Posted on 04/18/2010 7:18:40 AM PDT by rickmichaels
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maybe it was the noonday, tax day sun, but partway through Thursday’s Tea Party rally, I was reminded of the famous Groucho Marx quip about clubs and membership, only backwards.
Based on the New York Times survey Thursday morning of the demographic makeup of the Tea Party movement, I’d never make it past A, B and C of the Tea Party eligibility questionnaire.
Turns out, most of the members are apparently older, white Republican men.
There were definitely those at Thursday’s rally, along with older, white, possibly Republican women, middle-aged, white, presumably Republican men and women and one lone black man named Bob who argued adamantly against the proposition that the crowd may not have been entirely representative of America as a demographic whole.
But since he was spending more time taking photographs of other protesters than getting in on the anti-tax, anti-Pelosi, anti-Obama, anti-Washington, pro-Constitution action, he could have been a federale so seemed best left unquoted. In fact, since he was the only black person I could see and I don’t want to blow his cover, let’s call him “Fred” instead and just hope his real name isn’t Fred.
Demographically, I’m arguably “une femme d’un certain age,” but the fact I know what that means may disqualify me outright because anything foreign, especially French, is dodgy.
(Tea Partiers shun any hint that they have anything to do with Birthers, but the Times survey showed 30% think the president of the United States was born somewhere other than the U.S. and 18% aren’t sure, which makes them eminently qualified for Birther membership even if they don’t want to be in the club).
Which goes to my other major disqualifying quality: I’m not only from another country, I’m from another country that has had a government-run health care system for decades and where the armed anti-government militias are constitutionally bound to name themselves after French existentialist philosophers.
The thing is, with their anti-communist headgear and kooky “save a seal, club a liberal” placards, the Tea Partiers seem possessed by a genuine esprit de corps, pardon my French.
In an effort to better grasp the mystique of membership, I asked a girl named Emily, 22, what it was that inspired her to write a sign that said, “Smash Left-Wing Scum,” that seemed to be getting a lot of media attention.
“I was mostly thinking, ‘How can I get media attention with my sign,’ ” she said with a shrug.
Beyond the rally on the busy D.C. lunchtime sidewalk, two African-American women in their 50s commented on all the excitement.
“It happens every tax day,” said one woman who, when asked to elaborate beyond, “It happens every tax day,” insisted on going unattributed.
“Look, you still have bitterness because a black man was elected president of this country and these people can’t stand the idea of taking orders from him as head of the government,” she said.
“It’s really insulting,” said the second woman, “when you look at what went on under the last administration in this country and none of these people made a peep. Get real: This isn’t about taxes.”
Maybe that’s the ineffable essence of the Tea Party movement; it’s about whatever you want it to be about, and not about anything you don’t want it to be about. Except maybe for the people watching.
Yup, “barf” hits it on the head.
"....armed anti-government militias are constitutionally bound to name themselves after French existentialist philosophers."
The most dangerous extremist group in France actually has a very simple name: Action Directe
As it's name implies, they believe in "Direct Action"
Examples of violent direct action include: destruction of property, rioting, class intimidation such as lynching, terrorism, political assassination,etc.
Cute, huh?
lol they keep misunderestimating the Tea Partiers.
...and the Tea Partiers keep growing more enthusiastic each time they do it
...and the movement keeps growing larger each time they do it
...are they that dumb?
Well, thanks for the warning at least.
“when you look at what went on under the last administration in this country and none of these people made a peep”
What the hell do they think 2006 election was all about? The Repbulican majority was sent packing due to the fact they were behaving like Democrats. Why did we need two ‘progressive’ parties?
It is nice that they changed talking points from abrasive terms like ‘Racists’ to ‘Angry White Men’ though. Isn’t that special?
Last time I looked, white people are still the majority race in America. But we aren’t the ones who are counting color are we?
The people counting color are the racists. The people counting the days we remove the radicals from power are patriots.
“Look, you still have bitterness because a black man was elected president of this country and these people can’t stand the idea of taking orders from him as head of the government,” she said.
“It’s really insulting,” said the second woman, “when you look at what went on under the last administration in this country and none of these people made a peep. Get real: This isn’t about taxes.”
Wrong on both counts, but whose counting.
Does that qualify for a "It's Bush's fault"?
“It’s really insulting,” said the second woman, “when you look at what went on under the last administration in this country and none of these people made a peep. Get real: This isn’t about taxes.”
If you really think those quotes weren't from leftist infiltrators, then you might be interested in a bridge I have for sale.
“It’s really insulting,” said the second woman, “when you look at what went on under the last administration in this country and none of these people made a peep. Get real: This isn’t about taxes.”
First honest comment from someone outside the Tea Party, albeit part of the picture. No, it isn’t about taxes; it IS about abuse of power.
What she misses is the rest of the picture, namely, that we were silent during the last 8 years. She did not hear us when we melted the Congressional phone system(s) down; or when we railed against TARP or all the abuses in Congress.
All revolutions are born out of abuses of power; the sparks that ignite the revolution are hunger, hyperinflation or massive taxation.
A 69% majority of the 300 million people currently living in the United States are white. Does it surprise anyone that the Tea Partiers would be white and middle aged? Somewhere around 95% of all blacks voted for Obama, because he’s black. Most young Americans haven’t been taught about the constitution, let alone the story of the original Boston Tea Party, due mainly to a biased, liberal education agenda. Wake up, Lisa, your spin is nothing but a lie. There is a majority here that do not like what is going on with thier country. Go back to your wonderful socialistic state and leave us to our own business.
We are letting the enemy define the terms of battle! Stop overstressing the tax issue, we are DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION.
It is amazing how fast this factoid has become a DNC to Media talking point. Even the feeble Daniel Shore repeated this on NPR.
His take, like all others is to just report it as a news item, ... then pause.
I always find myself saying but, so what? Are we supposed to infer for ourselves that since they are older, better educated, and white males they aren't hip? That their opinions really shouldn't matter? What is it?
You’re right about the Constitution.
That’s why everyone here should sign up and bring along 10 others to sign up for this:
Beginning April 20!
I love it when liberal newspaper writers do my thinking for me. It’s so economical.
“...are they that dumb?”
Yes. The “Tea Partiers” are only a wee tip of the iceberg. These arrogant libs have no idea how huge this movement is...but they will find out soon!
Oh, for Gawd's sake...
I just love the new, improved Post, err, make that most-racial society Duh!1 has inflicted upon us all...
For the record, it's not the color of his hide-- it's the color of his ideas- fascist Brown & commie Red-- that I loathe...
Put graphically?
Excuse me? Only the military takes orders from the President. Another nanny-statist that doesn't understand the basic pretexts of our system of governance.
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