Foes of tea party movement to infiltrate rallies

[Early Cuyler]

Foes of tea party movement to infiltrate rallies
Apr 12 06:30 PM US/Eastern
By VALERIE BAUMAN
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Opponents of the fiscally conservative tea party movement say they plan to infiltrate and dismantle the political group by trying to make its members appear to be racist, homophobic and moronic.

Jason Levin, creator of Crash The Tea Party!, said Monday the group has 65 leaders in major cities across the country who are trying to recruit members to infiltrate tea party events for April 15—tax filing day, when tea party groups across the country are planning to gather and protest high taxes.

"Every time we have someone on camera saying that Barack Obama isn't an American citizen, we want someone sitting next to him saying, 'That's right, he's an alien from outer space!'" Levin said.

Tea party members said the backlash comes from ignorance.

"They can't actually debate our message and that's their problem," said Bob MacGuffie, a Connecticut organizer for Right Principles, a tea party group that also has members in New York and New Jersey.

The tea party movement generally unites on the fiscally conservative principles of small government, lower taxes and less spending. Beyond that the ideology of the people involved tends to vary dramatically.

Levin says they want to exaggerate the group's least appealing qualities, further distance the tea party from mainstream America and damage the public's opinion of them.

"Do I think every member of the tea party is a homophobe, racist or a moron? No, absolutely not," Levin said. "Do I think most of them are homophobes, racists or morons? Absolutely."

The site manifesto says they want to dismantle the Tea Party by nonviolent means. "We have already sat quietly in their meetings, and observed their rallies," the site said.

Another tea party organizer said the attempt to destroy the movement was evidence its message is resonating.
"We've been ignored, we've been ridiculed. Well, now they're coming after us," said Judy Pepenella, a co-coordinator for the New York State Tea Party. "Gandhi's quote is one we understand: 'First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.'"

 

[CarmelHP]

And don't think the trolls that have been showing up on here are any accident either.

 

[T-rav]

And don't think the trolls that have been showing up on here are any accident either.

Yes I had just heard this on EL Rushbo on WOWO.

Im guessing that the trolls we are seeing on here, are a from this so called movement they are trying to press every button we have to resort to their games of name calling and racist remarks.

Whats sad about it is that we are intelligent enough to use facts and logic against these people and are on to their tactics.

 

[Errkola]

I suggest that anyone that goes to a tea party rally obviously be on your best behavior but also keep an eye out for those engaged in something inappropriate and take action to modify such behavior.

 

[rambone]

Anyone using the N-word or flashing swastikas can be assumed to be unwelcome at our events. They do not represent our group.

 

[45calibre]

Everybody should show up armed to scare them away.

 

[SavageEagle]

Bring it. I'm working security the 15th and don't think for a second I won't make them known. They cause any trouble and the Capital police can have them.

 

[tuoder]

I think Tea Partiers don't need help being embarrassed. It's one thing when they're talking about he tax burden and freedom, but it's a whole different thing when people show up asking for the President's birth certificate and thinly veiled racism. They would do much better if they reigned in some of the more extreme elements.

 

[SavageEagle]

I think Tea Partiers don't need help being embarrassed. It's one thing when they're talking about he tax burden and freedom, but it's a whole different thing when people show up asking for the President's birth certificate and thinly veiled racism. They would do much better if they reigned in some of the more extreme elements.

And how would you do that? Deny people their right to show up and protest for the things they believe in as well? We can't just throw people out because we disagree with them. That would be doing the exact things they accuse us of and we're not those kinds of people. Only when they become arrogant and pushy and violent do they get removed.

 

[dburkhead]

I think Tea Partiers don't need help being embarrassed. It's one thing when they're talking about he tax burden and freedom, but it's a whole different thing when people show up asking for the President's birth certificate and thinly veiled racism. They would do much better if they reigned in some of the more extreme elements.

Tell you what. Get the Left to do the same thing and then we'll talk.

The "more extreme elements" of the Right aren't a drop in the bucket compared to those of the Left.

 

[Mgderf]

Tell you what. Get the Left to do the same thing and then we'll talk.

The "more extreme elements" of the Right aren't a drop in the bucket compared to those of the Left.

Tried to rep you for this

 

[tuoder]

And how would you do that? Deny people their right to show up and protest for the things they believe in as well? We can't just throw people out because we disagree with them. That would be doing the exact things they accuse us of and we're not those kinds of people. Only when they become arrogant and pushy and violent do they get removed.

It would have to come from the leaderhip of the movement. They would need to repudiate things that members had said.

Tell you what. Get the Left to do the same thing and then we'll talk.

The "more extreme elements" of the Right aren't a drop in the bucket compared to those of the Left.

It happens all the time on both sides of the aisle. Even if it didn't, the fact that your enemies will not fight honorably does not mean that you should be dishonorable as well.

 

[melensdad]

It would have to come from the leaderhip of the movement. They would need to repudiate things that members had said.

You are making the presumption that 'leaders' can actually control 'members' and that is not really possible. The fact is that the Tea Party groups have some leaders and have some core followers but most of the 'members' are just people who spontaneously show up.

Now the reality is that leadership of the Tea Party movement have distanced their movement from the extremists and the extremists seem to be a very tiny fraction of the group (but the media clearly focuses on those folks).

Not sure what else the leaders can do that they have not already done.

 

[pudly]

Please bring video and still cameras and photograph any obvious inciters- both their face and their signs. Pajamasmedia.com will be posting their pictures so that people can identify them and expose the party crashers. Dozens of proven examples of this type of action will be plenty to show how this isn't really coming from the Tea Party movement at all.

 

[Prometheus]

It would have to come from the leaderhip of the movement. They would need to repudiate things that members had said.

There is no "leadership". Not in the real Tea Party.

Thats the beauty of it. It's completely grass roots. About 60% republican, 25% independent and 15% democrat.

Our event in Valpo is "leader free". Sure Faith Jones is an excellent organizer and we owe her a debt of gratitude but she doesn't try and claim shes the "leader".

Anyone claiming to be anything other than a member or local organizer of a Tea Party is LIAR AND A FRAUD.

THAT is what the simple minded dem's and rep's don't get. The Tea Party is NOT a person or a 'party'.

Come out to Valpo tomorrow (3-6) and find out. You'll see a thousand "leaders".

There will also be a boat load of us open carrying.

I've never carried a birth certificate sign, but if he was a legitimate Natural Born Citizen, why has he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting to prevent the release of his long form birth certificate? Hmmm?

 

[Tryin']

It would have to come from the leaderhip of the movement. They would need to repudiate things that members had said.

This happens quite a bit on the right. . .



It happens all the time on both sides of the aisle. Even if it didn't, the fact that your enemies will not fight honorably does not mean that you should be dishonorable as well.

Since you reference the aisle, could you find me an example of the right-wing racist agenda on the right side of said aisle in Washington? We're not talking about fringe America here, we are talking about the most liberal, fascist, power-hungry "leaders" the Republic has ever seen.

I see no dishonor in Taking America Back. . .

 

[dburkhead]

It would have to come from the leaderhip of the movement. They would need to repudiate things that members had said.



It happens all the time on both sides of the aisle. Even if it didn't, the fact that your enemies will not fight honorably does not mean that you should be dishonorable as well.

So if you're in a knife fight in an alley, you plan to fight by the Marquis of Queensbury rules?

The fact that there are "birthers" out there (and, in case you didn't know, that movement got its start from Hillary supporters, which is about as far from the "right" as you can get) is of supreme indifference to me. I simply remember "Niven's Law." (polite version: "There is no cause so right that you won't find fools following it for foolish reasons." slightly less polite version, "There is no cause so right it won't attract fuggheads.")

The difference is that the Right doesn't make their far out looney-tunes Speaker of the House.

 

[T-rav]

The difference is that the Right doesn't make their far out looney-tunes Speaker of the House.

No but hippies from the 60's do

 

[dburkhead]

No but hippies from the 60's do

Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner.

 

[tuoder]

Firstly, I'd like to say that it seems like I've caused some irritation, and I want to make it clear I mean no such harm.

You are making the presumption that 'leaders' can actually control 'members' and that is not really possible. The fact is that the Tea Party groups have some leaders and have some core followers but most of the 'members' are just people who spontaneously show up.

Now the reality is that leadership of the Tea Party movement have distanced their movement from the extremists and the extremists seem to be a very tiny fraction of the group (but the media clearly focuses on those folks).

Not sure what else the leaders can do that they have not already done.

I'm not familiar with the repudiations. Do have a link? It likely just doesn't show up in the news I read. After all, conflict is more interesting than peace.

There is no "leadership". Not in the real Tea Party.

Thats the beauty of it. It's completely grass roots. About 60% republican, 25% independent and 15% democrat.

Our event in Valpo is "leader free". Sure Faith Jones is an excellent organizer and we owe her a debt of gratitude but she doesn't try and claim shes the "leader".

Anyone claiming to be anything other than a member or local organizer of a Tea Party is LIAR AND A FRAUD.

THAT is what the simple minded dem's and rep's don't get. The Tea Party is NOT a person or a 'party'.

Come out to Valpo tomorrow (3-6) and find out. You'll see a thousand "leaders".

There will also be a boat load of us open carrying.

I've never carried a birth certificate sign, but if he was a legitimate Natural Born Citizen, why has he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting to prevent the release of his long form birth certificate? Hmmm?

Clearly there are leaders and other important figures, as well as people who serve as spokespeople. Redefining what the Tea Party is, or what a leader is doesn't change that there is a structure and organization to it. All grassroots movements have some kind of structure, even if they are highly democratic.

I don't find it unusual that he defended himself in court. Even if he had not, however, it still would have been illegal under Hawaiian privacy laws to release it. However, the fact that Hawaiian privacy law applies is proof that the birth certificate exists, ironically enough.

Since you reference the aisle, could you find me an example of the right-wing racist agenda on the right side of said aisle in Washington? We're not talking about fringe America here, we are talking about the most liberal, fascist, power-hungry "leaders" the Republic has ever seen.

I see no dishonor in Taking America Back. . .

There aren't any openly racist Republicans on the hill that's I'm aware of. Republican politicians repudiate racism vigorously.

So if you're in a knife fight in an alley, you plan to fight by the Marquis of Queensbury rules?

The fact that there are "birthers" out there (and, in case you didn't know, that movement got its start from Hillary supporters, which is about as far from the "right" as you can get) is of supreme indifference to me. I simply remember "Niven's Law." (polite version: "There is no cause so right that you won't find fools following it for foolish reasons." slightly less polite version, "There is no cause so right it won't attract fuggheads.")

The difference is that the Right doesn't make their far out looney-tunes Speaker of the House.

I agree. I’m just saying that they shouldn’t suffer fools.