What is the tea party? The new one, this circa-2009 collection of revolutionaries. Not the symbolic event that occured in Boston Harbor 230+ years ago.
Well, it's tough to grasp. The Tea Party prides itself on not having 'marching orders from the top,' and no prominent figureheads. Search for their websites, and you'll immediately find 20+. Here's another one. And another. What seems to unite them? How can so many mini-groups be joined under one movement, yet have no clear organizational structure or set of defining characteristics? (pro tip: astroturfing)
Who are the people that make up this party? In some cases, like a committee seat in Florida, and a Senate hopeful in Massachusetts, it's actual people with political aspirations. From what you find on mailing lists in places like Dallas, it's angry people that seek a receptive audience to cartoons of Obama dressed as a hoodlum, urinating on the US map.
Yesterday, while driving to a band practice, where I would meet up with my elitist, Math professor bandmates, I was treated to an interview with two self-proclaims figureheads in this movement, thanks to NPR's On Point. They were a housewife from Dallas, and a protester/Tea Party Flag designer from Michigan.
The host asked him to describe his flag in detail: it's the Betsy Ross, 13-star flag from the first Revolution. Just with a big 'II' in the middle.
Don't believe me? Think that sounds ridiculous, like some extreme lack of originality coupled with over-estimating yourself way, way too much? Here:
Immediately, I am shocked by how serious these people seem to take it. Comparing themselves and their beliefs to the founding fathers and our colonial revolution is...well, a bit much, right? I mean, we do live in a democracy. Anyone has the ability to run for office, to succeed. We do still have votes, even if there is a thick-as-a-brick layer of corruption, entitlement, lobbying, and political BS that makes our voices but a squeek in the wind. Still, it's something. We're not indentured servants, there are no Indians scalping us, and we get to live a pretty comfortable life. Nothing like the top 10%, but...that's a different side of the fight.
Another point of contention is 'the system'. They are revolting against the system as it is today, because they are just sick and tired of how it's been for so long. Sooo...where were any of these people before Obama's inauguration? Where was all the mass discontent? Why is it becoming a movement now, when we've had a turd getting us into wars and invasions and tax cuts for the wealthy, who was born of an entitled political family for like 8 years? It casts this whole movement is a suspicious light. Like...you know, we were anti-Jedi all along...but once Mace Windu was put on the council...well, then we HAD to start protesting!
David Axelrod's response:
"I think any time that you have severe economic conditions, there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that’s unhealthy." and "The thing that bewilders me is this President just cut taxes for ninety five percent of the American people. So I think the tea bags should be directed elsewhere, because he certainly understands the burden that people face."
Another huge issue for me that makes this movement laughable (if it weren't offensive) is the constant use of Nazi Germany references. Signs they carry have Obama with a Hitler 'stache. The protestor/Betty Ross ripoff artist they were interviewing yesterday spoke about how there's a direct line from the Health Care bill, to institutionalized socialism. "We're not concerned about him being black," he said, "we're concerned about him being red." Commie Bastard!! What, did I just wake up in 1952?
They go on to invoke scenes of jews in ovens, and somehow track that back to the HealthCare bill. Wow...where did I miss that thought train?
Healthcare Bill -> Socialized Medicine -> Nazi Regime -> death camps.
Ah, yes. There it is! Clear as day. The same way Toys for Tots leads to blowing up the sun.
First of all, the Health Care bill had a public OPTION. OPTION. Private insurance is still around. Will still be around (unfortunately). The public plan was an OPTION. So...is anything forced? No.
Second, that option is NOT IN EITHER of the bills. Hasn't been for months. Believe me, I've been pissed about it. But Dems caved in to Darth Lieberman and it is gone. So...with nothing else in the bill having a socialist (and/or Nazi) bent, the whole thing falls apart right there, doesn't it?
But regardless, let's pretend the public option went through. I'm still not seeing Jews in ovens. I'm not seeing any of us rounded up into camps. For crying out loud - too many of us have guns! We can't keep kids from shooting their faces off with our loose, loaded weapons - how could we be rounded up, let alone concentrated and put to death? Please, people - you have to think about logistics!!
"As a man with Jewish ancestry, I can't believe any Jewish folks would be lining up in support of a healthcare bill like this, with what happened in Germany."
What?? I'm sorry...I think I just had an aneurysm. Knowing what happened in Hurricane Katrina, and being a man that once visited Louisiana, I can't believe anyone could support No Child Left Behind.
To an outside observer, this entire movement seems steeped in either tremendous fear and ignorance, racism (hopefully latent), or just borderline stupidity. Again, the guy Jeff McQueen yesterday had two great quotes:
We believe in what makes this country great, the freedoms we have, which is why people from all over the country come to this country.
Really? Really? Have any of these people ever been outside of this country? It seriously appears that our country = the world to them.
If we win that senate seat in Massa-tu-setts, that's going to be huge. Massa-tu-setts is really going to be something.
No lie. He said Massa-tu-setts 4 times in a minute. You could hear the host starting to interrupt, but he thought better of it. Sure, everyone could get a state wrong - Arkansas the first time you ever say it...like, in first grade.
So what is this movement? Does it represent any sort of real political belief, or real weighty movement? Or did we just get together a bunch of scared white conservatives at the right time? And if so, why did we give the bullhorn to to most idiotic among them?
Did the other parties start out with spokespeople like this? I can't see them ever getting off the ground. I know not everyone has a Lincoln, a JFK, even an Obama...but seriously...someone please take the megaphone away. I'm embarrassed to be in the same nation as some of these people.
- EO