Can The Tea Party Survive?

“Abusive, derogatory and even racist behavior directed at House Democrats by Tea Party protesters on Saturday left several lawmakers in shock.

Preceding the president's speech to a gathering of House Democrats, thousands of protesters descended around the Capitol to protest the passage of health care reform. The gathering quickly turned into abusive heckling, as members of Congress passing through Longworth House office building were subjected to epithets and even mild physical abuse.

A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a 'ni--er.' And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protestors shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president's speech, shrugged off the incident.”
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/tea-party-protests-nier-f_n_507116.html

“Karl Rove raised some eyebrows last week when he called the Tea Party "not sophisticated," even though it was not the first time he described the movement in such terms.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/24/karl-rove-rush-limbaugh_n_772984.html

“On Thursday's "Countdown," MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and his guest Janeane Garofalo defamed fellow citizens who attended the prior day's Tea Parties with the same vitriolic contempt.

Garofalo actually called Party-goers "a bunch of teabagging rednecks," adding "this is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up."
Source: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/04/16/garofalo-tea-partiers-are-all-racists-who-hate-black-president

MEMPHIS, TN – Congressman Steve Cohen’s comments about the Tea Party on a liberal radio show called The Young Turks are attracting a lot of attention and controversy.

According to the show’s official web site, Cohen said members of the Tea Party movement are opposed to diversity and are “without robes and hoods.”

“They have really shown a very hardcore angry side of America,” Cohen said. “And I’m afraid they’ve taken over the Republican Party.”
Source: http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Cohens-Tea-Party-Comments-Stir-Controversy/e3rzUxT-9Uys33bChFO5MQ.cspx

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is in hot water again with tea party activists for his comments that their movement cannot endure “because they can never come up with a coherent vision for governing the country.” It’s an opinion Graham has expressed before, but it drew national attention recently in a profile published in The New York Times as he was leaving for the Middle East during the Senate’s Fourth of July recess.
Source: http://www.carolinapatriots.org/cpblog/2010/07/tea-party-comments-make-activists-boil-graham-says-movement-lacks-vision/

And more from the genius boy Lindsey - "In the past year, many Republican lawmakers have sought the support of the conservative Tea Party movement. But Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, bucking his party once again, is predicting the movement will "die out."
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20009482-503544.html

And here’s the dope, Bill chiming in: “Former President Bill Clinton warned Friday that the anger some members of the Tea Party movement express about higher taxes and the size of government could feed the same right-wing extremism that led to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.”
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/16/clinton-warns-tea-party-anger-incite-right-wing-extremism/

"Barack Obama has largely left the partisan shots at his conservative opponents to his aides and the DNC, except when directly asked for a response.

But during his town hall appearance on Wednesday in Arnold, Missouri, the president took an unprompted swipe at the cable news networks (presumably, Fox News) and Tea Party protesters ("folks waving tea bags around") whose complaints about government spending, he said, were the equivalent of political gamesmanship."
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/obama-takes-swipe-at-fox_n_192915.html

Some comments from TheFundamentals:

Lindsey Graham is a real cutie pie isn’t he? This fellow and John McCain make quite the pair. No real work experience. Just a couple of windbags feeding forever at the public trough. We would like to ask Lindsey this one question. Lindsey, please share with us "your coherent vision for governing the country.” And Lindsey, make sure that you address the growth (TRIPLED) of the national debt, while you have been in congress (ever since 1995), in your response.

As to the whining and yelping democrats – Keith and Janine and Barney and the Clyburn/Lewis duo; seems pretty much business as usual.

But we wonder if you caught the full meaning of Bill’s comments about the Oklahoma bombing of 1995. Happened, as you may recall, on his watch. Sorry Bill, not much you can do to change the timing the date. But you sure can try to deflect responsibility can’t you? As we recall, Bill, the main reason given by the bomber McVeigh was payback for the attack at the Waco residences killing 74 including 12 young children. Did that government action happen under your guidance Bill? Remember the brilliant Janet Reno, Bill? Did she work for you? This Bill guy is too clever for his own good. Unfortunately for him his motives are as transparent as his intentions were with the white house intern pool.

Bottom line. None of ‘em could see that the tea party was a force to be reckoned with. That it brought cohesiveness and a sense of “yes, we can do something about the promiscuous politicians; the waste; the double standard; the deficits; the debt.” Not wacko racists running around in robes. Sorry boys, no bombers. Nope. Just working, taxpaying Americans who live by a set of fundamentals. And Karl, in case you still don’t get it, they’re not going away. And you know what Karl, every once in a while they may split the vote (not sophisticated ??) and let a spending addicted democrat hang on to a seat for a few more years. But so what? They have accomplished more in two years than all the damage you and Bush II did in eight. Don’t look for too many consulting contracts from tea party candidates Karl. Your politics of rhetoric and waste are much too similar to the dwindling party opposite. (see:  Democrats Decline  -  http://www.gallup.com/poll/146234/Number-Solidly-Democratic-States-Cut-Half.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=plaintextlink&utm_term=Politics )

One last comment. The young president suggests that complaints about government spending are “political gamesmanship.” Well, perhaps so. We are not as smart as he with all his Illinois training. But his remark does raise this question, “If complaints are gamesmanship, how would you describe the actual event of spending money you don’t have?” Following Obama’s logic, the answer must be “good politics.”

Give us a working, taxpaying tea party followers any day. Long live working, taxpaying Americans. And any gathering they choose to support.   By the way, Obama's "good politics" will not play well in any reelection campaign where actual results and performance are under scrutiny.