Friday, April 2, 2010

The Tea Party: Stupid, White, Racist and All American... And damn proud of it!

I recently spent a few days conversing with the retards that call themselves the Tea Party. I learned many fascinating factoids from them. For example, did you know that President Obama is following the exact same path that Hitler did to taking over Nazi Germany? Did you know that Nazis are actually liberals/, because National Socialism contains the word Socialism, and that means that they were closer to being liberal communists? Did you know that Obama and the liberal left are out to kill off all the old people, the disabled, and have already taken over 50% of the nation's economy? Were you aware that the Health Care Bill recently passed by Obama and the House, is a socialist takeover of the healthcare system?


All of these interesting factoids were bandied about by people who really knew what they were talking about. They got their information from the most trusted news and information sources -- Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and other Pundits. Not one of the people I talked with had any need to read what was in the health care bill -- Their favorite pundits simply knew what was in it, and they didn't read it, themelves, either. It seems that all of the amazing facts about Obama and the Health care reform bill did not get sourced at all from the text of the bill, or from anything that the democrats said. After all, going right to the source text of the bill itself would be a futile effort, you see, because everyone knows that the democrats wouldn't let us read what the bill is really about. So the actual text of the bill is "hidden", and what we get to see is a phoney bill that looks all nice and non-theatening, when we go to the Government's website.


My encounter with these geniuses from the Tea Party started when I started hearing news on TV and radio about the Tea Party's reaction to the bill's passing. Many people were accusing the Tea Party of being racists. African American senators, like John Lewis (D, Georgia), were called niggers and spat upon by angry protestors. This was witnessed by Capital Hill police officers, who arrested some of the protestors for assault. I went to You Tube, and searched for videos and found this.


I also found a series of videos and slide shows that showed images of signs carried at Tea Party Rallies. but the above video sort of encapsulates it all very well. I made a couple of comments, and went away to do work.


Then the email started pouring in. Apparently, I angered a few Tea party people, and we soon started discussing things. From my years of dealing with right wing luantics and religious nut-jobs, as evidenced in my blog, I've learned a few things about how these people think and where they get their facts, and I basically presented them with a few messages to confirm that they were the same kinds of retards that I usually deal with on the far right. I actually have a couple of friends who are tea party members. We don't talk much about politics, but I occasionally hear a few things that suggest that they have far-right views which would make them less friendly if we had any honest discussion on actual issues, and I pointed out actual facts to them, which clash with their insane political beliefs. I also have a similar problem with most of my family -- a white Irish Catholic family who all moved into the boondocks and became avid fans of Fox News. One thing I know about both family and tea party friends is that underneath their hatred and anger is a deep seated racism. My dad and brothers have been using the "N" word (you know, "Nigger") since I was a kid.


Whenever far right wingers discuss "how America is being ruined", they almost instantly and automatically invoke Illegal Immigrants and Black people, with occasional references to Jews. The Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis that started a couple of years ago, for example, was blamed by many right wing pundits, on illegal immigrants. There's a good reasn that Illegal Immigrants can't be the cause of the mortgage crisis, though. No lending institution would risk lending to someone who is not documented. It is virtually impossible for anyone that entered the country illegally to get a loan from a bank, because the first thing they get asked is if they are US citizens, and for a social security number. There were a lot of hispanics involved in the sub-prime crisis, but not illegal ones. See, in the bizarro world of the far right, hispanic = illegal alien. When I mention my hispanic co-workers in conversation with my right wing parents, for example, the first question out of their mouths is "Are they illegal immigrants?"


The discussion inevitably turns to comparisons to Nazis, Communists, socialists, and monsters of all types. One of the dumbest statements that I keep hearing from far right wingers, religious nuts, and Tea Party People is that Democrats are just like Nazis. This is an interesting thing, because Nazis were right wingers, historically, and democrats are left wingers. In the bizarro world of neoconservatives, though, words are redefined and turned topsy-turvey. You will always hear these Teabaggers say "Nazi is a concatenation of National Socialism" (Sorry, they would never use a big word like "concatenation", much less spell it correctly), therefore, the Nazis were socialists, therefore they were liberals.


Even if you try to explain it to them, they will pooh-pooh all the actual facts you give them and write you a strange revisionist history. For Example:


  • "actually the Nazi's were Socialists, the word Nazi stood for National Socialist Party or Nat'i Nazi' for short. Obama, an admitted Communist and currently acting Socialist embraces Socialist ideals. He has seized the banks, industry, and spent tax payer dollars faster than all the Presidents combined in the last CENTURY. He and his party have destroyed this country inside of two years."
  • "You are wrong! If you studied Nazism you would find that a leader comes in promises the moon takes of the country and turns it into Nazism Germany."


I love hearing this crap from the far right, because there is no source, except for possibly Conservapedia, that will back up their version of the facts. Let's do a short comparison of Nazis, Republicans, and Democrats, to see who is closer.


Republicans:


Democrats:
  • Liberal Ideology
  • Generally not favorable toward militarism, big business, or religion
  • Supports homosexuals
  • Pluralistic (Not pro or anti any particular religion)

Nazis:

I'm talking about facts that virtually all history books, in any country will agree on. It's only these far right people saying that nazis were liberals. No actual historical experts will make that claim. When you do not properly source your information, and just uncritically take the words of a pundit that you like, for granted, you make yourself intellectually lazy. It's just dumb to never bother to check facts.


What's even more annoying is their claim that republicans and conservatives in general, as well as the tea party, are not racist. Really? Perhaps the reason that there are so few African American people and Jews in the republican party is that there's just too many white people crowding them out. Yeah, yeah, that must be it. There must be a good explanation why African American Republicans have dwindled from nearly 20% in the 1950s to just under 10% today.


Perhaps the problem is that the Republican party has not really tried to reach out African Americans, and often treats African American members as second-class party members. Perhaps most conservative white people in the USA are still resentful of the civil rights act of 1964, and fearful of black skinned people because most cop shows portray them as gangsters.


Or perhaps most conservative white people really are just racists deep down inside. After all, you can still hear the occaisional rant against Jews being uttered by Christian Fundamentalists. I've documented that here, here, here, here, and here.


Conservatives have a real problem with their way of expressing themselves, because a lot of what they have to say concerning race, religion, science, history, and other topics show a fundamental lack of actual knowledge of the subjects, but also are explained by them rather sloppily and insensitively. I mean, take a look at this article by Pat Buchanan written on the eve of President Obama's victory. I mean the guy literally says that slavery was the best thing that ever happened to African Americans! He may have meant well, but it came out like a stream of steaming liquid-crap; They have a way of complimenting and cherishing African Americans that comes off more like fear and loathing dressed up in an evening gown.


Now to the subject of whether or not the Tea party is Racist. They are not, by definition. Their Party's description of it's values clearly make it just a conservative anti-tax group. However, the rhetoric of their speakers and some of their supporters is most definitely racist. This is due to poor policing by the group's leadership. Instead of telling the people who attend their rallies with guns and confederate flags or racist slogans to please go away, they have embraced them, because they care more about the bottom-line -- membership numbers and donations. It's their own undoing. The leadership of the party has done nothing to discourage the racists in their membership, and it comes off to us as a sort of passive approval of racists. Perhaps the best way to illustrate the membership's attitude towards racists is to show you these two video clips. This first clip clearly shows idiots with racist signs and comments being allowed to be part of the rally, and there is no criticism of them from the rest of the group. This video clearly shows a man doing nothing but holding a sign up that says "Public Option Now", and he is chased, has objects thrown at him, and required 6 cops to keep the angry crowd from beating him up. in short, they behave like a mob of Brown-Shirts.


That the Tea Party would not even question the racists, but chase the guy with the pro-healthcare reform slogan away, is very telling of the makeup of the group. More telling than their official position as stated on their website. The membership does have a large degree of racists in it. The party's platform, as stated, is not racist -- The leadership and the members are simply morons, as you can clearly see in the clips. The ideas promoted by the party are simplistic and idiotic. It's no wonder that they're being shown for what they are.

10 comments:

D. A. Adams said...

Excellent commentary. I needed to read this right now as I've been in a heated debate with a Tea Bagger today. It's so frustrating to argue with people who refuse to look at facts.

David W. Irish said...

What's really annoying are people who say things like "I hope someone shoots that guy (Obama), and I'm proud to say that," and then claim that they are not violent or hateful.

My favorite video is one of this guy who got into a Tea Party rally, and walked up to the podium, saying "How many of you think that the elderly should pay less for their medications, instead of going to Canada or Mexico to get cheaper drugs?" The crowd of tebaggers cheers. Then he says "How many of you earn under $250,000 a year?" the crows cheers him again. Then he asks "how many of you think that all children should covered?" and again, the crowd goes wild.

Then he says "Well, what are you against the healthcare bill for? Not only does it provide a deep discount for senior meds, but people earning under $250,000 a year will not see any increases at all in their health care costs, and all children will be covered under the plan, by law." The crowd, upon hearing this, jeers the guy, and he's driven off the stage -- it was brilliant, because he played them like a fiddle.

They were so into all the propaganda, that when someone actually listed specific facts about the bill, they couldn't deal with it, and just responded emotionally.

I work at a hospotal, and it's a PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT hospital. The administrator sent out a memo to all employees and volunteers stating what changes we should expect to see now that the bill passed. Nothing in what the administrator said sounded bad at all. In fact, since the bill has nothing in it where government takes over any part of the healthcare system, and it's pretty much pro-capitalism, giving more business to insurance companies, everything in it is welcome by most doctors and hospitals. The biggest change that doctors like is the fact that insurance companies cannot come between the doctor's recommended treatment and the patient. No longer can an insurance company tell a doctor to use the cheaper medication or procedure.

There are things about the tea party that you can be sure of:

(1) Few, if any, are doctors who still work at hospitals for a living.

(2) None have actually read the bill.

(3) Few earn over $100,000 a year.

(4) Many of them believe that Obama hates white people or will give their income taxes to illegal immigrants.

David W. Irish said...

Interestingly, I caught some of Sarah Palin's speech from her visit to Boston Common this week. I work literally 2 blocks away from where the rally took place, and listened to her speech on the radio. First of all, it was small. There couldn't have been more than 1000 people there, and many were bussed in from far away (there was a line of charter busses parked around the common).

Her entire speech was nothing more than a collection of random sentences, with no actual message body to speak of. Each sentence was a sound bite, after which was expected applause. Imagine if you would, the following:

“Drill, baby, drill” (ironic since Obama passed offshore drilling)

"There is no way to pay for any of this except to see your taxes rise,"

"I'm not calling anyone un-American, but the unintended consequences of these actions, the results, are un-American,”

“Is that what Barack Obama meant when he promised the nation that they would fundamentally transform America?”

“We’ll keep clinging to our Constitution and our guns and religion, and you can keep the change Cause the voters are coming.”

Now imagine all of these one-liners, strung together in no particular order. That's what it was like. It all seemed so contrived, especially when SHE STARTED CRYING, as if on cue. What do I mean "as if"? -- It was on cue, practiced like a beauty queen to the judges.

Anonymous said...

Well, I actually stumbled on this blog on google, and while I'm familiar with you, I think this is a good blog post. However, I'm not pro democrat or pro Obama in the least, I'm with the Progressive Party in Vermont (I just don't live in Vermont, but I'll be moving there in the next few years). Is there a lot of tea party assholes in New England though?

Reynold said...

Dave W. Irish:

The discussion inevitably turns to comparisons to Nazis, Communists, socialists, and monsters of all types. One of the dumbest statements that I keep hearing from far right wingers, religious nuts, and Tea Party People is that Democrats are just like Nazis.

Tell me about it. I tried to reason with one of those idiots, and guess what? My comment got deleted, then he made a post attacking me and saying that

However you did inspire an entire essay, as you personify the liberal argument-which is to shout down all opposition, and belittle those who disagree. So I hope you feel a little better.

What did I really say?

this



This is a sample of the kind of thing he says about the healthcare bill.

I may try and post what you just said about that guy who smacked down the "teapartiers" with actual facts about the healthcare bill, but I don't think he'd care. Or let my comment pass.

At least they're not all like that. Just most are, judging from the reactions Jeroboam gets.

David W. Irish said...

Thankfully, New England has a strong, very college educated, professional community, and the gun-toting border-line insane redneck country bumpkin crowd is a minority.

Every time there is an attempted conservative rally of some kind, the people who show up for it are matched or outnumbered by people who oppose them. For example, Brian Carmenker, who leads a bunch of conservative groups in the Boston area, is seen largely as a lone kook. He and others tried to have a march for the anti-abortion cause in downtown Boston. It was laughably small.

D. A. Adams said...

Man, the hate and venom here in the South is getting to me. Saw a bumper sticker the other day that sums up the local mentality, "Save a miner - Kill a tree hugger." How do you reason with that?

cadgbd said...

Smell raving rabid moonbat foamy spray.

Watch this ex-nazi this ex-nazi officer explain it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfGr0g6TsZY&feature=related

People have dark holes in their minds where memory and reason disappear. They refuse to see.
Dagon very sorry.

The nazi gay rights movement:

http://www.defendthefamily.com/pfrc/books/pinkswastika/html/the_pinkswastika_4th_edition_-_final.htm

Nazi Green Movement too:

http://www.aim.org/aim-report/hitlers-green-killing-machine/

The USA eugenics was way ahead of the nazis.

Affirmative Action too

Socialism too.

Use your head to think, not as a beer can holder.

cadgbd said...

http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/Nazis_were_socialists_article_Nazi-German_Labor_Unions_info

AGForero said...

Why do they claim the Liberals have a bias in the media? Honestly, if anything, it's they who do. I live in a suburb, which isn't the friendliest of places for my political views, so I'm not going to leave my real name.

The best part is when they make scary pictures of him. http://photobucket.com/images/Obama+Scary/

Then, yesterday, walking through the aisles of a book store, I found myself holding (or at least trying to grasp) Ann Coulter's "If Democrats Had Brains, They'd Be Republicans". Then I laughed, because in one of her previous books (OF DOOOOOOOOOM) she tried to make the argument that Democrats act like four year olds: "They call everything stupid." THAT'S FUNNY, MRS. COULTER! Because you kinda just said that with the title of you book. And nine other times in the previous...um, "ones".

People like Ann Coulter get on my nerves, not only because they are total hypocrites, but because they refuse to look at what really happened before they say it happened.

Anyone care to write "If Republicans Had Brains, They Wouldn't Write Books" for me? Thanks.

PS: When I was talking about Obama with my friends, one of them piped up, "Obama is AWFUL!" To reply, I ask, "What do you know about politics?"

SILENCE.