The Tea Party Blame Game

by: bruce nix | published: 04 20, 2010

This weekend we attended a Tea Party rally in my home town. Although I consider myself to be well-informed politically, I had never attended one of the rally's. The movement hasn't caught on as well here, as in other places, but it is none the less gaining momentum. I would estimate the number of people attending at around 300 to 400.

There were several speakers invited and interestingly enough, there were also five Republican congressional candidates present. However, they were not invited to speak. The promoter of the event explained this rather bluntly by saying; “She was sick and tired of politicians!” She received a loud standing ovation for this remark. These candidates are all vying for senator Sanford Bishop's job. A Democrat in our district, who voted for the health care debacle. Needless to say he is not liked very much here by conservatives.

We have a liberal based newspaper in town and they make no bones about that fact. One would think that while their photographer was present, no more than a paragraph about the rally, ran in the paper. They did however, run a couple of editorials from the Washington post, by two of their staff writers in the editorial section, with both of these writers slamming the Tea Party movement and the people who make up its ranks.

One article by E.J. Dionne, tried to minimize the movement by inferring that it represents only a small minority of Americans, on the right end of politics and it will not determine the outcome of the 2010 elections in November. He also painfully added the remark that this movement is almost entirely sponsored by white Americans and that the only obvious reason for their discontent, is the color of Barrack Obama's skin. He in effect called the Tea Party movement members, racist!

The second writer; Kathleen Parker, although not directly accusing them of racism, made the outlandish statement that the rhetoric used by the movement will ultimately lead to violence. Citing the upcoming 15th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing which killed 168 people and was the worst act of terrorism prior to 9/11. She talked about how after the passage of the health care bill, several Democrats were threatened. She added into the mix, accusations of rabble rousing by people like; Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Leading one to the conclusion, that if any act of violence occurs as a result of the Tea Party movement, that it will be entirely that groups fault!

Well! The Tea Party movement people are made up of violent, racist people, who make up only a small minority of the American people! I am so glad that they pointed this out to me! What a relief! I can now without any trepidation on my part, come out of the closet and say; I am a racist! A violent racist and truthfully; I am. After all, I am from the south. Everyone knows that all southerners are racist! Jimmy Carter even said so on national TV. I should have seen this coming a long time ago. I was one of those small minority Americans that stood up and said; “Awww...hell no! A black man is running for President! Time to get violent!” So with all of that being said; where do we go from here?

This is where irony steps in. We all know what irony is right? After the Civil War, around 1876, the south enacted laws which went on to be called Jim Crowe laws. Advocating; segregation of whites and blacks. They lasted until around 1965. Predominantly in the south. It was a series of laws enacted by southern Democrats to keep black people from advancing. Plain and simple. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 put a stop to it. The key here is that these laws were enacted by Democrats.

On June 11th 1963, a diminutive man, who also happened to be the Governor of the State of Alabama, made his now infamous schoolhouse door speech to America. Stating that it was his intent, while Governor of Alabama, that no black person would ever attend a white school in his state, while he occupied that office and this ultimately led to a confrontation between his office and the White House. The Civil Rights movement was in full force by this time. Peaceful protests met with brute force by white, Democrat officials.

We all know the outcome of this and George Wallace never apologized for his actions and guess what? He too, was a Democrat! This arrogant, blatantly racist man, was a Democrat! I have often wondered in sheer astonishment, how the black community of today, wound up being predominately Democrat, in lieu of the fact that the very same party, made life so miserable for them throughout the years. Ahem!

Now, as we debate the future of our country, this very same party, washed in years of the blood of racism and violence toward the black man, has the audacity to accuse me, or for that matter anyone associated with the Tea Party movement, of being racist and that we may turn violent as a result! This is utterly astonishing! My, how the roles have been reversed!

Which brings me back to my point. The Tea Party rally that I attended. The very first speaker was a gentleman from South Carolina named; Lenny McCallister. Who also happens to be African-American. What? At a Tea Party rally! Surely you jest! This just can't be possible! Kind of like a black man showing up at a KKK meeting, right? After all Tea Party-ers are; violent, racist, white people! Nope! I kid you not! He is indeed black.

Part of his speech is as follows; “Americans, you are called by your forefathers to be proud to extol the values of your nation. You are required by the blood of Black men, White men, Asian-Americans, and Latino-Americans that was shed for the freedom that you enjoy to protect the America that you have today – one that is threatened by an overreach of government by a group of misguided lawmakers...” Imagine that. He received a standing ovation for his truly wonderful speech.

Over the years, I have watched elections go by and as of late, the Democratic Party has sunk deeper and deeper into the abyss. Accusations fly from every direction as a result of their lust for power. If they cannot win an election fairly, they will cheat. They will insult you, lie about you and do what ever it takes to gain the advantage. Rush Limbaugh said it correctly when he stated recently; “the Democrats will tell you who they fear the most if you just listen to them.” Who gets that distinction? The Tea Party movement and Sarah Palin. Look at who they are attacking the most recently.

The Tea Party movement is just beginning. It is growing. The Democrats have reason to fear them. They are us. The people of America. Either as a member of the movement or someone like myself, just fed up with the direction that this administration is taking us. Down the road of ruin and debt. Trying to destroy the middle class. Dividing the people. Tearing apart the Constitution and tossing away our freedoms. Taking control of our business's. Increasing the size and power of government. Leading us away from our trusted allies. Making us weaker as a nation in a world fraught with danger. These are the reasons for our discontent! Not the color of his skin!

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