Posted on 10/08/2009 10:05:43 AM PDT by smokingfrog
The fracture of the Tea Party and 9/12 protest groups has begun, with some protesters following Republican Dick Armey into partisan activism and others chasing jet trails after anyone from Glenn Beck to John Birch.
In North Texas alone, three different political factions are selling "Tea Party Training" or "Tea Party Boot Camp," where for $25 wannabe activists can learn everything from Armey economics to conspiracy theories taught by a "birther."
So far, it’s been tough to tell who’s on which Republican or Libertarian team in the Tea Party protests.
Actor Stephen Baldwin, a speaker at Armey’s Sept. 12 Washington rally, leaves no doubt.
"Mike Huckabee is a knight in shining armor," Baldwin said this week in Dallas, talking about the once-and-maybe-future Republican presidential candidate from Arkansas and a former Fort Worth seminary student and resident of North Richland Hills.
"This is a guy who’s humble enough and smart enough to take the criticism from both sides," Baldwin said. "He knows what he stands for."
It’s no surprise that Baldwin, the youngest of the acting brothers and the evangelist in the family, would prefer Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist pastor.
But some of the most vociferous Tea Party protesters are on a different team.
"I know," Baldwin said, shaking his head over lunch at a Dallas restaurant.
"Ron Paul is nuts. And you can quote me."
That’s how quickly the "movement" falls apart.
The various Tea Party and 9/12 factions -- libertarians, Ayn Rand-reading tax protesters, militia hobbyists and church activists -- don’t have much in common besides distrusting the Democrats.
Some defended George W. Bush and John McCain. Others called them "not conservative enough."
Baldwin, fresh from a weekend at a youth crusade in East Texas, said carefully that America’s eight years under President Bush were "not conservative years."
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
“the evangelist in the family, would prefer Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist pastor.:
I think that is the core of Huckabee’s support.
He's absolutely correct; his brothers could learn a lot from Stephen.
BS propaganda article to demoralize us.
WE SURROUND THEM.
I like Stephen. I am not crazy about Huck cause he help amnesty Senator Juan McQueeg.
It's like he's writing about an ancient tribe, newly discovered in the Amazon. He's trying to decipher rituals and symbolism that are completely alien to him.
Someone from Boston would probably prefer the Amazon over east Texas.
Exactly. Did this writer not notice that there are many different factions among leftist protesters? And I remember reading that they go to training camps to learn how to create disturbances.
My only experience around protesters was when Philly was overrun with them nine years ago during the 2000 GOP convention. I’ll never forget some of the stunts they pulled.
How did he help McQueeg? The majority of the Huckabee voters came from McCain’s ranks, per the exit polls. (They listed McCain as their second choice.)
I know that we in east Texas would prefer that the Bostonian be in the Amazon (lost would even be better, but just not here at the least)!
I would seriously like to know why Huckabee, McCain are for amnesty.
Geez, this guy gets a sword and swings at everything he can think of.
Can’t be... There can’t be any factions in the Tea Party movement - it is all astroturf engineered by the RNC. /s
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