Let's call these "Tea Parties" for what they really are - white power rallies

[Hugabear]

These idiots are nothing more than a bunch of pissed off rethugs and cowardly "libertarians" who are pissed off that a black president is spending "their" money. It eats them alive that their beloved decorated war hero didn't win, that Rove couldn't steal a 3rd presidential election, so now they're taking to the streets in protest. These morons are bound by their hatred of two things - Obama and brown-skinned immigrants. Listen to any right-wing talk show, and you'll hear hateful vitriol spewed forth on a daily basis towards both of these targets.

[havocmom]

1. yep

And the small turnouts shows that the nation is getting better and better on the racial facet of late! The change just in my lifetime has been a good thing.

[Hugabear]

2. Take away the white robes & hoods from a KKK rally, you'd have a typical "Tea Party" gathering

Just my take...

[EFerrari]

54. These are the same people who cheered when Sarah Palin said,

"Barack Obama isn't like us."

[unc70]

143. Raleigh included several blacks interviewed on local news

The local parties seemed to be attended by a grab-bag of groups. From interviews and signs seen on local news I saw Ron Paul followers, misc anti-government or anti-tax groups, home schoolers, people worried about the debt left for their children and grandchildren, and the expected D.H. crowd.

A couple of the people interviewed on the local stations were black; they said the same kinds of things as other attending the rallies.

[AlbertCat]

211. A couple of blacks

Well then....that's proof it was not racial in any way! No prejudice involved....just like the GOP in general with its black chairman and all. That wide net they keep talking about.

[Buzz Clik]

219. Great post. The OP is off base.

[unc70]

297. Not certain whether the eager reporters focused on any non-whites or something else was happening

Most of the Raleigh crowd was still very white. Very, very white.

While the attendees did not quite match that poor rag-tab KKK group that used to demonstrate in NC, it was much like that. Even with the few blacks sprinkled among the attendees. No Hispanic, or Asian, or other ethnic group seemed to be represented.

I think the OP was over the top, but there is a kernel of truth in their argument.

[EFerrari]

247. I'm sure "a couple of blacks" voted for the Grand Dragoness Palin, too.

And Steele is the titular head of the RNC. So what? Some black people also owned slaves and fought for the South in the Civil War.

[Fovea]

3. TEAPERS

Use the term freely.

[ddeclue]

147. DING DING DING - WE HAVE A WINNER - DUZY ALERT! nt

[neuvocat]

149. More like TP'ers IMO

[bdamomma]

4. oh for sure, just by the pictures you see big fat white men.

these people are just totally ignorant and being used and they don't know they are being used.

[slackmaster]

274. What have you got against people of size?

I'll bet you're one of those people who approve of airlines charging double for size-challenged individuals.

[guitar man]

5. from what I've seen

It's more like white over-the hill rallies. A bunch of old white dudes lost in an emerging new world they have no desire to understand. A world where their tired ideas are no longer relevant. Maybe they should get Geritol and Ben-Gay as sponsors. :D

[Taverner]

6. Tom Anderson (from Beavis and Butthead) clones, all of 'em

[guitar man]

10. exactly!!

The perfect poster guy for the movement! :thumbsup:

[Fire1sKid]

92. Tom was so ignorant it was hilarious!!!lol

:rofl:

[Bette Noir]

209. Love you sig line!

[Kitty Herder]

7. I think you've nailed it.

And when I hear the things said by certain people in my hometown and in my extended family, it's clear to me that racism is a big factor in all of this. (I'm surrounded by rightwingers.) They hate the fact that we have a black President. They hate the fact that he's immensely popular even more.

[GTurck]

196. 2 Year old's...

hate it when they are frustrated and in a rage and no one else is.:scared: :boring:

[Cleita]

8. A woman caller on radio today said that she noticed her husband's pay check

was larger since the middle class tax cuts Obama promised. I wonder if those tea baggers have jobs? Surely they would have noticed that they are getting more or are they too stupid to see it. I had a Republican acquaintance once who always complained about taxes, but since he did mostly day work and was paid in cash, he never filed taxes and therefore didn't pay them. He really had a disconnect about it. Maybe if we ever get universal health care, these people can have their heads examined and maybe get their medications adjusted.

[960]

9. I think you are disgustingly off the mark here.

[dwighthuth]

11. Republican Tea Parties

The real problem is this with the conservative base that is prompting attacks against anyone else, they are
extortive because it is a good business model from what I have heard other coservatives say about the current
economic situation. What is really happening is this, the former administration has put this country into debt
and war purposely, that way they could be the miracle worker to the problems that they have caused. They then
blame it on President Obama who is trying to deal with a war, economy and illegal immigration that was not
dealt with during the former individuals that were in office left the country to deal with. This is how the
conservatives trying to keep America the way they want it so they can benefit while others lose what they have,
operate. The bottom line is this with the Conservatives rattling their sabres once more against the Democrats,
they are lieing and trying to make theirself out to be the victim here and that if you vote for a Conservative
then there will be no more problems. If it was true about President Obama causing the problems, then why are
illegal Mexicans still allowed into this country illegally where they use religion and humanitarian guises to
break the law, take jobs away from American citizens who pay taxes, where that money from those taxes goes to
keep the roads in a state of repair, provide social services for those really in need, not those who are lazy
and are freeloaders, and want the country to fall back into a state of time when there were horse drawn
carriages, no airplanes and not computers? Why you ask, these are the same people that support Osama Bin Laden
in his quest to bring this country and other countries that are progressive states down to the level that his
followers are, that way no one is different and everyone has the same as they do, sheep and goats and a 20mm
anti-aircraft gun mounted on their roof tops.

Republicans are like the Taliban, they cover their faces due to their mistakes and force others to believe that
they are the victims.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

46. How can you have zero posts, yet have a post?

[fishwax]

71. I saw that once before with another poster

weird :wtf: :shrug: :)

I have the image, but don't recollect what thread it was in, and the advanced search isn't working for me ...

[noamnety]

79. Might be one of those posting errors we occasionally get.

I've gotten the "posting error" message before - and haven't reloaded the page because I know that's a trick to make me double-post. But when I look at my recent posts, the one with the error won't appear at all, even though I can clearly see it in the thread. Wouldn't surprise me if those don't increase your post count.

[whopis01]

200. Quite simple really... it is all related to the common sense particle

You just need to shrink down to microscopic size, enter your own brain, and remove your common sense particle.

Then it is easy to no posts and a post at the same time.

Just think of it like having tea and having no tea all at once.

[RedCloud]

243. Some particles flow backwards in time.

Just saying.

[Hanse]

13. I think he's right on.

They're white power rallies, and the only reason they're upset is because we've got a black president.

[960]

22. Okay. There is one going on in my town, and there are like 3 white people there.

(out of about 150-200). Maybe it's just because I live in a very racially diverse town.

[Hugabear]

23. Oh really. Would you be willing to post a picture of that crowd?

I'm having a very hard time believing that out of a crowd of 200 teabaggers, that only 3 of them would be white.

[960]

27. Apparently you've never been to Merced, CA. There aren't too many white people here.

And there are many conservative latinos. Yes, I will link to some pics when the local teabagger group updates their webpage.

[Hugabear]

28. Yep, I looked up your Merced Tea Party. Hosted by UC Merced College Republicans.

I still feel that the vast majority of these tea party types are racist assholes.

[960]

29. Well, it's not "my" tea party. I just laughed at them as I walked by.

But to call these white power rallies is really stupid, and doesn't help anyone except those trying to use race as a wedge.

[Fire1sKid]

109. Are you honestly gonna

sit on this blog and say that these "parties" have nothing to do with Obama being black?
It is a known fact that the majority of these parties consist of people who reside in the middle class
and are not seeing an increase in taxes at all so what else could it be?

[NewMoonTherian]

228. They way it was explained to me...

is that the parties aren't a protest of taxes, but of spending. It appears the original intent was lost on most of the participants, which is sad.

There were lots of FairTaxers at the one here in Tulsa though, and I'm hoping some of the silliness will translate into a groundswell to pass the FairTax.

[Hanse]

30. Merced, Ca.- 52% white.

[960]

31. Maybe according to the 2000 census....

[Name removed]

33. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LeftyMom]

163. Me too. And I know the town in question.

Doesn't make sense either in terms of demographics or California politics.

[Hanse]

25. do the police sneak into your bedroom and touch you in your sleep?

[H2O Man]

68. pants on fire

[mdmc]

76. nice! Any pics or press?

That is as big of a teabag party as they come.. should get plenty of coverage...

[noamnety]

187. There are pics - but it's really hard to find those "three white people"

buahahahaha



http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/793831.html

[Raineyb]

287. Hmmm. Looks like someone left off a zero or two. n/t

[noamnety]

186. You knew the photos would eventually pop up online, no?

and you must have known what they would show. The rest of us did, and we weren't even there.

"There is one going on in my town, and there are like 3 white people there. "

The tea party at Merced:

[AlbertCat]

213. Besides, since when were Latinos not capable of being prejudice toward blacks?

[liberation]

254. Ha, ha... love the "work ethic" sign...

I find it hilarious for anyone who is skipping work... to be lecturing about "work ethic."

They truly think their shit does not stain. The ironic thing is that sans the public investment, areas like Merced would be even worse than they are right now. If the UC Merced was not in progress, a significant bunch of their jobs and real state value would literally evaporate over night.

[Buzz Clik]

221. I must agree with you.

It's far too easy to assign everything the GOP does to being racially motivated or otherwise intolerant.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. I do not think they are necessarily racially motivated by the Think Tanks who came up...

with the stupid idea, but I do believe plenty of the "grass roots" participants are sure as heck racially motivated.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

49. That's what I think

My former employer is one of the organizers of the local one, and he's racist as hell.

[Hugabear]

20. Yeah so their hatred of immigrants and Obama has nothing to do with racism

Uh-huh. Enjoy your stay here.

[pampango]

36. Tread softly on the link between anti-immigrant sentiment and racism around here.

You'll notice on immigration threads that those who blame illegal immigration for much damage to American jobs and wages are sensitive about any link between racism and/or xenophobia and opposition to immigration.

Now your comment was directed at Young Republicans who are undoubtedly less sensitive (perhaps even open) about their distaste for "others" (other races, other nationalities - better, both at the same time), so it is very appropriate.

[Hugabear]

42. Much of the anti-immigration sentiment has everything to do with racism

I hear it whenever I listen to some of my right-wing co-workers talk about immigration, or happen to catch whichever right-wing propagandist is on the AM station at the time. If it were ONLY about illegal immigration - and if it were directed towards ALL undocumented immigrants - then it might not be so bad. But it seems to always be directed towards our neighbors to the south, and there's usually a fair amount of hatred tossed in there. You commonly hear stuff about how Spanish is becoming more widespread in this country, that they don't "assimilate" into our culture (whatever culture that is), etc etc etc.

[EFerrari]

51. Some of that is racism, too, and should be called what it is. n/t

[Bette Noir]

212. Uh-- here in California, anti-immigrant sentiment is 100% racially motivated.

I've never heard anyone here complain about Irish or Canadian immigrants, and I've been targeted by "anti-immigrant" activists, in spite of my family being American citizens for over a century.

[slackmaster]

275. That's nonsense - I know lots of Mexican-Americans who are against illegal immigration

First-generation immigrants are often fiercely opposed to illegal immigration. They did it the right way and don't like people cheating.

[Bucky]

39. Thank you. Most Republican are not racists.

Racializing political issues is appalling and counter productive. I still think they're a bunch of whiny spoiled brats, but sinking to their level with juvenile taunts only hurts the country rather than drawing a contrast between our Party of Solving Problems and their Party of Hissy Fits.

[L0oniX]

69. Some of us go by the people we know. The ones I know that don't like Obama are biggots ...

and some are prejudiced. All of them are repukes and watch Fux tv. I have to work with one of them too and I hate to be around him.

[AlbertCat]

217. Some of us go by the people we know

and what we hear on the radio (from many we don't know)


and what we see on TV


and what we read in the media


and who gets elected by Repugs


Hell, if I didn't know a single repug personally, I'd still think it was the party of bigotry.

[Fire1]

112. What??? Are you Serious???? Surely you jest!!!!!

"Most Republicans are not racists"??????? Where do you live??? In a Cave????

[Nevernose]

127. You're right, but most racists ARE Republicans.

Classical syllogism.

[olegramps]

179. Most Republican are not racists?

Well that hasn't been my personal experience. But I was raised in the South. Damn glad to say I am from there, just about as far FROM there as I can get. If you don't believe that much of the opposition to President Obama isn't motivated by racism since it is so obvious I am sure I couldn't convince you. Perhaps you didn't watch any of the Palin rallies?

[AlbertCat]

216. Most Republican are not racists.

Prove it.

Like Richard Dawkins says

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof

You don't have to prove "all" just "most" are not racists

[EFerrari]

50. You need to do some research on the foundation of the modern Republican Party

which is absolutely racism.

[L0oniX]

64. Enjoy your stay here.

[Egalitariat]

94. Who cares?!? It's just fun painting with a broad brush****

nm

[Bluebear]

105. Oh, do tell. nt

[WatchWhatISay]

133. How so?

Maybe not the case with all of them, but true,IMHO, for most of them. They live all around me, some are my relatives. I hear these vaguely disguised sentiments all the time.

[cliffordu]

152. Did you see the signs?? listen to the tapes??

[stanwyck]

279. Well, take it from Chuck Todd

Comparing the last general election to the previous one, Chuck Todd has shown in his book, How Obama Won, how the GOP lost numbers in every single demographic group except one: uneducated white Southern men. The GOP lost prior voters everywhere else. So, it's not surprising that these tea parties have racist rhetoric. Look, the people there are complaining about taxes when their taxes are actually decreasing? That makes no sense. For people earning less than $200,000 (like clueless Joe The Plumber) the tax rate goes down. For people earning over $200,000, the rate reverts back to the Reagan era tax rate. So, how exactly are these tea parties about Obama raisiing taxes? Crazy talk.
The ugly truth is right there at these rallies. Racism.
.

[Raineyb]

286. I think he's right on the mark

Although it's never a surprise when they dig up a couple of token black people.

Regards

[FrenchieCat]

12. That's what my husband just said to me....

he said, "the teabagger parties are just an excuse for angry White people to protest the Black President and nothing more."

I tend to agree.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

123. I agree. Why weren't they protesting Bush and his spending the past 8 years?

Because Bush is white.


I already thought to myself today that these protests are just a way of protesting having a black President.

[raccoon]

194. Great post!

That's what I'd like to know:

"Why weren't they protesting Bush and his spending the past 8 years?"

[Patiod]

14. Ab-so-freaking-lutely

Agree 100%

[uppityperson]

15. Yup.

[mzmolly]

17. Hear

hear!

[SPedigrees]

18. Working class people not bright enough

to recognize which party represents their own interests, showing up at rallies organized by disgruntled rich people. That's my guess.

[leftstreet]

32. You have a point, but it's better made without bashing the working class

Both parties exploit the fears and misinformation running rampant throughout the citizenry.

It's not about being 'bright enough,' it's about having access to the truth.

[SPedigrees]

61. I'm not bashing the working class. I AM the working class.

I have worked in the blue collar sector all my life (10 years at a plywood mill was my most recent gig) and believe me there are plenty of informed progressive workers out there. There are also workers who voted Bush in, against their own interests, and these are the tea-bagging crowd.

I'm not bashing white people or men either. Geeze get a grip!

I'm speculating about who these tea-baggers are. My first impulse was rich white men who lost their tax cuts. I looked at the photos and changed my mind - these are the recruits of the rich white men who organized this affair. It's my best guess. Racist? Well I'd guess they are also that.

[Bucky]

41. What kind of snobbish malarkey are you passing along here?

I'm working class. Most of the people I know are working class. We're all bright enough to recognize our best interests. Even my few Republican friends (who tend to be the same economic status as me) are pursuing what they think is their own best interest.

They disagree with me, but that doesn't mean I get to call them stupid.

[SPedigrees]

100. I'm working class too, you idiot.

Please explain to me where I called ALL working class people stupid.

There are working class people who ARE stupid, ie the ones who voted for Bush against their own interests. From the appearance and demeanor of the tea-baggers in the photos carrying idiot signs (for example "I voted for Sarah") I am assuming these are 1) working class (as opposed to CEOs) and 2) of the stupid variety.

I am also venturing to guess that greedy elitist rich people organized these events. (And no, not ALL rich people are greedy.)

Get over yourself.

[Quantess]

162. I liked and understood your posts.

:)

[Fire1sKid]

115. But How is.....

a poor man defending a rich man in your (or your friend's)best interest?
:wtf:

[Raineyb]

288. And how is it not stupid?

Really poor people going out to protest because the rich bastards who are complaining can't be bothered to do it themselves and doing it for free is quite literally a definition of stupidity.

Regards

[olegramps]

180. He is not passing any snobbish malarkey.

The fact of the matter is that far too many working class people swallowed the bull crap spewed by management about how unions were their enemy and how they would take good care of them. The were taken good care of; their jobs outsourced, their pensions cut and health insurance canceled. They are their own worst enemy. A working class Republican is a brainless twit that is cooperating in their own economic destruction. It has been my experience that most of them are stupid racists to boot.

[EFerrari]

74. Wtf?

:wtf:

[goclark]

21. I think they would do the same thing if Hillary won - they are crazy

and they are being funded by the ROVE TROLLS.

[Fire1sKid]

116. BULLSHIT!!!

[Wednesdays]

159. Huh? What's bullshit?

And what's your evidence? :shrug:

[LynneSin]

156. Hillary isn't a White Christian Male - so yes, they will do the same

This isn't a White Power Struggle but a power struggle of the concept that for the first time in ages a WHITE MALE is not leading the country.

[AspenRose]

166. I think they would have made an exception for Sarah though.

[AlbertCat]

220. I think they would do the same thing if Hillary won

Because they hate women just a little less than blacks...maybe.

Palin is proof of that.

[npk]

24. Just wait till the evening wears on

And the alcohol starts flowing. Then you will start hearing the racial slurs flying through the freeper crowds.

[tammywammy]

26. They would be protesting if Hillary or any other D had won as well n/t

[goclark]

118. I said the same thing up thread

: )

[Fire1]

121. Yeah Riiiiiiiiiiiiight!!! It's beautiful where you live, isn't it? Filled

with bunnies and rainbows.

[Fire1sKid]

128. And.......

unicorns flying out people's asses with lollipop kids
running around chasing peter pan!LOL
:tinfoilhat:

[laureloak]

34. You can always blame a white person

rather than thank them. STOP your racial anti-white blather.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

37. "racial anti-white blather" "thank a white person"

What?

[L0oniX]

72. ?

[Number23]

111. "anti-white blather??"

There aren't enough ?'s and :wtf:'s in the world to appropriately measure the depth of my confusion...

[Fire1]

120. THAT is a pseudo democrat!!! Watch your back.

[Kitty Herder]

168. Thank a white person?

What do racial minorities have to thank us for? Pray tell.

Is it the years of black slavery they should be grateful for? The genocide of the native peoples of the Americas, Australia, and to a large extent, Africa? The racism that still permeates our society? Are those the things they should be grateful for?

I'm white and I would never have the gall to suggest that racial minorities should be grateful for what whites have done to them.

[ForrestGump]

172. Thank you!

I was beginning to get worried that I wouldn't find a white person that I could thank!

Thanks for being there for us.

:yourock:

[ForrestGump]

171. In case anyone's wondering how, exactly, you might thank a white person,

simply send me a PM in which you express your gratitude for me holding down the pinkish end of the melanism spectrum. Yes, I am a White Person and I am trained to deal with such situations.

Operators are standing by.





Cash donations accepted, too, of course. And flowers. And strippergrams.

[Forkboy]

222. .....

:popcorn:

[NorthernSpy]

225. I remember you posting this sort of remark during the Primaries, too...

It's been a pattern for you, hasn't it?

[laureloak]

264. Only when necessary. Racism is racism regardless of color.

You seem to think it's OK to be racist towards whites but not towards persons of color.

[Raineyb]

289. Thank them for what?

This bullshit seriously needs an explanation.

[indimuse]

35. I agree!

And I'm disgusted/LIVID at what I've seen and heard thus far! Talk about dumbing down...:kick:nR!

[Hubert Flottz]

38. Pity Parties...

Poor Little Billionaires...

[lebkuchen]

60. who hate working class americans

How goes it? :)

[Hubert Flottz]

63. I'm hanging in there...

How are you?

[lebkuchen]

266. This has been the busiest year of my life

and it still hasn't let up.

Car is in the shop...three days...to replace....bushings? Now you know how old it is. :)

And other stuff, but little by little, it's getting done. Drugs help get me through.

[theboss]

40. Okay, that's ridiculous

I know a few of these folks and they may be wildly misinformed but I sense no racism from them or the protests themselves.

[JuniperLea]

43. You must be missing all the racist posters...

And the fact that Stormfront is recruiting at these rallies... why would they bother if the orchard wasn't ripe with fruit? Why would people feel empowered to hold up racist signs. The few you know personally may or may not fit this profile, but that isn't indicative of the entire group by any stretch of the imagination.

[theboss]

48. So, this means that all AntiWar proterstors are anti-Semites?

Judging by the number of Anti-Israel banners that show up at those things.

[EFerrari]

53. Anti-Israel doesn't translate to anti-the Jewish people.

[ForrestGump]

173. Unless you're a certain DUer or two,

of course.

Then again, if your preference runs to All Bran rather than bran flakes with raisins, that'd be enough to brand you the next Ernst Roehm in the eyes of some.

[JuniperLea]

55. Uh... you got a link to that action?

Cuz I've been to a lot of anti-war protests, and I've seen thousands upon thousands of anti-war protest photos on DU and all through the InterTubes, and I've never, ever seen an anti-Israel banner... never... never ever.

If it looks, smells, and walks like a strawman...

[Hugabear]

57. Even if there ARE anti-Israeli banners and signs, that is not the same as anti-Semitism

Simply being against Israeli policies does not make one anti-Semitic.

[JuniperLea]

58. Very true indeed!

:applause:

[olegramps]

181. They are protesting the excessive influence that Israel has on our politics.

That is not being anti-Semitic. The fact of the matter is that it is Israel that plays the anti-Semitic card to achieve their goals and it has grown a bit stale.

[TorchTheWitch]

52. I don't know about that...

Looks white supremacists to me

[JuniperLea]

56. Yup...

Sure does.

[Fire1sKid]

119. FOR THOSE WHO STILL DON'T BELIEVE ITS RACISM....

ENOUGH SAID.

[Sebastian Doyle]

125. Where the fuck do they get this shit?

White slavery? I don't even think douchebags like Glenn BecKKK or Mikey Weiner have said anything that stupid, have they?

[ForrestGump]

174. Not to mention that it's got another, entrenched, meaning.

Then again, so does 'teabagging.'

These people are scary, freaky, shameful, and in many cases beyond redemption, but they can also be rather droll (unintentionally, of course...Humor Through Ignorance, a suitably Third-Reich slogan for these clowns. Moran mitt uns!).

[raccoon]

197. Thanks for posting that. What city is that, by the way? nt

[AlbertCat]

223. I know a few of these folks

Oh well...a FEW of these folks....that cancels out the tons I don't know but saw being total racist on the tube.

[Fire1]

44. Tea parties steeped in RACISM. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[Dappleganger]

45. They are nearly identical to the McCain-Palin rallies...

Same bigots, different day.

[Bucky]

47. I listened to a little Top 40 Clear Channel right wing propaganda today

It was anti-government and full of all kinds of misinformation. There was some boiler plate "Obama's an elitist" shtick in there, too.

There was absolutely nothing by way of racial code language and no mention of immigrants at all.


Let's fight the Republicans where they're at, not where we want them to be. Just because they embrace bad ideas doesn't mean they embrace every bad idea.

[wolfgangmo]

67. Well.....

Here's a quote about conservatives.

"Liberals sometimes do the wrong thing for the right reason. Conservatives do the wrong thing for no reason at all."- John Kenneth Galbraith.

Ignorance is not an excuse. Ask any traffic cop.

[monicamedallion]

86. A little something I like to wear just to stir things up

is my tee shirt which says:

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.
John Stuart Mill

[Fire1sKid]

122. So when Palin....

at one of her rallies said that "Obama is not like us",
that in no shape,form, or fashion was racial code?
WAKE THE FUCK UP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[ForrestGump]

175. Obama may well BE an elitist by now.

Existing in the same world as these fuckwits would, by default, make anyone feel like a member of some form of élite group, just by comparison with the Lowest Common Denominators...

[Political Tiger]

59. True, very true. n/t

[Coffee and Cake]

62. Sigh....cowardly Libertarians, eh?

Libertarianism, like classical liberalism, is an individual philosophy, which goes against collective ideologies, such as racism. Race has nothing to do with it, but kudos for trying.

Not all libertarians are happy with the Republicans hijacking of our concept of limited government, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility. They sat idly by during the last 8 years, in which we had unprecedented expansion of federal government under Republican control. We weren't happy about it then, and we are not happy about it now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1PKLIMcM8Q&feature=player_embedded

While many people have hope that Obama will restore the economy, while escalating two wars without a timeline, while backing up his promises of healthcare, education, alternative energy, welfare, immigration, and other domestic programs all while promising to cut the deficit in half---some of us are a bit more skeptical.

The CBO, a non-partisan institution, states that Obama's deficit spending is unsustainable. "WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's budget would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, more than four times the deficits of Republican George W. Bush's presidency, congressional auditors said Friday.

The new Congressional Budget Office figures offered a far more dire outlook for Obama's budget than the new administration predicted just last month — a deficit $2.3 trillion worse. It's a prospect even the president's own budget director called unsustainable.

In his White House run, Obama assailed the economic policies of his predecessor, but the eye-popping deficit numbers threaten to swamp his ambitious agenda of overhauling health care, exploring new energy sources and enacting scores of domestic programs.

The dismal deficit figures, if they prove to be accurate, inevitably raise the prospect that Obama and his Democratic allies controlling Congress would have to consider raising taxes after the recession ends or else pare back his agenda.

By CBO's calculation, Obama's budget would generate deficits averaging almost $1 trillion a year of red ink over 2010-2019.

Worst of all, CBO says the deficit under Obama's policies would never go below 4 percent of the size of the economy, figures that economists agree are unsustainable. By the end of the decade, the deficit would exceed 5 percent of gross domestic product, a dangerously high level."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_budget

And both Stiglitz and Krugman are skeptical of the Geithner plan, which is endorsed by the Obama administration. In fact Stiglitz calls it a robbery of the American people.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29848741

You may disagree, but some of us see more of the same--more war without end, more uncontrolled spending, more debt, more devauling the dollar, more politics of fear, and more endorsement for the Patriot Act and FISA.

Hopefully, one day, you will be able to put down the race card.

[Blue_Tires]

136. you forgot to add the nut of that horror story....

conveniently located toward the bottom:

Long-term deficit predictions have proven notoriously fickle — George W. Bush inherited flawed projections of a 10-year, $5.6 trillion surplus and instead produced record deficits — and if the economy outperforms CBO's expectations, the deficits could prove significantly smaller.

Let's see what the CBO has to say 12-16 months from now...

Welcome to the site, btw....

[AlbertCat]

229. clueless Libertarians

That was all wonky and level headed and what-have you...but these Teabagging rallies have nothing to do with taxes or the deficit (Bush's 2008 tax laws are what these folk just paid and Bush's deficits have been ignored by these folks for 8 years)....so nice try but you've missed the point.


Besides, Libertarian ideas are just as nutty and nonviable as Republican ideas.

[SlingBlade]

65. Sour Grape Party

[shaniqua6392]

66. Our local news here in Detroit

said that the groups of Republicans that were sponsoring the events were going around to all the protesters getting their names and addresses. They plan to use them for future anti-Obama events. What a crock of crap. I agree with you on their motives. Everyone I see is white and angry. We just have to keep in mind that we are in control right now. They can flap their mouths all they want. I really don't give a crap.

[The Straight Story]

70. Oh, I dunno - they hated clinton too, and IIRC he was white and southern

They just hate dems in power like we hate pubs in power.

[EFerrari]

75. Sure, but there is another layer here. Did they hang Clinton's image in trees?

[The Straight Story]

78. Those individuals who do so I would say yes, they are racist - but when did we on the left

start judging who groups of people based on the actions of the few?

Stereotypes can be a weapon of those wanting to foster hatred of others and too often is used in lieu of more meaningful discussion on specifics (oh, you belong to group X therefore you are Y and what you say is tainted and not worth anything).

Kind of like some say someone else hates Obama if they disagree with him on a policy and call him on it.

An no offense to you of course old friend :)

[EFerrari]

82. You are right about stereotypes. The difficulty here is

the Republican party very deliberately has built itself up via racism against our black brothers and sisters. From the "Southern strategy" to the precise location where Reagan declared his candidacy to Sarah Palin holding rallies where her catchphrase was "Barack Obama is not like us".

I remember real Republicans that had rational views and stuff that I just disagreed with. These folks are a different breed, imho. My dad was a Republican and he didn't have a racist bone in his body. These people are not like him.

Is it possible that some of their attendees aren't aware of their history and their context? Sure. But those are the outliers, not the other way around. If it were the other way around, Barbara Bush would have been roundly criticized, for example, for her horrible racist remarks when she went to visit NOLA evacuees. We never heard a peep from them just like we never hear a peep from them ever on this topic. It is the glue that holds their creepy club together. fwiw.

[olegramps]

182. You are absolutely right.

I was born and raised in the South. Mississippi as a matter of fact. Until the Civil Rights legislation was passed by the Johnson administration virtually every member of congress from Dixie was a Democrat. Within one election cycle nearly everyone of the Democrats had been replaced by a Republican. I believe the only one left was Tower of Texas.

The words of Johnson when he signed the legislation were born out when he said that he had just signed the death warrant of the Democratic Party in the South for years to come. This was the new South in which the Reagan launched his campaign with his racists code words of hated of Black people to recruit the racists. This is the present day heritage of the Republican Party and the basis upon which it is founded. I lived through Lott's campaigns in which he used the code that everyone understood when he screamed about welfare queens driving Cadillacs with no husband and ten kids. The carpetbagger Reagan came with the same message. Palin and McCain speak the same language, the language of racism. Its the only language that their constituency understands.

[EFerrari]

227. Hi there, olegramps. Once your ear learns to decode their language,

the blinkers come right off, don't they? When I was a young woman, I thought "welfare queens" meant women on welfare. It never occurred to me that this was a coded slam at black women or black people in general.

[olegramps]

240. I even saw Lott go Wink, Wink. at one of his rallies.

This was in regard to people on welfare when he added you know who I am taking about, not Christian men who work hard to support their families.

[EFerrari]

245. That's exactly what that c word Sarah Palin did last year.

It would be worth it to find a video of one of her Klan rallies to use as a teaching tool for people who don't hear or see it yet. I've never hit another person but watching that, I wanted to smack her.

[noamnety]

83. It's more than a few bad apples here.

I would have agreed with you - but just on a hunch, I googled "tea party" and "Hussein Obama."

The results speak for themselves - they sure are fond of that middle name.

[Fire1sKid]

132. THANK YOU!!!!

AT LEAST SOMEONE IS NOT STUCK IN NEVER NEVERLAND!

[shagsak]

201. no, but they did burn Mrs. Clinton's face on a cross.

[unpossibles]

268. I thought he was the first black President...?

I kid, I kid!

But seriously, he was still an outsider as far as they were concerned. Obama is like 10 Bill Clintons rolled into one to most of these clowns.

[onestepforward]

73. I agree that racism is a huge factor with these tea parties.

[AllenVanAllen]

77. I see Glen Beck is "teabagging" at the Alamo today

I guess he's making his last stand?
What a dope...

[K Gardner]

80. Exactly. I work with an entire crew of these freeping thugs and that is EXACTLY what is

going on.

[Raine]

81. Yup, they're nothing but a bunch of racists

they don't fool me. x(

[AmyCamus]

84. Silliest 'cry wolf' thread of the day.

I swear, some DUers wouldn't know actual racism if it bit them on the ass.

[Fire1]

124. Would YOU?????? You are obviously one of them.

[AmyCamus]

145. "obviously one of them" Way to cry wolf, Fire1!

Obama's whiter than I am, dear.

[Fire1]

195. You WISH!

[AmyCamus]

255. You didn't even know it was Jackie Robinson day yesterday, did you?

I pity you.

[Fire1]

281. Uh, yeah I did. We watch the news, too, ya know.

[AlbertCat]

231. actual racism

What, do you need a lynching for it to be "actual racism"?


This teabagging shit is so obviously racist, it hurts. It doesn't matter if a few people are actually there because of taxes. But then that brings up the fact they're paying Bush's 2008 taxes and they were silent about Bush's deficit for 8 long years.


You wouldn't know actual reality if it bit you in the ass.

[AmyCamus]

256. I pity people like you.

And hope you never encounter actual racism, as many of us actually have.

[Bluerthanblue]

85. I hate to say this but I believe you are correct for the

most part.

I'd rather think it was people really upset about bail-outs, but from everything I'm seeing and hearing, it is hatred, bigotry, selfishness and fear.

The worst of us.

:(

[obiwan]

87. They are "The Astroturf Revolution."

[santamargarita]

88. You couldn't have said it any better - nailed it

:yoiks:

[Archie_Leech]

89. WHERE'S THE TEABAGGING!

Man I'm in!

[BlooInBloo]

90. And everyone knows it.

[cbc5g]

246. Yeah, and this coming from the biggest racist on DU, you.

[Blue_Roses]

91. BINGO!

and some are very dangerous!

[slackmaster]

93. Sometimes the hypocrisy on this forum disturbs me a lot

They're dissenting. I thought we respected the right of people to dissent.

[Annces]

95. But they don't say what they are protesting about

because they are dishonest. If you were to eavesdrop, they would be saying racist stuff for sure.

[slackmaster]

97. They're simply protesting big government, high taxes, loss of liberty, etc.

Traditional (non-"neo") conservative issues.

[Annces]

98. Then why didn't they ever protest Bush

Bush didn't lower their taxes. And Bush really did take away their rights.

[slackmaster]

101. I agree with you completely about Bush

But the failure of someone to protest against him as opposed to Obama DOES NOT make that person a racist.

[noamnety]

113. people aren't claiming the act of protesting makes them racists.

People are saying they are racists because there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that a significant number of the protesters/organizers/mouthpieces are motivated by racism.

[ForrestGump]

177. That dude's white sheet

really needs a wash.

[Sebastian Doyle]

135. But the fact that they remained silent for 8 years while Chimpy did these things

And only protest NOW when Obama's in office, would lead one to believe they had other motivations. Since Obama really hasn't even done anything yet for them to be hysterical about, then racism becomes the likely motivation.

Or just blind sheep devotion to right wing hate propaganda. Which means they are practicing racism anyway, whether they consciously know it or not. Because Limpdick, BecKKK, Weiner, Hannity and that lot are as racist as the boys in the white sheets.

[slackmaster]

106. Call them partisans, or hypocrites if you prefer

I don't have a problem with that viewpoint.

[Blue_Tires]

138. hypocrites with selective memories

and easily manipulated hiveminds...The scream kings on radio and evening cable news are in some backroom laughing, "DANCE, my puppets; DANCE!"

and to see this lightly-attended asshole convention get a full day and night of coverage when I and others marched with 250,000+ against the invasion and got relegated to C-SPAN (and the only person to get any real airtime was the one speaker out of 100 talking some extremist anti-israel rant) just makes me sick...I'd have just a little more respect if they showed a collected, legit gripe other than "We hate Obama", who incidentally is working to make life better for their miserable asses...

[AlbertCat]

234. Call them partisans, or hypocrites if you prefer

OK...they are racist partisans and racist hypocrites.

Yeah....that works too.


Do stop being so thick. It's disingenuous.

[Bluebear]

107. They're 8 years too late then. nt

[AlbertCat]

233. They're simply protesting big government, high taxes, loss of liberty,

And don't forget WHITE SLAVERY!


Yep...protesting 2008 taxes and TARP....passed by the last administration. And WHITE SLAVERY....by a Muslim who wasn't even born in America.


And the moon is made of green cheese....made by WHITE SLAVERY!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

252. "traditional conservative issues."

Yeah, like white supremacy.

[slackmaster]

269. Let's see some images of people holding up white supremacist slogans, symbols, etc.

I don't doubt that you can find a few here or there, but if you really have yourself convinced that the protests were about racism, you have failed to understand them and will be poorly equipped to fight them in the next election. Understanding your enemy is absolutely necessary. Misunderstanding them is the path to failure.

How's this for a mish-mash of attitudes?

[Name removed]

283. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hugo_from_TN]

117. For sure, huh?

You're just making judgments on your own stereotypes.

It's possible to disagree with people without demonizing them. Try it sometime.

[JI7]

96. is anyone saying they should be banned from what they are doing ?

they can do what they want although a lot of what they do is often threatening the President and others which is now allowed.

but we have a right to make fun of them.

[slackmaster]

99. No, but they are being subjected to unjustified (IMO) personal attacks and broad-brush smears

Someone who is unhappy about the certainty of paying higher taxes in the future is not automatically a racist.

I'm rather upset about that myself, but not enough so to take time off work and go to a protest over it.

[JI7]

102. that's the thing, most of these assholes like the fucking idiot plumber are going to pay LESS taxes

under Obama.

and seeing their signs and other shit they have out, the protest is about a lot more than taxes.

[slackmaster]

104. The tax respite under Obama will be very temporary

Taxes WILL be increased in the longer term to pay for all the bailout/stimulus spending.

[JI7]

108. and for Iraq, military etc

if these fuckers have a problem with taxes they shouldn't support things like attacks in Iraq .

[slackmaster]

131. Yes, you are absolutely right

These people are simply partisan.

[tuckessee]

148. The Tea Party in my local area was decidedly anti-war.

Lots of anti-war, anti-intervention, anti-torture speakers & signs.

So there ya go.

[Wednesdays]

161. Got any pics?

:shrug:

[bullwinkle428]

188. The big tea party in Des Moines morphed into a huge anti-same-sex marriage and anti-abortion rally!!

As reported this morning on Iowa Public Radio, so right back at ya!

[Fire1]

126. It's the cost of 'keeping you safe' from the boogeyman!!

Or did you think that was FREE!!!

[slackmaster]

130. Da boogeyman don't surf

[Fire1]

134. WHAT does THAT mean ????

[slackmaster]

203. It's that gasoline smell

Smells like victory.

[olegramps]

183. I most certainly agree.

Perhaps we can return to the tax levels during WWII and for years after in which the top rate on the wealthy was 94%. Read that agin; 94%.

[Fire1sKid]

144. Did you miss a day at school or something?

YOU ARE NOT GONNA PAY HIGHER TAXES UNLESS YOU MAKE OVER 250K A YEAR!!
MOST OF THE PEOPLE GATHERING AT THESE PARTIES MAKE UNDER 250K A YEAR
AND WILL RECIEVE A TAX CUT RATHER THAN SEE AN INCREASE. SO PLEASE ENLIGHTEN
ME ON WHAT ELSE THEY COULD BE RALLYING ABOUT.
:wtf:

[slackmaster]

199. The middle class WILL see a tax increase within the next several years

We are government's cash cow. You can count on it.

[AlbertCat]

236. And it will be less because the rich will also see a tax increase.

Still....it's amazing how you can see the future but not blatant racism.

"They're just protesting taxes"

Talk about painting with a broad brush!

[slackmaster]

260. I've looked at several news reports and Web sites for information about the teabaggers

I see mostly (not all) middle-aged (not all) white people, but no signs of organized, overt racism.

[mix]

140. this is manipulation and provocation, not dissent n/t

[EFerrari]

141. They're welcome to dissent. And I'm free to call out their bullshit. n/t

[Hugabear]

146. These are the same people pushing the "Obama is a Muslim" and the stupid birth certificate crap

Hell, one guy even had a sign saying 'WHITE SLAVERY'. What was really surprising was not so much that he was carrying the sign - but everyone around him was acting as if there was nothing wrong. And has already been pointed out, Stormfront has had a lot to do with organizing these rallies.

[Annces]

235. Exactly n/t

[ForrestGump]

176. Actually, it's

dissembling.

[Raineyb]

291. So they're dissenting the presence of black people in this country?

The language isn't even very cleverly coded.

[DainBramaged]

103. All you have to do is ask them to cut taxes so we have to get out of Iraq

because we can't support the military any longer, and watch their head spin and green vomit come out of every orifice.

[tomm2thumbs]

110. doesn't matter what they are - they failed to attract significant numbers and that

...should tell you everything you need to know about the success of this, weeks and weeks in the making, all people had to do was show up, and only thousands do, not the tens & tens of thousands that were 'expected'. I saw more people at the immigration protest downtown Los Angeles - this tea party wasn't a glorious dump of tea - it was just a dump

Interesting to see the most significant issue on the Far Right's agenda can only generate soft interest after all the promotion and significance of April 15. So is that it? Wait a year for the next one? This puppy has blown it's wad. Next.

[W T F]

114. That's exactly it

Barack Obama is not a fascist nor a Socialist nor a Communist nor a Muslim nor a terrorist nor an illegal alien nor un-American.

But something that These people and I will both agree on that he is.........He's a black man.

But If they use the word that they really want to use to describe him, It will say a lot more about them than it will about him so they throw every bad label that the can to the point where they can't be taken seriously anymore.

[Harmonika]

129. Betcha anything

Sarah Palin hops her ass onto that bandwagon.

[chrisa]

137. They're not libertarians.

They're extremely authoritarian. They're just too stupid to know it.

[mix]

139. yes, i agree...disgusting people, no principles and completely manipulated by the uber-wealthy n/t

[donheld]

142. This has been my thought for several days

[Critters2]

150. A combination of racists and sore losers.

My dad pointed out that these crazies not only lost the election, they lost the Repug primary. These people loved Palin, but didn't vote for McCain in the primaries. So, they lost big, and can't stand that a black man won.

[cliffordu]

151. Yep. K&R

[Neecy]

153. the key is their hatred of 'socialism'

If you read many of the signs displayed throughout the country today, it's pretty clear that to them, 'socialism' equals giving money to poor people. Add in the sprinkling of racist signs and 'socialism' becomes Dixiecrat code for giving money to poor black people.

That's what this socialism hysteria is all about, pure and simple - they think Obama will give black people their tax money, period. That there's no basis for this doesn't matter to these bigots.

[AspenRose]

167. Yep

That was the excuse I heard when people wanted to deny MLK a national holiday: They didn't feel a "socialist" or "communist" should have a holiday.

It was all code.

[Kitty Herder]

169. Absolutely. I hear it all the time from my sister-in-law.

Only she's mostly not concerned about poor black people getting some or her tax dollars, but about poor Hispanics because they are the majority where she lives.

It's hypocritical as hell considering that she says when she was a kid, her mom was on foodstamps and welfare for a time, all the while receiving plenty of help from her very rich family. This is a girl who literally brags about how she had all the brand-name, super expensive clothes when she was in school, at the same time that her family was taking welfare and foodstamps. But I guess that's ok, because they're white. :sarcasm:

[The Animator]

154. Not to make any judgements about the motivations for teabagging...

... to counter the objection raised by our California correspondent, it is possible for some Latin Americans to feel racially charged animosity.

I'm a Spanish - Sicilian American, and have a Cuban American cousin. Although we are close, and have a lot in common, we diverge greatly on Politics, and the last election put an incredible strain on our friendship.

Over the years we have had long, free ranging debates on all kinds of topics... but lately I try to avoid them, because sooner or later race gets brought into it all our well reasoned, civil discussion go straight to shit...

He'll start with the disclaimer "I'm not a racist, but..." followed by something patently racist. The phrase "politically correct bullshit" gets woven in for good measure... then talks about welfare mothers with nine kids...

... It's like being related to Michael Savage.

So yes, although I'll refrain from speculating on the motivations of the Latin American population of the community in question, I will confirm that it is at least possible that they to could be anti-black.

[sfpcjock]

155. I almost ran over a huge fat teabag troll with a sign reading:

"Don't tread on me". I didn't think it was possible with him, really LOL. I thought of the $100 Billion in lost revenue from companies with PO Boxes in the Bahamas that we have to pay the taxes for because of sloppy law and regulation from past administrations. I was wondering tonight--along with Olbermann--what the marchers feel about that, when they are, in fact, the beneficiaries of the Obama tax cuts. Anything for a Fox ass-tro turf protest, I guess.

[tuckessee]

263. What does the guy's weight have to do with anything?

Maybe you should address you own prejudices before spouting off about others.

[LynneSin]

157. Even better - It's the concept that a White Male isn't running the US that scares them

We have a 200+ history here in the United States that only White Men are capable of being the leaders of the United States. I think we would have seen the same thing today if it was Hillary Clinton as president because she isn't a White Male either.

We talk about equality but the greatest powerhold in this country is the dominance of the White Christian Heterosexual Male. Sure they'd give some subpower to women & minorities. But there was always sanity that the ultimate leaders of this country were White Christian Heterosexual Males.

For some people the fact that the kingrace has been toppled scares the bejesus out of them. For 99.9% of the rest of the world - we couldn't be happier to see someone like Obama win!

[XXXMADAM]

158. Stormfront: 'Were The Tea Parties Hijacked?'

This White Power group site comment is inferring that the Tea Party is MONEY motivated on this link, the corporate RICH and politico's manipulating the scene via MSM control after intentionally ignoring these (Ron Paul) tea parties for years during Bush term.

Just like the war - the rich use the poor to do the dirty work to keep themselves rich. (and the CIA forcing hookers....)

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=591481

[XXXMADAM]

164. ...like CIA PIMPS

...forcing hookers into Sextortions with "State and Politcal officials" to keep the Banksters rich - such as Elliott Spitzer, the "Sheriff of Wall Street", etc... with the MSM as their number 1 tool, weapon of choice, WMD.
xxx

[Kellen RN]

160. I'd say a combination of racism

and not being able to handle a loss. Sure there is some racism, but not all on the right are racists and not all are idiots... I think they'd be uber pissed with any democrat in the White House and a large democratic majority in both congressional houses. It's all kind of snow-balled by the fact that we just got out of ultra right fantasy land (making the shock particularly HUGH!!!!11!!!) and well... he's black. It'd be the same if he were a she though... unless she was Palin or Condi.

[EvtheBev]

165. Boy - that tea-bagging seems to add a few pounds ....

Looks to me like a crowd of dumb, pasty-white, lard-arsed w*nkers who are pissed off they cannot afford to super-size their McMeals. "It's life Jim, but not as we know it!!"

[ForrestGump]

170. I'm in Las Vegas, a blue town. I was a bit surprised to see a couple of groups of these idiots

along my route to work (nowhere near the Strip but out along Sunset Road, the road that runs along the south side of the airport...one group was outside the main post office there, not surprising because it was tax day and that place is busy then).

I worked today doing the Elvis-impersonator thing at a place on the Strip, so I left the house all gussied up in Elvis attire and already decided that if, in the course of my workday,I ran into any of these teabagging morons I'd read of I wouldn't tolerate their presence. As it turned out, I sang most of the time today and didn't take many pictures with tourists, though I would have refused to take a photo with a teabag-bedecked idiot just as I would with anyone else exhibiting offensive clothing or demeanor. I couldn't miss them when I was driving to work, though (not in the plunging-my-car-into-the-crowd sense....slime though they may be, that's possibly just a tad beyond the pale).

I saw two groups of right-wing (and assorted clueless) morons on the way to work and, several hours later, on the way back. I had early warning of their presence and diminished mental capacity when I saw all the US flags waving, that very attractive national symbol having lately been monopolized by jingoistic meatheads whose views and willingness to adopt the ready-made views of media bigots stand in direct opposition to the society that the flag was supposed to represent. Sure enough, the signs that I saw made prolific use of the word 'socialist,' no matter that a great majority of those assembled undoubtedly have no idea what socialism is and the vast majority are dumb enough to believe that corporatist Obama is a socialist. Other signs proclaimed ironic bits of moronity like "Give the country back to the people," "NObama," and so on, as well as similarly point-free blather about taxes, but the 'socialist' theme prevailed. I'm still not entirely clear on what they're protesting -- I'm sure the same is true of many of the people with placards -- but I wouldn't surprised if, for some, it was that the President is black. I'm not up on such things, so it's entirely conceivable that I missed the memo stating that 'socialist' is the new 'negro.'

Anyway, because they're enemies of the entire planet, no matter how clueless many may actually be about what they think they believe, I had no choice but to raise my hand to the car's window and preset them with a single-digit counterargument, protected by the same Amendment that allows them to publicly reveal how dense (or hateful) they are. This was the extent of my opposition to these clowns, paling in comparison to the adventuires some DUers seem to have had, but, hey, I was in a hurry to get to work, a hurry to get back and get the suit off, I was wearing a nice clean outfit not to be sullied by contact with overtly right-wing trash, and it's not like I had any desire to walk among them and risk any of them touching me or risk inhaling any of the filth they were spewing. So a drive-by birding would have to do.

I drove the entire length of both gatherings with said salute extended, and did the same on the way back (when they seem to have added a bunch of Gadsden "don't tread on me" flags, shamefully at odds with the culture that produced the original but at least featuring an appropriate color field for right-wing chickenhawks). I held the ocular attention of one pig, who was wielding a sign that stated "don't spread the wealth spread the work ethic" (no commas in the original, sorry), for an especially application of the single-digit salute that locked my eyes on his in such a manner that I could feel his fear. Yeah, baby -- don't fuck with the King, fool. This -- being given the finger by Elvis -- was probably a new experience for these shitheads; being open to new experiences is good, inherently, so I like to think that I helped these unfortunate wastes of protoplasm elevate their thinking and perhaps even begin to evolve.

I didn't spare the children -- too hard to turn the digital counterprotest on and off as I drove past them, anyway -- but I figured that was for the best because perhaps they'll start to wonder why the Elvis dude seemed so upset about mommy and daddy, and will go on to do a bit of research and subsequently learn that right-wing wackjobs are fundamentally despicable and scorned by civilized society the world over. Besides, with all of the spurious slogans that involved words like 'socialist' and 'Muslim,' and undoubtedly many code words for 'scary back man,' I figure a bit of the old freebird rates rather low on the scale of Offensive Things these children were subjected to out there. In this way, I modestly submit, I may have helped these fresh-faced children break free of the political and social dysfunction that's exerted such a hold on their parents, freeing them before it is too late: "hmmm...mommy and daddy must be fuckwits...I believe I shall take steps to ensure that I will avoid that fate." If I have saved even ONE white, suburban American child from becoming just another Buschjugend pawn, then my work there was done.

As to the adults, if such a term is even applicable: fuck them all, the fucking fuck-knuckles. They're scum, and may they reap what they so richly deserve.

[barbtries]

193. good post

so elvis does live...:)

[Bette Noir]

224. You write funny. I like.

[quickesst]

178. More bullshit...

...on illegal immigrants. This crap is another stealth attack on blue collar workers. Those who reside in the ivory towers we built are raising hell about their jobs going to India, you know, poor brown people, yet blue-collar workers are "racist" when it comes to Mexico. The only difference I see is instead of Indians coming here for the jobs, they're being sent there, and those losing work to "poor brown people" overseas are crying alligator tears at how unfair it is. Construction, actual work, can't be sent overseas, and they do not threaten white-collar workers, hence the "bravery" with screaming "racist". Now that they are in the same boat, with the only difference being geography, blue-collar workers are still racists, but those losing out to Indian workers are "real" Americans. Why do white-collar liberals hate poor brown people from India so much? When all the degrees were handed out, there should have been a requirement for one in "Common Sense". If India was our bordering neighbor, and Mexico was located overseas, the white-collar types would be up in arms over illegal immigration. The myth that the class war is exclusive to rich and poor has been exposed. Hippocracy resides here, and it wears a liberal, white collar. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x435656> Thanks.
quickesst

[AlbertCat]

248. If India was our bordering neighbor, and Mexico was located overseas,

But they aren't.

And a corporation legally sending the jobs overseas is not the same as someone sneaking over the borders to pick lettuce because they cannot find work.

Are you upset because "White collar liberals" are mad at the Corporations and CEOs for shipping their jobs overseas and not mad at the workers they hire in India? Why isn't blue collar workers' rage aimed at Big Agra and rich people who need a maid and nanny who hire illegals....instead of the illegals? If they weren't hiring, illegals wouldn't come. But no...your hatred is not for the employers, but the employees. Hate the brown skins even when they aren't responsible is not what Liberals do...but racist have no prob with that kind of logic.

[firewacker209]

184. Kinda Right

I agree that the folks at these rallies are really pissed off. I doubt that they all know why they are pissed off. In my office, the sheeple don't seem to hate Obama or immigrants. You are dead wrong on that.

[Name removed]

185. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bdamomma]

189. hate rallies is more like it.

[laureloak]

190. Way to go.

Keep fanning the fires of racial hatred burning with more anti-white rhetoric.

[Name removed]

207. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fascisthunter]

241. "anti-white rhetoric"... really? Where?

I'm white and I defintely do not se what you mean. Please enlighten all of us here...

[Romulox]

191. I'm disturbed that these racialized attacks are allowed on DU, while leftists are being banned. nt

[RalphieD]

192. Start tallying up the arrests

I want Faux News to report all the arrests of the violent
right-wing whities that attended.

[ForrestGump]

198. I find the term "whities" offensive, unless applied to Y-front underwear.

And I am sure I'm not the only honky who feels that way. Represent.

[MellowDem]

202. Or...

let's be sensible and realize that these rallies draw a wide variety of people, some of them extremists and racists. But then again, so do most rallies of any political bent.

And what's with the word "whites" and "pale-skinned" being spat out like a curse word on here? Let's not try to imitate them or anything...

[AlbertCat]

249. let's be sensible and realize that these rallies draw a wide variety of people....

....mostly all white. :eyes:

[MellowDem]

282. Well, the nation is...

mostly white. Most Democrats are.... white. Pointing out their race constantly is not an indictment of them, rather it's an indictment of the way you think. Believe it or not, you can have a wide variety of people with the same color of skin. Crazy, isn't it? I hope that didn't just blow your mind.

[Mr. Hyde]

204. Let's call this post what it is, fucking retarded.

[Echo In Light]

205. Except that's insulting to those who are actually retarded

But I get what you mean.

I think there's a great deal of racism fueling this sudden 'revolt' against the govt...fairly obvious. That, and corporate media brainwashing.

[Name removed]

206. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Echo In Light]

208. Hmm...either way it's top-down manipulation of biases

[Mr. Hyde]

210. Top down manipulation of biases? what bias are you speaking of?

[Echo In Light]

214. Well, for instance, FOX & cohorts' repeated usage of "socialism," "fascism," etc

Those who work to shape the public mind via convenient distortions to keep as many as possible on the page the dominant social interests want them to be on, so to speak. In other words, no real, organized opposition to centralized power.

[valerief]

215. The hundreds of unhired people who showed up certainly were Mad Hatters. nt

[Buzz Clik]

218. I really think you missed this one.

Yes, they are pissed off that they are totally out of power.

Some -- a limited few -- may be pissed off that the president is black.

But, these are NOT white power rallies.

[AlbertCat]

250. a limited few

NOT!

Look a-fucking-round.

The Repug party is a white power rally.

Now stop playing with your Rainbow Bright and look around.

[Buzz Clik]

284. Your intolerance is showing.

Anyone who disagrees with you is a racist or simple minded? okey dokey.

[liberation]

259. Funny thing... these people were not pissed off at all a few months ago.

In fact they were quite happy and placid even. What has changed in the past couple of months, hmmm.... let me think.... hmmmmm....

[Buzz Clik]

285. Their despise for both Clintons was driven by racism? Let's see ... hmmmm...

Nope.

[Hugabear]

290. Damn, I must have slept through all those nationwide protests during the Clinton years

I recall a bunch of idiots being upset about Clinton, but I don't recall ever seeing a bunch of organized protests nationwide. I certainly don't recall seeing a bunch of racist signs and placards aimed at Clinton. And I know that groups like Stormfront weren't helping to organize anti-Clinton rallies during the 90s.

[Buzz Clik]

293. Oh, it's the protests that are racist. I get it now.

I was so foolish.

You're absolutely correct. Every Republican from top to bottom is a fucking racist.

[Antirepubmachine]

226. I hate them and their kind with all my heart

I can not stand people who are intolerant and so full of hate and agression. They make me sick, sick and tired of all their evil, hatred and just meanness for the sake of being mean. republicans are creatures that exist only to destroy all that is good, they need a dose of their own medicine.

[slackmaster]

267. You hate them for being hateful

Interesting.

[Antirepubmachine]

271. Yes!

I just can't tolerate hatred and intolerance. They are all racists.

[Catherine Vincent]

230. I partially agree.

If they had been up in arms about "their taxes" back when their precious Bush was in charge, then people would take them more seriously. Now that the Black guy is in charge, they are fed up. :eyes:

[Joey Liberal]

232. They were the Fox News audience

Angry white people.

[NorthernSpy]

237. We know that Stormfronters were planning on participating...

... and that people on the white supremacist far-right did view the teabag parties as promising opportunities to make connections and to build their base.


Only a subset of the teabaggers would really be sympathetic to the neo-Nazi/WS cause, I'd say. But vigilance is warranted, certainly.

[TheKentuckian]

238. Of course its not all about racism but it is also being willfully ignorant

to pretend racism hasn't been a huge factor in most "conservative" politics over the last generation or two.

Hell, it is a big part of why they are approaching screwn long term because much of "the base" are less than minority friendly, to be kind. We all know what, when, and why Democrats lost the south and a lot of that ilk and their kind are still around. Obama has also run some remaining Archie Bunker types out and to the dwindling Republican party and it's outskirts. They have taken up the cause of their new found compatriots.

I say the ratio is at least 35-40%. Let's not be naive in either direction, it is significant but far from exclusive.

The best general labels are assholes, batshit crazy, and stooooooopid but I bet racist might come in 4th. Of course they might do the same in response to any Democrat but it is well known they hate "nigger" (insert spic, sand-nigger, jap, Commie, fuurhner, bitch, fag) lovers as much, if not more than "niggers" (insert spics, sand-niggers, japs, Commies, fuurhners, bitches, fags)themselves.

I guess xenophobes is a nicer way to say it but racists or bigoted is pretty often not off the mark enough to quibble about.

[ItNerd4life]

239. The hatred from you sounds much worse than anything I saw on the news.

'Brown skinned immigrant'? Wow! You sound like the racist one.

They don't like Illegal immigrants. There is a huge difference. Please, educate yourself.

The intelligence of some DU posters is underwhelming. I call Troll!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

242. They didn't complain when Bush spent their money

[cbc5g]

244. If there is any racism here, it's the OP and those supporting the OP.

My mom is going to one of the rallies to protest big, intrusive government...she was also against Bush and she isn't racist. But you are an asshole and an idiot, no doubt about that.


I thought we respected peaceful protests. Just reaffirms my belief that many on the far left are exactly like the people on the far right.

[AlbertCat]

253. My mom is going to one of the rallies

Your Mom does not represent the average Teabagger.

She was surrounded by racists.

[liberation]

257. So basically....

it is only OK for you to insult other people.

Blah, blah, blah... all nice and all. Except that the Tea Bagging movement is not about "big intrusive" government, and more about protesting Obama. If these assholes were against "big intrusive government" they seemed to not mind it that much last year. So either your mum had no clue what the tea baggers were all about, or you are being intellectually disingenuous at best...

[AmyCamus]

258. Happy Emancipation day.

The OPer probably hasn't ever heard of it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

273. I'm sorry your mom's a crazy dipshit racist.

But it's not our fault.

[TomClash]

251. "White Power" minus the power

I don't really see much power. I just see white.

[liberation]

261. LOL... I am loving some of the concern trolling going on over here.

Classic! LOL.

[bridgit]

262. Spot On...^rec ~

:kick:

[happy2day]

265. I tried

I tried to bite my tongue over this thread but some of you people are as bad as the Pubs, most of you people spout the same nonsense over and over until you actually believe some of it.
I hated Bush but I also hate the Pork that our President and Dems in general ramrodded through and if you people think that only someone making $250,000 or more are going to be taxed then you people are blind.
Now I will go talk to my Husband since he doesn't drink the "Racist Kool-Aid"
NOThappy2day

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

272. Uh, wut?

"if you people think that only someone making $250,000 or more are going to be taxed then you people are blind."

It's not like it's a matter of opinion. Obama lowered taxes for everybody making $250,000 or less.

It's a fact.

Deal with it.

[slackmaster]

277. There WILL be a middle-class tax increase within a few years

The present federal tax cuts are a short-term measure to help stimulate the economy.

There will have to be significant tax increases down the road to pay for our debt left over from the Bush wars and the ongoing bailouts and economic stumuli.

Pardon the immediate source of this graphic, but it did originally come from the Washington Post.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TA2bT-uuCH0/SccrsJXg0oI/AAAAAAAABAE/RKaG7FsIHVY/s400/Budget+Deficit+projections.gif

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

278. There has to be no such thing.

[slackmaster]

280. How is that future deficit going to be paid for?

Is the fairy fucking godmother going to make it go away by magic?

[Hugabear]

292. How about by making the wealthiest of the wealthy fork over a little bit more?

Their tax burden is NOWHERE near as high as it has been in the past.

[slackmaster]

294. That's going to happen too

Government is MUCH larger than it was during the time immediately after World War II. Shaking down the ultra-wealthy will go only so far. I have no doubt that middle class working people will be paying significantly higher taxes by 2012. Don't be naive.

BTW - The recent increases in California income tax and sales tax have more than offset any reductions we've seen in federal income tax. If I had not reduced my 401k contributions this year, my take-home pay would be lower than it was last year. (I haven't seen a significant raise in five years.)

[bridgit]

276. Oh I'm subject to disappointment for instance...

I was hoping you'd have posted pics of the wasteful attitudes toward tea bags from the party you went to :cry:

[HopeOverFear]

270. They hate him because he's black

from Daily Kos:

I deliberately use the word black rather than the words African American. The latter lacks the proper emotional value. It is cultural and geographical. The former is visceral. Bigotry is not subtle. It is primal. It is not about ideas. It is irrational.

He is smarter and more educated and more articulate than they. A self-made man, he represents everything they would claim to value. But he looks different, to them. They hate him because he looks different. They hate him because he is dark. In "Western" "Culture," the very words black and dark have powerfully negative value. They often are used as synonyms for the sinister.

[Beacool]

295. I don't agree.

Why always play the race issue? There's no doubt that some are probably racists, but the people I heard seemed genuinely concerned about the country. They may be misguided, at least from our point of view, but why call them racists? The majority are probably no more racist than the people who attended the Million Men march.

Do you think that these same people wouldn't have held their "tea parties" if Hillary, Edwards, Kerry or any other Democrat had been president?

;)

[Raineyb]

296. They're genuinely concerned all right.

Genuinely concerned that a black man got into office. I do not think that they would have these tea parties if Hillary Clinton, Edwards, Kerry or any other Democrat had won. Did they hold these asinine protests 3 months into Bill Clinton's presidency? No! Why the signs about white slavery if race has nothing to do with it?

These people are fucking racists so much so that a white supremacist group felt quite comfortable openly recruiting at their gatherings. So please, do me a favor and spare me the rationalization.