1||On August 28, 2010, Glenn Beck hosted the “Restoring Honor” rally for his fans, adherents of the tea party and conservative movements and, nominally, for the benefit of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. It brought out thousands of supporters, conservative entertainers, Republican politicians and even some on the religious right. Here’s a look at those who think America needs some sprucing up.
Glenn Beck kicks off the rally at the Lincoln Memorial.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
2||Gerald Bestrom dressed up as Abraham Lincoln for the event. Like many tea party events before it, a number of men came dressed as Revolutionary War heroes or the Founding Fathers.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
3||Former “Saturday Night Live” star Victoria Jackson poses with William Temple of Georgia, who dressed as Patrick Henry. Jackson, an ardent Obama opponent since 2008, has released a YouTube video that is on the verge of going viral that warns the American public of “a communist living in the White House.”||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
4||Ruth Runnels from Emory, Texas, posed in her shirt that read, “Truth Is Not Hate.” Though organizers banned signs to avoid negative press coverage, many attendees wore T-shirts and buttons to express their political leanings.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
5||Chuck Norris arrives in the VIP section for Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally on August 28, 2010. Norris made a big splash for his support of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee during the 2008 GOP primary, and has since supported many conservative and tea party candidates.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
6||An Americans for Prosperity T-shirt on offer at the Glenn Beck “Restoring Honor” rally hits back at claims that AFP is corporate funded or a front for Big Oil. A recent New Yorker article chronicled the conservative Koch brothers’, who own an oil conglomerate, vast ties to tea party groups and, in particular, AFP.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
7||John Hagee (right) gives an interview to a web reporter in the tea party movement. Hagee is is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational charismatic church with more than 19,000 active members. His support for Sen. John McCain in 2008 got the candidate in trouble after some anti-Catholic statements of Hagee’s emerged.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
8||Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to the crowd at “Restoring Honor.”||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
9||St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa introduces Albert Pujols, a Cardinals first baseman, at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally. LaRuusa described his first baseman as “a real-life hero.” Both men faced criticism for appearing at the rally.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
10||St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols received the Hope Award at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally for his success off the field.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
11||Glenn Beck looks out at the crowd at his “Restoring Honor” rally from back stage.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
12||Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally as part of her work as a conservative activist. She’s an outspoken advocate against abortion rights and same sex marriage. Sarah Palin trumpeted King’s attendance on Friday after other members of the King family criticized the timing of Beck’s rally.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
13||Crowds lined up around the Reflecting Pool to hear speakers at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally. Estimates still vary as the number of attendees, but most sources agree that it was quite well-attended.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
14||Adam and Christine Washburn of Oceanside, CA say they arrived a full two days early and camped out to reserve front row seats for the rally. Many of those in the front row arrived days in advance to secure their seating; others observers reported seeing people camped out overnight on Friday as well.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
15||Richard A. Hellman presents his Defender of Israel award — outside the auspices of the rally — to Sarah Palin. Hellman is President of Christians’ Israel Public Action Campaign headquartered in Washington D.C. Hellman and his organization oppose the formation of a Palestinian state and lobby against the two-state solution in Congress.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
16||John Rich, a country music singer and unabashed support of Republican politicians (including former Senator Fred Thompson, John McCain and Rep. Zach Wamp), was also in attendance at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
17||Glenn Beck speaks to the crowd to mark the end of the “Restoring Honor” rally.||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
