Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin used the popular teen novel “The Hunger Games” to describe the current state of the nation’s economy during her speech at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday.
In “The Hunger Games,” the fictional country of Panem, which formed from a post-apoplectic North America, is divided into 14 regions. Martin compared Wall Street and K Street to Panem’s capital region, which in the novels is depicted as totalitarian and far removed from reality.
“Crony, corrupted deals are standard operating procedures,” Martin said of the respective capitols.
She also criticized President Obama’s expensive and ineffective comprehensive healthcare law with the analogy, saying that “Our country’s equivalent to the Hunger Games’ tributes will be the patients who die under this law.”
Martin encouraged the audience to stand up for their principles and to be encouraged by those who do stand up for their convictions, like Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
“Our constitution is worth fighting for because freedom is worth fighting for,” she said. “And our principles are worth fighting for because our principles will be a better future for all Americans.”
Martin also spoke about how her organization is often “mocked, marginalized and maligned” by those on the left and establishment Republicans. She pointed out specifically Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), both of whom criticized Paul and other conservatives in the Senate for participating in a talking filibuster earlier this month.
“Patriots, stand with us and fight for freedom,” Martin said enthusiastically.
She ended by urging the audience to stand and fight for freedom and a better future like “Tea Party Patriots do around this country every day.”
“And we will stand and fight. We will fight with you,” Martin promised. “We will stand and fight for those who fight with us.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kZsV6ywyAM&w=560&h=315]
