Why the tea party movement is so frightening...

[gslack]

If you think the OP was not highly politically slanted then Fox has surely warped your mind.

from my OP near the end.....

Right now the left has power hear in this country. But watch and when the right has power, see how they change their stance on the tea party movement... They will vilify them and say they were okay before the lefty socialists took it over, and any other excuse or reason they can find. They will fear them just as the left does now, but right now they serve a purpose for them. So they applaud them quietly and condemn the extreme examples.

yeah sure looks like I picked a side there buddy..... yeah.... So ya didn't read it like I said.. Thanks for showing you are dishonest as well.....

Now if you have nothing else but trolling I will go about my evening....

 

[AllieBaba]

I will wait for someone who actually read the post and has a reasonable, thoughtful response....

Why? Your original post is so slanted, the only people you will consider "reasonable and/or thoughtful" are those who have slanted opinions just like you. What kind of debate is THAT?

Count on the leftards to chime in and prove the OP's point!

Tanks, you fucking twits. You guys are priceless!

 

[gslack]

I am not at all surprised so many die hard political party worshipers came in and tried to make it a right leaning OP... They see an opposition to their party and automatically assume it supports the opposite. This is a fine example of black and white thinking. This kind of thing is exactly the type of trained mentality that allows this kind of ignorance to spread and grow....

 

[bodecea]

Kind of goes both ways, doesn't it?

We are afraid of the Tea Party, they are afraid of liberals and Obama.
It is called politics.

And if the right was in power? The same fear..... As I said in the OP its the fear of free thinking without the induced haze of political party and dogma..

You bring up a good point. The Right WAS in power for a while there....where was the Tea Party then?

 

[Murf76]

The Tea Party doesn't respond to the usual Democrat tactics of Plantation Politics, whereby groups of people are sorted into demographics, sprinkled with manure, and then harvested for votes at election time. It can't be divided into sub-groups that can be then be pandered to. It's larger motives aren't based in social issues, but rather upon fiscal restraint and limited Constitutional government.

It's easy to divide and conquer when you're dealing with social issues like abortion and gay marriage. It's easy to present a racial, ethnic, or gender group with an invented common enemy because there ARE isolated instances of discrimination and intolerance within the American landscape to draw upon and inflate. But when your actual policy is rejected... there's not a whole lot you can do but change policy.

It's giving them a bad-hair day because in order to respond to it appropriately... they'd have to reject their own socialist agenda. They're not going to do that, so their only answer is to ramp up the energy on their accusations of racism in the hopes that The Big Lie will stick.

Problem is... that we all KNOW we're not racists. So, everything they say after that only serves to further reveal the deflection. And here we are, with division and tumult aggravated to gargantuan proportions by a guy who was elected to bring Unity.

 

[bodecea]

Everyday I see a knew article in the news or a new post here on USMB regarding the tea party, partiers, whatever. I have noticed something very strange.... I see very little positive threads started on them, and far too many negative ones. of all the negative ones I have seen, the most of them are decidedly left sided, and prone to exaggerations, misleading claims, and outright lies about what they are doing or represent....

Actually, I've seen about half and half...but can you give us a ball park figure as to what ratio of positive vs. negative articles/posts/threads you've seen?

Most of the time the threads about the tea party movement resort to calling the partiers ignorant hicks, uneducated, or racist hate-filled mobs of angry people all trying to intimidate or threaten.

Most of the time? Really?

I wonder if this were true, why has there not been any arrests or riots yet?

Why would there be?

All we see or hear are these extreme claims and yet nothing regarding what was done about it.. What is there no Cops at these things?

I believe there are. As there are at pretty much all group events, assemblies.

Are there no security or anti-tea partiers to at least give a counter argument? I mean if half the things we hear are true, why are they still walking around free? This leads me to believe there is far more propaganda than truth in these claims.

Why are they walking around free? Maybe because we have the 1st Amendment's freedom of assembly? Are you saying that in our country, assembled protestors are arrested?

Also, I wonder if they really are so ignorant and uneducated, and their meetings so filled with mindless hate; why do they fear them so much?

Fear? Seriously?

I mean in order to dedicate so much time to attack something one must have a good reason for it..

Attack? There's been an attack? Now THAT does need the police involved.

And the only good reason I can imagine must have some sort of fear involved... Fear of dissent, fear of racial hatred, fear of crazy uneducated folk with guns, fear of something... And if it is fear, why all the fear?

People are always afraid of the new, the different...especially if it isn't their choice (i.e. vote) Do you think maybe there's enough fear on both sides? Would you say the tea party protest assemblies also have their share of fear?

Indeed what is to fear in groups of so-called uneducated folk venting? They have guns? Well so do the cops and the cops will be legally in their right to shoot them if they become dangerous.

Really? People with guns are to be shot on sight? Has that happened yet? If so, where?

The fear of racial hatred? Well then why don't we arrest all the KKK or white supremest groups?

Because this is America, maybe?

maybe the fear of spreading stupidity? Well if its so stupid why would it spread? According to the left media, it is so ignorant and only serves the side of hatred and only an idiot would follow it... So if we are not all idiots, and we can easily see how ignorant it is, why all the bother and press time?

Are you suggesting it would be more appropriate for the press to IGNORE large gatherings of people? I would think it would be somewhat newsworthy.

Its simple really, I think Louis Farrakhan is an idiot and only morons would follow him, so I don't pay attention to him.

If you ignore him, how do you even know who he is and what his stand is on issues?

Problem solved and no fear at all...

No, that's covering your ears, closing your eyes and yelling "la la la la"

Sure he has some followers, but I do not fear them because I know they are limited by laws and have at least enough sense to know what they can get away with. So why do the media and so many left leaning people dedicate so much of their time on them?

Maybe because he hasn't been running any large protest assemblies lately. There was ample coverage during his "Million Man March", was there not? Was that coverage based on fear too?

The answer to that is simple... The tea party movement represents something government and left minded governments fear the most... Free thought...

And where was that "free thought" during the last Administration?

All things start with a thought, and from that thought can grow more critical thinking and then questions arise. Questions that no one who isn't thinking freely will ever ask. Then those freethinkers will gather and exchange information and share knowledge, ask questions and get answers.

And where were all those freethinkers during the last Administration?

This gathering and exchange will be free of the media spin and biased political party nonsense. And without that spin, real knowledge and critical thought will empower those people.

That would be nice.

If left alone this movement will allow left, right and center minded people to exchange ideas and talk without the media enhanced left vs right haze, without the absolutism of placating and throw away political ideologies, and without someone telling them how bad their neighbor is.... Soon that neighbor will no longer be left or right, but simply a neighbor just like themselves with many of the same fears and concerns..

I'm puzzled by what you mean by "left alone." Has anyone tried to STOP this movement? Anyone arrested? detained? harassed by the authorities? Could you clarify what you mean by "If left alone"?

This is the fear to end all fears of any government drunk with power, and desiring nothing more than their own well being. Look throughout history and see what exactly what I am talking about. Before the media became so powerful a political tool; before Hitler and so many since. Look and you will find free thought started revolutions that lead to the greatest changes in the world.

Are you saying that the Tea Party is going to start a revolution?

Right now the left has power hear in this country.

And a few years ago, the Right had power in this country....were they better? Was there less spending? Less government intrusion? If not, where was the Tea Party then?

But watch and when the right has power, see how they change their stance on the tea party movement... They will vilify them and say they were okay before the lefty socialists took it over, and any other excuse or reason they can find. They will fear them just as the left does now, but right now they serve a purpose for them. So they applaud them quietly and condemn the extreme examples.

A distinct possibility...or else the Right will take over the Tea Party image from within and twist its stance.

In my opinion, the tea party movement could be the foundations of the next big national change, or even world change. Sure some of the bad elements may try and move in on it, but they will not live long amongst free thinkers. Those types never do. They hide in the shadows and prey on the weak. And people desiring to exchange directly with each other rather than accepting what they are told by media or politicians are not weak..

Maybe, maybe not.

Perhaps the next time any of you condemn this movement off hand, you will take a closer look and realize these are possibly the Jeffersons, Adams, and Franklins of this era....

Hyperbole. I get it.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

I read the OP. I made a reasonable thoughtful response.
Sorry it does not agree with your definition of a reasonable and thoughtful response.

If you think that was a reasonable thoughtful response then you are a fucking idiot.


Go outside and play little boy!

 

[JWBooth]

Mommy mommy, those scary people don't have the same outlook on the state and its place in our lives as we do....

 

[Lonestar_logic]

I read the OP. I made a reasonable thoughtful response.
Sorry it does not agree with your definition of a reasonable and thoughtful response.

Claiming the Tea party is Bush's party is YOUR idea of a thoughtful well reasoned post? And you claim THEY are idiots?

Every Tea Partier I personally know. Perhaps a dozen. Were avid Bush supporters to the end.

Where did I say they were idiots?

You label an entire movement because of a dozen people? Are you really that fucking stupid?

About forty percent of the tea partiers are either Democrats or Independents according to a poll done by David Winston, polling director of the Winston Group that did the poll for an education advocacy group. The Winston poll also says 80% of total Tea Party supporters dislike Obama's job performance.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Kind of goes both ways, doesn't it?

We are afraid of the Tea Party, they are afraid of liberals and Obama.
It is called politics.

And if the right was in power? The same fear..... As I said in the OP its the fear of free thinking without the induced haze of political party and dogma..

You bring up a good point. The Right WAS in power for a while there....where was the Tea Party then?

The "right" wasn't trying take control of one sixth of our economy and mandating that Americans purchase health insurance or risk being punished by fines. The right doubled the defict the left is tripling it.

 

[Stephanie]

Mommy mommy, those scary people don't have the same outlook on the state and its place in our lives as we do....

no kidding.

 

[gslack]

Everyday I see a knew article in the news or a new post here on USMB regarding the tea party, partiers, whatever. I have noticed something very strange.... I see very little positive threads started on them, and far too many negative ones. of all the negative ones I have seen, the most of them are decidedly left sided, and prone to exaggerations, misleading claims, and outright lies about what they are doing or represent....

1. Actually, I've seen about half and half...but can you give us a ball park figure as to what ratio of positive vs. negative articles/posts/threads you've seen?

Most of the time the threads about the tea party movement resort to calling the partiers ignorant hicks, uneducated, or racist hate-filled mobs of angry people all trying to intimidate or threaten.

2. Most of the time? Really?



3. Why would there be?



4. I believe there are. As there are at pretty much all group events, assemblies.



5. Why are they walking around free? Maybe because we have the 1st Amendment's freedom of assembly? Are you saying that in our country, assembled protestors are arrested?




6. Fear? Seriously?



7. Attack? There's been an attack? Now THAT does need the police involved.



8. People are always afraid of the new, the different...especially if it isn't their choice (i.e. vote) Do you think maybe there's enough fear on both sides? Would you say the tea party protest assemblies also have their share of fear?




9. Really? People with guns are to be shot on sight? Has that happened yet? If so, where?



10. Because this is America, maybe?



11. Are you suggesting it would be more appropriate for the press to IGNORE large gatherings of people? I would think it would be somewhat newsworthy.



12. If you ignore him, how do you even know who he is and what his stand is on issues?



13. No, that's covering your ears, closing your eyes and yelling "la la la la"



14. Maybe because he hasn't been running any large protest assemblies lately. There was ample coverage during his "Million Man March", was there not? Was that coverage based on fear too?



15. And where was that "free thought" during the last Administration?



16. And where were all those freethinkers during the last Administration?



17. That would be nice.



18. I'm puzzled by what you mean by "left alone." Has anyone tried to STOP this movement? Anyone arrested? detained? harassed by the authorities? Could you clarify what you mean by "If left alone"?



Are you saying that the Tea Party is going to start a revolution?



And a few years ago, the Right had power in this country....were they better? Was there less spending? Less government intrusion? If not, where was the Tea Party then?



A distinct possibility...or else the Right will take over the Tea Party image from within and twist its stance.

In my opinion, the tea party movement could be the foundations of the next big national change, or even world change. Sure some of the bad elements may try and move in on it, but they will not live long amongst free thinkers. Those types never do. They hide in the shadows and prey on the weak. And people desiring to exchange directly with each other rather than accepting what they are told by media or politicians are not weak..

Maybe, maybe not.

Perhaps the next time any of you condemn this movement off hand, you will take a closer look and realize these are possibly the Jeffersons, Adams, and Franklins of this era....

Hyperbole. I get it.

Bode, this is the one and only time i will quote ignorant childish quoting each sentence enough to comment on it.....

If YOU want me to take your response seriously then act like it and don't try and be as annoying as possible with this kind of crap...

I will not comment on every single sentence.. its asinine and from reading it , it is repetitive, often making false claims what the OP stated, and childish to quote each line like an idiot.....

 

[boedicca]

In my opinion, the tea party movement could be the foundations of the next big national change, or even world change. Sure some of the bad elements may try and move in on it, but they will not live long amongst free thinkers. Those types never do. They hide in the shadows and prey on the weak. And people desiring to exchange directly with each other rather than accepting what they are told by media or politicians are not weak..

Perhaps the next time any of you condemn this movement off hand, you will take a closer look and realize these are possibly the Jeffersons, Adams, and Franklins of this era....

Tea Partiers mostly consist of people who are not afraid of being grown ups - taking responsibility for themselves and their families. They don't expect government to solve their problems. It's understanding that those who are infantilized by Big Government programs feel threatened by the Tea Party - hence the inane level of vicious attacks.

John Fund has an interesting opinion piece in the WSJ regarding what the current political environment really is: The Tea Partiers vs. SEIU.

In contrast to the tea party, there has been far too little scrutiny of the SEIU, whose membership of government and health-care workers is the fastest-growing of any union in the country. Andy Stern, the just retired head of the SEIU, was found to be the most frequent guest at the Obama White House last year, stopping by 22 times between January and September, more than all congressional leaders and cabinet members.

The SEIU's close ties to the discredited group Acorn have largely been ignored. The same is true for the violence perpetrated by some of its members.

Last August in St. Louis, tea party supporter Kenneth Gladney was set upon by SEIU members during a town-hall meeting on health care. They were apparently angry that an African-American was supporting the tea party and hurled the "n" word at him while beating him to the point where he required hospitalization. St. Louis County officials waited until November to press assault charges against two SEIU members. Four others were charged with interfering with police during the incident. All six have pleaded not guilty.

John Fund: Tea Parties vs. Unions in November - WSJ.com


Ideologically, the Tea Partiers are focused on the founding values of the country, while the SEIU is the muscle to keep Big Government growing and becoming more intrusive in our lives.

 

[Samson]

I will wait for someone who actually read the post and has a reasonable, thoughtful response....

I scanned through the OP.

From what I gather, opposition to the tea party is based on two things:

1. They are caught up in emotion

Isn't "being caught up in emotion" the per certus for any "movement?" (I suppose an exception could be made for the Apathy Party Movement, but they don't care enough to apply)

2. They are manipulated by special interests

Again, with the exception of the Apathy Party Movement, who cannot be accused of being "manipulated by special interests?" Also, again, isn't having special interests the per certus for any movement?

Of course, if any movement is not alligned with our own, then it must, AGAIN, per certus, be "motivated by the lust for power and avarice."

In summary: What else do you expect a political movement to be?

 

[gslack]

In my opinion, the tea party movement could be the foundations of the next big national change, or even world change. Sure some of the bad elements may try and move in on it, but they will not live long amongst free thinkers. Those types never do. They hide in the shadows and prey on the weak. And people desiring to exchange directly with each other rather than accepting what they are told by media or politicians are not weak..

Perhaps the next time any of you condemn this movement off hand, you will take a closer look and realize these are possibly the Jeffersons, Adams, and Franklins of this era....

Tea Partiers mostly consist of people who are not afraid of being grown ups - taking responsibility for themselves and their families. They don't expect government to solve their problems. It's understanding that those who are infantilized by Big Government programs feel threatened by the Tea Party - hence the inane level of vicious attacks.

John Fund has an interesting opinion piece in the WSJ regarding what the current political environment really is: The Tea Partiers vs. SEIU.

In contrast to the tea party, there has been far too little scrutiny of the SEIU, whose membership of government and health-care workers is the fastest-growing of any union in the country. Andy Stern, the just retired head of the SEIU, was found to be the most frequent guest at the Obama White House last year, stopping by 22 times between January and September, more than all congressional leaders and cabinet members.

The SEIU's close ties to the discredited group Acorn have largely been ignored. The same is true for the violence perpetrated by some of its members.

Last August in St. Louis, tea party supporter Kenneth Gladney was set upon by SEIU members during a town-hall meeting on health care. They were apparently angry that an African-American was supporting the tea party and hurled the "n" word at him while beating him to the point where he required hospitalization. St. Louis County officials waited until November to press assault charges against two SEIU members. Four others were charged with interfering with police during the incident. All six have pleaded not guilty.

John Fund: Tea Parties vs. Unions in November - WSJ.com


Ideologically, the Tea Partiers are focused on the founding values of the country, while the SEIU is the muscle to keep Big Government growing and becoming more intrusive in our lives.

The story you linked to actually supports a great deal of my OP's assertions... Particularly this part...

"After a New York Times survey found tea partiers are generally better educated and wealthier than the general public, they are now attacked as aloof and out of touch with the concerns of average voters."

SEIU are another political entity, I don't see how they factor into my OP....

 

[gslack]

I will wait for someone who actually read the post and has a reasonable, thoughtful response....

I scanned through the OP.

From what I gather, opposition to the tea party is based on two things:

1. They are caught up in emotion

Isn't "being caught up in emotion" the per certus for any "movement?" (I suppose an exception could be made for the Apathy Party Movement, but they don't care enough to apply)

2. They are manipulated by special interests

Again, with the exception of the Apathy Party Movement, who cannot be accused of being "manipulated by special interests?" Also, again, isn't having special interests the per certus for any movement?

Of course, if any movement is not alligned with our own, then it must, AGAIN, per certus, be "motivated by the lust for power and avarice."

In summary: What else do you expect a political movement to be?

Well, the OP was actually about the media and the political parties use or abuse of the tea party movement versus what they most likely (in most cases) actually represent...

All political parties seek power. For good or bad, right or wrong they all do..

 

[Ava]

[B"]Perhaps the next time any of you condemn this movement off hand, you will take a closer look and realize these are possibly the Jeffersons, Adams, and Franklins of this era".... [/B]

Yes, they are the new and powerful, participating in a non-violent and civilized approach for "hope and change." Back to basics people who are peacefully demonstrating against a tyrannical government and using the successful theories of passive resistance espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and by whom MLK Jr. was also inspired.

They are making a positive difference and the conservative politicians are listening...

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

I have not condemned the party of Bush in an offhand manner.
They have earned my disrespect.

Or Bubba, Jethro and Willie T from the trailer park....

Really is that all you guys got? Nothing substantiative to adress, couldn't even pick out a paragraph of his to refute?

Man you guys don't even have the ability to debate something anymore, 2 prime examples of why the USMB is going down in quality.



BTW UScitizen I've been up the bush admins but since the patriot act, their adding another entitlement (med part D), their debt increasing budgets, and his support of the bailouts/tarp at the end. I have also been to 3 tea party rallies so your claim is false.

 

[rdean]

I will wait for someone who actually read the post and has a reasonable, thoughtful response....

The post isn't all that "reasonable and thoughtful". Just the fact that you bring up Louis Farrakhan proves that.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

I will wait for someone who actually read the post and has a reasonable, thoughtful response....

The post isn't all that "reasonable and thoughtful". Just the fact that you bring up Louis Farrakhan proves that.

You have a problem with Farrakhan and his publicly stated positions?