Randall Terry came to perform an Operation Rescue--with Alan Keyes in tow. I'm not sure who was rescued, but I did notice that they were very good at getting arrested, pushing around strollers with blood-drenched plastic dolls, and publicly displaying graphic images of aborted fetuses--on trucks, on airplane banners, and on posters. They were also pretty good at pissing off the locals. 

Terry and Keyes promised an army of protesters 20,000 strong, that would line the streets surrounding campus. Terry said, "My goal, and my challenge to everyone, is to create such a political mud pit here that Obama chooses to not walk through it in order to speak."  

I wanted Randall to tell you how that worked out for him, but he was a little busy this morning what with the arraignment and all, so I'll have to fill you in. I'm not so good with the math, but I don't think 300 equals 20,000. Even still, I can see how 300 angry white people (plus Alan Keyes) holding pictures of cut up fetuses and calling random passersby "murderers" is jarring. The media sure liked it. The protesters got loads of press coverage. Locally, the police handed out "No Trespassing" signs so that the people who actually live on the street where the out-of-towners were camped could have them arrested if they stepped onto private property. I saw one guy interviewed who was running his sprinklers. With a twinkle in his eye, he told a reporter that the water was nourishing his lawn. And the sidewalk. 

I've been a bit busy in April and May, so I didn't get a chance to watch much of the coverage. What I did see concentrated more on whether Notre Dame was committing mortal sin with the invitation or whether the anti-Obama Catholics were committing mortal hypocrisy. Guess which one I pick.