Observing from the sidelines, I never understood the malevolence directed towards them.
They want free speech, smaller government, reduced government spending and taxes, and they believe in the United States Constitution.
Yet they're slandered on a day-to-day basis by some people.
What's wrong with the Tea Party, and what's wrong with the people who dislike them?
There is no malevolence exhibited toward the TPM, justified contempt and ridicule, perhaps, but not malevolence.
One of the many problems with the TPM is its failure to define what exactly constitutes smaller government, reduced government spending and taxes. If by their definition this means the elimination of needed social programs, appropriate regulatory measures, and funding for education in conjunction with tax cuts for the wealthy while attempting to balance the budget on the backs of working Americans, those with low income, children, retired Americans, and the disabled, then thats not smaller government, thats irresponsible governance.
With regard to believing in the United States Constitution, theyve also got to believe in and acknowledge Constitutional case law. TPM members cant just make up on their own what they think the Constitution means; the Constitution is not a cafeteria plan, they cant simply pick what they like about the Founding Document and discard the rest.
Whats wrong with the TPM is its a partisan contrivance of the right, made up mostly of the Old Bush Base, fiscal extremists, and social conservatives. By its members own admission the TPM was made up of some 70 percent republicans and republican leaning independents. Consequently, there is no slander with regard to the TPM, they clearly misrepresented themselves as a diverse cross-section of Americas grass roots, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth.
