Occupy Portland’s useful idiots staged their street theatre even more convincingly than maybe even they knew today. At one point during their planned civic blackmail stops at various businesses, they were either beguiled by or indeed staged a mob friendly bit of theatre. Steve captures the story in a email:

Victoria,

Just before 3pm someone claiming to be a spokesperson for Regence Blue Cross told the Occupy crowd that Regence was resigning from ALEC because of its undemocratic attempts to derail national health care reform.  The LiveStream lady is giddy that they got an ALEC member to resign on live TV.

I checked with a Regence spokesperson – that guy was a FAKE. Not sure if someone in Occupy did it or someone else.

Another Regence person told me Regence is not even a member of ALEC, but the Occupiers apparently didn’t know that.

What fun!!!

 

Meantime, Occupiers tried to scare off Regence customers. Another 5th Listener today, who was NOT scared, reported they had their doors locked at their downtown office.

UPDATE: He wrote me tonight with more detail on his encounter this morning:

At around 11:15AM on a Wednesday morning, I couldn’t figure out why the Regence building was fully locked down.  

I just wanted to get inside to make my insurance payment.

After trying two sets of doors, all locked, I was finally able to squeeze inside after following an employee.

A security guard immediately walks up to me inside and says “May I help you?”

I say “I’m just trying to pay my bill.”

I get inside and ask the receptionist giving me a receipt if there’s a problem.

She says “Just today.”

A lightbulb goes on.  I say “Is it the occupy thing?”
She rolls her eyes, says “Yes” and we both agree Portland has changed.

Not long afterward, news reports indicate the building was swarmed by protestors.

What was this again? Oh, yes, a “family friendly” event.