Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tea Party Tea Party Inspired by Racial Fears
Posted by Nathaniel Hoffman on Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 11:44 AM
When the majority of American voters selected Barack Obama as President of the United States of America last year, we caught a brief glimpse of post-racial America.
It lasted a few weeks, at least.
But the racial tension that has accompanied each major period of American history is again emerging under a new guise: The Tea Party/9-12 Project/Continental Congress '09 marches this weekend represent the new racist vanguard in America, uniting the anti-Muslim sentiments which followed the 9-11 attacks, Joe Wilson's singular obsession with undocumented immigrants receiving health care, and though in some ways subconsciously, a reaction to the nation's first black president.
- BW
- Kid Birthers?
These Tea Party groups are only months old, and yet they have attracted an intense following, spurred by AM talk radio and the John Birch Society, which has been race baiting for decades and had literature for sale in two merch tents in Boise's Capitol Park on Saturday. A few common themes unite the Tea Partiers, as far as I can tell: some evolving form of Christian patriotism, an aversion to paying taxes, fear of police with an equal and contradictory adoration of the law and the military, and a personal reading of the Constitution and Founding Fathers that borders on idolatry.
There are some fringe elements too: Birthers who continue to question Obama's citizenship, some 9-11 conspiracy theorists, vaccine skeptics, gun nuts and, yes, organic food nazis (at this point I use the term generously).
- BW
- Really?
But the vague demands of the mob—we're mad, don't tax us, give us our country back, follow the Constitution—belie its true motivation.
The casual and ignorant use of socialism and Communism and Marxism at these rally's have strong historical precedents, including the official red baiting of Martin Luther King, Jr., spurred some 50 years ago by the same Birchers.
- BW
- This man demanded to see an ID from a reporter. A reporter declined with thanks.
Maureen Dowd has made a strong argument this morning that the rabid opposition to Obama is in fact race-based and not, as it pretends, policy based. You can easily write off the racist signs—Obama in white face as the Joker, show us the birth certificate, free ticket back to Kenya—as outliers. But their acceptance at these rallies is widespread and welcomed, including by elected officials like Emmet Rep. Steve Thayn, Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna who stopped by on his way to a ground breaking for a federal stimulus-funded school project in Wilder.
Here's how Dowd puts it:
"I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer — the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids — had much to do with race.I tended to agree with some Obama advisers that Democratic presidents typically have provoked a frothing response from paranoids — from Father Coughlin against F.D.R. to Joe McCarthy against Truman to the John Birchers against J.F.K. and the vast right-wing conspiracy against Bill Clinton.
But Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq — convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it."
I am not saying that each marcher on Saturday in Boise is a racist. But whether they realize it or not, the leaders of this national protest movement are using race and immigration and terrorism to fire up a specific base of working class Christians, even when it is against their personal interest to march. Expanding socialized medicine, lowering middle class taxes and opening up vast new channels of communication with their government will benefit the largely working class attendees at the Tea Party rallies, yet they prefer to find unity in their collective fear or who is in charge.
- BW
- Silent counter protestors at Saturday's 9-12 Project march.
A small counter protest moved about in their midst on Saturday morning. Some 50 people dressed in black and sang the National Anthem, but otherwise listened silently, holding signs supporting the presidency, health care reform and reiterating Obama's arguments in his Wednesday night address to Congress that American values include compassion, which complements, rather that contradicts our rugged individualism.
There is no solution to this fault line in American society. But let's stop pretending that these are just "angry tax payers" or "Constitutionalists" and get to the root of the divide. And perhaps, after four years of moderate reforms that may include lowering their insurance premiums and giving them more charter schools, the mobs will be able to see past skin color.
Comments (81)
Showing 1-50 of 81
I find myself almost as offended by the woman holding the "respect the Presidency" sign as I am of some of the more incendiary signs held by the Tea Party folk.
While I am a card carrying Liberal (it's a nice wallet sized card, by the way, with red, white, and blue lettering and a bunch of flags), generally like Mr Obama, and happily admit I voted for him (and may do so again, assuming he doesn't drag us deeper into war in Afghanistan and/or elsewhere), respect is something which has to be earned every day. America, at least in theory, has no aristocracy to which we all should kowtow and I reserve the right to continually question anyone in authority, up to and including the President.
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Upon reflection, "offended" is probably the wrong word. It's overused and virtually meaningless these days.
I'd substitute "annoyed".
So let me get this straight. You are going to combat the "casual and ignorant use of socialism" with the casual and ignorant use of the term "racist"? Do you really believe that Hillary would have received a pass, had she won the primary and ultimately the presidency? Or would you be chanting "sexism"?
It may be true that there is historical precedent for labeling someone a socialist, in order to discredit them out of hand. However, this is only a specific example of a more general tactic that has a much deeper history. That is, the tactic of labeling a group or person with whatever adjective is most offensive to society at the given time. This was true of the term "socialist" in the last century, of the term "witch" a few centuries before that, and I'm sure, true of any number of slanders going all the way back to ancient Rome and beyond.
To dismiss what I believe are legitimate concerns by pointing to the fringe, is to say a book is not worth reading because the edges are frayed. Had you taken the time to understand why people are opposed, and in fact, scared of the health care plan (not to mention the bailouts which have resulted in a government-owed majority of shares in a major car company), you might have been able to see past the fringe. Alas, we are left with superficial criticism that leverages the country's fear of racists, more than any marcher leveraged the country's fear of socialism.
You and Dowd are fools (or worse) to speculate on why someone would want to know the truth about Obama's citizenship. I want to know too.
I'm not a racist. POTUS is required to be a natural-born citizen. The same type of COLB document that Obama posted online is available to non-natural-born citizens (adopted, native etc). How do we know if he meets the criteria? We don't.
We need to see his long-form or "vault" birth certificate. He works for you and for me. You may not care, but I do. Who are you to say I don't have an honorable right to know that our POTUS is constitutionally eligible?
Wonderful article, thank you. Anyone who purports the hatred of our President did not start with racism is lying to themselves. My mother, Aunt and I are heartbroken over how he and his office are being treated. I am heartbroken that my son was NOT GIVEN THE OPTION to see the message from the President in the school with his classmates and the support of his Teacher and the Administration. Today, I am ashamed to be a Georgian. I am hearthbroken when I see my Representatives REFUSE TO REFUTE the lies about the President's citizenship, his religious beliefs, and his death panels. By remaining silent in the face of these lies they concede to them!!!
Good grief...What has happened to my Idaho. I am born and raised in Burley and lately the misinformation and race baiting coming out of Boise leaves me speechless. What sort of nonsense caused you to write this drivel? Perhaps the successes of the tea party folks is getting your kind nervous. Racisim? COW MANURE
Thanks Nathaniel for having the courage to put your name to such a thoughtful article. I especially liked the quotes from Maureen Dowd--the Pulitzer prize winning columnist and New York Times op ed contributor. Her characterization of the "shrieking lunacy of summer" captures the composition of these extremists.
I voted for Obama and will do so again. Our country is fortunate to have such a thoughtful, diplomatic and intelligent leader. I hope the moderate voice of the silent majority can be heard above the craziness of this summer.
And another thing. . .You're an idiot. Because of people like you. I may never vote for another black president. Why? Because I don't want a pres that I cannot criticize without being called racist.
See how you lefties are causing the very problem you whine about? If you really want to see racism go away a la Martin Luther King, SHUT UP ABOUT THE RACISM THING!
Good Grief...I was born and raised in Burley and cannot believe the misinformation and hate speech coming out of Boise..Where do you get the "race card" stuff? Let me guess....Perhaps the Tea Party folks are beginning to make you nervous. Well you should be nervous because we are on fire and are out to make our version of CHANGE. Racisim? COW MANURE..
The Obama-as-Joker image was the product of a LIBERAL, ARAB, MUSLIM artist (Firas Alkhateeb)--please don't repeat the fiction that this was 'racist'.
Since Islam is patrilineal--and Obama Sr, was a Muslim--that makes Obama a Muslim...or, if he professes Christianity, an apostate--punishable by DEATH, under Shari'a law. Not something that will win him favors with, say, King Abdulla (to whom he bowed, in serious breach of Presidential protocol).
Illegal aliens have no business in the U.S., nor should they recieve AMERICAN TAXPAYERS'-FUNDED healthcare. Mostly, the 'hug an illegal immigrant' movement is the product of the construction and real estate sectors, who demand constant population growth in order to justify housing construction, along with associated infrastructure like roads and schools. The fact that mass immigration (illegal, or otherwise) is THE preventable cause of urban sprawl is lost on 'green' liberals.
Obamacare will NOT give Americans 'socialized' medicine. Rather, it's a multibillion dollar porkbarrel for Obama's corporate donors, like Microsoft (medical records), HMOs and pharmaceutical companies. Obamacare also has the frightening social worker snoop provision, allowing unanounced 'visits' by social workers, without warrants, or complaints. Obama obviously has as little regard for the 4th Amendment as he does the 1st, 2nd and 10th.
As far as 'Islamophobia', none of us are stupid: we can all remember that it was MUSLIM terrorists who murdered 3000 people on 9/11. Not athiests, Christians, Jews, neo-pagans, or even Satanists--but MUSLIMS. No amount of politically-correct equivocation about religions can erase the fact that Islam, especially the Salafi/Wahhabi variant, is the only religion promising mass murderers an orgy with 72 virginal prostitutes of indeterminate gender in the afterlife. Americans have a right to be queasy at the prospect of a Muslim in the Oval Office.
Hey Captain Steve, Hawaii doesn't have a long form birth certificate and the entire supposed controversy has been proven false. You probably know that. But his citizenship isn't actually the issue, is it? You are simply trying to continue to smear Obama for whatever reason.
Those Socialists -- or is it Muslims? -- must have been pretty smart to get a birth announcement for Obama in a Hawaiian newspaper 48 years ago. Pretty good planning, huh?
I have now been to 3 tea parties. Before this year I never protested before in my life. If the three tea party protests that I attended in California and the people that I spoke to are any indication (and I suspect they are) race has nothing to do with it. It is all about loving our country and the prenciples that it was founded on: limited federal government, free enterprise and individual rights and freedoms. Read artcile 10 of the constitution. I never consider the color of a politician's skin when deciding how I feel about their actions. If 1% of tea party protesters are racisit, I would be surprised, but you can't let a few nuts take away from the message and feelings of millions. I was at a tea party protest in LA yesterday and a guy was standing on the corner with a KKK sign. I am more inclined to think that he showed up with that sign to discredit the tea party, not to support it. And let me tell you, we did make him feel welcome.
Those of you who disparage the protesters, I have a question for you: How many have you attended? How many participants have you talked to? Or are you basing this on the few in tens of thousands who show up with inappropriate signs?
My sign said "Attn Washington: You have run out of our money" I think we can all agree on that.
I thought this article was very good and an accurate analysis of the racism that exists at the heart of the tea bagger movement. I was shocked by the hateful comments in response to this article. You people are un-American and hate mongers. I love Boise but when I read this type of hate speech I am so glad that I don't live in Idaho anymore. My town did not hold a tea bagger (KKK) rally thank God.
PomerGyle, I think you confuse "respect" with "agree." Of course you can disagree with the President all you want to, and say so as much as you want to, but it can/should be done with the respect the office deserves. Anybody in that office. I held my nose and insisted on that same kind of respect for Bush because I believe so deeply in the principle that we MUST remain civil in our disagreements, or we'll lose what we've founded and nutured.
Racial fears indeed. We 'old white crackers' are not deserving of health care, even after most of us worked all our lives since the age of 15 and probably paid enough taxes to support two other families.
Yes there is 'racial fear' because this WH is anti-white.
But we knew that before didn't we?
It is pretty much a poor indication that you have no argument for all the bad stuff this guy is doing when the whole theme of your article is that there were 1.5 M 'racists' on the WH lawn yesterday.
What a crock.
Tea-baggers, racists, nuts, nazis, mob, ignorant, rabid, lunatic, frantic... wow... hate-speech much?
Stop crying racist, open up your mind and actually take the time to listen instead of making wrong assumptions. It's people like you who refuse to let the walls of segregation crumble. You all claim to say you're not racist, yet you can't allow the thought that a person can disagree with someone purely on the idea -- not color! You make me sick! Pure and simple, this is yellow journalism at it's best.
Racist, ignorant, un-American...absolutely. But also an epic FAILURE...thank God.
The official Washington DC Fire Department estimate says only 60,000 showed up at that anti-American Insurance Industry rally yesterday.
That's less than 1/50th of ONE-PERCENT of Americans.
Looks like the so-called "sleeping giant" turns out to be a "comatose midget".
Racism has nothing to do with the tea party protest movemant. If a white president and a white congres (oh wait a minute, congress is mainly white) were about to implement the same socialist policies, I would still object. Stop plying the race card you biggotted, self deluded, peabrained moonbat. Go live in France or Canada or better yet somewhere in Africa or possibly the Palestinian territories and stay the f*** out of my pockets and my doctor's office.
Elmo. . .You're wrong on every level. Hawaii very much does have two types of forms. A "certification" of live birth and a "certificate" of live birth. You should do research somewhere other than dailyKos. You even fail the common sense test.
If there is nothing there, why has he spent well in excess of a million to avoid providing "discovery" in court? Why hide his documents?
And he said in his book "Dreams" that he found his birth certificate. Let's see it?
There were two court cases last week. One will have a hearing again on Monday (tomorrow). Honest inquirers can see more here.
http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/blog1/
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/11/why…
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The 9-12 Washington Tea party turnout was incredible. Read the truth here.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&…
The LA turnout was great too. . .I know. . .I was there.
And now, new evidence that Nancy Pelosi knew oBama wasn't eligible. She signed a DNC registration document for oBama without the usual constitutional eligibility statement.
Check this out. It’s the DNC’s nomination documents (yes plural) for Obama to run for president. Only one is normally filed. In Obama’s case, two were filed. The difference between the two (both signed by Pelosi) is that one omits the standard verbiage swearing to the constitutional eligibility of the candidate.
Check this out.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&…
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So if I'm white, and I dislike and distrust and disagree with Pelosi and Reid more than I dislike, distrust and disagree with Obama, what does that make me? Am I a racist against my own race? Your logic has a huge hole in it. Your bias is evident, and your editors and publishers should think twice before printing any more of your sophomoric drivel.
The incident that occurred in Congress by Rep. Joe Wilson R-NC, illustrates the consequences of a blurring line between illegal immigration and health care. Our politicians have been alerted to the angry voices of the American people. For once they have disregarded the business campaign contributors and all the cloaked gifts given for services rendered by special interest lobbyists. Millions of US citizens are enraged with the status quo buying favors from our representatives that has led to our wilting economy. Today speaking on behalf of Washington committees on health care, the lawmaking emphasized that illegal aliens cannot access the new health reform package, that any person applying will be checked through government databases.
E-Verify might be implemented for this very issue, that it has shown in the majority of cases remarkable successes in remove illegal alien workers from the working environment. E-Verify can solve this problem and bring sanity back to immigration enforcement. E-VERIFICATION OF EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN WORKER MUST BE MADE PERMANENT? NOT JUST VOLUNTARY POLICY, BUT AS A FULL FORCE OF OPERATION CARRYING STRICT PENALTIES. This operation will work under federal policies? But what about state laws? California as an example is a Sanctuary state for millions of illegal immigrants and their families? Other border states are also occupied by large proportions of unlawful populations of foreign nationals?
This last year has culminated in huge financial losses in California caused by millions of low income illegal aliens, which has created a third world community within the United States. There must be federal measures to bring under control, massive spending benefits for people who have no right from benefiting from those who come here legally or were born here. How can any public health care option work at a state level, when states like California ignore federal law, regarding financial refuge to indigent people? Our own people remain homeless and in many cases without hope, when legislators have prioritized, health care, education an overloaded jail system and easy welfare money for illegal immigrants?
The once golden state has been using taxpayer money, to support illegal aliens, when the same expenditures should have been adopted for a collapsing infrastructure. Highways, schools, tunnels, bridges and dams in a dangerous state of disrepair? Our legislators in many cases have been seduced by lobbyists and should be banned from any contact with our politicians. This will never happen, but something must be done? Millions have been spent on derailing the health care reform currently and in the past, as has immigration enforcement. Rescinding 287(g) federal training for local police enforcement of immigration laws, the NO MATCH LETTER and the cutting back on ICE raids on obnoxious businesses using foreign workers.
The order to crush E-verify was given to Sen.Harry Reid, Speaker Pelosi, Janet Napolitano, but narrowly survived in the Senate chambers. Both political parties are equally to blame for not enforcing the 1986 Immigration Control & Reform Act that was inundated with fraud and a desire to weaken the laws. Now they want to rescind that law, offering yet another reform package that will never function? Let’s not kid ourselves! Huge veiled forces are at work to import as much cheap labor as possible with no restraints, lowering wages and an unconscionable burden on taxpayers.
DON'T LET THE POWERS IN WASHINGTON WHITEWASH THE FACTS! DEMAND THE ORIGINAL DESIGNED FENCE AND THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF E-VERIFY, 287 (g), THE SAVE ACT AND AS WRITTEN, THE 1986 SIMPSON/MAZZOLI BILL AND AMEND THEM IF NEED BE? NO MORE IMMIGRATION REFORM? DO THE JOB THEY WERE VOTED FOR? CALL YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121 AND DEMAND THESE LAWS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE? MORE ANSWERS FOUND AT NUMBERSUSA & JUDICIAL WATCH.
When you have no answer for the American people who rallied in Washington DC and throughout the country Saturday - you turn to this? RACE! It's about policy, spending, redistribution of hard-earned wealth, commonfolk who don't want to be taxed even more to support people who believe the American Dream is a handout! People pumping put baby after baby, won't work, collect welfare, spend their $1000 a month food stamps on chips, soda, candy and snack cakes, then turn around and use their cash assistance to buy a wide screen TV. My paycheck is not the governments piggy bank! My paycheck is meant to go to my family - supporting us, paying our bills, AND OMG PAYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE TO COVER THEM!
Getting sick and tired of race cardism. I've been to 2 tea parties and 2 THM in Tennesee. Not a single bit of racism towards Obama. Was he elected so they could play this stupid race card over and over. It's getting tired. 900 people packed a THM here. Never seen so many educated people with sections of the actual bill HR 3200 in their hand. Blacks were also protesting. Even those pictures shown here to look like racism weren't. They were about the LONGFORM Birth certificate Obama has spent $1 million trying to keep hidden.
Face it, the actual number of 2 million protesters where opposing this terrible bill that I also have read, and the continuous lies Obama tells regarding it. None gives a D#$% what race Obama is.
Racism will not go away until people are called on it.
Substantive disagreements are one thing, birth certificate BS and ignorance of basic history and terminology (socialism & nazism for starters) are NOT true substantive criticisms of policy. Until there is substantive, intelligent, well-reasoned disagreement with the policies, based on truth not talk-radio rumor, racism is actually the LEAST insulting explanation for the behavior.
I just think it's funny that these people are called "teabaggers!" Does nobody know what that means...really??? wait, maybe it makes sense after all.
Again....i remember the quote:"The less you know....the more you believe!" Get to know more about what you're talking about, teabaggers, instead of believing the rhetoric of the Glenn Becks in the world who ultimately profit from their sheep following blindly along. Beck and Rush profit from your hysteria.
I was at the rally in Washington DC yesterday and of all the Anti-Obama sinage and whatnot that I saw, not a SINGLE one was about his race! They were all about his POLICIES! If you think it's unamerican to protest, GO READ THE FIRST AMENDMENT! I'm pretty offended by the misrepresentation that the liberals in the media want to put on this story, simply because they disagree with the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES!
Well you won't hear substantive disagreements in the media, but I've heard hours of it by real people, at real meetings, holding and reading the real bill, and I have read it and it's scary. Not only is it a ridiculous bill concerning health care, but I call it the Patriot Act II for the liberties it destroys. These THM down here were largely libertarian, slamming Bush and the Patriot Act also, and their liberties were their concern. They weren't here because of radio or anyone. I've never been so proud to get away fro the tube, and have real meetings with real people holding and discussing the real bill, with democrats, republicans, blacks, whites, and various ethnic groups. We can disagree with points in the bill, but don't let them fool you that the disagreements aren't real or based in fact. Get the bill online and read it yourself. Starting with the grandfather clause the ENDS existing coverage, unlike Obama's lies. If this bill doesn't go into effect for 4 years, why the fake rush? Because soon everyone will read it.
There are some fringe elements too: Birthers who continue to question Obama's citizenship, some 9-11 conspiracy theorists, vaccine skeptics, gun nuts and, yes, organic food nazis (at this point I use the term generously)...
Just so I get this correctly... the vaccine skeptics joined...
Dick Armey...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/12…
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/12/…
...and Rick Perry
http://www.rickperry.org/tea-party
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte…
for a march on Washington... HUH?? I'm so confused... Nigger please.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancest…
There is alot of love at these T parties, let's come together, away from the media, and discuss it. If you've never read a bill in your life, find HR 3200 online and read it. Obama's misrepresentation is astounding. It is actually easy reading, much of it in plain language, and few lines per page. Read it and you'll find yourself at the next tea party. If you hated the destruction of your liberties under Bush, read this bill. It is not the answer. There are great ideas however. The protests are legitimate. The country is not this divided over race I promise you. This is not an election, what good would it do for 2 million people to march to Washington if they just didn't like Obama's race? They are trying to divide us. Nothing this divisive should be rammed through. Let's take our time. Everyone wants improved healthcare. Peace!
http://media.www.themichiganjournal.com/me…
Since Gardasil, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine came on the market, its maker Merck & Co. has been pushing for a mandatory vaccination for all women in the United States. Their efforts were fruitful, at least among immigrant women. Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Service passed the HPV vaccination requirement for girls and women ages 11 to 26 who want to apply for American citizenship. But keep in mind, this vaccination isn't required for American women.
Since 2006, there have been 21 reported deaths and nearly 10,000 adverse reactions to it, including miscarriages, severe outbreaks of genital warts and cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that often results in paralysis. Worst-case scenario, it seems as though Merck & Co. are using these people as guinea pigs for Gardasil. We hate to cry conspiracy…but we can't think of a positive way to end that sentence.
No Racism Here...
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor…
http://austinist.com/2007/01/19/perrys_vis…
38 second Youtube video showing the actual teaparty count. Peeps can see for themselves. It was HUUUUGGGGE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPud1TeubM…
I am the person carrying the "I respect the presidency" sign. Growing up in the 1950's I learned--and still believe--the person duly elected to be our president deserves respect, not because they have earned it by their accomplishments, but because of the duty bestowed on him/her. In no way does that mean I agree with everything he does or says. My job as a citizen, campaign volunteer and voter is never to be a blind follower, but an attentive constituent ready to speak up. It also means I respect him enough to listen when he speaks to the country and to our school children. It is a response to the blast of "You Lie!" during a speech before Congress and the nation. The leader of our country should be given every opportunity to fulfill their mission of serving out their term with our support and respectful feedback.
Nathaniel - you just don't get it. The protests are NOT about race. You can project racism on it, but wouldn't it be better to maybe do your job and actually go find out what these people think? For example, *I* am a tea-party protester (not a "tea-bagger" as you like to snicker), and I am not a Christian -- in fact, I'm not religious at all. And I'm as far from being a racist as is possible -- I regard it as the lowest, crudest, most irrational form of primitive, tribal collectivism possible. And I am far from alone, so how do these cold, hard facts fit into your unprofessional fantasy?
Nataniel. . .good post. . .Here's how I see it. . . Lefties don't think. . .they feel. . .in this case, they "feel" like we are racially motivated. Of course they are quite wrong (as usual). As you and I know, our motives have nothing to do with race and everything to do with values and beliefs.
I am an "angry tax payer" and I don't give a rat's ass as to the color of our President's skin. You leftist race baiters need to stop this nonsense.
Obama is a socialist because he endorses socialist programs and policies. I assume he must be proud to be a socialist. So why all the fuss?
Good article. Scary comments (most of 'em, anyway). Thanks for speaking truth to wackos.
One thing not reported: the Teabaggers physically threatened us peaceful, quiet counter-protesters. One patted his gun and said to one of ours "give me a reason." So no, they don't care about dialogue. They care about their own paranoid fantasies, protecting their tiny world views, and their own selfish needs. That's about it.
The hypocrisy of tea party...
Is it socialism when Bush invested nearly $700 Billions in nationalizing the major banks? For all of you screaming about nationalized healthcare, where were your Tea Party protests last October when it was George W. pushing his socialistic policies?
Bush left us this financial mess. It was the Bush administration that bailed out AIG; it bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; it bailed out Citigroup; it bailed out Bear Stearns. And it was the Bush administration that pressed Congress to bail out Detroit automakers. The lack of conservative protests against Mr. Bush's own bailouts-and-spending-run-amok policies over the last eight years lends the Tea Party rallies an unfortunate partisan overtone.
A Grassroots Movement... FreedomWorks, the sponsor of today's event is a well-funded organization headed by a former politician named Dick Armey.
Its ironic watching Dick Armey march in Washington, D. C. against excessive government spending. Most of the money that funded Armey’s activism in the past was provided by tobacco, pharmaceutical and banking interests— It's also a little difficult to think of this effort as one initiated by the little guy when the group's leaders are paid corporate executive-level salaries, because it's really a corporate group. Forbes chairman and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes is a director of the group’s fundraising arm. In addition to Armey, FreedomWorks’s board includes James Burnley, transportation secretary during the Reagan administration; Richard Stephenson, founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America; and Bob Perry, founder of Perry Homes and a major donor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
The organization collected and spent more than $2 million in 2007, the most recent year for which tax returns are publicly available. Dick Armey, former U.S. House Majority Leader (R-TX), received $320,000 a year for working as the Chairman of FreedomWorks' board, according to FreedomWorks' most recent IRS filing. He received an additional $80,000 per year from its lobbying arm.
http://www.muckety.com/E8EAB2D45CC9D0E7CB2…
The fact that the Tea Parties were organized by conservatives (i.e. Dick Armey and Rick Perry) who are the ones responsible for the mess in the first place and who haven't to this day, taken responsibility for their own mistakes and the economic mess they created by letting George W Bush get away with his disastrous policies.
As for healthcare...whose interests does Dick protect?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/12/…
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2002/12…
The Tea Party protester are showing why the word "hypocrite" should be part of the dictionary definition.
You tea baggers stand and protest the very elements that would benefit your middle class perpetual status and you claim this has nothing to do with race? There is fear all over your faces (not to mention your ridiculous signs). Why on earth are you screaming socialism when you would be the very beneficiaries of the outcome of Obama's policies; policies, which, btw, are a throwback to your beloved Reagan's tax policies, but you don't know that because it is all TOO obvious that you do not read the very bills that you are protesting. What do you think that one day you will be in the wealthy 1% who received the biggest tax break in history during the Bush 'reign'? PUH-LEASE! Not by marching like sheep to the tune of the conservative shouters (herders) who actually go to work everyday and become millionaires on your clueless backs! This is the same process that took place during Reconstruction that caused poor whites to believe that free Blacks were really their problem. While the whites are busy trying (fruitlessly) to keep Blacks in "their place", the rich got richer. You people will never learn. This is pure and ut"capitalism" you continue to cry, I mean "fight" for will start to work in your favor.
I was at the protest. I did not see any police in their riot gear. And Mr. Nathaniel's pictures clearly show there was no "angry" crowd there. Why did you not call the police when the alleged "Teabaggers physically threatened us peaceful, quiet counter-protesters"? Hmmm....perhaps because it did not happen. If someone threatened me - I would have called the cops. Is your cause so righteous that you have to lie to support it?
yeah, because there's nothing wrong with the government we gave authority to to protect our freedom and property actually taking it away, now is there?
ENOUGH with the race card already! Yeah, there might be a few racists in the crowd, as in any crowd, but this movement has NOTHING to do with race. So knock it off already. 8 years of Bush piling shit on the Constitution, and a new President that promised to reverse it, but so far is doing nothing of the sort - this is the result! Wake up!!
Joe Wilson was right - Obama lied. Before the Democrat Party and the President demand decorum from member of the House and Senate, they need to appologize for the abuse of George Bush during his State of the Union speach to that joint session of Congress. The hypocracy that comes from the left is extrodinary.
Hoffman is nothing more than an unabashed Democrat/Statist propagandist. He is using nothing but ad Hominem attacks.
The people do not like the Presidents socialist health care.
The President is Black
Therefore the people are racists.
Like many Democrats he embraces the race card and attempt to delegitimize opponent's arguments against the liberal policies of the president by smearing them as racists.
In fact ONLY two people bring up the Presidents skin color, Hoffman and Dowd, by there OWN definition that makes them Racists for they do not care about the Presidents policies or political leanings, only his skin color.
This is a sign of desperation. Can't see it any other way. The idea that Obama's political opponents are motivated by racism will apparently now be "mainstreamed" into the Democratic party's talking points against conservatives, as proof by this article.
See Dems on playing the race card: 'You ain't seen nothin' yet'
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/0…
Funniest comment on this thread: "And another thing. . .You're an idiot. Because of people like you. I may never vote for another black president. Why? Because I don't want a pres that I cannot criticize without being called racist.
See how you lefties are causing the very problem you whine about? If you really want to see racism go away a la Martin Luther King, SHUT UP ABOUT THE RACISM THING!"
It's by "Captain Steve" and it's near the top sort of.
I think it's hilarious. He's basically saying "I am not a racist! And to prove it, I'll never vote for a black man again!!1!" Essentially contradicting himself.
Like he would have anyways.
I'm not going to go all analytical and structure logical arguments about this b/c I don't have time. I don't have time to read the plethora of posts here, but I did skim over them. I saw a lot of "Teaparties aren't about racism. blah blah blah".
Instead I'm going to give my gut feeling opinion. Joe Wilson's outburst IS about racism. The birther movement IS about racism. The constant smearing and delegitimization of our President IS about racism. The constant disrespect for the office of the Presidency by the right-wing IS about racism. And the Tea Parties? Yes they ARE also about racism.
You people make me sick!
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