Like it or not, but often the more political power you have, the less likely you are to let people know what you're really after. You may even de-emphasize who you really are.
People in the emerging Tea Party movement encourage others to "Join the fight for liberty" and be a "patriot." They describe themselves as part of as a "populist" or "grassroots" movement, representing the vast majority of America. They hearken back to the 18th century Boston Tea Party protest against taxation without representative--an event that fueled the American Revolution and a violent break from the British government. Last year the Republican Governor of Texas, Tea Party activist Rick Perry, even went so far as to hint that Texas could split from the Union. But he backtracked by saying no such thing was planned, and that he loved America.
Now a poll by The New York Times has found who the Tea Party members are--and this is directly from them. (And for those who don't know, the Tea Party is not a political party in the sense that the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Libertarian Party or Green Party are. At least not yet.) They are generally affluent, and not suffering economically like much of the rest of the country. They are also Republican and conservative, and many see little difference between the Tea Party and the Republican Party--except that many of them want to weed out less conservative Republicans. They also tend to be over the age of 45, male, married, and white.
And, according to their own responses, the largely affluent members think the current system gives too much help to the poor. And the primarily white members are more likely than most Americans, even than most Republicans, to think too much focus has been spent on the problems of blacks. In fact they are more than twice as likely as the average American to think the current administration favors blacks over whites. See two articles about the poll at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/14/us/politics/20100414-tea-party-poll-graphic.html and at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html
Photo by Doug Mills for The New York Times is from http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/04/15/us/16teaparty2_600.JPG and photo by Brian Montopoli for CBS is at http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2009/04/16/image4949606x.jpg No threat to their respective copyright is intended.
Entries by persons who are members or associates of The Loveshade Family do not necessarily represent the views of the whole family.
Comments
OMG!!! You mean the Teabaggers are old white reactionary men who want to see the poor and blacks become poorer. I want MY COUNTRY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Vernon Avaritt | April 22, 2010 10:25 PM
If people would be honest and say what really bothers them, we could work things out and we'd live in a better world. People are afraid of change, and people are afraid of losing power. But if we can live together in harmony, we won't feel a desire to throw tea bags at people.
Posted by: TawTew the Naturally Perfumed | April 23, 2010 03:16 PM
You're missing the point. I'm not rich and I support the Tea Party. The government gets too much of our money. Why should some politicians in Washington decide how I spend my own money? I work hard for it. I don't tell them how they should spend their money and they shouldn't be telling me how to spend mine.
Posted by: Tom T. Trucker | April 23, 2010 09:26 PM
I like the costumes but I wish parties would do good for all people instead of for themselves. Sometimes politics are pretty sad.
Posted by: Marie Gilbert | April 24, 2010 04:59 PM
Marie, people are going to fight for themselves. That's the way it is.
Tom, let's see if you're still saying you don't want the government when they hand you your first retirement check.
Posted by: Issac the Omnipotent | April 24, 2010 05:50 PM
We'll get together
and drink some tea
in any weather--
if you agree with ME!
Posted by: MJ Lover | April 25, 2010 06:43 AM
Issac the Omnsexual where did I say I don't want o government? You think the Tea Party is an anarchist group you haven't been paying attention. I support our government but I have a right to say how they spend my money. That's what the Tea Party is all about, the people's rights.
Posted by: Tom T. Trucker | April 26, 2010 07:08 PM
It's because of groups like this that on Star Trek it's the red shirts who get killed. And it's Star Trek's fault we got women and blacks running everything. We need to go back when white males were in charge and kept women and foreigners in their place. Them were the days.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | April 28, 2010 02:42 PM
That Rev. Bootie is brilliant. Somebody give him a Pulitizer Prize. And how about dropping the tea baggers in a swimming pool full of tea while they're wearing those costumes. Let's see if they can swim.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | May 1, 2010 04:35 AM
Learned about your blog at the Pirate Faire. Regardless of how you feel about their politics, the Tea Baggers do not represent most of America anymore than the NAACP or the Ku Klux Klan does.
Posted by: Ren Faire Bob | May 3, 2010 02:01 AM
Just noticed. Initials: The R.A.T. Party.
Posted by: Vicki Cotton | July 6, 2010 07:03 AM
This party needs to be investigated. It's obviously a conspiracy to keep white men in control of black women. Its sexist racist and slavery and rape.
Posted by: Brandi Earl | September 24, 2010 09:50 PM
They are also Republican and conservative, and many see little difference between the Tea Party and the Republican Party--except that many of them want to weed out less conservative Republicans. They also tend to be over the age of 45, male, married, and white.
Posted by: Mimi Jordan | September 28, 2010 02:47 AM