping up our constitution but it was ok, he was white.
Martin

I’m just glad you capitalized Dumb ass. The last part of your reply essentially sums up my point. It’s not the policy, it’s the race the conservatives are not happy with. Conservatives were ok with record spending and the past admin ripping up our constitution but it was ok, he was white.
44Grim

Martin, I fear you are a lost cause. Unable to think using logic, knowing that if you tried, your head would explode, or you would lose so bad, you’d feel bad going into public again. Use facts, and people might be more likely to not call your trollish bluffs. I’m sorry I am late to the party, but late is better than a party-line quitter.

I’ll be against ANYONE’s out of control spending. I’ll be against the things that Obama is pushing right now, and if that makes me a racist, so be it. You’re not scaring anyone into not opposing a socialistic, fascist government and commander in chief. He’s the president, and deserves our respect because of his position. I think he’s incredibly intelligent, and incredibly misguided. If you think he cares about you, I believe you’re sadly mistaken.

Were you our “ACORN” case member designated to disrupting this site?
44Grim

Martin, I fear you are a lost cause. Unable to think using logic, knowing that if you tried, your head would explode, or you would lose so bad, you’d feel bad going into public again. Use facts, and people might be more likely to not call your trollish bluffs. I’m sorry I am late to the party, but late is better than a party-line quitter.

I’ll be against ANYONE’s out of control spending. I’ll be against the things that Obama is pushing right now, and if that makes me a racist, so be it. You’re not scaring anyone into not opposing a socialistic, fascist government and commander in chief. He’s the president, and deserves our respect because of his position. I think he’s incredibly intelligent, and incredibly misguided. If you think he cares about you, I believe you’re sadly mistaken.

Were you our “ACORN” case member designated to disrupting this site?
Martin

Grim – I’m glad you found your “logic” once Obama was elected. Eureka!
Martin

Grim – I’m glad you found your “logic” once Obama was elected. Eureka!
44Grim

I found it before he was elected. I’m glad you lost yours as soon as pundits started thinking for you. You can’t even think enough for yourself to find a better insurance plan, you just complained about it.
44Grim

I found it before he was elected. I’m glad you lost yours as soon as pundits started thinking for you. You can’t even think enough for yourself to find a better insurance plan, you just complained about it.
Martin

Y0u amaze me. The cheapest plan I can find for a family of four is $1250 a month. What don’t you understand about that? The average family spends $13,000 in healthcare. What don’t you understand there? Medicare for everyone.
Martin

Here…..does this seem ok to you?

The average cost of a family health insurance policy in 2009 was $13,375.

Over the past ten years, premiums have increased by 131 percent, while wages have grown 38 percent and inflation has grown 28 percent.

If health-care costs grow as fast as they have over the past five years, the average premium for a family policy in 2014 will be $24,180. If they grow as fast as they have over the past 10 years, premiums in 2019 will average $30,803.
Martin

Y0u amaze me. The cheapest plan I can find for a family of four is $1250 a month. What don’t you understand about that? The average family spends $13,000 in healthcare. What don’t you understand there? Medicare for everyone.
Martin

Here…..does this seem ok to you?

The average cost of a family health insurance policy in 2009 was $13,375.

Over the past ten years, premiums have increased by 131 percent, while wages have grown 38 percent and inflation has grown 28 percent.

If health-care costs grow as fast as they have over the past five years, the average premium for a family policy in 2014 will be $24,180. If they grow as fast as they have over the past 10 years, premiums in 2019 will average $30,803.