Definitely true, and a lot of people are trying constructive ways to make a positive difference. If those people were also trying before Barack was elected, it does give them an extra load of credibility, because things did not at all become suddenly frightening or bad when he was elected (based on data and objective analysis at least.) Waving a "don't tread on me" sign suddenly in 2009-2010 and getting most of one's "information" from Hannity and Glenn Beck does not make one a positive citizen of social and political change, in my book. It just makes them angry addicts of a profit-driven hyperbole machine. Thumbs has tried to be the kindly tea-party sympathizer from time to time, and I appreciate that more than some of my colleagues. It's still true that he dodges a lot of serious questions and issues and keeps stating that the media only focuses on the goofballs of the tea party.
agree, but what it does mean is that the teabaggers have no credibility when it comes to calling for limited government and fiscal responsibility. they are disgruntled republicans and nothing more. they only care about limited government and fiscal responsibility when the democrats are in charge. from personal experience, i can say that these are generally the same people who told me that when i criticized bush for his big government/liberal spending policies/unconstitutional actions that i was unpatriotic and just an irrational bush-hater. but now that we have a (non-white) democrat as president all of a sudden they are against this stuff.
This is why I asked the question earlier about is there a Tea party central organization and who defines what is a Tea partier? The problem that I see with the Tea Party is that while it is a movement it is a philosophically a very unfocussed movement with a mismash of issues primarily driven by anger. It is the right wing version of the anti-globalization movement where you have everyone from guys dressing up as sea turtles to Anarchists. In a situation like that where there is no clear focus just a vague ideological rage the dolts are going to command the most attention. That's not a media conspiracy that is just how our culture works.
There is no point in discussing this with harpies. You guys see what you want to see and believe what you want to believe, i.e. there are no good and reasonable Tea Partiers. Have a great spring afternoon...
Have you shown them to be anything different? Have you shown the evidence of the good and reasonable tea baggers? I actually believe that most tea baggers aren't racist. But I have seen plenty of evidence that the tea party is tolerant of racists in their group, and invited one to be the opening speaker at their official convention. Can you show me anything at all that would show this to be an anomaly?
You just don't get it. What we see is an unwillingness to confront racism and extremism within the ranks. Even more disturbing, we see an active defense of racists and extremists within the ranks.
I have a friend running for US Congress in the Republican Party. I have not been to a Tea Party per se, but I have met many of them at general party functions. My friend is a very successful financial advisor started a group 10 years ago that works with the homeless. One of his principal campaign advisors is a black minister, so I'll go with their perception over you guys' YouTube/DailyKos overdose. Thank you! Please notice that I didn't claim any black friends; I know how that sets you all off on a different but similar rant... pwned, rhad! And I'm talking real flesh and blood people here.
I have no idea how this constitutes any sort of rejoinder to the "inability of anyone to find rational tea-party statements". I don't know how this pertains to the thread at all... so ummm... cool story bro?
No way, I don't trust the children here. Nothing against you, in particular, but I find this group to be malicious and dis-ingenuine I had my Geezer Lunch group today-- we've been meeting for about 15 years every Thursday. Somehow the subject of religion came up; here's the roster: 1 Jew 1 Buddhist 1 Unitarian 1 Christian Yeah, I'm the bad-ass narrow minded bigot that you guys try to portray me as.... :grin:
What is your friend doing to rid the tea party of racists? What is any leader doing to rid the tea party of racists? Why did the tea party have a racist speech at their official convention and not a word was said by leaders to denounce it? The speech was met with cheers at the party convention. Why have leaders of the tea party tried to imply that civil rights hero, John Lewis and other black congressmen are liars by attempting to deny their claims that they were called the n word or spat at? I have seen a serious effort to deny any racism in the group. I have not seen any serious effort to rid the group of racists.
