Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Tea Party Movement Isn't About Racism? Read this...



The Tea Party movement is not about Sarah Palin: most Tea Baggers, while they love her inflammatory rhetoric, think she's unqualified to be president. The movement is not about taxes: most think the amount they pay is fair. And Tea Baggers really aren't angry about big government either: most love their Social Security and Medicare and wouldn't want to lose it. These and other unsurprising revelations are part of a NY Times poll released this week which reinforces the ugly truth about the role racism plays in the Tea Party movement.

Contrary to how the movement is portrayed as a non-partisan, multicultural, age/gender-diverse "big tent," most Tea Baggers are wealthy, white Republican males over 45, according to the poll. The poll chillingly illustrates what's really at the core of the movement: intense frustration, anger and resentment over the belief that a black president is giving taxpayer handouts to other blacks. In fact, 25% believe the Obama administration favors blacks over whites. As the Times reports, they believe that "too much has been made of the problems facing black people."

There's no denying the level of ignorance that permeates the Tea Party movement or the rampant racism in which it's rooted. Here's a classic example of Tea Bagger "populist rage:" "I just feel he’s getting away from what America is," said Kathy Mayhugh, 67, of Jacksonville, Fl. "He’s a socialist. And to tell you the truth, I think he’s a Muslim and trying to head us in that direction, I don’t care what he says. He’s been in office over a year and can’t find a church to go to. That doesn’t say much for him."

Clearly, in Ms. Mayhugh's America, blacks aren't supposed to hold positions of power. They're not supposed to benefit more than white people. In fact, white people are supposed to get all the goodies. And good, patriotic Americans are white, Christian and go to church regularly. So it's no stretch that in this America, if you're black and not a church goer, well then you must be a socialist, a Muslim (can ya be both, for Pete's sake?) and anti-American. Well, at least that's what shameless demagogues like Palin have brainwashed them to think.


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7 comments:

VennData said...

What happens when you tell your Tea Bagger buddies that Obama has already cut taxes for 95% of Americans ...and for small businesses?

The fact that they don't know, didn't "recall," and/or aren't sure...

...shows: that from outside looking into the black box ... er... a... the white box, that the Tea Party types aren't really about facts. They're about emotions, facts be damned (if you BELIEVE in Hell that is.)

Congrats, in advance on 1MM hits.

Anonymous said...

Well if the Civil War was not about racism or slavery (read Babblebore or McDonnell's Farm) then obviously the Teabanging can't be! And after reviewing this clip I am convinced that it is clearly about insanity/ignorance and well yeah....racism.

Anonymous said...

And if the tea baggers/repubs win big in November, we are in deep trouble.

Please promote voting in November. I do not want to go backwards.

As someone who is white, I find the tea baggers a total embarrassment.

WDRussell said...

Do you know what socialism means in American politics?
It means that the person screaming socialism, has nothing intelligent to say.

Whane The Whip said...

You suck ass Andy, you are afraid to let posts go live that is why you moderate (and reject) them. You state "we're not afraid to criticize our own when warranted." yet you don't think others can. Sad, just for you: http://whane-the-whip.wikidot.com/article:andy-ostroy-misrepresents-ny-tea-party-movement

VennData said...

"No, I do not!" he said, fleeing. A common reaction. They want media attention, so long as it is not on themselves personally. I drifted over to a counter-protester, a young man in an aluminum foil hat.

"I've used tinfoil hats as metaphor," I said. "But I've never seen anyone actually wearing one . . . "

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/2168642,CST-NWS-stein18.article

The Ostroy Report said...

Whane.....before I adress your obvious lack of communication skills, let me say that it's a mystery to me that some people think that any comments that disagree with me won't get posted. A simple run through of this blog will clearly demonstrate the diverse range of opinions here by blogger and readers alike. WHich brings me to you in particular. A suggestion: if you truly want to be heard and not get rejected, perhaps you should start your comment with something other than "You suck ass, Andy." We let it go this time to make a point. In the future, my screener/ass't Lauren will reject you. Just some friendly advice...