Tea Party Insights

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 14, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

              Tea Party demographics provide some unexpected insights, revealing that a sizable majority are white, male, older, wealthier, Republican, more educated and conservative than the general population, driven by conservative ideology and unified by a fierce opposition to President Barack Obama.  Comprising 18% of the electorate, the Tea Party identifies with right wing political ideology found on the FOXNews network, personified by flamethrowers like, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.  They parallel the views of conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, articulating the views of rank-and-file Tea Party members.  Like Limbaugh, the Tea Party shows more “anger” than “dissatisfaction,” painting Obama as a “liberal,” “socialist” or even “radical,” ironically less to do with the president’s tax policies than his liberal agenda. 

            Tea Party members mirror typical right wing talking points, blasting Obama for excessive government spending, promoting a welfare state, emphatically against Barack’s overhaul the nation’s health care system.  Like the wealthy talk show hosts, Tea Party members aren’t concerned about rising health care costs or, for that matter, some 32 million uninsured Americans.  They vehemently oppose the president’s plan, calling it a “government takeover,” yet peculiarly express satisfaction with their Medicare and Social Security.  Multimillionaire radio and TV talk shows hosts aren’t concerned about health care, they’re all about handing Obama a political defeat to improve chances in the Midterm elections and beyond.  Passage of Barack’s health reform bill March 21 sent shockwaves in GOP circles, handing the president an astounding victory for his signature legislation.

            Hints of the emerging Tea Party were visible in the 2008, when Palin whipped angry white crowds on the campaign stump.   While there’s no conclusive picture about racism, Tea Party folks resemble an angry white mob, eclipsed politically by an African American president with a liberal agenda.  “The only way they will stop the spending is to have a revolt on their hands,” said 66-year-old semi-retired Florida lawyer and Tea Party member Elwin Thrasher, raising objections to excess government spending.  “I’m sick and tired of them wasting money and doing what our founders never intended to be done with the federal government,” Thrasher didn’t ask for a revolt when Bush advocated and won Medicare Part D, the prescription drug bill, adding untold billions of government debt.  He’s didn’t object to the $1 trillion spend on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars or $700 billion on government bailouts.

            Tea Party members don’t object when it comes to excess government spending on conservative causes like foreign wars or border security.  When they talk about what the Founders wanted for the federal government, they express disgust with today’s welfare state, forgetting that the Founders encouraged immigration primarily at the time from Europe.  They couldn’t imagine that U.S. immigration would come primarily from the southern hemisphere or Latin America, by far the fast growing segment of the U.S. population.  “I just feel he’s getting away from what America is,” said Kathy Mahugh, a 67-year-old medical transcriber from Jacksonville.  “He’s a socialist.  And to tell you the truth I think he’s a Muslim and trying to head us in that direction.  I don’t care what he says.  He’s been in office for over a year and can’t find a church to go to.  That doesn’t say much for him,” revealing her xenophobia and racism.

                When Barack was elected the first African American president Nov. 4, 2008, there were racist rumblings left on the campaign trail.  Today’s Tea Party wants smaller government but only when it meets its needs.  They raised few objections to Bush’s wild spending on expanding Medicare or wasteful military spending on unnecessary foreign wars.  They objected most vigorously to Obama’s health care overhaul that attempts to contain insurance industry abuses and rein in runaway health care inflation.  Older Tea Party members can’t have it both ways:  Objecting to big government while, wholeheartedly, demanding more Social Security and Medicare benefits.  Tea Party members must take an honest look at their xenophobia and racism before universally stereotyping Obama and condemning his agenda as out-of-step with mainstream American values.

            Tea Party members need to stop listening to Sarah Palin or Rush Limbaugh and get a grip on what the movement really stands for.  Condemning Obama for spending on social programs, while, at the same time, giving Bush a pass on wasteful military spending makes no sense.  Calling Obama a “socialist” for overhauling the health care system while, on the other hand, giving insurance, defense and oil companies the green light to fleece the government is hypocritical.  Committing the U.S. treasury to paying for national health care should give Obama and future presidents second thoughts about wasting money on unnecessary foreign wars.  Tea Party members must figure out what they’re “angry” about:  Changing demographics in the U.S. or simply resenting following an African American president.  Obama’s so-called “liberal” agenda benefits just about everyone.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.