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Ryan Croft mops his brow as he addresses the crowd during a rally he organized in West Asheville on March 13.

From Daily Planet Staff Reports

About 275 people squeezed into a “We Surround Them” event on March 13 in West Asheville — in conjunction with other such gatherings across the country — as part of a political movement that opposes the alleged sharp shift toward socialism of the United States government.

The movement, conceived by Glenn Beck, a conservative nationally sundicated radio and television talk show host, seeks to restore traditional American values and observe a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

The program began with the audience viewing a “live” hour-long broadcast of Beck’s special programming for the occasion on a projection television set up in a conference room at the Holiday Inn on Smoky Park Highway.

In the second hour of the program, local rally organizer Ryan Croft spoke of his aspirations for the movement locally, fielded questions from the audience and encouraged neighbors to meet over their kitchen tables to discuss their concerns about America’s political problems. Later, a number of the rally atttendees gathered for a scheduled fund-raising dinner.

Beck later christened the movement the 9/12 Project, consisting of nine principles and 12 value. Beck said he trusts the military more than any other section of the United States today. He introduced two U.S. war veterans injured in action whoy told of the challenges they face.

Beck also interviewed Ben Sherwood, author of “The Survivor’s Club.” Sherwood said the top factor in his study of people who survived ordeals is a faith in God. The author also said survivors tend to share a faith in family and in friends.

Beck noted to his viewers that “You are not alone” in feeling disaffected from today’s government. “Our government told us to go shopping.” Instead, Beck recommended that those who are concerned take today’s worldwide economic crisis as a signal to “reconnect with your family and friends and values and principles.

Beck recommended that people start meeting with their friends around their kitchen tables to discuss what is happening in the U.S. politically.

For inspiration, he recommended reading “The 5,000-Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen and “The Real George Washington (American Classic Series” by Jay A. Parry.

“Leap” is billed as a review of the political, economic, and social principles that every civilization must follow in order to become-or remain-a free people.

“Washington” seeks to explain why, after two centuries, George Washington remains one of the most beloved figures in U.S. history. The book claims to answer that question by giving readers a close look at the man who became the “father of our country” and the first American oresident. However, rather than focus on the interpretations of historians, the book tells much of his story in his own words.

Politically, Beck is an admirer of the late President Reagan, and the talk-show host often states the mantra that “Government is not the answer; government is the problem.” Beck said he believes that individuals should take the responsibility upon themselves to solve their problems. The Asheville crowd frequently cheered or applauded Beck’s comments.

Beck closed by noting that “you are born with an equal opportunity — not a guaranteed result.” He characacterized Americans as “burying their heads in the sand on 9/10, “running around in fear” on 9/11 and “the together people” on 9/12. Beck said he would like to see the 9/12 “can-do” spirit return. He asked his audience to discuss what’s going on in the U.S. politically in what he sees as its slide into socialism and to “meet again in six months” with his next message to the movement.

Following the Beck program, Croft, the Asheville organizer, asked the crowd to reorganize its chairs in a circle around him as he explained that “out of demand, we organized this.” He paid to reserve the motel ballroom out of his own pockets and was amazed at the turnout, Croft noted.

“It’s not unreasonable to think we can accomplish  great things without starting in our own homes,” he said in refererence to Beck’s request. “We’ve already got the momentum.”

Croft added, “We shouldn’t be focused so much on our enemies ... By doing this, you invite disaster to come in behind you ... It’s critical we address our liabilities first ... Give ourselves time to grow. Slow is smooth — and smooth is fast. Go slow enough to achieve smoothness.”

He stressed, “This is not a group of activists — this is a group of people with influence, with businesses, jobs and families ... We have everything we need to solve every problem ... We’re not Baptists. We’re not Republicans ... We’re Americans!”

Further, Croft said, “I would hope we can start small first.” And, even though Beck’s program is over for the night, the 9/12 Project has just started. “Government moves too slow. It’s not because they’re bad people. There’s too few of them, too many of us and too much going on.”

In speaking of the government, Croft asserted that “they don’t respect us ... We need to promise each other to stop being consumers and start being producers. You’re life is designed around production, but that is what’s wrong with us.”

He urged the rally’s attendees to “got into any of these stores around our town and pick up an item and see where it’s from.”

“China!” several people in the crowd murmered.

“You guys make me proud and honored to be among you,” Croft said. “You guys get it. You’re not ‘sheep-le.’”
Next, Croft stated that “we’re under attack. Socialism has come in” the nation. “In order for us to survive — they’re coming for your stuff, so if you have anything, I’d encourage you to protect yourself.”

As for his hopes for change, “it happens one handshake at a time ... We can network.”

In speaking personally, Croft noted that he is on a civil witness list “and there’s no engineering firm that would touch me ... My wife and I don’t spend a day that we don’t cry over the loss of that dream .. We reinvent ourselves.”

As for the rally and the 9/12 project, Croft said, “This is it .. This is not part of my plan, but here I am — and this is what I’m going to do.”

He said one way to unite project participants is to invite one another into each other’s homes. Croft said the local group plans to keep in touch via the Internet and through more traditional media, such as radio. He promised that all telephone numbers of participants would be kept confidential.

“I know you don’t have a problem with America, just a problem with the direction we’re going.”

Croft said those at the rally were guided by similar principles. “I consider this (rally) history ... This is something people have never done before ... We’ve never been here before, so this is history that none of your would slight.”

In a question-and-answer session that followed, various crowd members also took the opportunity to express their opinions. Several people urged the attendees to read or re-read the founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers.

Asheville activist Bernard Carman asserted that “the government has a duty to follow the law” and he lamented that federal spending appears clearly violates that admonition. Carman, a former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Buncombe County, is now active with Liberty Asheville, which bills itself as a nonpartisan group that is concerned with issues including abiding by the Constitution and individual liberty in general.

A woman who described herself as a mother said, “They’re teaching our children socialism in the school system.” She urged parents fight back by teaching their children themselves.

As several attendees expressed concern about an impending economic collapse of the U.S., Croft said, “The fall is coming. We can isolate ourselves as a community from it.”

John Ford said, “We are ‘We the People.’ We’re not ‘We the Republicans.’ We’re not ‘We the Democrats.’ There’s the saying, ‘If you can’t beat them, join ‘em — and then beat them.’” The crowd laughed at Ford’s levity.

Carman said, “I’d like everyone to consider this isn’t a left-right thing, or Republican-Democrat. This is really a battle for liberty. Think outside the normal box and you might see the light.”

In a reference to the 9/12 Project, Croft said, “The differences we have can’t be used against us because we’ve got the principles.”