Harold's Left: 9-12's Underbelly

Harold's Left:

We all already know what the Tea Party movement is about. They say they are about 'saving' the Republic. They 'say' they are about taking America back from the socialist power grab of the Obama administration. These notions in and of themselves are ridiculous, however, the undercurrent at play in the Tea Party express is even more vile.

Take a closer look at the photo from a 9-12 protester above. Read the sign that this bozo is holding which says "Impeach the Muslim Marxist". That sign alone shows a complete slant towards bigotry and lies. First, if the president was Muslim, which he is not, would that even matter? America is not a religious theocracy, and any person of any faith, who has pledged an oath to the Constitution and won the electoral college is eligible and worthy to be president. Yet, in the eyes of the Tea Party express, it shows that they believe only certain folks should be afforded that right. I'm sure this guy would like to put "black" on his sign as well, but he knows it is politically toxic to do so. Secondly, the idea that Obama is a Marxist is so ridiculous I'm not even sure how he can come to that conclusion. Why, because he's a liberal? Just plain stupidity these people.

As I discussed earlier this week, I find it amusing that this Tea Party movement is masked not only as a group of 'everyday Americans' but as some sort of groundswell of the silent majority. Newsflash GOP! Your 'silent majority', which is code word for an awkward coalition of white voters -- doesn't exist. A large percentage of forward-thinking, educated, and fed up whites have left you behind. What you really have is a dying "bitter minority". When Ann Coulter was asked yesterday by a democratic strategist why the Republican Party is increasingly extremist, white, and Southern, she responded "oh, there are plenty of African-Americans involved in the Tea Party movement". Really Ann? Like who? Where are they? Besides the young black guy in the wheelchair that was paraded around health care protests like some sort of mascot, I've seen none. Let's take a look at the video below to see if these protests actually look like a slice of America.

I will add that I do not believe that just because someone is in attendance at a Tea Party rally means they are a bigot, nor does it mean they do not respect the office of the Presidency. Public dissent is at the heart of American democracy, so these people are well within their civic rights to voice their opinion. But, let's call this what it is folks. It's a hate fest for the most part. The national mall was littered with signs by people who claimed socialism, communism, etc. One large sign had Obama on a podium and said "parasite in chief". Not only that Rachael Maddow exposed how one of the bronze supporters of the 9-12 protest, The National Association of Rural Landowners, is calling for a violent overthrow of the American government. Go to the site and read the rhetoric, these people hate government with a passion. Just your everyday average Americans right?

As I also discussed early this week. For whatever reason, the teabaggers feel it necessary to ignore our little national democratic process called elections, and decide less than a year later that they are the only "real Americans" which therefore means that Obama is accountable only to them. My question to them is, where were you during the election results last year? You lost. For the millionth time. It's not communism, it's not Marxism, it's not a tyrannical dictatorship, it's not a government takeover; it's called losing an election. "But we are protesting now because we are surprised how radically socialist Obama has been since the election". Who do they think they are fooling -- we all know most of these teabaggers did not vote for Obama in the elections last year. This is what happens when you lose, the group that won gets to run America the way it sees fit. Lucky for us, It is a way that has the only chance of getting us universal health coverage, and reforming some of our broken institutions.

Of course since CBS is the media, they attempt to make these protests seem like a referendum for Obama. However, what is more telling is one of the first comment responses to the video on Youtube, it reads "The opening salvo to the next revolution. It's time to declare your allegiance... ". I think that just about says it all.