Quote:
Originally Posted by spence
While I've called out the racist elements I think gravitate towards the Tea Party I don't believe I've ever called the entire movement racist, rather I've asserted they need to own what's spread in their name...and a lot of Tea Party leadership have promoted these and other ideas along the same vein.
Do "racist elements" "gravitate" to other parties? "Racists" don't have a separate party, do they? Is there something special about "racists" that "gravitate toward" the Tea Party that they alone should be "called out"? Is the Tea Party more laden with racists than any other party or other segments of society? Do you have some solid numbers to verify that? How is the Tea Party supposed to "own" what you claim is being "spread" in their name? Much of the spreading seems to be done by anti-Tea Party types--those who over-hype supposedly racist signs (many of which are not actually racist so are branded as "code" for racism) and ignore the predominant non-racist signs that speak fiscal, constitutional agendas. Which Tea Party Leaders have promoted racist ideas? Do you believe Islam needs to own everything that is spread in its name?
Regarding the Birther movement, it seems by the polls that this has infected moderate voters to some degree. While is sure seems like a crackpot theory to me a hell of a lot of Americans have responded to the constant drumbeat by the conspiracy theorists and Right Wing media. Why? I'd go back to the fear of the "other" and hence the race card...
-spence
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As far as I have heard from major "Right Wing media," it regards the birthers as being crackpots as much as you do, and detrimental to the hopes of beating Obama in 2012. Most "right wingers" consider "left wingers" to be the "other", and would more than welcome a greater number of blacks, latinos, asians, and "moderate" whites to join them in defeating the "left wing" agenda.