I love Glenn Beck. Have you watched him? He talks about returning to basic values mostly and while he is a conspiracy theory nut he is on to some real good basic ideas. Anyone who watches him knows he only wants the best for America and its people. I would say the same is true for Rachell Maddow (disagree with her usually) and Bill O'Reilly but then you get to people like Oberman and Rush who mainly want to vilify the other side at any expense. Hannity is just a bore because he will never even consider the opposing POV.Oakwood wrote:In response to freddyv: You had me at "I love that we elected a black man president." It seems to me that you are an atypical Tea Partier, for all the reasons you listed. (By the way I think the racist aspect of the TPM has been way overplayed). If all the Tea Partiers were like you, hell, I'd join, but then who would watch Fox news? I'm curious, what has been your experience rubbing shoulders with your fellow party members. Is it not true that you don't share many of the same values, and don't you find that they quote Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly and the rest of the gang?
I have a test I give to people I talk politics with: If you could replace Bush/Obama with you or your choice for President, would you? Anyone who says yes has no respect for our country and what has proven to be an outstanding system over the course of our history. The people who say yes, by definition, support totalitarianism. What would your answer be?
I heard about a black guy who went to a Tea Party event to see how he would be treated. He said he was treated very well and he felt no racism at all. I do know conservatives who are racist but that's more of a generational thing and most younger people, regardless of political bent, are less likely to be racist. That there are few minorities at Tea Party events does not make the attendees racist. That's like saying that black people who voted for Obama because he's black are against white people; hell no, they're just trying to get represented.
I've been to one Tea Party event and I was surprised at why anyone would fear these people - they are your grandparents and your parents and your neighbors who actually take care of their yard. These people look to me to be the salt of the earth and they were more libertarian than republican, IMO. Libertarians are rarely racist, in my experience. I didn't see a single person who looked like they would be rushing off to the country club or a KKK meeting after the event.
So think about this: I am a Tea Party supporter and you KNOW my views while it seems you're mainly going off of common misperceptions to judge the Tea Party; why not talk to more and let that define your views of the Tea Party rather than what other people say about Fox News or the Tea Party?
BTW, I consider myself a Tea Partier and conservative. I would never try to restrict what any leftist, liberal or progressive says. I would never try to restrict their vote. I have no doubt that many on the far left would gladly use the power of government to restrict my right to express myself or vote or manage my own health or live where I choose, or work at what I want to work at. Whether someone gets something for nothing is much farther down on my list.
Fred