My Take on the Tea Party Movement

I was a member of the Reform Party back in the 90's. The group was made up of just about equal parts Democrats, Republicans and Independents. We had our differences but mostly had a good time and worked well together. However, as a group we were GROSSLY mischarecterized by the media. Much of the Media used many of the same racist and other smears that people are throwing at Tea Party members. At times, the coverage seemed like Bizarro World. The movement was a REAL grass roots movement that started by Perot's actions, but grass roots nonetheless.

I do not believe that the Tea Party Movement is actually a grass roots movement. I think that the Neo-Conartists learned a lesson from the power of the Reform Party movement and CREATED the Tea Party Movement in an effort to stir up and excite their base and mislead others into thinking that the TPM is actually an Independent grass roots movement.

And if I am wrong, at the very least, the TPM has been co-opted by the Neo-Con elites.

the Conservative RWingnuts...

They invented it, but really hate it since they became aware of the common sexual meaning of the term.

Thank you for your consideration! :smoke:

I have a facebook friend (also from high school a million years ago) who gets all indignant when I call them "teabaggers"--says I shouldn't lower myself to that, etc. I keep trying to tell him that they called themselves teabaggers for weeks, if not months, before they realized it also meant something else. It wouldn't have been nearly as funny if Jon Stewart of Bill Maher had made it up. I've posted pictures of signs from early rallies ("Teabag them before they teabag you"), but he'll hear none of it. Hah!

"Tea party" is either a reference to a 7 year olds harmless fantasy or an actual adult event where you can enjoy some Earl Grey or Darjeeling with some chocolate digestives, or perhaps some scones, maybe some cucumber sandwiches.

"Boston Tea Party" refers to an historical event where colonials revolted against the favoritism granted to the East India Company (corporate welfare) by the British Crown and parliament.

"Tea Baggers" refers to a group of ignorant selfish un-American bastards who have theirs and are damn well sure they are not going to share with any of those "others" who don't look like "real Americans" and cannot fathom how it is possible to have a black man as president of a what is supposed to be a "white christian nation."

On Edit: Let us never forget -- this is the name they chose for THEMSELVES until they realized they were being ridiculed for their evident ignorance about the term. It must have really hurt to be laughed at by the hated homosexual community and those in the know.

they are mostly racist people. I know a lot of them and every single one of them who I know is a racist.

However, I will mention that the media USED that kind of smear against us back in the 90's in order to demonize us and thereby attack our message indirectly. It is one of the oldest tricks in the book and it is used to prevent an actual debate about issues and redirect the discussion elsewhere.

The tea party isn't really a movement: it is part of the Republican Party, pure and simple, invented to cover their tracks. They endorse only Republicans, and reserve their anger for Democrats. They cannot answer why it is that, if their ideas are so swell, they didn't work when implemented by George Bush, who pretty much got everything he wanted from his Republican majority except Social Security privatization.

The appropriate historical analogy isn't with the Reform Party, but with Goldwater, Wallace and the John Birchers. Same people, same anger. They don't just hate black and gay people, though: to be fair, they also hate anyone to the left of Mitch McConnell.


The same then


as they are today.

to Perot and the Reform Party. They behave entirely different in regard to the Tea Party. The media reinforces the false notion that the Tea Party is a huge grass roots movement.

Another indication that something is not on the up and up.

a member of the Reform Party, at least according to my voter reg. card. It's not recognized in MD though. It's a great platform though. Just not for the PTB.

Maybe that will change?

I wonder if this is a long term republican plan for re-branding. As a party, they may understand just how much damage the last administration and its posse of posers has done and be looking for ways to separate itself from fallout in the political distance.

constant repetition of lies from GOP propogandists and then urged people to show up at venues to get on tv.