Tea Parties Looking Not Looking To Follow

[Stephanie]

for crying out loud, Trancredo has Never had a "anti-hispanic" message.

such dishonesty.

millions of Amercians are against "Illegal Immigration" no matter what friggen race or country you are from.

 

[Modbert]

for crying out loud, Trancredo has Never had a "anti-hispanic" message.

such dishonesty.

You forgot to deny he also has quite the Anti-Islam message.

He's also against multiculturalism.

 

[JakeStarkey]

No proof exists the terrible signs are held by leftist plants.

No proof exists the whacko file at the TP do not support the Tancredos of the world.

No proof exists that the TP is anything more than entertainment for the sane world.

 

[MIPS]

Good commentary by Jennifer Rubin. Notice too the comment about Tancredo, I agree:

Commentary Blog Archive What You’d Find at a Real Tea Party

What You’d Find at a Real Tea Party
Posted By Jennifer Rubin On February 13, 2010 @ 11:59 AM

... (”Press attention focused on Sarah Palin’s speech, which was well-received by the crowd. But the attendees I met weren’t looking to her for direction. They were hoping she would move in theirs. Right now, the tea party isn’t looking for leaders so much as leaders are looking to align themselves with the tea party.”) And these are hardly a bunch of racists, as Chris Matthews et al. would have us believe. It seems they are backing a number of African American candidates. (To echo Pete’s [2] point, Tom Tancredo does the tea partiers no favors by spouting racial venom and peddling in conspiracy theories; activists as well as elected officials would do well to reject his eagerness to “play to people’s worst instincts.”)

...

Good stuff Annie and the article pretty much reflects my experiences at Tea Party gatherings, of course I have bumped into a (very) few extremist nut jobs at Tea Parties but they mostly get ignored or laughed at by the rest of the folks in attendance, not much else you can do about them though since they are open gatherings.

 

[Annie]

Great Link. This bears repeating.




What the tea party activists do have is a well formulated set of ideas — small government, debt reduction, spending restraint, and an aversion to hurried, secret deal making. It is an agenda that is resonating with conservatives and independent voters who see the opposite behavior in Washington.

This is, as much as anything else, yet another “mainstream media misses the boat” story. First they ignored and ridiculed the tea party activists. Now the media misrepresent them to the point of deliberate distortion. The media’s distorted characterization is not simply a matter of getting the details wrong, I think. This is, just as surely as that Big Labor slush fund, an effort to kill the movement in its crib and discredit it among average Americans. Treating them as rubes, extremists, religious nuts, and racists seems to be a bit of Saul Allinsky-type strategy. (”Pick the Target, Freeze It, Personalize It and Polarize It,” was Alinsky’s mantra.) But the media is less and less credible and the tea-party activists are doing a good job of getting their own message out.

Commentary Blog Archive What You’d Find at a Real Tea Party

Indeed, the number of tea partiers keeps growing, while the number of MSM reporters and outlets continuous to shrink.

 

[California Girl]

at many nationally televised events, there will be someone like Terral with a sign that says 9.11 was an inside job, and no one make them take those signs down either.

And that's the problem for the tea parties. However, there isn't just one Terral like person at these rallies. Especially with the amount of signs that people have been able to get ahold of picture wise.

Yea, we never saw any lunatic fringe at Obama rallies, did we? Oh wait... no, we did see them. And yet, very few assume all democrats are dumb, just your leftwing fringe. And, even the dumb lefties - no one suggests that the demcrats should silence them. It's that freedom of speech thing. See how that works? No? Then you're a left wing nutjob.

 

[Modbert]

Yea, we never saw any lunatic fringe at Obama rallies, did we? Oh wait... no, we did see them. And yet, very few assume all democrats are dump, just your leftwing fringe. And, even the dumb lefties - no one suggests that the demcrats should silence them. It's that freedom of speech thing. See how that works? No? Then you're a left wing nutjob.

What's wrong CG? What a Ad Hominem on your part in several ways.

1.) I never said there were any fringe at Obama rallies.

2.) This thread is not about Obama and his rallies.

3.) You call me leftwing fringe, when I am anything but. Further proving you're committing such a error with that post.

4.) Freedom of Speech has nothing to do with this. I never said anyone should silence them. I said if the tea parties do not want to be associated with radicals, then they should not associate with said radicals. Such common sense not recognized.

 

[Annie]

Wow, so Palin, DeMint, Trancredo shouldn't EVA be allowed to speak.

It says that, where? Stephanie, that many want to get the message out that there is a message is NOT a bad thing. To celebrate the idea of 'voting tests' is not going going to help anyone if that person is considered a 'leader' of the movement. The racist label will tarnish anyone who doesn't repudiate such bad language choices. Last I heard, Palin said nothing like that.

However, having some established politician trying to co-opt the movement, nope. They are going to have to pledge to join the ideas, then follow through or they will be gone. Doesn't matter if Republican, Democrat, Independent. It the philosophy, not the label.

 

[California Girl]

Yea, we never saw any lunatic fringe at Obama rallies, did we? Oh wait... no, we did see them. And yet, very few assume all democrats are dump, just your leftwing fringe. And, even the dumb lefties - no one suggests that the demcrats should silence them. It's that freedom of speech thing. See how that works? No? Then you're a left wing nutjob.

What's wrong CG? What a Ad Hominem on your part in several ways.

1.) I never said there were any fringe at Obama rallies.

2.) This thread is not about Obama and his rallies.

3.) You call me leftwing fringe, when I am anything but. Further proving you're committing such a error with that post.

4.) Freedom of Speech has nothing to do with this. I never said anyone should silence them. I said if the tea parties do not want to be associated with radicals, then they should not associate with said radicals. Such common sense not recognized.

The TEA Parties, like any other rally, attract who they attract. No one 'bans' anyone here. That's this freedom thing. What is radical to you may not be radical to another. For anyone who supports the Obama Administration to whine about radicals anywhere else is the pot calling the kettle black. He puts self confessed 'radical communists' in his Administration - OUR Administration. If that's ok, then fuck off telling anyone else they are 'radical'. Fool.

 

[Annie]

If the tea parties want others to stop thinking people like Tom Tancredo, Jim DeMint, Sarah Palin, and Joseph Farah represent their views and values then they should probably stop supporting such figures and giving them a venue for speeches.

They also should boo and kick out anyone at these rallies who are being racist or just plain stupid.

For example: Everyone saw that Dachau sign and yet nobody had the guy take it down far as I know.

at many nationally televised events, there will be someone like Terral with a sign that says 9.11 was an inside job, and no one make them take those signs down either.

People are asked to take such signs down, that they don't probably has to do with the 1st amendment. The real issue is to distance from those, make clear THEY do not speak for the movement, though even the Democrats have their Robert Byrds, and a Vice President that said some rather racist sounding generalities while running for President.

 

[Modbert]

The TEA Parties, like any other rally, attract who they attract. No one 'bans' anyone here. That's this freedom thing. What is radical to you may not be radical to another. For anyone who supports the Obama Administration to whine about radicals anywhere else is the pot calling the kettle black. He puts self confessed 'radical communists' in his Administration - OUR Administration. If that's ok, then fuck off telling anyone else they are 'radical'. Fool.

Again another Ad Hominem.

You attack me, because you know you cannot address my argument.

It's one thing to attract radicals, it's another to give them a voice in the movement.

I suppose things like thinking "Obama is trying to help the terrorists win, Obama was born in Kenya, Obama was a KGB spy, Obama is a Socialist, Obama is a Racist, The Government was behind OKC and 9/11, The Government caused the Stock Market crash, FEMA Death Camps, Indoctrination of our children through Hitler like programs" are all radical ideas wouldn't be radical to some.

I'd call said people nutters.

 

[Modbert]

People are asked to take such signs down, that they don't probably has to do with the 1st amendment. The real issue is to distance from those, make clear THEY do not speak for the movement, though even the Democrats have their Robert Byrds, and a Vice President that said some rather racist sounding generalities while running for President.

I do wonder who the GOP will use as a new talking point about Democrats and racism once Robert Byrd dies.

Though the GOP does not also like to talk about the southern strategy at the same time of mentioning Robert Byrd as a racist.

 

[Annie]

at many nationally televised events, there will be someone like Terral with a sign that says 9.11 was an inside job, and no one make them take those signs down either.

And that's the problem for the tea parties. However, there isn't just one Terral like person at these rallies. Especially with the amount of signs that people have been able to get ahold of picture wise.

At our events, a handful (five or six at the most) would bring a sign that we thought disrespectful or inflammatory enough that we asked them to put them away. And all did. Almost ALL the hate signs you see at Tea Parties, I honestly believe are leftist plants there to discredit the Tea Party. And they do their damndest to make sure they get in front of the cameras with those signs every opportunity they have.

There is also evidence that a great many others that you find on the internet are photoshopped and were never ever at a Tea Party.

And those who are repeatedly posting those hate signs on threads like this, will never EVER respond when it is shown to them that their side has done far worse than anything done at any Tea Party event.

Yep and the organizers KNOW the MSM will fixate on those few signs. Not much that can be done about it, though having speakers that set things right goes a long way. The parties in the main have focused on the issues that most care about: tax reduction, debt reduction, spending reduction, less government in our lives, corruption in government...

Within a loose organization are pro-life, pro-choice, anti-amnesty, birthers, truthers, etc. The goal is to have a broad tent, but focus on the conservative core of issues, leaving the single focus people to deal with those in faction groups, not the tea party.

 

[Annie]

You know, when you have enough exceptions to the rule, they become the rule.

I wonder why Sarah Palin didn't support the Tea Partier Debra Medina, for Texas governor?

...or why for that matter she isn't even supporting the real conservative in that race.

and Sarah Palin made clear that she is currently a Republican. I think she voices many of the concerns of tea party folks, but she has yet to become a true believer in where party alone doesn't matter.

 

[JakeStarkey]

California Girl, please address the point and quit acting like a loon.

 

[Annie]

Good commentary by Jennifer Rubin. Notice too the comment about Tancredo, I agree:

Commentary Blog Archive What You’d Find at a Real Tea Party

What You’d Find at a Real Tea Party
Posted By Jennifer Rubin On February 13, 2010 @ 11:59 AM

... (”Press attention focused on Sarah Palin’s speech, which was well-received by the crowd. But the attendees I met weren’t looking to her for direction. They were hoping she would move in theirs. Right now, the tea party isn’t looking for leaders so much as leaders are looking to align themselves with the tea party.”) And these are hardly a bunch of racists, as Chris Matthews et al. would have us believe. It seems they are backing a number of African American candidates. (To echo Pete’s [2] point, Tom Tancredo does the tea partiers no favors by spouting racial venom and peddling in conspiracy theories; activists as well as elected officials would do well to reject his eagerness to “play to people’s worst instincts.”)

...

Good stuff Annie and the article pretty much reflects my experiences at Tea Party gatherings, of course I have bumped into a (very) few extremist nut jobs at Tea Parties but they mostly get ignored or laughed at by the rest of the folks in attendance, not much else you can do about them though since they are open gatherings.

I agree. Any grouping of people are going to have a few nuts, Dogbert and all just ignore those in their own party, after all they don't find them 'funny.' The GOP certainly has had its characters. So too will any other group.

Too a politician who isn't an idiot may sometimes sound like one, think Obama and 57 states or Biden about the clean Obama. I assume Obama knew better and I don't consider Biden a racist. Funny how some one to hold all that are not of 'their party' to a much higher standard. Hypocrites.

 

[ihopehefails]

I wish people will stop crying about a takeover whenever someone wants to join them.

 

[Modbert]

I agree. Any grouping of people are going to have a few nuts, Dogbert and all just ignore those in their own party, after all they don't find them 'funny.' The GOP certainly has had its characters. So too will any other group.

Too a politician who isn't an idiot may sometimes sound like one, think Obama and 57 states or Biden about the clean Obama. I assume Obama knew better and I don't consider Biden a racist. Funny how some one to hold all that are not of 'their party' to a much higher standard. Hypocrites.

You couldn't pay me to be a Democrat. They can have my vote when I'm dead. But keep on assuming.

 

[Annie]

I agree. Any grouping of people are going to have a few nuts, Dogbert and all just ignore those in their own party, after all they don't find them 'funny.' The GOP certainly has had its characters. So too will any other group.

Too a politician who isn't an idiot may sometimes sound like one, think Obama and 57 states or Biden about the clean Obama. I assume Obama knew better and I don't consider Biden a racist. Funny how some one to hold all that are not of 'their party' to a much higher standard. Hypocrites.

You couldn't pay me to be a Democrat. They can have my vote when I'm dead. But keep on assuming.

 

[Sherry]

There is nothing shocking about radicals and/or detractors trying to infiltrate a movement, especially in it's early stages when they expect a power structure to be formed. It will take vigilance on the part of the members as a whole to keep the focus on the principles of the movement, rather than the individuals. It is yet to be seen how this will all end up, but I'm not sure why some are so quick to write them off. Unless of course it's just wishful thinking. I doubt, as much as the media and others will try, that these people are going to be intimidated and slink off into the night.