The Tea Party
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-07-12/tea-party
Diane hosts a conversation about the evolution of the Tea Party movement. We discuss it's goals, who belongs and how it’s shaking up the political establishment.
Guests
Kate Zernike
a national correspondent for The New York Times and member of the team that shared the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Her book, "Boiling Mad -Inside Tea Party America" will be published in September.
Matt Kibbe
president and CEO of FreedomWorks and co-author with Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of the forthcoming book, "Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto"
Diana Reimer
an organizer with Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots
Ryan Hecker
an attorney, a Houston Tea Party Society activist and an organizer of the Contract From America Project.
Comments
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The first email read on air said exactly what I was thinking, but said it nicer. The Tea Party is nothing but Obama Derangement Syndrome.
If they actually wanted fiscal conservatism, small federal government, and a return to the founders' intent, they wouldn't support DHS, TSA, NSA domestic wiretapping, the DOD budget amount, tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, etc.
What they really want is to be the recipients of everyone else's largesse, without having to contribute themselves.
I can't believe that we're giving this movement as much media time as we are. They are fear-based and willing to believe any lie that plays to their fear, and by discussing them we lend them credibility that they have not earned.
Social Security is solvent to 2043 according to economist Dean Baker and others and then 70% is solvent after that witrh out raising the caps. The UK charges 50 cents of every tax transaction to raise money for their safety nets. We no longer want to be part of the Democratic or Republican parties because our reps don't work for us anymore - they are bought off by special interests and all of our laws, policies, regulations and health ,safety and welfare are suffering because of this. We want responsible govt that protects the interests of the people and does not steal from the poor and give to the rich. We will only vote for a progressive, independent or labor party person who wants to work for us. It is clear that Republicans are totally for the corporate agenda and now it seems many Democrats are too- if we continue to have a corporate dictatorship, they will destroy us because all they care about are their profits.
I have my criticisms of the movement, but they deserve a forum. Democracies thrive on debate. Isn't our two-party system stifling that? Don't we need an electoral run-off system to give third parties (like the Tea Party movement) a real chance? It doesn't matter if one agrees or not; the disagreement and debate needs to happen. But our two-party system fosters only bickering.
Diane,
Your show today should include a laugh track. Kibbe is making plainly false statements, and you are letting them pass without comment.
His false statement that big business has only been influencing government in the last two years would he funny if it weren't so cynical.
The Tea party had no problem with Bush running the economy into the ground for eight years. It is only now that they suddenly have issues.
I think it's disengenuous to say that anyone who opposes the Tea Party thinks they're racists. Mostly, I think it has something to do with the hypocrisy of their stand on fiscal responsibility, healthcare, etc.
When the Bush Administration was creating the giant boondoggle and giveaway to the prescription drug industry, where was all of the opposition? Did anyone ask how it was going to be paid for? NO!
When we invaded Iraq, did they wonder how it was being paid for? Of course not. Later on, we find out after Bush leaves office that the Iraq war was run 'off the books'. The deficit increased substantially when the Obama administration had to account for all of the stuff that Bush was doing under the table.
If you ask most folks who think the Tea Party is a farce, they will tell you that it's just a manifestation of the idea that 'IT'S OKAY IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN'!
Speaking of representative government and our constitution, doesn’t the constitution state that the make up of the house of representative should be no more that 1 rep per 30,000 Americans? If we apply this to the 300 million Americans we should have nearly 1000 representatives in the house right now…
I have a real problem with Kate's comments about racism in the Tea Party. She said it may be a tangental motivating factor but "can't look in people souls." You don't need to look into their souls to see the racism. The specific policies that the Tea Party stands for (states' rights, decentralized government, originalist interpretations of the Constitution) have racist, white supremacist tendencies. These were the same arguments used to resist movements for racial equality and justice in the past and systematically benefit white people over people of color. For proof, look no further than the AZ immigration law. We need a strong, activist federal government to protect people of color and other marginalized minorities.
This. The Constitution didn't stipulate any of the actions Bush and the GOP created for the federal government in the Patriot Act, yet the Tea Party seems OK with those.
Freedom Works is nothing more than a front for the top 1% of the wealthiest Americans. Freedom Works, the Tea Party and other similar groups have somehow terrorized the rest of America to support the wealthy even as they are being robbed and enslaved.
It is amazing how simple people can be lead to their own slaughter.
If you have been hurt by America's current economic situation all you have to do is look to those who have profited from it to find your enemy.
What are the ideas from the tea party concerning social programs? if you don't think the government should be involved in this area, what do you propose to do about the millions of people that cannot survive without help from the government? You can't just leave them without help, regardless of how you feel about how people take advantage of welfare systems. What would a tea partier do about these people? let it fester? how would you ensure that social inequity will not rot this country from the inside?
Dear Ms. Rehm -
Could you kindly advise your guests that America has tried more states-oriented government and "fiscal responsibility" agenda in the past. All have been tremendous failures.
For instance, the United States actually started a very states-power confederacy, and one person the Tea Baggers never mention is how George Washington himself had to send in the Army to crush such such things as the Whisky Rebellion.
Should I remind your guests the Confederate States of America ostensibly started as a "state's right" agenda and not mentioning slavery.
Then there was the populist movement of William Jennings Bryan.
Finally, Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush are the best things socialism could have asked for. Their "fiscally responsible" positions were all FDR and Obama needed to get elected.
Quite frankly, I find these policies delusional. For a nation this large, we need a strong RESPONSIBLE federal government. Not this open pass for more Enrons and BP's. -s
For a tea-partier to claim to be 'uninsured but free' is disingenuous as everyone gets some form of care in an emergency room by law. This claim would be meaningful if health care providers were free to not treat the uninsured. This model could be extended to those who want to opt out of social security as well, if they want freedom from the social security tax and opt to self insure, then that decision must be made to stick, no matter what their financial future.
What I object the most about the Tea Party is that they claim to represent a majority of Americans. Their rhetoric often includes "the American people want this" or "this is not what the American people want". The truth is that there is nothing surprising about the agenda that the president is pushing, including a progressive health care reform. American voters knew about Obama's ideology when they voted him into office, and that is the poll that counts. The Tea partiers have all the right to voice their opinions, but should not make it sound like the speak for all of us.
From Orlando FL
How novel, discussing the Tea Party and having some of its representatives present. I appreciate it Diane, even though I'm not a member.
In fact, calling it a Party seems an exaggeration. The views of its members seem so disparate, it is hard to find anything that unifies them. I'm sure I share some of their views, though not all. Just like I do with the Greens, the Repubs and Dems.
So much of the criticism of the Tea Party is from the perspective of those who are completely invested in maintaining the current two party system and would prefer to squelch all other voices of protest.
Please ask any of your panelists this question. Would they be open to cut the defense budget by 10 percent each year to help close the deficit gap?
Also would they stand against any military action undertaken by the United States that was not paid for? I await your answer.
Randall Pegram
Kernersville N.C.
When the uninsured get sick or have a terrible accident, should the taxpayers pick up their medical expenses? The teapartiers say people have the right to remain uninsured. What they really mean is that the "other" has no right to any part of my taxes although they expect to be treated when they are ill. Their hypocracy is appalling.
This is all absurd. It is obvious that this is just another special interest group for hire, that fans the flames of racial mistrust and the pain of the recession to control the floor. They are pretty much taking over the republican party and running them further into the ground.
This is all absurd. It is obvious that this is just another special interest group for hire, that fans the flames of racial mistrust and the pain of the recession to control the floor. They are pretty much taking over the republican party and running them further into the ground.
This is unbelievable! Has NPR become so cowered by these clowns as to not even add a dissenting panelist! I love the DR show but this is pitiful.
Hello,
1. What is the tea party doing about re-uniting this nation? Seems that the conservatives had done a good job of dividing the country.
2. What is the tea party doing about the virtual death grip that corporate America has on the gov. ? What about all the lobbying groups. Many of whom might be embedded within the Tea party.
Thanks
Jay
Here, here! You've hit the nail on the head, Bob. Let's also get the Supreme Court decision reversed the gives them the same rights as citizens. Corporations do not exist except on paper and they should not have the right to sway legislation.
My husband made an interesting comment the other day regarding corps/immigration. While we scream and yell about people from Mexico coming in "taking jobs" that most Americans wouldn't do anyways, corporations can bring someone in from India, Pakistan, China, etc tomorrow on a work visa for high tech jobs earning $30 per hr. And they do it frequently. Will Rep Tea Partiers favor their own freedom to work over their party line support of corporations, I wonder?
It seems that Tea Partiers feel no sense of the "public interest" and our obligations to one another as members of society. The caller who placed the blame at Reagan's feet is right on target. He and his disciples have undermined the notions of public service and the common good.
The TP seems to be selective in its indignance. They are proud to claim the helm of anti-govt, libertarianism, but i wonder were they stand on govt's role on issues like drug legalization, gay marriage, and abortion. All of these issues are founded on "individual rights". I suspect that the old school reactionary conservatives (which populate their ranks) are not in favor of these particular rights. They want a hands-off govt....except when they want to restrict activities to which they object.
I keep hearing about "getting back to the Constitution". The Constitution as of what date? The original that became effective in 1788? The one that included the Bill of Rights in 1791 (which includes their favorite 2nd Amendment)? How about when women were allowed to vote with the 19th Amendment in 1920?
If the Constitution was complete and perfect as written, why accept those Amendments? By accepting those, they have to accept that the Constitution was NOT perfect as written.
I can't take the TEA Party seriously. First, their name. Thy say "taxed enough", then go on about deficits. What they mean is that we haven't been taxed ENOUGH for the government services we've been receiving. Second, their timing. Where were they when Republicans were running up debt? And why start complaining about the deficit during a recession? That's exactly when the government SHOULD be running a deficit. Where were they during the economic boom years?
When their stated goals don't match their actions, you have to look around for their real motivation. Hence the accusations of astroturfing and racism.
I am sad when an usually even programs showcases a divisive movement funded by Freedom Works and being used as a Republican operation.
Did the Tea Party show photos of Bush with a bone in his nose Did they use words like "n" about Bush?They were silent.
What ever happened to both sides of the argument?
Im ashamed for you Diane
I wonder if they will even read the responses.
All parties say that they represent the view of the majority of Americans, they are all wrong.
Democrats are the party of trial lawyers, labor unions and freeloaders.
Republicans are the party of the rich and corporations.
Those parties only work for you if you fall in one of those categories.
Citing supposed sanctioned racism is a lazy shortcut by those devoid of ideas.
Where is Dr. Ron Paul in this discussion? Why was he not invited? It is his creation, not the current movement hijacked by Fox news, Sarah Palin, and neo-patriot Glenn Beck.
The Tea Party IS a potential 3rd party, but those in power who control the two headed beast/single party system we have now will not allow it to thrive and prosper.
Shame on the MSM for leaving Dr. Paul out of this discussion.
I am dismayed at how you have let the Tea Party guests get away with statements that are inaccurate. How could you not follow up with the woman from Philadelphia who said she was for health care reform but not government take over of health care?
Why did you not ask her what kind of healthcare reform would she want? or How does the Obama Plan take over health care?
This is just one example of the way in which you let these speakers get away with "murder".
And where was the voice of Tea Party critics on your show?
Enough of the softball questions which left the guests seeming Oh So Reasonable!