Six Day Campaign Against Obamacare in New Jersey
From October 22--28, ten TFP volunteers traveled to New Jersey to oppose socialist Obamacare. The caravan consisted of TFP members and students from St. Louis de Montfort Academy. With a banner reading “God's Law Comes First, Repeal Socialist Obamacare!” and signs urging people to honk against Obamacare, the group stood on busy street corners encouraging passersby to reject socialist healthcare.
First Day
We were not quite sure what to expect, but within minutes drivers started to honk enthusiastically in favor of the campaign. One man, driving past the banner, yelled: “Thank you! Finally, someone against socialism!”
Second Day
Today we campaigned in Brownville and Eatontown. During the first campaign, a black lady, stopped at a traffic light next to us, rolled down her window and said, “I don't like Obama! He is destroying our country! Thank you all for what you are doing.” She then said that she worked at the municipal county office down the road, and that it was a good spot to do another campaign.
Later in the day, as school was ending, three school buses drove by and all of the middle-school children clapped and yelled in support. About five minutes later, another bus stopped at the traffic light, but this time a girl saw the banner and gave us the “thumbs down.” However, the rest of the students sitting behind her stood up and started doing the exact opposite, smiling, gesturing “thumbs up” while telling the girl to sit down. Our bagpiper then started to play, and the bus exploded with enthusiasm. As the school bus started to leave, an older boy stood up and shouted, “No! Obamacare is awesome!”
Third Day
A man drove up and rolled down his window, “Don’t y’all know that you are going to have insurance until you are 26 thanks to Obamacare?!” Mr. Michael Shibler responded, “Well, its been a long time since I was 26.”
Man: “expletive…. You people don’t protest wars or murder?! But you waste your time on Obamacare? Cursing…”
TFP volunteer: “Wait, do you know who is going to pay for Obamacare?”
Man: “I have no idea!...more cursing…”
TFP volunteer: “So did you read the Obamacare law, the whole thing?”
Man: “Yeah, I did!” (driving off) expletive…. You idiots need to get a job!"
Fourth Day
Today we did a campaign in Manasquan and two in Toms River, New Jersey. A policeman walked up to a TFP member and asked what we were doing. After we explained the many campaigns of the TFP, he said, in his New Jersey accent: “I officially can’t disagree with anything you do…” He then took out his phone and started to take pictures. Pointing to the police station, he continued: “If you want to take a break or use the restroom, come on in. There are also some really good restaurants around here if you get hungry.” He thanked us and walked back into the building.
Toward the end of the campaign, a man walked up and thanked us for doing the campaign. He mentioned that he lost his job because of Obamacare. The healthcare provider he worked for refused to comply with Obamacare, and closed down. As a result, he found himself out of work. The man was overjoyed to see us, and he thanked us again and left.
About ten minutes later, he came by again and gave us a gift card to 7-11. He told us to "keep up the good work and stay warm, brother.”
During the second campaign, a man drove by the campaign. He was so mad that he was crying. He started to spew the worst obscenities, as well as food from his mouth. He said that, “My wife has cancer and was not able to get coverage until this (Obamacare)! So **** you all!” The entire time he was spitting food from his mouth and shaking. He then sped away as people honked behind him to move.
Today we also saw some of the damage of Hurricane Sandy. We drove down a five mile strip of road directly next to the coast, and every single house was damaged. Many were put on stilts for major repairs, and others were catastrophically damaged. Some driveways led to houses which are no longer there; they were totally destroyed. Although most of the houses are almost finished being repaired, it was quite sobering to see the damage; more sobering still to know that this was only a small part of the damage! After dinner at a restaurant near the hotel, a couple in their sixties saw us pray after the meal. As we went to pay the bill, they grabbed one of our volunteers and gave him a coupon to put towards the meal.
Fifth Day
Today we went to Browns Mills and Berlin, New Jersey.
After the campaign, we walked back to the van and packed up to leave. Two blocks from the site, we pulled into a parking lot to turn around. We then noticed that a man was running towards the van; however, we then realized that we had seen him where we had left…three blocks behind. He ran three blocks to catch up with us! He approached the van to thank us.
He was enthused with the campaign and talked for a while. After a few minutes he thanked us again, we bade him goodbye and gave him a flyer, Confronting Religious Persecution in America.
During the second campaign, a woman walked up and thanked us for what we were doing. The lady then talked about how she tried to apply for Medicaid, but was over the limit. So she decided to apply for Obamacare, the “affordable care act,” but, ironically, she could not afford it. After a while, she realized the problems with Obamacare and thanked us for standing up for America. A few minutes later in the campaign a man drove by and shouted, “Thank God for logic!”
Sixth Day
Today we did a Traditional Marriage campaign in Berlin, New Jersey. We unfurled the banner, “God's Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman,” and held signs encouraging passers-by to “Honk For Traditional Marriage, 1 Man + 1 Woman!” We immediately noticed that there was a much smaller volume of honks in favor of the campaign. We also received a few violent reactions against the campaign. Most of the them were profanities.
During the second campaign, against Obamacare, a couple drove by, honked, and parked. They thanked us for what we were doing. “Are you all hungry,” asked the wife, “because you all can come over to our house for spaghetti, if you like!” We heartily accepted, and after the campaign, we were treated to dinner by the kind family.
Final Day
To finish the caravan we did two final campaigns on the way back to Pennsylvania. All of us wish we could continue the fight, but we must return home for now. May we all have the protection from Heaven to weather the crises. No matter what, we ask the grace to stay faithful. May Our Lady protect America against the scourge of socialism.