Is the Tea Party Gang Turning GOP into a Party of Hate?

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/06/i/


Is the Tea Party Gang Turning GOP into a Party of Hate?
David Corn


When John Boehner, the Republican leader of the House, appeared at the Tea Party rally at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon, it was a dramatic signal: the wing-nuts have taken over the GOP.

Think I'm being harsh? The angry folks at the protest -- which attracted several thousand conservatives -- held up signs with messages of hate: "Get the Red Out of the White House," "Waterboard Congress," "Ken-ya Trust Obama?" One called the president a "Traitor to the U.S. Constitution." Another sign showed pictures of dead bodies at the Dachau concentration camp and compared health care reform to the Holocaust. A different placard depicted Obama as Sambo. Yes, Sambo. Another read, "Obama takes his orders from the Rothchilds" -- a reference to the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory holding that one evil Jewish family has manipulated events around the globe for decades.

All of this extremism was on display -- proudly -- at an event that was officially sponsored by the House Republicans. After Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) invited tea partiers to the Capitol to rail against the emerging health care bill, the GOP leadership -- somewhat blindsided by Bachmann -- jumped on board, providing speakers and logistical support for the event. Certainly, the crowd was not made up entirely of bigots; I'm not smearing all the protestors who oppose Obama's health care reform effort. But it cannot be denied: racism and anti-Semitism were part of an official Republican action.

Extremism was also flowing from the podium, where Republican House members were eager for microphone time. Boehner, for one, declared, that the health care bill is the "greatest threat to freedom that I have seen." That's some statement. A greater threat than Hitler's Nazism or Soviet communism? About the same time he was speaking, Obama was making a surprise appearance at the White House daily press briefing to tout the fact that the American Medical Association and the AARP, the powerful seniors lobby, have each endorsed the health care reform bill. Here's a question for Boehner: Are these two groups opposed to freedom? And at one point at the rally -- call it a Bachmannalia -- when John Ratzenberger, a.k.a Cliff Clavin from Cheers, claimed that the Democrats were turning the United States into a land of European socialism, the audience shouted, "Nazis, Nazis." No Republican legislator left the stage in protest. Boehner and his fellow GOP leaders should be asked how they feel about mounting a rally that attracted intense hate-mongering.

With their overheated rhetoric, Boehner and Bachmann (who called this rally "the Super Bowl of freedom") are placing the GOP into a corner -- just at a time when external circumstances are shifting in the party's favor. If the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia showed anything, they indicated that moderate Republicans (real or faux) can fare well against Democrats during a time of high unemployment. These two elections also suggested that independents are skittish about the status quo, open to Republican importuning, and perhaps yearning to send incumbents a message -- and most incumbents nowadays are Democrats. The one place where conservatives made a conservative stand was the 23rd congressional district of New York. In that high-profile contest, the Tea Party movement, which had swung behind conservative third-party candidate Doug Hoffman, was defeated by Democrat Bill Owens.

The lesson of all this for GOPers might well be: don't go crazy; instead, court dissatisfied independents, and be a reasonable alternative to the people in power. By embracing the Tea Party mob, Boehner and company are doing none of that. They are partnering with an extremist band that many indies won't identify with. And that may end up giving Democrats a better chance to hold on.

A recent poll found that only 25 percent of Americans have a positive opinion of the Republican Party (compared to 42 percent for the Democrats). Hanging out with "Nazi"-shouters who wave racist and hateful signs is not likely to boost the popular appeal of congressional Republicans. Boehner and company are not merely playing to the base; they're saddling up with the worst elements of the right. It won't be a pretty ride.

******
You want more evidence the Tea Party activists are not reality-based? A bunch of them have been promoting the theories of a crackpot Russian academic who predicts that ethnic and racial conflicts will cause the United States to disintegrate within in the next year or so into several different countries. It would be hard to make this stuff up. Check it out here.

[zbdent]

1. The TeaOP ... R-Tetley ...

Teabirthers ...

Teapublicans ...

Teabaglicans ...

Teabirthicans ...

[Mugweed]

2. Turning?

It seems to me that they've been the party of hate at least since I was a pre-teen and Saint Reagan was starting his first term as President. Sure, the volume has been increased of late. That's because the new mantra is "The hysterically squeaky wheel gets the media attention."

[wolfgangmo]

15. +1

I agree.

What do you mean turning? How about turned, like about the time of the signing of the civil rights act when all the KKK idiots joined the GOP, a mega-church, and learned to read so they could vote for idiots like Reagan and the Bushistas.

[AndyA]

3. Turning? No. The GOP has ALWAYS been a party of hate.

They hate black people. Or anyone from Mexico. Gay people. Diversity.

And they don't believe anyone not exactly like them should have the same rights that they do. They believe their "ethics," "values," "morals," and "religion" should apply to all, and that anyone who doesn't see it that way doesn't deserve to have rights.

And they will lie and legislate to get their way.

They are cheap when it comes to spending money on the American people, because that money might actually HELP PEOPLE. But they're always ready to start a war, cut taxes for their wealthy cronies, or condemn a Democrat for doing the same things one of their own has done, only it's not so bad when a GOPer does it.
No, David, the Tea Party Gang isn't turning the GOP into a Party of Hate. The Republicans have represented hate for a very long time. It's just more obvious now that there's a black family living in the White House. They can't stand that, and long for the days when the dark folk worked in the fields and they didn't have to get too close to them.

Barbara Bush even admitted as much when she commented how well everyone had it after Hurricane Katrina. Living in filth and crowded conditions was apparently better than their own homes, so they should be happy with that, right?

The definition of Hate should include the Republican Party as an example.

[Braulio]

12. I used to like Republicans

Regarding cheap, I don't think the government should spend money it has to borrow from the Chinese. All this does is mortage American children's future. The Republican party began a slide into the evil side of the force around 1985 or so, midway through the Reagan years. Before that, they had more common sense than Democrats.

[PSzymeczek]

18. The slide started in about 1968

When Tricky Dick adopted the Southern Strategy.

[Hepburn]

4. Bone-whore is dumber than dog shit.

Idiot says he is quoting from the US Const ~~ when he was at their event yesterday ~~ and he says he is reading the pre-amble. Holy fucking shit ~~ the U.S. Const has NO preamble and the doc he read from? The Declaration of Independence.

No, he is NOT smarter than a 5th grader.

And...interestingly enough: Batshit crazy Michelle and the rest of the baggers there did not know enough to stop him and point out the different. The dummies just cheered him on.

Shameful...

[PSzymeczek]

19. The Constitution DOES have a Preamble:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

[Kahuna]

5. They've always been the party of hate. The baggers are just highlighting it in

case there was any doubt.

[Sinti]

6. Nope - Lee Atwater did that a long time ago

He was a really charming guy, though, and didn't believe a word of his own BS - not to suggest that absolves him at all. It was all about winning. He, too, is probably rolling in his grave at what they have done and how far they've gone with his tactics. The Tea Party people are turning the GOP into the party of weird. Curiouser and curiouser...

[montieg]

13. A little timeline of hate and tricks

1950-Murray Chotiner Manager of Nixon Campaign v. Helen G. Douglas.
Originates “Pink Lady” smear
1956-Chotiner arranges money from Mob to Nixon
1968-Chotiner back to work for Nixon training Donald Segretti in dirty tricks
1970-Segretti and Chotiner mentor Karl Rove running up to Watergate
1973-Rove and Lee Atwater team to run Rove for Chair of National
College Repubs
1973- GHWB appoints Rove Chair NCR, Rove introduces GHWB to Atwater
1974- Segretti and Colson go to prison
1981-Atwater and Rove go to work for Reagan
1988-Atwater runs GHW Bush campaign vs. Dukakis (Willie Horton ad)
1989-After Wright resigns and Foley becomes Speaker, Atwater and Gingrich
write the “Liberal Closet” memo linking Foley to gays
2000-McCain hires Don Segretti to run his California Presidential campaign
2000-Rove helps Bush defeat McCain for Rep. nomination with SC whisper campaign about “illegitimate
black baby”. Protégé Tim Griffin leads oppo research and voter caging in numerous
states. Bush appointed President
2004-Rove protégé Steve Schmidt joins Bush team with attacks on Kerry
2008-Tim Griffin joins McCain Campaign

[emulatorloo]

7. K&R n/t

[HillWilliam]

8. Superbowl of Feedom (heh)

More like the Roller Derby of Id10ts.

[meow2u3]

9. The Teabag Terrorists have taken over the GOP

meow2u3 to GOP teabag terrorists: you want a war on terror? We'll give you a war on terror! Get ready to check into the Big House because that's where youse all belong!

If the teabaggers want to be offended by the fact that their tactics fit the legal definition of domestic terrorism, they might as well be prepared to suffer the consequences.


http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00002331----000-.html

As used in this chapter—
(1) the term “international terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum;

(2) the term “national of the United States” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

(3) the term “person” means any individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property;

(4) the term “act of war” means any act occurring in the course of—
(A) declared war;
(B) armed conflict, whether or not war has been declared, between two or more nations; or
(C) armed conflict between military forces of any origin; and

(5) the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

[Demeter]

10. The GOP Has Always Hated Since 1900's

They hated FDR and his reforms. They hated Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations. They hated the communists, the Catholics, the Jews, atheists, fluoride in the water, any kind of tax they would have to pay, Adlai Stevenson, Ike, and god knows who and what else. And Boomers and college graduates, those were especially despised.

Don't really think they hated Hitler, though, since they seemed eager to help him with arms, money, technology, etc. and to prevent the refugees from landing here or anywhere else.

I think they are torn about Israel. They like the Biblical nation more than the real one.

The GOP live more in its own twisted mind than in anything resembling reality.

[LeftishBrit]

11. Well, I have elderly relatives who left the USA in the 1950s mainly because Joe McCarthy and pals

were turning the GOP into a Party of Hate (with repercussions on everyone, especially foreigners), so I don't think it's terribly new.

[butterfly77]

14. Turning,,,

they have been like this for years,but a black man winning the whitehouse really blew their minds..Listen to Pat Boone:



A few weeks ago, WorldNetDaily editor and CEO Joseph Farah wrote a column suggesting that several Obama administration officials and nominees -- specifically Kevin Jennings, Cass Sunstein, John Holdren, and Chai Feldblum -- are "perverts" and stating that "the entire federal government is going to have to be fumigated some day when these deviants and degenerates are finally sent packing."

WorldNetDaily returned to the fumigation theme this weekend, publishing an October 31 commentary in which Pat Boone (yes, that Pat Boone) declares, "I believe - figuratively, but in a very real way - we need to tent the White House!"

In case you don't know what "tenting" is, Boone explains in detail:

In time, it seems to happen to all older houses, no matter how well tended they may be.

All manner of parasites, vermin, roaches, rats, worms and termites find their way into the building. Long before they're detected, they infiltrate the walls, the floors, the roofs - and then chew their way into the structure, the supporting beams and the very foundation of the house itself. Silently, surreptitiously, whole communities of invaders make places for themselves, hidden but thriving, totally unknown by the homeowner.

Then, in time, tell-tale signs are seen. Little droppings, discolored trails, proliferating piles of residue appear in corners, on tabletops, little hanging sacs from ceilings - alarming evidence that the grand old dwelling has been invaded. Decidedly unwelcome creatures have made this place their home, and by their very existence will eventually destroy the house and bring it to ruin.

What can be done, when you learn that your house has already been invaded?

Well, the tried and true remedy is tenting.

Experts come in, actually envelope the whole dwelling in a giant tent - and send a very powerful fumigant, lethal to the varmints and unwelcome creatures, into every nook and cranny of the house. Done thoroughly, every last destructive insect or rodent is sent to varmint hell - and in a day or two, the grand house is habitable again.

And what does this have to do with the White House?

Boone falsely claims that "out of nowhere," Obama "has created a whole super-layer of 'czars' over many crucial functions of our society" and then asserts that "so many" of these "czars" are "socialists, extreme leftists and even proud, boastful Marxists. Communists!" Boone likens these public servants to "varmints," "termites," and "rodents" that need to be exterminated:

For reasons only he can explain, the current occupant has purposely brought a whole flock of social and political voracious varmints with him into our House. He doesn't own it; he hasn't even rented it; we the people have simply given him the keys and invited him to live there for four years, making it convenient to serve us better, to carry out our expressed wishes for our country.

<...>

Even though he constantly uses the imperial-sounding "I," he knows he can't do it alone. So, he has assembled the most unbelievable coterie of cronies - who buy into his leftist philosophy - to implement and enforce his will on us. Like a very real infestation of termites and rodents, this crew has settled into powerful positions and is already chewing away at the constitutional structure of our government. Out of nowhere, he has created a whole super-layer of "czars" over many crucial functions of our society - with super authority but no accountability to anyone but the temporary occupant.

Who gave him this right? Don't the people he's supposed to serve have a say in something this ominous?

Boone then provides a list of the metaphorical "termites and rodents." There's "black activist" Van Jones and "black radical" Ed Montgomery. There's Ron Bloom and Anita Dunn, both of whom had the audacity to cite Mao (just like a number of prominent conservatives have done). And then there's "extreme gay activist" Kevin Jennings, who Boone falsely claims "praised the late gay-rights activist Harry Hay for his defense of NAMBLA."

Returning to his insect theme, Boone claims that Obama "was virtually carried to his current residence by ACORN," which he describes as "that maggot-ridden organization."

Boone concludes by urging WorldNetDaily's readers to "act, decisively and powerfully," writing:

Our White House is being eaten away from within. We urgently need to throw a "tent" of public remonstration and outcry over that hallowed abode, to cause them to quake and hunker down inside. And then treat the invaders, the alien rodents, to massive voter gas - the most lethal antidote to would-be tyrants and usurpers.

We must clean house - starting with our own White House.

[BluDemocratGirl]

16. If you are rich and care about ONLY the money & power,.....

they love the shit out of you! If you are middle class and/or poor, they hate your guts! The GOP had been a party of hate since the early 1900's.

[NICO9000]

17. Well, duh!

Olbermann made a great point last night. He asked his first guest couldn't they at least bus some black or brown or yellow people in even if they had to pay 'em to add a little diversity to the craziness?

The Dachau photo was unbelievable. Eric Cantor is one of the biggest douches ever. For him as a Jew to stand there and not say anything about that sign is a fucking disgrace, but decency isn't a trait these assholes possess.

[santamargarita]

20. Republican have always been racist , hate-filled fucks

The teabag assholes have certainly picked up where the KKK left off.

[BillDU]

21. Quite frankly ...No..

No. The Republicans have always been about such hate. The hatred of the teabaggers is coming from the Republicans and not the other way around.
The teabagger phenomenon is their latest illegitimate child.