Here & There Column 4-27-10

Amused By The Tea Party?

At first we had second thoughts about the ever growing Tea Party movement but from what I have seen, heard and read about the Tea Party its very clear that all incumbent politicians should not be endorsing statements that they are amused with the Tea Party.
It's certainly clear that the Tea Party is not amused with current incumbent politicians of either party.
What we see coming down the road are major changes in who sits and governs us and the November mid-term elections will prove that the incumbent politicians are completely out of touch with reality.
Some Sullivan County residents have formed the Liberty Tea Party and climbed aboard the Tea Party express. At an organized rally April 17 on Darbee Lane in Liberty, Richard "Rick" Yaun, one of the Liberty Tea Party organizers made it very clear that "the Tea Party is not a political party and is not partisan in the fights between the national parties," and the fact that "it has no candidates."
What appears to be the major theme for the Tea Party is that ordinary folks fear big government and out-of-control government spending.
It might be easy to label the Tea Party as conservative but many we have talked with say they are just fed up with regulations, a steady increase in taxes, added government fees, federal government spending and that they are organizing to register their dissent at the ballot box in November.
Tea Party supporters say:
1. The federal government is spending, regulating and intruding too much.
2. They have strong opposition to health-care reform, the stimulus package, proposed limits on greenhouse-gas emissions and extended unemployment benefits.
3. They were ignored on health care and their voice was mocked.
4. They favor tax cuts over budget deficit reduction.
At many Tea Party functions signs reading, "don't tread on me" and "follow the constitution" are very prominent.
Political opponents to the Tea Party movement have now started to call Tea Partyers racists and uneducated whites.....statements that are not true and will come home to haunt those saying this.
Some Tea Party movements have already started holding candidate forums to review the field of potential office holders.
The Tea Party movement is definitely showing a lot of energy and high motivation and most likely will have a major influence on the November elections.
For those who think of Tea Party members as a bunch of country bumpkins they will have to think again as released statistics show that Tea Partyers are better educated and wealthier then their brethren citizens and there is no doubt they are all angry with Washington and incumbent politicians everywhere.
This new movement will be interesting to watch and politicians who are "amused" by the Tea Party are indeed completely out of touch with reality.