A few months ago, a friend who lives in Oklahoma shared a frightening story with me. She told a few others and me that she watched a special on the Ku Klux Klan in her state. The special included footage from the Grand GUMBA ( or something like that) in which the man indicated that the KKK does not have to practice civil disobedience these days as they are having far more success via the TEA Party Movement.

While many have joined the movement to legitimately express concern about their perception of "losing their country" and federal expenditures. I see far too many placards and signage that support the comments from the friend.

I also must ask, why the uproar and public disobedience after the election of the current President? Many of these same Tea Baggers expressed dismay, concern, and hatred when other groups exercised their rights to gather in protest.

I can remember a friend sending me an email last June in which the pictures and all verbiage stated "DON'T TREAD ON ME". I responded to the friend with heavy rebuttal. I told her that I suspect other reasons for the protest movement, and asked that she avoid sending me such going forward. For a time, I felt that maybe I had over reacted in my response and went through a period of dissonance about my actions.

Well, Tom Tancredo's Opening remarks at the TEA BAGGER Conference completely reinforces my disdain for the movement.  Tancredo really did set the stage for the event and shine clear light on the TEA BAGGERS. Any speaker or comment that follows Tancredo is now in perspective.

Exert:

blogs.villagevoice.com

Former Republican Presidential candidate Tom Tancredo has told an enraptured crowd that because "we do not have a civics literacy test before people can vote in this country, people who could not even spell the word 'vote,' or say it in English, put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House, name is Barack Hussein Obama."

End Exert

What we have here is not only 'out and out' racism; it is as shallow in its intellect as is the average intellect of the entire movement. The remark clearly shows that the central theme of the Baggers is, "let's return to pre-civil rights days when the land was clean as the driven snow". (Please note the resounding applause garnered by the racist remark from the 600 attendees. Also, note that the attendees may be the cream of the TEA BAGGEER crop as they can afford the $500.00 plus ticket price. Think about the quality and character of those who cannot afford the ticket.)

Tancredo played the race card while ignoring empirical data.

2008 ELECTION RESULTS DATA...who voted and how

US population:
73% "White"
13% "Hispanic"
2% "Asian"
12% "Black."

Whites voted for Obama-43%
Blacks voted for Obama-96% (96% or approx. 5.2 million Black People of voting age, who voted or who could vote.. the estimate is a bit high actually)
Hispanics voted for Obama-66%
Asians voted for Obama-63%
Jewish voted for Obama-78%
Men (White males) voted for Obama-41%  
Women voted for Obama - 56%
High Earners - 53%, of voters who earned $200,000 or more in 2007 voted Obama
Evangelicals voted for Obama-25%

It is hard to fathom such a racist remark from a supposedly intelligent person when faced with that data.

Tancredo pulled a classic Glenn Beck. The man is of Italian Ancestry. He did not even stop to reflect back on the extreme racism, bigotry and hatred reaped on his ancestors as they migrated to the United States.  But, then I suppose he has that 'color thing' that he feels places his ancestors well above Americans of color.

As I have stated many times, why bother with deep thought and speech, or comment, planning when one does not respect the intellect of his/her audience.

People, who consider themselves TEA PARTY (ERS), should reject Tancredo's racism and should comment directly to him that you find the remark unacceptable. [I suspect we have few who visit the LEFTAKE] It is almost impossible to agree with his comment as the data above refutes his racist 'wishful' remarks.

Of course, I realize that I am singing to the choir, but this movement should be exposed for what it is: pure and unadulterated resistance to change in the nation.

FOX News should offer Tancredo an on-air position.