The Tea Party is white, old and racist. Sorry if you don't want people to believe that, but you are only fooling yourself. The Tea Partiers are also un-American!

Mary - have you taken a look at the other people that have been interviewed by MSNBC in regards to the tea party?

i dont take bias from the interviews, i actually see REAL people, some like me, that are just plain tired of the money laundering in washington...the lady in the picture above- she's tired of not having her beliefs shared by her rep, it makes sense that she would join the tea party to try and get some energy behind her beliefs. I am in a republican area, reps in my area have been conservitive republicans for YEARS!! Not true conservitives, the fake ones that lie, cheat and get caught with hookers, and make back room deals for land purchases right before federal funds are allocated; so i feel very similar to Ms. Murdoch pictured above...i want a change of elected officials in my area and i also have signs in my yard and hope that somehow, some way the fake rep in my area is gone this November.

More importantly the Tea Party is just the Republican Party. Every single Tea Party candidate is running as a Republican--not even Independent to Libertarian. This article refers to years of GOP experience. Enough said, there is no such thing as a "Tea Party" so move along folks. Nothing to see here.

See Johny's post below.

I'd add that the Tea Party guest on Bill Maher, while a good sport, could not get off the GOP talking points to save her life. Even after others repeatedly provided facts/statistics to debunk the claims about the bail-out, stimulus, health care, etc., she stuck with the simplistic and ignorant position of cutting entitlement programs though these are a fraction of cost compared to defense spending.

I don't recall what she said about Bush's tax cuts for those earning a quarter million or more, but these right-wing folks don't know how those cuts were passed, that the cuts were never paid for, and won't own up to the fact that the cuts only create deficits, not jobs, or how jobs are really created. At the minimum they need to take remedial math.

Mary you see thru the veil. Christine 212 is doing more damage to the libs than anyone from the tea party could ever do. She is the defendent that wants to take the stand with her attorney pleading, "Please just sit down and shut up or we are going to lose!" Plus she is posting cannon fodder and I love to light the wick.

To Christine 212blahblah: obviously, you have never been exposed to the wisdom of the elderly. How sad! They are empowered by true-life experiences of which you cannot relate to. They have survived a Depression, several wars (won & lost, and expensive), heartaches and triumphs. They have seen good leaders come and go and bad leaders leave a trail of irreversible destruction. They know what we have and they know how to stop it. They just aren't real sure where your thinking is coming from or how to re-educate you. Again, how sad!

To Red Lady: The only one on this page old enough to have survived "a Depression" would be the woman that is 86, who I might add has no intention of meeting or talking to any Democrats. That doesn't denote wisdom; it denotes rigidity and ignorance. And for the record, my 89 year-old father voted Democrat in 2008 after a lifetime of voting Republican. He voted for Obama. On the way to vote that day we drove by the grange hall where he voted for Wendell Wilkie & Thomas Dewey (1948); he was in Alaska (WWII) in 1944.

The 'wisdom of the elderly' isn't wisdom when it doesn't encompass diversity, tolerance, understanding, and a host of other great characteristics. Rigidity, stubbornness (not tenacity which is different) seeing the world in stark contrasts, etc., isn't what I want to be about as I age either.

i would like each tea party person, to write down what they mean by smaller government. Do they want do eliminate the CDC, Forest Service, Courts, Parks, Social Security, Roads. What does it mean to have smaller government.. Let see the list of things to eliminate.. I want world peace but just saying i want something does not make it true. Some want to eliminate the Fed Reserve...there are probably not 5 people in the tea party that understand what the Fed does.. and those 5 ask them a question on how regulation Q would be implemented or even the money supply..see if they have an answer.

benjamin -

Exactly I was watching our gubernatorial debate on Thursday, all the while wanting to know for what does the person stand? Does smaller gov't mean state level, less federal - what?

Christine-2120815 said:

"The Tea Party is white, old and racist. Sorry if you don't want people to believe that, but you are only fooling yourself. The Tea Partiers are also un-American!"

Don't get out much do ya? There's these really neat new inventions (well, they are not really "new" for MOST of us) called newspapers, radio, television, & internet. Partake a short while in your choice of the 4 & you'll see something truly amazing. That amazing thing is that it's now possible to actually make sure your claims are correct, BEFORE you put them in print for the entire world to see. Then people won't have a valid reason to laugh at your obvious ignorance.

I wonder if this woman sees the irony in her position. The tea party stands for a smaller, less-intrusive government. Meanwhile, she's using government-provided health care, collecting social security, etc. Time to get off the teat, Christine Murdoch. If you're not part of the solution...

Bi-Partisan?!? Ha! Closed sessions of Democrats only for health care and many other bills. Take your head out of the sand and see the truth! Neither party is doing anything!! It started with Clinton in his last 4 years, carried on through Bush and now to Obama. Same stuff different year. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Johnny, that remains to be seen.

Yes, Obama has gotten a lot done. A lot of transformation. Ask yourself why we would agree to redistribute the wealth. I don't want to do that. I work hard for every dollar and have paid my fair share into SS, etc. Where does it say in the U.S. Constitution that I need to give up my property or earnings so that the next guy can sit back and collect payments without breaking a sweat?

As for his bi-partisanhip, I laugh until I cry. He is clearly an intelligent man, knows exactly what his Democrat handlers have in mind, and he knows how to accomplish it. Wake up, soon, please, because unless you are a lazy entitlement person, I don't think you want what is coming to all of us if we do not change this course.

Who's going to "redistribute wealth?" Get a grip - really. You know that's not going to happen to YOU. You state you've paid in their fair share to SS and are entitled to that. I guarantee you - neither you nor I will have paid in what we will be getting back. I've been working since 13 (before on my parent's farm) outside home, still working - served in the military even. I cannot stand the entitlement I see from predominantly white Americans over 60 who think it's theirs and no one can have it. Complain about the gov't, refuse to see or even acknowledge the role their own party - the GOP - has played in the destruction of this country - all the while collecting benefits from that very gov't.

she may not be around to worry!

They don't see the dichotomy, do they? They're laughable.

I like the one how the teabaggers say we need less govt. regulations. They when asked can you be specific? Their answer usually is we have too much government,then they ramble on some other subject. These people are long on rhetoric and short on specifics. Their hearts may be in the right place but they just are not sophisticated enough to realize they are being played by the GOP.

I see you're from the "kool aid party". Let's feed, clothe, shelter, medicate, educate, support all those illegal immigrants, let's hand over our hard earned money to those whose career is holding out their hands, let's us pay our taxes so they don't have to, let's pay through the nose for less, cattle-call wait in line health care, and if you're elderly, well, too bad, so sad, go to the end of the line. Let's pay for everyone's health insurance, even if/when they could well afford it, but just had other priorities, like big screen TV's. Let's all pay through the nose and what the heck, don't ask or expect to learn what is going on behind those closed door secret meetings, after all, we're ONLY the ones who put them in office. Our usefulness is extinct. We are the cash cows..... And they'll TELL us what's good for us. Ya know, the "Don't call us, we'll call you"...when we need more money.

I pray that you never need anything, and I pray that I am there to tell you...ha ha. You think every Democrat is on welfare. Do you really believe that all Republicans are all employed, all have their own health plan; never ever need help with food; did not lose one single home and need a place to live; never use medicare; never use Social Security. I'll pray for you because you do live in a white 4 wall room. All I can say, I'm so glad you are all healthy; young; employed, and have no problems. But, if you ever need help, thanks to the Democrats, you can get the help for your family.

The top one percent is neither conservative or liberal. They are white collar criminals who take advantage of laws that need to be changed. When they have sucked the life blood out of middle America, they will move on. Their only allegiance is to gold. Their money has bought them free reign in Washington. And it is peanuts compared to thier private wealth. They even get to write it off on their taxes. So actually they are never out of pocket.

Angell Avenger....Here's something I KNOW you didn't see or hear about from network news media, or MSNBC, but it was in the Washington Post. A grad student from UCLA went to a Tea Party rally, to get material for a paper she was doing for a class, thinking (hoping no doubt) to see and hear lots of racial slurs and hate talk. Well, guess what. Out of a rally of hundreds, perhaps thousand, there was ONE and only ONE placard that mentioned anything racial. The crowd was made up of young and not so young, black, brown, Asian, Muslim and white, Dem. Rep. and Independents. No shouting, cat calling, very respectable bunch of people. She had her eyes opened to the lies and false stories and the sins of OMMISSION of the left leaning media.

You are correct Aggie. I found it to be a little odd coming from the post. It was refreshing.

I'm sorry Aggie, but I simply do not believe your Teabagger rally was chock full of young people of all colors and non-racist. It would have been the first rally of its kind. You are either blind, in denial or on someone's payroll to spread lies. Every other Teabagger rally has been overwhelming elderly white people who fear and hate minorities and they are quite happy and willing to say so on camera. And there is no "Liberal Media". You are obviously uninformed and don't know what a Liberal is. If you want to get a taste of true Liberal media, listen to Mike Malloy. Now he is a true Liberal and he is the only one of his kind.

The truth hurts doesn't it Angel. And, correction: It wasn't MY "Teabagger rally." I didn't write the paper, the young lady did, AND the Washington Post. However, typical left comment....racisists, racisists racisists. Wonder what you call the blacks in the Tea Party? FYI honey, EVERYONE knows what the "liberal media" is.

Aggie - The thing is you cannot just say stuff that counts like this does. WHERE was this so-called letter or article? You couldn't provide a link from the outset?

Nor do I believe any Teabagger rally was "chock full" of diversity. Why? Because the things they stand for are grossly anathematic to what diversity encompasses.

I don't know the details, but grad student at UCLA? Seems to suggest California. The facts are that the demographics of California are a bit different than say Indiana or West Virginia. California is pretty progressive overall and I wouldn't expect their Tea Party to be as far right as most. Think a little bit about it. Governor Arnold is Republican, but he's far more progressive than most blue dog Democrats?

I've observed other Tea Party rallies and to deny there's any racism involved is crazy! I'm not saying everyone is KKK, but if you can be sure there's racial bias.

Sorry, Aggie. As most Republicans and Tea Baggers do so often, you either got wrong facts or distorted them yourself. That report was in the Washington Examiner, not the Washington Post, and was picked up by Fox. And the story was based on Facebook posts, no actual reporting necessary -- like most things that appear on Fox.

Ahhh - the 'Washington Examiner' ........ yeah, that's explained how Fox got a hold of it. Facebook is not journalistic by any stretch of the imagination unless of course.....

Hey cm, they busted their tails for the comfortable surroundings. That doesn't fall from the sky or come out of a box with 10 minute directions. What they take out is nothing compared to what they have invested. You must be a real hoot at the track to place a bet like that. Love to watch the guys face who put his rent on the horse who just pulled up lame.

cm: I see Selective ignorance on your part.

CM: Thanks for your wonderful post. You are Way Cool and absolutely spot on!

Hey kev, when you have put in as much time as this old gal, give us your opinion. You know what she has worked for is beyond your reach because you don't plan to do the time. You sound like an early out guy to me.

Kev....And the Congressman or Senator who is either retired, or ousted from office will be getting a much much much better pension packages than all the retired phys. ed teachers combined. Apparently, you don't seem to mind paying for their cushy packages do you? AND they will just keep voting themselves raises and padding their pensions. Yet, you're bitching about some elderly woman living on what she paid into the system and scraped together for retirement investments? Maybe she should just go on welfare...then YOU can pay for her.

I was going to say that but lacked the kindness that was required. So I layed off. Thank you for getting that off of my chest better than I could. Keep rolling spike! But don't you like to watch them salivate when the bell rings?

There you go again, confusing people with the facts. How dare you!

I get the urge to do that every now and then. Maybe I miss my teaching days.

Mike, I agree with you almost 90%. But Social Security was not supposed to be a tax, but a place for people to hang their money until it was time to be old. I put in a lot of money for my retirement. Think about all the interest, etc on my money. And then someone, I don't know which party, loaned it out, and then the economy fell, and then, and then. But, I do sincerely wish that she and the other tea partiers are gone Nov 3rd. I can't say much, tho, about her being a pure Republican. Because, I am a hardheaded Dutchman and a Hardnosed Democrat. Can't help myself.

If you had, you would know that there are NO tea party candidates because we are non-partisan

you must think the rest of the country is pretty f-ing stupid.

Tell me again what are your conservative views. ... Oh, I know....pick on the down and out, pick on the ones who need help and understanding...and on and on you go. And, what do you do for a night job...dress as a clown. You study the Constitution what a laugh. What are you doing. studying how the printing is set up on the page, etc, but you certainly do not read the Constitution, and you do not live the Constitution.

Teach classes on the Constitution? And just who are the instructors? Are they unbiased Constitutional scholars? I could be wrong, but I'm guessing not! Let me guess, the instructors sometimes dress as early Americans.

I challenge all you Tea Partiers to truly get informed, don't just read and watch right wing rhetoric, sample the left too. What you'll find is contradiction. So to resolve that contradiction you'll need to get the real unbiased facts. Before you trust any dot org site, read who they are and who funds them. If they don't say, wonder why. If all their info adds up to one common theme, have some doubt because the real world doesn't work that way. Take some time to actually read the entire bills that you're being told are bad. Be prepared, it's a daunting task and not for those with limited education. What you will likely find is pieces and parts that often seem a bit contradictory. You'll find some things you agree with and some you don't. But you need to get a big picture view to truly make an informed decision.

No one does that? I think you're mistaken there. Maher has a pretty good following. Now maybe most of those watching Bill Maher don't watch Glenn Beck or Bill Orielly and vice versa, but that's the real problem!

If you don't listen to but one side of an argument, you're clearly taking a biased view. Maher is clearly on the left, but he's not a blind loyalist either. You can say his discussion groups are "stacked" but he tries to get both sides. He doesn't suppress his right wing guests. They may be outnumbered, but that shouldn't force them into dumb or false arguments. I watch O'Rielly too and he does tend to shoot down his left wing guests and frequently edits his show before air. O'Reilly will not get shot down on his own show, you can be sure of that. Maher's show is live, so there's little opportunity to cover one of his gaffs. Also, O'Reilly is a much more intimidating presence than Maher and he uses that. Glenn Beck only presents only one side and is mostly about exaggerations and outright made up propaganda. Hypocrite too. Goldline? Come on, these guys are theives. Regardless, you need to sample both sides and then do your own research.

Loesch like a lot of the "up-front" female faces of right is very pleasing to look at, but she's not very deep. Ever notice that Fox news has the hottest woman in news? Do you think that's just a coincidence or maybe you don't watch any left leaning news sources. MSNBC may be the closest there is to that, but it's a far cry from being biased the way Fox is. At least MSNBC's true news is pretty centered and their opinion shows, although leaning left, cover both ends of the spectrum. Scarborough is clearly right, Ratigan is something different all together Ed Schultz is pretty far left.

Anyway, the point is you need to get both sides. Loesch is not a "token" Tea Party representative and she couldn't hold her own amongst her opposition because her foundation is faulty, not because her opposition beat her up. Of course you didn't watch it because you already knew the outcome right? You wouldn't want to waste your time with something that might contradict your views. That, sir is the real issue. The Tea Party knows with the utmost confidence that they're right. I'm not a "youngster" and I've learned a lot through the years, but understand that you can't stop learning and most of what I learned through the years was molded by my environment. I am smart enough to know that maybe my environment wasn't always representative of the whole country. Because of that, I won't be suckered in by the Tea Party, or Republicans or Democrats.

When I vote for national offices, I'll do so based on what I think is best for the country as a whole and not just me personally. We have gone far too right and we have allowed a very small group of the extremely wealthy sector to control the government for their best interests. These people aren't really Americans anymore even though they live here, they've become international citizens and their loyalty is strictly to themselves. Electing a handful of "nut jobs" won't fix this. Shutting down the government won't fix it either. The concept of "small government" is lunacy. The problem is our current government is far too small for the size of our economy. The concept of free market capitalism being self regulating is crazy. Even Greenspan who was devoted to that principle for his whole life, now admits he was wrong. The Tea Party started out with a few economic issues that were valid, but they've been hijacked. They've morphed into something I want no part of. They have no real solutions at all. It's easy to be critical but offering viable alternatives is something altogether different.

Bill Maher is as much about comedy as he is politics. The right and the Tea Party in particular are easy targets. He's just one voice of many and there's nothing wrong with listening to different voices. You might be surprised that Maher is sometimes also critical of Obama too and doesn't have much faith in Congress as a whole.

Sorry to be long winded, but part of the problem today is that too many people want to sum things up in a nice little statement. That's not really appropriate for issues as complex as why we are where we are today. It's not black and white and not so simple. The Tea Party is a classic example of this.

You really are a dreadful woman. I wonder if God will pat you on the back as hard as you do. Isn't there something about vanity being sinful. Actually, dreadful woman, my life outshines you 10 to 1. But, the people here are not going to read about it, and God already knows it. Vote Democrat everyone and let your light shine through....for the sake of ALL Americans.

To Slightly Old...Please include what you have done in your life as I would love to know. You must be a really active person to have accomplished so much since you said you are only slightly old.

Slightly old, you will be wondering a long time because with your currrent attitude, I would not bet on a first hand viewing of the pat. You are to be an inspector only but I bet you have a basket full.

Hey liberals, I think I found your mole. For every 10 thought provoking, educated leftest posts, this guy brings his eraser post and resets your good take counter to 0. Chastise this clown.

post one new republican idea youself "JIMMY"AND i'LL PROVE TO YOU IT IS JUST A TIRED retread of every other failed republican idea..