Is The Tea Party Racist?

[WinePusher]

The Tea Party is a protest movement of american citizens to limit the government, government spending and the deficit. Some (Nancy Pelosi, NAACP President, Harry Reid, Practically ALL democrats and liberals) claim the organization is racist?

1) Is there any evidence that the organization is racist?

2) Is this another dishonest ploy by the left to stir up racial contreversy

3) Are organizations such as the Nation of Islam, Black Panthars and NAACP also racist?

[DeBunkem]

It is 99.9% white. Racist placards abound and are not removed at "rallies." Have they repudiated racism, or just denied it? All of us on this forum have endured the "Lynch all Muslim" anti-Arab racism of a few, so why should it surprise anyone that Jim Crow still lives?

Tea Party: ‘What? Us Racist?!’
July 12th, 2010 by John Grooms in Boomer with an Attitude

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/theclo ... s-racist/

The NAACP is holding its national convention this week, where the group will propose a resolution “condemning racism within the Tea Party movement.� I honestly don’t know how much pull the NAACP has anymore, but this resolution is a good thing. The Tea Partiers are a diverse group, and not all of the movement’s followers are racists, but the obvious truth is that a substantial number of the TP-ers are. And I mean full-tilt, flat out, too-stupid-to-breathe racist.

The big problem is that TP leaders have done precious little to rid their movement of racists. What’s worse, they deny there’s even a problem, and they call the NAACP proposal “unfair.� As Brendan Steinhauser, director of campaigns for FreedomWorks, which organizes some tea parties, told ThinkProgress, “I just don’t see racism in the tea party movement.� That’s an astounding statement on its own, but Steinhauser compounded it by noting that, in her opinion, “… the tea party movement has a lot in common with the civil rights movement.�

Right, Brenda. A grassroots movement of people whose ancestors suffered 300 hundred years of slavery, and then were treated like so many dogs after their “freedom� was granted, has a lot in common with a collection of entitled whites who are mad because the world is moving under them and they want to feel like they’re boss of the country again. Yeah, there’s a lot in common there — especially considering that a July 4 Tea Party rally in Lexington, Ky., featured tea partiers selling “Yup, I’m a racist� shirts. Oh, not to mention some of the lovely folks and signs shown below. No, not racist at all.

[WinePusher]

It is 99.9% white.

Thus they are racist? Is this assumption not in and of itself racially discriminatory?

Racist placards abound and are not removed at "rallies."

I'm sure that with the media hysteria over the Tea Party, there would be some videos on youtube showing these signs at rallies. Please post some.

Have they repudiated racism, or just denied it?

How can they repudiate something that has not yet been shown to exist? There was 100 million or thousand dollars offered to anyone who can produce evidence of racism in the tea party, NO ONE HAS WON IT. You think that because people disagree with you you can write them off as racist, that tactic doesn't work anymore, it is shameful, AND that is why only 20% of America identifies themselves as Liberal? Instead of argue the facts, you demonize the person.



Where's the condemnation for that from the media or the NAACP? Will you condemn that, or just the tea party?

All of us on this forum have endured the "Lynch all Muslim" anti-Arab racism of a few, so why should it surprise anyone that Jim Crow still lives?

Completly off topic. But to answer your point, we have also endured that people who want to construct a mosque at the crime scene of Islamic Extremists in New York, we have those who also think terrorist actions are justified because of the greater crimes of America.

[micatala]

The Tea Party is a protest movement of american citizens to limit the government, government spending and the deficit. Some (Nancy Pelosi, NAACP President, Harry Reid, Practically ALL democrats and liberals) claim the organization is racist?

Just out of curiousity, can you find any quotes from Pelosi, Reid, and even a majority of democrats in congress that claim the tea party is racist?

I will grant that there are those who make the claim, particularly political commentators on the left like Keith Oberman. Saying "practically all democrats and liberals" claim the tea party is racist seems to me way, way over the top.

1) Is there any evidence that the organization is racist?

I guess this might depend on your definition of racism.

To me, mild racism consists in having stereotypes of other races, especially if they are applied to individuals of that race. My view is nearly everyone does this to at least a slight extent.

Mild racists who are not aware or don't care about their mild racism would be more racist in my view.

More problematic is when people denigrate or seek to discriminate others on the basis of their race. Ironically, racism has gotten to be such a bogey-word that racists often accuse others of racism. For example, see the first photo at the following site, claiming Obama's plan is for white slavery.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/1 ... 87554.html

I don't know, is this sign racist?

It certainly accuses Obama of racism, and to the extent that such accusations may be a form of projections, seeking to distract from the racism of the accuser by pushing them off on someone else, it could indicate racism on the part of the person holding the sign.


Now, I would agree accusations of racism in general, and with respect to the tea party, can be overblown and often are. The problem is most racists know being a racist is viewed negatively and so they seek to hide it. Most people know that racists do this, often from personal experience. Thus, we are all left to try and make our own inferences in an environment where people who are racists are not blatant about it. I would say this also leads to false accusations of racism, just like the people who project their own racism on to others.

I would also agree that some make disingenuous claims of racism on the part of others as a smear. Glenn Beck, in my view, clearly fits in this category in his famous comment claiming Obama had a deep-seated hatred of white people.

Now, making such an accusation does not in itself make Beck racist, but it is in my view slanderous and vicious.


Also on the huffington site, there is a picture of "Barack Hussein Obama" as Hitler. The Hitler comparison is personally slanderous but not in and of itself racist. I would say some uses of the "Hussein" name, to the extent they are meant to negatively associate Obama with Arabs is racist.

And how about #10 in Huffington's list, showing Obama "sucking Saudi Jewels." Is that not a bit racist?


And that is the tricky thing. Part of racism is intent. If the intent is to slander, denigrate, insult, then we have racism in its more virulent form. If we simply have bad attempts at humor, perhaps using "boy" in a light-hearted way among acquaintances, then that is only mild racism, in my view.

2) Is this another dishonest ploy by the left to stir up racial contreversy

No, not entirely, but I would grant some are trying to make political hay out of the controversy.

3) Are organizations such as the Nation of Islam, Black Panthars and NAACP also racist?

My impression is the first two are, and the last one is not, although, as in the tea party, there are probably NAACP members who could be classified as racists.



I think there are racists in the tea party. I think it is also worth pointing out that white supremacist groups are on the rise since Obama's election and even before, and some of these probably participate in the tea party movement. Does this make the whole organization racists? NOt necessarily, but I will say, having seen a segment with Megan Kelly on FOX where an NAACP official and a tea party leader squared off, the tea partiers are denying or down-playing the racism that does exist in the organization, and seem loathe to repudiate it.

How can they repudiate something that has not yet been shown to exist? There was 100 million or thousand dollars offered to anyone who can produce evidence of racism in the tea party, NO ONE HAS WON IT.

My understanding is it is $100,000 dollars and it only applies to the incidents or incidents related to John Lewis and others who were allegedly called the N-word as they were entering the capital during the health care debate.



I think the following comment is largely on target.

So is the Tea Party racist? Well, that may be too facile. Benjamin Jealous, the N.A.A.C.P. president and recent Big Think expert, acknowledged in his statement yesterday that they were not condemning the entire movement. But there are certainly those within the Tea Party who must be purged from the movement before it can be considered a legitimate organization interested in elevating political discourse in this country.

Here is another comment from http://www.philly2philly.com/politics_c ... nt_racism_

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele has a nightmare on his hands. And, so do the Tea Party supporters who aren't racist. To be fair, the majority of Tea Party protesters aren't racist, but they have a public image problem that won't go away. It's serious business when David Gregory on NBC "Meet the Press" talks about the disgusting events that took place yesterday when raciual slurs were hurled at Democratic lawmakers like cheers at a football game.

The website includes a picture of a confederate flag at a tea party rally. I don't think it is out of bounds to consider the confederate flag as symbol of racism, but again, there is the whole "intent" issue. One has to ask, why fly a confederate flag?


I would also say after looking at the video that when people treat or talk about black individuals differently than others, it is a possible indication of racism. The guy flying the confederate flag and then going off about "Michael" Luther King and trying to distract from southern racism by pointing out the north was not a bastion of racial tolerance may be correct in some of his facts, but one has to ask why he and others have created such a vitriolic response to Obama.

[Goat]

The Tea Party is a protest movement of american citizens to limit the government, government spending and the deficit. Some (Nancy Pelosi, NAACP President, Harry Reid, Practically ALL democrats and liberals) claim the organization is racist?

1) Is there any evidence that the organization is racist?

While the organization itself is not 'racist', I find that many of the people who belong to it tend to be racist. One person claimed that the tea party is being infiltrated by people who want to make the tea party look bad, but then that specific person made very racist comments. People who were part of their 'friend's' network made anti-Semitic comments, anti-Mexican comments', 'towel head' comments, yet they deny they are racist.

I don't think these people see themselves as the bigots they truly are.

2) Is this another dishonest ploy by the left to stir up racial contreversy

The strong rhetoric that the tea party uses tends to attract extremists.. who often are very prejudiced. I find that people who use emotionally charged terms to describe the opposition tend to be bigoted, and don't even realize it. They go with the emotional content of the words, rather than look at things rationally.

3) Are organizations such as the Nation of Islam, Black Panthars and NAACP also racist?

I would say that the Nation of Islam is.. the black panthers were , but no longer exist, and the naacp is not.

[micatala]

I can't vouch for the reliability of this site, but the video is interesting.



One even mild example says

"The Zoo has an African (picture of a lion) and the White House has a lyin' African"

Several references to Obama as a Kenyan. Maybe racist, maybe not.
One finished the poster with "Homey Dont Play Dat"

"Obama is an unpatriotic and destructive black Muslim". Seems to think both Black and Muslim are negative terms.


One poster says "Save White America". Again, there are white supremacists out there, and there are probably some of them showing up at Tea Party rallies.


Poster on Obamacare showing Obama as a witch doctor.



And if you don't like racism, try for sexism. "Obama spends like a woman."







Now, I certainly agree the tea party is motivated by some legitimate concerns including taxation and spending. Some of them can even discuss these issues rationally without going off into hyperbole (Obama is a tyrant, a dictator, etc.). I am all for getting the discussion on a higher plane. Yes, there are some racists in the tea party. But, I do think we should not make too much out of it.

The more troubling aspect of the tea party to me is the disconnect from reality that are reflected by rhetoric equating slightly more progressive taxation with socialism, claiming Obama is a tyrant, a front for terrorists, that he wants to kill grandma, etc., etc. Some of these comments are not from ordinary citizens sincerely concerned about their country, they are from Republicans, some of them in congress (e.g. Michelle Bachmann)

[WinePusher]

Just out of curiousity, can you find any quotes from Pelosi, Reid, and even a majority of democrats in congress that claim the tea party is racist?

I will grant that there are those who make the claim, particularly political commentators on the left like Keith Oberman. Saying "practically all democrats and liberals" claim the tea party is racist seems to me way, way over the top.

Your point is a reasonable one, but I don't agree with it. I concede that there are a minority of moderate democrats who reserve racial judgements on the tea party, but the entire liberal "liberal" wing of congress and the political sphere claim the tea party as racist and "inciting violence." ACORN, NAACP, BLACK PANTHARS, DNC ETC......

I guess this might depend on your definition of racism.

Discrimination based on race.

More problematic is when people denigrate or seek to discriminate others on the basis of their race. Ironically, racism has gotten to be such a bogey-word that racists often accuse others of racism. For example, see the first photo at the following site, claiming Obama's plan is for white slavery.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/1 ... 87554.html

I don't know, is this sign racist?

Yes, I heard of this sign as well. It absolutly constitutes and establishes the fact that the person holding the sign is engaging in racism. One person does not represent a group of thousands and tens of thousands.

I would also agree that some make disingenuous claims of racism on the part of others as a smear. Glenn Beck, in my view, clearly fits in this category in his famous comment claiming Obama had a deep-seated hatred of white people.

Now, making such an accusation does not in itself make Beck racist, but it is in my view slanderous and vicious.

I think he may have overstated a view that Obama views the white community as inferior to the black community.

Also on the huffington site, there is a picture of "Barack Hussein Obama" as Hitler. The Hitler comparison is personally slanderous but not in and of itself racist. I would say some uses of the "Hussein" name, to the extent they are meant to negatively associate Obama with Arabs is racist.

I think any hitler association is rephrehensible, but am frustrated that the left condemns Obama Hitler comparisons, but STARTED the fad with Bush; you might remember the Bush-Hitler comparisons by anti war and Union protests. But it is quite ironic, IMO, that a man with the middle name Hussein; whose campaign said the name was off limits and whom the liberals decryed the use of would break tradition and have himself sworn in with the name. He clearly is proud of it.

And how about #10 in Huffington's list, showing Obama "sucking Saudi Jewels." Is that not a bit racist?

First of all, the credibility of the huffington post as already destroyed, the hypocracy that they speak out aganist horrid signs aganist Obama, but not Bush, shows their hypocracy. # 10, IMO, was an honest caricature of his policy towards Muslim nations. Apparently he didn't get the memo that IT IS NOT NASA's job to make Muslim people feel good about their contributions to society. There is not racism in # 10.

My impression is the first two are, and the last one is not, although, as in the tea party, there are probably NAACP members who could be classified as racists.

I agree.

I think there are racists in the tea party.

There are racists everwhere, but you will find that the vast majority of tea party protets have no racial components to them

I think it is also worth pointing out that white supremacist groups are on the rise since Obama's election

What is on the rise is an attempt to ignite racial concerns by Jimmy Carter and the NAACP and the Left, as they realize that they must maintain the black vote and cannot have people thinking that society is now "post racial" with the election of the first black president. Why do you think the shameful Attorney General came on and called this Nation a nation of cowards, are we really a nation of cowards after the majority of americans voted for a black man?

Does this make the whole organization racists? NOt necessarily, but I will say, having seen a segment with Megan Kelly on FOX where an NAACP official and a tea party leader squared off, the tea partiers are denying or down-playing the racism that does exist in the organization, and seem loathe to repudiate it.

If you could send the link to me, if it is on youtube, I'd appreciate it; sounds like an interesting piece of television. And I'd like the NAACP to recognize that racists exist in their organization.

[DeBunkem]

Anti-Bush signs were ubiquitous, but not for racist reasons. He is among the few most despised Presidents in history, world-wide. Bush and his rogues' gallery of fellow miscreants were simply despicable plunderers.

Obama has done nothing radical or racist, but the Tea Party GOP name-callers, admittedly not a majority, continue to spew racism. All the nutty charges of "socialist" "Nazi" "Maoist" etc. just show that many more of them have been programmed by Glen Beck, Rushbo, and a host of the flying monkey RW hate channellers. Since the President's agenda is nothing radical, that leaves his race as the only thing different about him. Conservatives hate change, and this is a historic change and precedent that shakes their formerly exclusive club of WASP leadership.

One only need look at the "Birthers," who delusional continue to place the President as an African. I don't see them making the same noise about Schwarzenegger.

[Goat]

It is 99.9% white.

Thus they are racist? Is this assumption not in and of itself racially discriminatory?

Racist placards abound and are not removed at "rallies."

I'm sure that with the media hysteria over the Tea Party, there would be some videos on youtube showing these signs at rallies. Please post some.

When I see tea party members that say that the tea party is not raciest, yet make comments about 'Jews' and 'towel heads'... well.. in my personal experience, it seems that the tea party attracts racist people.

[micatala]

Just out of curiousity, can you find any quotes from Pelosi, Reid, and even a majority of democrats in congress that claim the tea party is racist?

I will grant Stephen Cohen makes implied accusations of racism and paints with too broad a brush in his accusations and associations. As far as Pelosi, uhhh, this is not Pelosi accusing the tea party of racism. You can criticize her for being insincere if you wish and you could also give me the context here (isn't this after some vandalism occurred after the health care debate, etc.), but I am not sure how this relates to your claim.

You claimed Harry Reid and Pelosi in particular made accusations of racism. This does not support that. You have one congressional democrat.

It seems to me you are really doing the same thing you accuse tea party critics of doing, making extremely exaggerated claims and smearing the whole group on the basis of a few people making over the top comments.

I will grant that there are those who make the claim, particularly political commentators on the left like Keith Oberman. Saying "practically all democrats and liberals" claim the tea party is racist seems to me way, way over the top.

Your point is a reasonable one, but I don't agree with it. I concede that there are a minority of moderate democrats who reserve racial judgements on the tea party, but the entire liberal "liberal" wing of congress and the political sphere claim the tea party as racist and "inciting violence." ACORN, NAACP, BLACK PANTHARS, DNC ETC......

I see more accusations, but I am quite unconvinced your original statement has evidence to back it up. Even the NAACP guy on FOX did not say the tea party was a racist organization, he simply wanted them to repudiate the racist elemenst within the tea party. ACORN is now defunct and I am not sure what they have to do with your claim. The Black Panthers are a fringe group. WHere is the "nearly all liberals and democrats" we were told were accusing the tea party of being a racist organization??

I guess this might depend on your definition of racism.

Discrimination based on race.

On the basis of this definition, a doctor who prescribes a test, say for sickle-cell anemia, to a black person and not a white person based on the genetics is being racist since he is disriminating in how he treats them. I suppose I shouldn't complain since I did ask you to provide your own definition, but to me, this is too vague.

More problematic is when people denigrate or seek to discriminate others on the basis of their race. Ironically, racism has gotten to be such a bogey-word that racists often accuse others of racism. For example, see the first photo at the following site, claiming Obama's plan is for white slavery.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/1 ... 87554.html

I don't know, is this sign racist?

Yes, I heard of this sign as well. It absolutly constitutes and establishes the fact that the person holding the sign is engaging in racism. One person does not represent a group of thousands and tens of thousands.

Granted. Let's apply that standard equally to all groups.

I would also agree that some make disingenuous claims of racism on the part of others as a smear. Glenn Beck, in my view, clearly fits in this category in his famous comment claiming Obama had a deep-seated hatred of white people.

Now, making such an accusation does not in itself make Beck racist, but it is in my view slanderous and vicious.

I think he may have overstated a view that Obama views the white community as inferior to the black community.

Well, that may be, but I am not sure it is even fair to say "Obama views the white community as inferior." WHere does that come from? To take some amount of pride in one's own background does not equate to viewing others negatively. White pride groups are not a problem because they value their own culture, they are a problem because they denigrate other cultures and seek to marginalize those from other cultures.

Also on the huffington site, there is a picture of "Barack Hussein Obama" as Hitler. The Hitler comparison is personally slanderous but not in and of itself racist. I would say some uses of the "Hussein" name, to the extent they are meant to negatively associate Obama with Arabs is racist.

I think any hitler association is rephrehensible, but am frustrated that the left condemns Obama Hitler comparisons, but STARTED the fad with Bush; you might remember the Bush-Hitler comparisons by anti war and Union protests. But it is quite ironic, IMO, that a man with the middle name Hussein; whose campaign said the name was off limits and whom the liberals decryed the use of would break tradition and have himself sworn in with the name. He clearly is proud of it.

Sure, I agree equating Bush with Hitler was over the top. On the other hand, the tea party wants to think of itself as mainstream, as "real Americans." I think the people equating BUsh with Hitler were extremists and knew they were not really in the mainstream, for the most part. Now, if we want to try and argue about how many people were doing the comparisons on both sides, how prevalent it was, how much it influenced the larger groups, etc. we can try that, although it would be difficult.

Also, bad behavior by A does not excuse bad behavior by B. Bush is not in office anymore.

Finally, on the Hussein name, you are missing the point that part of what constitutes racism is intent. The intent on the part of a lot of anti-Obama folks who use the Hussein name, tea partiers or not, is to denigrate him, try to make negative associations between him and Muslims and especially Muslim terrorists, or to paint him as un-American.

And how about #10 in Huffington's list, showing Obama "sucking Saudi Jewels." Is that not a bit racist?

First of all, the credibility of the huffington post as already destroyed, the hypocracy that they speak out aganist horrid signs aganist Obama, but not Bush, shows their hypocracy. # 10, IMO, was an honest caricature of his policy towards Muslim nations. Apparently he didn't get the memo that IT IS NOT NASA's job to make Muslim people feel good about their contributions to society. There is not racism in # 10.

Sure, Huffington is biased and sometimes hypocritical, just like FOX is biased and often hypocritical. However, this does not negate the evidence.

As far as being an honest caricature, baloney. The man makes a factual comment about our historical relationship with the Arab world and shows respect for a foreign dignitary. This does not equate to the portrayal here which is suggesting Obama is voluntarily taking a subservient position. That is completely and utterly ridiculous.

As far as the NASA thing, I am open to seing some objective descriptions of what you are referring to.

My impression is the first two are, and the last one is not, although, as in the tea party, there are probably NAACP members who could be classified as racists.

I agree.

Very good.

I think there are racists in the tea party.

There are racists everwhere, but you will find that the vast majority of tea party protets have no racial components to them

I am willing to believe most tea partiers are not racist. Again, to the extent that there are racists in the movement, that is less of a concern to me than the many other problems I see with their evaluation of the issues and Obama. Sure, political rhetoric can get heated, but eqating Obama and his policies with Marxism, socialism, tyranny, etc. and ascribing to him anti-American motives, like intentionally fronting for terrorists, wanting to kill grandma, wanting America to be weaker, etc. these are just ridiculous.

I can understand having an honest disagreement over policy and political philosophy, but this is going way beyond that in too many cases.

I think it is also worth pointing out that white supremacist groups are on the rise since Obama's election

What is on the rise is an attempt to ignite racial concerns by Jimmy Carter and the NAACP and the Left, as they realize that they must maintain the black vote and cannot have people thinking that society is now "post racial" with the election of the first black president. Why do you think the shameful Attorney General came on and called this Nation a nation of cowards, are we really a nation of cowards after the majority of americans voted for a black man?

Where and when did the attorney general call AMerican a nation of cowards?

Does this make the whole organization racists? NOt necessarily, but I will say, having seen a segment with Megan Kelly on FOX where an NAACP official and a tea party leader squared off, the tea partiers are denying or down-playing the racism that does exist in the organization, and seem loathe to repudiate it.

If you could send the link to me, if it is on youtube, I'd appreciate it; sounds like an interesting piece of television. And I'd like the NAACP to recognize that racists exist in their organization.

Well, Kelly played a video of a guy at a local NAACP event, a small one, who referred to another black person in the NAACP as an "uncle Tom". The NAACP official on the show repudiated this on the spot.

Here is the exchange.

Dennis, a tea partier official from Dallas, denies the Lewis and FRank allegations. He does not address the allusions made by the NAACP official concerning racist organizations or factions that are part of the Tea Party. I have a hard time thinking Lewis made up someone calling him the N word. I certainly give no credence to anything Andrew Breitbart has to say without independent verification.



I will also note I provided links to many other problematic posters, etc. from Tea Party events, not just one guy with a "White Slavery" poster.