Tea Party groups admit Obama’s race is a factor [View All]

[meowomon]

Tea Party activists have fumed at accusations of intolerance and racism, insisting their concerns about President Barack Obama are policy-oriented. Yet dozens of Tea Party groups have openly admitted to the Washington Post that the president's race is a factor in their activism.

In a lengthy investigation into the fledgling political movement that has made tremendous waves nationally, Amy Gardner reported that the Post identified more than 1,400 Tea Party groups across the nation and spoke extensively with 647 of them about their philosophies and ambitions.

"Eleven percent said that Obama's race, religion or ethnic background was either a 'very important' or 'somewhat important' factor in the support their group has received," the Post concluded.

As per the Post's reporting, that amounts to over 70 Tea Party organizations (eleven percent of 647) that willingly concede Obama's race is fueling their members' activism.

Gardner quoted organizers questioning the president's citizenship and birth certificate, his Christian faith and "socialist" policies, with some going so far as to describe him as un-American.

Original story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/23/AR2010102304000.html