I Love Tea and Tea Parties, but not "The Tea Party"

[talon]

How do I dislike thee? Let me count the ways:

1. Birthers. Obama passed all the inspections and tests and background checks to prove he qualified to run for president of the US. The real issue isn't with Obama's birth. They know this and I wish they'd be honest with themselves - and us - about it.

2. Taxes. The middle class is experiencing nearly 50% lower taxes than it had 50 years ago, they have more deductions and more ways to reduce their taxes. The crimp in their spending is coming from higher prices, not higher taxes. A little honestly here would be appreciated.

3. Guns. Contrary to the panic of the election and inauguration of Obama, guns were not only not pried out of the cold dead hands of gun worshippers, Obama has loosened a lot of gun restrictions and reaffirmed the rights of Americans to own arms and ammunition - witness the right to bear weapons - loaded ones at that! - in national parks, thanks to Obama.

4. Health Care. I don't like the heath care bill because I think it's misguided and needs to be re-thought out and a better job done - they hate it because now they have to have the insurance they already enjoy, yet don't want anyone else to have it, too - selfish, that's what they are.

5. Stimulus. They claim it has had zero impact on the national economy. Love it or hate it, that's plain wrong. For the short term, at least, it has had an impact on the national economy.

6. Socialism. It doesn't mean what they think it means and I detest twisting words into something they aren't.

7. Bullying tactics. They advocate shouting down speakers and heckling them. Although they haven't yet committed any real acts of violence, their blogs and forums are hate-filled, and they egg each other on like sharks feeding on chum. This will lead to preventable violence. I have yet to see a Tea Party rally where there weren't mean-spirited signs directed not at government policies, but at other Americans. Not cool, Tea Partiers. We're all Americans.

8. Palin. Not her specifically, but the effect she has on the Tea Partiers, which intensifies the hatred, bigotry, and violence that is brewing among the Tea Partiers. She incites them, and worse, they let her incite them.

9. Claims of media bias. Right. Prior to the Tax Day Protests, various media outlets ran more than 20 specials about the Tea party, there were over 100 commercials aired about the Tea Parties, viewers were directed to participate in a "virtual Tea Party", news commentators mentioned the Tea Party in practically every newscast, and there were 2 (count 'em - TWO) articles about the Coffee Party. That's media bias for you, giving you all kinds of free publicity - and you still could only rake up teeny crowds.

10. Name calling. I have no respect for any group that appears to encourage people to resort to name-calling, especially when their targets are children.

I didn't post any links in here because this stuff is plastered all over the media. You can't avoid hearing about it or seeing it if you watch the news, read the news online or in the papers, or just talking with friends or relatives. Unless, of course, your friends and relatives don't watch the news or read it online or in the papers.

I cannot support a group that advocates - or at least condones by looking the other way - violence, hatred, lies, and perverted privilege. There is no place for me and mine there.

One such Tea Partier, a man I've known for more than 30 years, actually told me I had no right to offer to drive down to DFW Airport to be with my son because his plane had been delayed due to the volcano. His reason? My son was "doing his duty" and I was "an interfering liberal" - never mind the fact that I'm not a liberal. And my ex is a Tea Partier. I can't even talk to him anymore, every other sentence out of his mouth is an obscenity directed at Obama (whose name he either can't or won't pronounce correctly), and I've had to stop reading his blog because it's so filled with lies and hate. These two men - middle-aged, middle class, privileged white men with decent health care, nice homes, all the guns they can afford, all the food they can eat, and the freedom to travel where they will and when - are the face of the Tea Party. They are, oddly, the kindest Tea Partiers I've met.

How sad is that?