Tea Party Thoughts

I've never been to a political rally or protest of any kind before, but I went to the St. Louis downtown Tea Party tonight in order to see for myself the mood and manners of the crowd. There were several thousand in attendance - many more (again) than anticipated. Holding signs both historical ( Don't tread on me ), humorous, and clever. There were parents with children both young and old. Children who brought their parents ( like my son did). The organizers invited all local politicians to attend, but not speak , in order to keep from making it a partisian event. Only one - Todd Akin (R - Mo) choose to attend under this restriction. Which seems to show that most of them would rather we be seen and not heard. The crowd was large, vocal, passionate and well-behaved.

As I returned home, I wondered how it would be presented on the news. One station seemed to have a balanced report on what was said and the mood of the evening. A second report was similar, but with an obligatory rebuttal from someone far from the event and using a personal insult that was first used on cable news - calling the protesters "teabaggers" and asking where they were for the last 8 years. My question for him would be: what happened to the liberals who complained for the last 8 years about the climbing deficit and national debt? Suddenly tripiling the Bush deficit is a good thing.

The cable coverage of events around the country was far worse on CNN. A CNN reporter at the Chicago event asked a question of a father holding his child and then would not let him answer before challenging him - apparently hoping to provoke an incident which would be used as an example of the "violent" protesters. And of course the use of the "teabagger" sexual slang innuendo.

One thing is clear - insults, threats and other bully tactics will not stop the movement. I quit cowering to bullies a long time ago. This is strikingly similar to the Clinton administration, who overreached early and lost the Congress at the first midterm election. The liberal leaders and their media support system know it, and will use any means necessary to smear and defame anyone who dares to speak in dissent. Of course, just a few years ago it was Patriotic to disagree with the administration. Now, it's Treason.