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Attacking The Tea Party Movement
Townhall ^ | April 7, 2009 | Lorie Byrd

Posted on 04/06/2009 11:33:18 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Those on the left have spent so much time over the past eight years bashing George Bush that they are having trouble shifting gears. Instead of enjoying their big win in 2008 and going positive, following their leader Obama’s “hope and change” message, they are still tearing down anyone who doesn’t agree with them. The latest attack from the left is not aimed at the Republican party or Michael Steele or Rush Limbaugh, but at Democrat, Republican and Independent Americans across the country who have dared to organize “tea parties” to oppose rising taxes, more government control over private enterprise and less individual liberty.

The Tea Party Movement has caught fire and spread from one end of the country to the other. It has captured the imagination of the conservative grassroots and has taken hold. So far the reaction from the national media has been to downplay or ignore the tea party rallies. Reaction from many on the left most recently is to ridicule and openly attack tea party participants.

According to Michelle Malkin, “Bob Beckel appeared on Fox News this morning to sneer at the nationwide event. He derided tax revolters in Montana, joking that ‘It was a good thing it wasn’t a vodka party, because I guarantee you they all had guns.’Bigoted Beltway jerk. Beckel also claimed the Tea Parties were ‘nothing new’ and recycled the debunked Playboy website report (deleted from the site) spreading false and illogical rumors that the grass-roots movement is directed from the GOP, national tax groups, and CNBC.”

I have been a registered Republican and a conservative for over 25 years and I have never seen a grass roots movement that was even remotely as widespread and successful as the Tea Party movement. The closest thing I have seen would have to be the election of 1994 when the public revolted against the liberal agenda of President Clinton’s first two years in office. There were no widespread protests preceding it, just lots of Americans who woke up to realize the moderate, New Democrat, “end welfare as we know it” message Bill Clinton used to get elected did not match the liberal policies he tried to enact as President. Talk about déjà vu all over again – today’s scenario is incredibly similar.

In just three months the man who attacked George Bush’s deficit spending has introduced us to projected deficits that make Bush’s look miniscule by comparison. The man who attacked John McCain for his associations with lobbyists and vowed to not hire lobbyists took about 24 hours to break his own executive order preventing lobbyists from working in his administration. The man who denied being the most liberal member of the United States Senate has demanded the resignation of Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO of General Motors, and even told Americans the government would back their car warranties. The man who attacked Joe the Plumber when he warned America about his plans to “spread the wealth around” has engaged in class warfare and promised higher taxes for the highest income earners.

Kenneth Walsh wrote in U.S. News and World Report, “All in all, Obama's agenda seems to represent the biggest surge in government activism since Lyndon Johnson's Great Society in the 1960s. And it is nothing short of a fundamental attempt to roll back the less-government objectives that have dominated debate in Washington since Ronald Reagan ushered in a conservative era in the 1980s.”

It is no wonder that Americans in all parts of the country are rising up from the grass roots in defiance. Those on the left started out ignoring the Tea Party Movement, but now that it appears to only be growing, many on the left have resorted to attack mode.

When I recently wrote a blog post letting readers know how to find the April 15 tea party in their area liberal commenters posted attacks on the movement ranging from those disputing my statement that thousands were turning out at the tea parties, to those saying the tea party protesters didn’t know what they were doing because they didn’t bring a PA system to one of the tea parties. When I searched for reports and pictures from the various tea parties to provide some numbers, I found that there were many more than I had realized and quite a few of them saw attendance in the thousands, with many more numbering in the hundreds. The silly attack about the PA system just provided more evidence that the movement was truly coming not only from the grass roots, but from people who had no experience in public protests.

According to the Tax Day Tea Party website, which is tracking tea parties taking place across the country on April 15, the events are focused on the following theme: Repeal the Pork, Cut Taxes and Spending. “There are more than 500 tea parties confirmed for that day, and it is expected that over the next week and a half, the number of tea parties will continue to grow. Crowds of 5,000 to 10,000 are expected in multiple cities.” Whether or not the mainstream media adequately cover the events, conservative media including Sean Hannity, Neil Cavuto and Glenn Beck will be broadcasting from tea parties in Atlanta, Sacramento and San Antonio.

I went to work the day after the 1994 election to find Democrats in the office walking around in shock. The result of the election was a 54-seat swing in membership from Democrats to Republicans, allowing the Republican Party to take the majority in the House for the first time since 1954. Not one incumbent Republican lost in that election. No one predicted how devastating that election would be to the Democrats in Congress. This time there are more outward signs of the discontent many Americans have with the Obama agenda.

Liberals would do well to stop ridiculing voters disgusted with the first three months of the Obama administration and spend more time trying to understand why they feel that way. If they don’t pay close attention and start listening to the voters, they might wake up with a huge headache after Election Day 2010.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; bho44; congress; democrats; economy; obama; taxes; teaparty
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Tea party West chester Pa 4-4-09
21 posted on 04/07/2009 2:11:40 AM PDT by philly-d-kidder (Why is the USA upside down Morally??)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

One thing different about us Tea Party types is we ain’t gonna roll over with the “kinder, gentler” conservatism when attacked. We will return fire 3x to what the incoming is.


22 posted on 04/07/2009 2:11:46 AM PDT by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
American Sheepdogs march 2009
23 posted on 04/07/2009 2:12:38 AM PDT by philly-d-kidder (Why is the USA upside down Morally??)
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To: ChicagahAl
There is a movement afoot here among the tall grasses. A movement that seeks to educate voters that, We the People, are the term limit setters. The goal, turn-over the entire congress. No incumbents return to Washington DC after 2010.

How can a Congress with a 13% approval rating, return with a 90% incumbency rate?

24 posted on 04/07/2009 2:33:16 AM PDT by EBH (The world is a balance between good & evil, your next choice will tip the scale.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
they might wake up with a huge headache after Election Day 2010.

.....warning rats that the tide has turned is akin to holding up a stop sign at the edge of a cliff with a herd of lemmings gleefully stampeding

25 posted on 04/07/2009 2:44:03 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Bob Beckel appeared on Fox News this morning to sneer at the nationwide event. He derided tax revolters in Montana, joking that ‘It was a good thing it wasn’t a vodka party, because I guarantee you they all had guns.

I saw that segment. This Beckel guy is a very nasty Rat!

26 posted on 04/07/2009 3:15:23 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: MTMS

“I went to a teapart on Saturday. About 400 people in our valley of over 70,000 attended. I was disappointed in the turn out but on the other hand I was happy that people showed up.”

Conservatives have never measured up with the likes of the leftist nutjobs when it comes to protest movements, but this is a start and I can see why they would start to get worried as it can only grow as things get progressively worse with their fascist attempts.


27 posted on 04/07/2009 3:29:05 AM PDT by bushfamfan (United States of America: July 4, 1776-November 4, 2008)
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To: Finny; philetus; All
I hope you're wrong about the success of such grab. I fear you're correct about the speed of events and the attempt.

That's why we get multiple Citizen Networks up and running, sooner or later such a grab would get out then the rest of america would jump in the fray (or be enslaved as well)...

Here is a movement that has been gaining traction, Alarm and Muster - The Modern Day Call Tree for Emergency Preparation.

28 posted on 04/07/2009 3:43:18 AM PDT by AvOrdVet ("Put the wagons in a circle for all the good it'll do")
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To: All
I'll be giving you guys a FR "High Five" from the Atlanta Tea Party on the 15th.
29 posted on 04/07/2009 3:45:43 AM PDT by AvOrdVet ("Put the wagons in a circle for all the good it'll do")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

bump


30 posted on 04/07/2009 3:47:57 AM PDT by Christian4Bush (Washington couldnt tell a lie. Clinton couldnt tell truth. Barney Frank cant tell the difference.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If there is a country and history books still in existence in 50-100 years, it is going to be interesting to see how the Tea Party is depicted: as a nuisance to the inevitablitiy of Shariah law and totalitarianism, or as the saving grace of American Republicanism and capitalism.


31 posted on 04/07/2009 3:50:13 AM PDT by Canedawg (Conservatism is the antidote to tyranny- M. Levin)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
they are still tearing down anyone who doesn’t agree with them.

This is kind of a "Duh!" statement. The left doesn't know how to be constructive, only destructive. Look at Fidel Castro and Cuba. He owns the soul of every person on the island for all intents and purposes, yet he still preaches "Revolution, revolution, revolution", except not against him (you'll be executed for that kind of revolution).

Lefties never give up trying to destroy conservatives, even when the conservatives are prostrate or non-existent, as in Cuba.

32 posted on 04/07/2009 4:12:15 AM PDT by Hardastarboard (The Fairness Doctrine isn't about "Fairness" - it's about Doctrine.)
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To: EBH

Hey, be careful what you wish for. I will be sorely disappointed if Michelle Bachmann loses in 2010.


33 posted on 04/07/2009 4:13:02 AM PDT by Gumdrop
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Forget the tea bags, how about everyone that gives a flip just stay home on a preselected workday. lets organize something that will really get O’s attention. This tea bag crap is laughable...they dont care....but if we stay home and shut things down....maybe that will get some attention....no trucks, no planes, no trains, no shopping, no restaurants, no nothing


34 posted on 04/07/2009 4:16:16 AM PDT by YankeeTurnedRebel
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To: SuperLuminal

ACORN shows up on my property and they will have a very rude awakening...


35 posted on 04/07/2009 4:16:16 AM PDT by YankeeTurnedRebel
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To: JSteff
“Maybe they are already here on FR.” Yep. Just about every week one or two gets spotted in a forum. When they get challenged and given the question and comment routine they usually do not return... although some are persistent. Of course just check the “Member Since” date when you mouse over their name. Besides their behavior that gives ‘em away every time

why don't you people think before knee jerking your way into ulcers

I signed up here in 99', and signed off last year because I was tired of seeing kneee jerkers dominating and chastizing anyone who joined that they didn't "personally know"

I signed back up last week and the very first post I made was attacked in the same way I just described, like a bunch of jr hs kids trying to take over this place

36 posted on 04/07/2009 4:16:16 AM PDT by SF_Redux
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They’re starting to worry about a backlash! GOOD!


37 posted on 04/07/2009 4:21:47 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The greatest thing the Obama Administration could do is give Tax and Spending Cutters a veto-proof majority come 2010. It is a long shot, but what a delight it would be to see government shrink in size and power and to actually get to keep your own money.
38 posted on 04/07/2009 4:29:54 AM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: MTMS

Thanks — I’ll take a look :)


39 posted on 04/07/2009 4:42:26 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Instead of enjoying their big win in 2008 and going positive, following their leader Obama’s “hope and change” message, they are still tearing down anyone who doesn’t agree with them.

This implies that Obama is not among the attackers, which is plainly incorrect. Obama, as the "leader" of this nation, has specifically singled out American citizens for attack and ridicule, using Rush (for example) as a bludgeon againt Obama's political enemies.

Tearing others down is the left's only way of making themselves feel bigger, I guess.

40 posted on 04/07/2009 4:46:45 AM PDT by MortMan (Power without responsibility-the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages. - Rudyard Kipling)
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