The Rabid Right - Tea Parties Infused with Fundamentalism and Racist Overtones
They were angry about health care reform, although the vast majority of them would benefit from that reform. They challenged every idea, however small or large, President Obama proposed. Teabaggers ranted about taxes, although under Obama working Americans actually got a tax cut.
They were upset about bailouts, especially assistance given to car companies. And while there are very valid reasons to be angry about companies "too big to fail," to attack the man that inherited the mess and was forced to act isn't the best course of action.
Looking in from the outside, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Why are seemingly average Americans so upset? On national security, on the economy and bank bailouts, and on many other issues, Obama isn't that much different from Bush. But teabaggers weren't seeking revolution then, were they?
The Tea Party movement is essentially angry white Christians lashing out at progressive ideas, those who don't support further intertwining of religion and government - and a president they see as "different."
There is talk of impeachment, although no violation of any law can be pointed to.
Religion is infused into the debate with constant references to an imagined non-secular American government, a "Christian Nation" mindset replete with imagined histories.
And yes, a racist element too. It's uneasy water to tread, looking at the racism aspect. If you bring it up, conservatives rail that you are trying to brand them all as racist. But it cannot be ignored. Of course not all persons involved with Tea Party movements are racist.
But a good deal of them are. And to deny that element is to ignore the obvious. Suddenly, with the election of Barack Obama, militias with the facade of keeping an oath they already had sworn to sprang up to face manufactured fears.
It's no accident that a good portion of the Tea Party makeup is people who moved to the right as a counter to the civil rights movement, feminism, and homosexual rights. They rant about freedom and liberty, but what they really mean is the freedom to be like them and the liberty to worship their God.
They imagine America to be a land lost, uprooted from it's Christian history by godless progressives. When they rant about wanting "their country back," they are longing for the darker side of American history.
More than that, they want to rewrite American history to reflect their vision. And to make America's future one based on American exceptionalism, religious fervor bordering on theocracy, and intolerance of anything different.
They cannot succeed.
Published by Jeff Musall
Jeff Musall has a passion for writing, a knack for frank and informed expression, and a desire to engage the minds of readers. He is an avid sports fan across the board and loves good competitions. His work... View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentHmmmm...thanks for agreeing Robert but my comment has disappeared. I doubt Jeff did it. He may be a lefty but he does not delete comments to my knowledge so I will not default to such an accusation. AC does have a problem with sometimes dropping comments. It has happened on dozens of my own articles and I do not delete 'em either. Wish I remembered what I had said...LOL
I agree with Whiplash! Great comment!
So, there are only nice, polite, calm, fully informed individuals in the Tea Party movement?
Musall your irresponsible name calling (the rabid right) simply demonstrates your complete intellectual bankruptcy.
I one time got caught - by accident - in a teabagger rally. Over half the signs had racist content.
Another thing you will never understand, When "America" is governed from the "Far Right" or the "Far Left" Americans will vote for the center. When GW was in office, America wanted a change from the "Far Right" - Now that America is governed from the "Far Left" America wants "Change". The "Tea Party" offers that "Change"
What you will see in 2010 is the rise of the "Legal" Middle Class American Citizens" Sadly, guys like you will say that racism is involved, IT'S all you have, your only weapon of words, point and call the "Tea Party" racist, Really Jeff, do you have anything else..."NO" when Poll after Poll agrees with the "Tea Party" Platform.
Jeff, You are consistent!! Your belief that the "Tea Party" is racist just shows that, when loosing, why not..... use the race card. Guess what "my ol friend" Its not working anymore. The one thing that you are not understanding is that the "Tea Party" is growing stronger by the day It's not about race - you loose when you use race... It's about what is the right direction for America. Most every Poll that is taken shows that the "Tea Party" belief is 60% - 73% of what "American People believe". In one of your last articles you wrote with pride that there were "More Strip Clubs in Portland Or. Than churches" Maybe YOU need to take a serious look at why that is good,
I hate the undertones these things have taken on. We're all humans people; get over it!
To my regret, you (and I) and Timothy are preaching to the choir. Those on the Rabid Right read only far right blogs and papers, get their news exclusively from Fox and think Rush and Glenn are fonts of wisdom. I have hope that the majority of voters are more informed and won't follow these un-American Americans.