St. Paul In Stark Contrast With Denver

Last week I was walking in what I referred to as an alien landscape. Amid the Democrats, the greens, and the protesters, I observed as an outsider. I assumed that I would, naturally, be more at home here among all the Republicans in St. Paul.

The settings are markedly different. From the type of facility to the placement of entrances, from the media party style to the ratio of suits and ties, it's clearly a new week. There are fewer peace vans, more chauffeured cars. There are more coffee shops, but fewer with free internet. There are more American flags and fewer recycle signs. And everywhere, all around you, in every store, restaurant, nook and cranny: ties.

It's a different atmosphere here, but I still managed to find a lot of the same things. Crazy protesters are everywhere, for example. There are plenty of ill-informed voters to speak to, as well as very politically engaged people in every facet of life here in the Twin Cities.

Peaceful Protesters in Denver

One big difference, though, is in the clashes with police. Yesterday I got a snoot full of tear gas in the aftermath of a riot. The city was locked down, no one allowed in, for what I understand was over two hours. There have been hundreds of arrests. I saw dozens of protesters taken away in those zip-tie-looking handcuffs. The sound of sirens was the day's musical score, and the streets were, by the end of the day, littered with signs, water bottles, flyers and bandanas.

One might think that the Republicans were cracking down like gangbusters. The truth is, though, one would have to think again.

Last week, Tommy Christopher and I came across the Westboro Baptist Church protesters. While we were asking them questions, they were confronted by a number of the participants from Sunday's protests in Denver. They were young, and they were well-behaved. In fact, they were scrupulously, painstakingly behaved. They knew the rules to the letter. They followed them meticulously. I should know, I saw them first-hand.

It's a different story this week. The protesters I saw yesterday, many with the same groups from Denver, went out of their way to break the rules. They block people, they block roads, they block highway exit ramps. They march on streets where they have no permits, and throw bottled water at police. They spit on elderly delegates.

Not so peaceful protesters in St. Paul / Photo by Getty Images

So in Denver, many were careful to get along, and in St. Paul, most are determined not to. Maybe they feel they didn't get enough media attention last week. It's possible. However, I have my own theory.

Last week, the papers and blogs went on about the peaceful, quiet protests in Denver. So much for recreating 68, right? This week, the coverage shows a crack-down. Hundreds arrested, clashes with police, etc. Keep watching as the spin changes. Soon you'll be hearing about how the Republicans treated free speech poorly and the Democrats were open and fair. It it so far-fetched to think these groups coordinated to create this meme? Behave in Denver, get arrested in St. Paul, and you get to demonize the Republicans. Doesn't sound so far-fetched to me. And I should know, I saw them, after all, first-hand.