The Tea Party has grown into a full blown movement. Their goals, or platform for lack of a better term, endorses a reduction of government spending, opposition to progressive taxation, reduction of the national debt and the federal budget deficit and belief that the United States Constitution should be adhered to.It started in 2009 with the first organized, small, protest called the "Porkulus Protest" occurring the day before Barack Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus bill that Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate passed along party lines.
It has grown into a large political movement, with multiple organizations spawning Tea Party Patriots, Tea Party Nation, Tea Party Express, just to name a few of the offshoots. While each is run by different people and many of them do not organize protests or events or political ads together, they all basically adhere to those original concepts listed above.
Over the last couple of years we have seen the Tea Party protest in a non-violent manner against out-of-control government spending. Their protests do not spawn arrest, no vandalism, and no destruction of public property.
The movement grew and those believing in a reduction of government spending, opposition to progressive taxation, reduction of the national debt and the federal budget deficit and that the United States Constitution should be adhered to, have officially backed candidates they believed would fight for those very beliefs and the 2010 midterm elections gave their movement a voice in politics when those candidates were elected to office.
The question here is what is so terrifying about those beliefs, about Americans believing those basic concepts, coming together to fight within the boundaries set in our political system?
Make no mistake, certain factions are clearly terrified of the Tea Party Movement as evidenced by the extreme rhetoric when media outlets and columnists make statements like "Tea Party Republicans have waged jihad on the American people," or politicians that claim "the debt ceiling bill passed by Congress represented not a compromise but a hostage-taking by the Tea Party" and that the "congressional tea party members "acted like terrorists."
These are simply small examples of the terror induced by the Tea Party Movement from members of the far left on the political spectrum.
It has gotten so bad that Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Friday that the media has the responsibility to not give equal time or credence to the Tea Party's views. (Video here)
Think about that for a second.
Legitimate concerns about government spending, deficits, national debt, taxes and a principled belief in adhering to the Constitution, are views that the media should not give time or credence to, in the opinion of Democratic politicians and members of the progressive left.
Those beliefs and holding elected officials to those beliefs are considered "extremism," to the far left.
Kerry's statement may be one of the most open, honest statements made publicly by a liberal Democratic politician.
Liberal's View:
Credence should not be given to the 55 percent of the population (Rasmussen- July 9, 2011) that believe decreased government spending would be good for the economy. Credence should not be given to the 91 percent of voters (IBOPE Zogby Interactive poll- July 11, 2011) that believes it is important to reduce the nation's long-term debt.
So, whether or not you are a member of a Tea Party group or a supporter or even if you are simply concerned about government spending, deficits, national debt, taxes and a principled belief in adhering to the Constitution, you are entitled to your opinion but those views should not receive media attention or be given credence.
That is why liberal Democrats are so terrified of the Tea Party.
Because they are getting attention. Because those views are being made public. Because people are being heard. Because people are actively participating in changing the way Washington has been doing business.
The Silent majority is refusing to be silent any longer.
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