Newsweek: Are Tea Partiers Racist? Hey Newsweek, Do Bears Shit in the Woods?

[TalkingDog]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/236996

Until now, that is. A new survey by the University of Washington Institute for the Study of Ethnicity, Race & Sexuality offers fresh insight into the racial attitudes of Tea Party sympathizers. "The data suggests that people who are Tea Party supporters have a higher probability"—25 percent, to be exact—"of being racially resentful than those who are not Tea Party supporters," says Christopher Parker, who directed the study. "The Tea Party is not just about politics and size of government. The data suggests it may also be about race."

...

If Tea Party supporters are doing relatively fine, what are they so riled up about? These studies suggest that, at least in part, it's race. The country that the Tea Partiers grew up in is irrevocably changing. Last month, new demographic data showed that minority births are on the verge of outpacing white births. By 2050, Hispanics are expected to account for more than a quarter of the American population. The Tea Partiers "feel a loss … like their status has been diminished," says David Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, which examines issues of race. "If you listen to language, it's always about 'taking our country back.' But it's really not taking the country back as is. It's taking the country back"—as in time.

Bositis finds the movement's arguments about reckless federal spending unpersuasive. Why, he asks, weren't they up in arms when President George W. Bush launched two costly wars and created a new unfunded mandate with his Medicare prescription-drug plan? Why didn't they take to the streets when he converted a surplus into a massive deficit? "I don't like to be in a position where I'm characterizing people as being racially biased," says Bositis. "But when the shoe fits, what do you do?" Given modern societal norms, "they know they can't use any overtly racist language," he contends. "So they use coded language"—questioning the patriotism of the president or complaining about "socialist" schemes to redistribute wealth.

We can't call him the "N" word, so we'll call him a dirty word from our era: Socialist

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

1. the birthers are racist, I suspect we would have got the baggers either way

I am sure the whole teabagger strategy was set in stone before Obama even won the nomination, the new contract with America if you will.

My father has a great name for the teabaggers but I suspect it would be considered offensive around here,

[ixion]

2. Many are, some are not

although racism is a strong under-current of the group in general.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. So, if it's all about their 'rights' and the bailouts, where are they this week? Why aren't they

holding rallies everywhere against the Arizona immigration law? Having to carry proof they belong here is 'trampling on their Constitutional rights', isn't it? Why aren't they demanding a quick passage of the Financial Reform Bill? Make those bastards pay up for bailing themselves out.

[Raschel]

6. Great point. I demand all tbaggers to hold rallies against this law requiring you to show a b.c.

[Mike Daniels]

4. At least this article does bring up the "why weren't they protesting in 2008?" issue

but I noticed that neither of the individuals quoted at the end appear to have been asked that exact question.

[Marr]

5. Well, you don't see them complaining about Arizona's new law, do you?

That's about as blatant an abuse as government has come up with in recent years, but they're apparently fine with it. They can see Hitler in healthcare, but "papers, please" is just fine.

[Raschel]

7. Why don't they just hold signs that say "THEY'RE TAKING OVER!!!"

Racist freaks.

[woodsprite]

8. Why do they all look like they've intermarried one too many times. n/t

[Bitwit1234]

9. Two of my sisters are gung ho about the tea bags

and support them, and they are as racist as they come. One can't stand black people and walks the other way rather than meet up with them. The other gets hyper and out of breath is she happens to see a Hispanic on the sidewalk.

[Bitwit1234]

10. PS -- and I dont' know where in the Hades

they got this, our parents and the rest of the family are not like that. I think they both got a little over there head, when their husbands starting making a pot full of money. See it comes with being a republican. They grew up democrat.