Aside from twice trying to portray the Tea Party Movement as racist, the article did a pretty good job of describing the Tea Party phenomenon.
But a new Washington Post canvass of hundreds of local tea party groups reveals a different sort of organization, one that is not so much a movement as a disparate band of vaguely connected gatherings that do surprisingly little to engage in the political process.In fact, one of the people they contacted is Lowell resident and Greater Lowell Tea Party leader Barbara Klain. Barbara told me:
The results come from a months-long effort by The Post to contact every tea party group in the nation, an unprecedented attempt to understand the network of individuals and organizations at the heart of the nascent movement.
Yes, I did answer some questions by telephone.So, while many think the Tea Party Movement is the tool of larger secretive movement, but The Washington Post article suggests it is just what Tea Party members have been saying—it is a series of grass-roots organizations springing from individual frustration with the direction of government.
When I was interviewed I mentioned that although fiscal responsibility on the part of the individual and the government is, I believe, a common thread, tea parties across the nation differ greatly because each one reflects the concerns and needs of the local population. If we were to become organized under one national umbrella we would lose the immediacy that makes us click.
As the last statement says, we exist "to educate members and encourage them to become active on their own." This year, I plan to pursue the education theme. Between election pushes, I hope to educate our group about the Constitution and to show one or two films that I think are important.
As for the suggestions of racism put forward in the article, all I can talk to is our local situation. The members of the Great Lowell Tea Party came to a consensus on backing Sam Meas in his race for the Republican nomination to run against Representative Niki Tsongas. Money was given, registration efforts were made and signs and bumper stickers were displayed.
It does seem to me that part of the issue of what The Washington Post refers to as racism is really questions about who President Barack Obama really is and where he wants to take us, as a nation. The two things should not be confused, least we cause confusion.
Racism is wrong! Let us be clear on that. And, as our nation's Attorney General has told us, we need to talk about race.
But, that is not what the Tea Party exists for. The Tea Party is concern for Government financial stability on the part of folks approaching or at retirement. Sure, there are young folks in the movement, but the it is the older folks who are driving the agenda, at least here in the Lowell area. We are just lucky to have a young woman like Barbara Klain ramrodding our outfit.
If you liked this Wash Post article you might consider asking your local convenience store owner about making a fuss about the fact that the newspaper no longer makes it this far north on Sundays.
If you are interesting in the Great Lowell Tea Party, contact me or call Barbara Klain.
Regards — Cliff
5 comments:
I am not a hammer, but on occasion it is the best tool to use.
Racism, bigotry, xenophobia, ect. are the tools of the right wing calliope known as the "tea party."
Sorry that good folks are stained by their voluntary association to it.
Take heart. It's not just the recent ads against NH Gov. John Lynch, mailed out by conservative Cornerstone Action. These scuzzball tactics go all the way back to Willie Horton.
Note in the mailer against Gov. Lynch, the mugshots are of two blacks, one hispanic and one white guy. Further, note how the layout puts Gov. Lynch in a "line up."
Any guesses on the % population of blacks and hispanics in NH? Or just maybe, the Cornerstone folks ignored the state's demographics to maximize the potential of "creative license."
Just two days ago, I heard a dig at "Hanoi Jane." The American people have long memories. Try as you may, there is no way you will just easily separate the reputation of the Tea Party from the slime of the teabaggers.
I don't know from New Hampshire and from Cornerstone Action (I do remember, in the back of my mind, some Cornerstone Corporation, connected to John Murtha and to PMA), but to suggest, based on that outfit that individual "Tea Parties" are racist is a bit over the top.
Just my own humble opinion.
Regards — Cliff
Let me type slower.
If they are not themselves racists, they p..l..a..y to racists sentiments in the electorate.
The intent is, to use a metaphor, to get the lady walking down the dark street being approach by a young black man to clutch her purse.
Kad has pointed this out, as well. If you want to magnify the potency of the local organization, by glomming on to the brand of the national beast, you get stuck with the whole enchilada.
How nice it would be for me, and other like minded Democrats, to be able to cherry pick for the best of our public persona, while distancing ourselves from other, less savory aspects of the Left. I'd love to put a firewall between me and MoveOn.
It just ain't that simple.
You want off the hook? Cut the line!
MoveOn and ACORN and SEIU and the New Black Panthers and Barbara Boxer (belay that last one) ...
Regards — Cliff
The SEIU has 2.2 million members. These are law abiding, working Americans that are a vital part of our national tapestry. The NBPP? Not so much.
In your head is there some sort of equivalency? Or did you just lapse and pull a mental, Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V?
Seriously, as scary as the notion of radical black revolution is, to some, the NBPP is about as much threat to America, as Rich Iott's band of merry WWII re-enactors.
I prefer the Cliff that subtley skewers the right wing propoganda, as he disseminates it. You get a pass when you telegraph that you are in on the joke.
I would think this a requisite to being part of the enlightened wing of the tea party.
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