The Tea Parties: Built on Fear, Violence and Race Resentment

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Christopher Deis

The Tea Parties: Built on Fear, Violence and Race Resentment
Racism and xenophobia have been central to the Tea Party movement from the start; while not all of them are racist, they swim in a sea of white racial resentment.

April 8, 2010 |


I used to be able to watch Glenn Beck and shake my head at his antics. I would listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch Fox News for their entertainment value as theaters of the absurd. I would laugh at the television as Sarah Palin struggled through the easiest of public policy questions. The Tea Party gatherings were comedy gold as one part failed agitprop and one part Village People reunion—fully equipped with protesters dressed in Revolutionary War regalia, carrying misspelled signs, and reciting half-cooked political slogans to a backdrop of bad country music.

The lunatic fringe had taken over the Republican Party. It was high comedy.

Since the passage of the health care bill matters have taken an ugly and horrible turn. Congress members have been spat upon and assaulted by Tea Party protesters. Bricks have been thrown through the windows of representatives who voted for health care reform. Racial and homophobic slurs such as “nigger” and “faggot” have been hurled by Tea Party protesters at members of Congress. A casket was left on the lawn of Representative Russ Carnahan. Right-wing vigilantes targeting Tom Perriello instead accidentally cut the gas main of his brother’s home.

Members of Congress who voted for health care reform are seeking police protection for fear of their safety. In what is ostensibly the most advanced democracy in the world, political thuggery is escalating into political violence as the Tea Party right-wing populists vent their rage and frustration. Having failed to effect policy through normal politics, the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party is now pursuing extraordinary means to see their political agenda served. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/news/146190/the_tea_parties%3A_built_on_fear%2C_violence_and_race_resentment

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. The MSM loves them.

I think many of these teabaggers have mental problems too. Some of them are rented.

[pinboy3niner]

2. The great irony is that the TP mob professes to honor the Constitution

[peekaloo]

3. (In Florida) Spring is in the air and the dumb asses are in full bloom:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20100407&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=4075058&Ref=V2&Profile=1410&MaxW=250&border=0

[pinboy3niner]

4. Hence the expression, "Bloomin' Idiots". nt

[tularetom]

5. Does even one "Tea Party" member understand what the original tea party was about?

If they did they'd be staging "tea parties" in support of health care reform.

[KharmaTrain]

6. The Symptoms Of A Caged Animal...

Call it a byproduct of the Democrats controlling the executive and legislative...or more appropriate, the rushpublicans' corruption that led to them losing all three. Being totally out of power, they also hold no responsibility (other than their obstructionism) to the best interests of the nation...just to their minority covens. Unfortunately, due to real leadership within the GOOP the fringes have taken control of the party's agenda...using fear and hate as the only bonds to hold the party from fracturing.

[Bitwit1234]

7. There would have been a time when the KKK

no matter what form they took, would not be tolerated. But the MSM has built this resurgence of this hateful organization to god like status. I just don't understand. The leaders and founders should be in jail...