Commentary By Ron Beasley
We have all known for some time that the Tea Party movement is part astroturf but mostly a media event. It was created by corporate oligarchs and FOX news. I rarely read POLITICO but I was shocked when I read this:
The tea party's exaggerated importance
2009 was the year when many journalists concluded they were slow to
recognize the anti-government, anti-Obama
rage that gave birth to the tea party movement.
2010 is the year when news organizations have decided to prove they get
it.
And get it. And get it some more.
Part of the reason is the timeless truth in media that nothing succeeds
like excess. But part of the reason is a convergence of incentives for
journalists and activists on left and right alike to exaggerate
both the influence and exotic traits of the tea-party movement. In
fact, there is a word for what poll after poll depicts as a group of
largely white, middle-class, middle-aged voters who are aggrieved:
Republicans. [Bold Mine]
And they give some examples how insignificant the Tea Party is:
The tea parties� main expression has been public gatherings. But last
week�s Tax Day crowds were not representative of a force that is
purportedly shaping the country�s politics. About a thousand people
showed up in state capitals like Des Moines, Montgomery and Baton Rouge �
and even fewer in large cities like Philadelphia, Boston and Milwaukee.
In some cases, turnout was less than the original protests spurred by
the stimulus, bailouts, financial crisis and new Democratic president
last April 15th.
In Washington, about 10,000 people showed up on the national Mall last
week � a rally worth covering but far fewer than the tens of thousands
who marched in support of immigration reform in March.
�If I organized a rally for stronger laws to protect puppies, I would
get 100,000 people to Washington,� Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell cracked
on NBC�s �Meet the Press� Sunday. �So, I think the media has blown the
tea party themselves out of proportion."
Here in Portland our local progressive radio station went out to interview some Tea Partiers on tax day and couldn't find any.
So apparently 10,000 tea party demonstrators are not a fringe group but over 100,000 war protesters were.
The Tea Party is out of control and the Republican party is beginning to fear it might hurt them more than it helps. The danger of any anti government movement is the real nut cases will float to the top. As long as the Republican Party is associated with the Tea Party there is a danger that the independents will be turned off. Yes, the Tea Party is a fringe group(s) but unfortunately one the Republicans need to win.
Related:
As I noted here I think the importance of FOX news is exaggerated as well.
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