Mother Jones: The Tea Party's Takeover of the GOP

[marmar]

The Tea Party's Takeover of the GOP

The anti-health care reform rally in Washington indicates the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement are increasingly one and the same.
—By Stephanie Mencimer

Thu November 5, 2009 2:51 PM PST


You have to hand it to Michele Bachmann: She has succeeded in turning the GOP into one big Tea Party.

This past weekend, the Minnesota Republican went on Fox News and called on viewers to show up on the Capitol lawn on Thursday at noon for a press conference and a last ditch attempt to kill health care reform. The gathering that resulted was marked by the now-routine extremism of the Tea Party conservatives. "I'm a bitter gun owner who votes," read one sign. Others questioned President Obama’s citizenship, portrayed him as Sambo, or called him a traitor. One said, "Obama takes his orders from the Rothschilds." Old ladies wore red T-shirts decrying "Obamao care." The crowd also took spirited swipes at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. At one point someone yelled, "Put down your Botox and show yourself."

But what was most noteworthy was that the entire House Republican leadership was also in attendance—and their rhetoric was just as over-the-top as some of the protesters. House Minority Leader John Boehner declared the health care bill the "greatest threat to freedom I have seen." In essence, Congressional Republicans were merging with a movement that gives open expression to racist and anti-Semitic sentiments.

The crowd was several thousand strong, many bused in by Americans for Prosperity, a group created by the owners of Koch Industries, a huge oil and gas conglomerate. The AFP chapter from New Jersey reportedly sent 29 buses. Four AFP buses came from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and more came from Richmond and North Carolina. Lots of people in the crowd carried AFP signs or stickers warning "Hands off my health care." ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/11/tea-partys-takeover-gop

[Chipper Chat]

1. Hopefully, the wall-to-wall MSN shooter coverage will subside

so Rachel and Keith can have a field day with your post tonight.

[marmar]

2. Two shooters.......total MSM orgasm......Now if there were only a missing blonde ......

nt

[Chipper Chat]

5. I shut the TV off 2 hours ago. Couldn't take it anymore.

I've been listening to Stan Kenton CDs. Much better!

[AlinPA]

3. I don't see the GOP as being much different now; IMO, it has been a gradual change

over the last 6-8 years to what they are today- a howling mob of ignorant anti-government, intolerant bigots.

[cynatnite]

4. I hope it passes just so we can watch their fucking heads explode. n/t

[ginnyinWI]

6. of the moderate repubs don't speak up, this is what it will be.

Ignorant, frustrated people juiced up and funded by big oil and big pharma to work against their best interests. Screaming at the tops of their lungs that they don't want government to control anything they have anything to do with. Except don't touch my Medicare, lol. The Grand Old Party replaced with the Grand Old Tea Party. With 20% of the population, the rest voting Dem.

First they came for the Linc Chafees; next it will be the Lindsey Grahams, and so forth until all you have left are those who line up completely with the GOTP (grand old tea party).

[Brother Buzz]

7. Word!

:thumbsup: