Right now, tolerance isn't looking so good given the beating it's receiving at the hands of the Tea Party. After the fiasco surrounding Joe Miller with his paranoia, personal goon squad, and war on the public's right to know the organization has been keeping a low profile. Understandable, since most of the candidates they've backed have turned out to be religious extremists who want to turn America into a theocracy, and take this country clear back to the Stone Age "in the name of Jesus".
However, bizarre interpretations of scripture, to the point of undermining basic human and constitutional rights aren't the only hallmark of this group, racism is as well. Early last year, the Huffington Post reported on the antics of Tea Party protesters who yelled derogatory expletives at House Democrats during a political function. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was spat on, Rep John Lewis, a hero of the Civil Rights Movement, was called a "n___er", and openly gay Rep. Barney Frank was called a "faggot" by members of the crowd. Naturally, the Tea Party was quick to respond claiming that its organization wasn't racist, and even went so far as to claim that the Congressmen were making the whole thing up. A position they stuck to, until this little gem popped up courtesy of Tea Partier Mark Williams:
Dear Mr. Lincoln,
We Coloreds have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People, and we demand that it stop!
In fact, we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week. We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the "tea party movement".
The Tea Party position to "end the bailouts" for example, is just silly. Bailouts are just big money welfare, and isn't that what we want all Coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare? What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us Coloreds! Of course, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.
And the ridiculous idea of "reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government". What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As Coloreds we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves, and make decisions!
The racist Tea Parties also demand that the government "stop the out of control spending." Again, they directly target Coloreds. That means we Coloreds would have to complete for jobs like everybody else, and that is just not right.
Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government "stop raising our taxes". That is outrageous! How will we Coloreds ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-Coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The Tea Party expects Coloreds to be productive members of society?
Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments, and let us get back to where we belong.
Sincerely,
Precious Ben Jealous, Tom's Nephew NAACP Head Colored Person
Wow.
The National Tea Party Federation eventually kicked Williams out, even though the Tea Party Express leader had previously gone on the air on his California radio show, and labeled the Manhattan boro president tied up in the infamous Ground Zero Mosque a "Jewish Uncle Tom" and President Obama an "Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug." Yet, he was only ousted after his blog containing similar bigoted sentiments gained national attention, thus requiring the Federation to save face by giving him the boot.
Indeed.
Yet, the extremists are back again, this time their rhetoric is firmly aimed at President Obama. What most Americans don't realize is that the ranks of the Tea Party and its various satellite organizations, are filled with ultra-conservative Christian fundamentalists who want to see this country become a theocracy, and taken back to a time where oppression of others based on ethnicity or gender was accepted as "correct" under strict [mis]interpretations of biblical text. This is evidenced by a recent poll showing that one in three conservatives think Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ. Admittedly, this sampling comes solely from New Jersey, but if that same poll was conducted on a national scale how many people would click "yes" signifying their belief that our Executive in Chief is the Devil incarnate?
This comes on the heels of the other recent religiously motivated protest where evangelicals are being encouraged to pray Psalm 109:9 against President Obama. Why is this such a big deal? Well, read the scripture for yourself:
"May his days be few, may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow."
Nice. Nothing like calling for the Judeo-Christian equivalent of a jihad against your President. Yet these are the same people who are calling members of the Democratic Party traitors inciting sedition, and holding up signs demanding they be tried for treason. Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, this is pot. I'm just curious to see how crazy things have to get before the religious leaders within this country quit sitting on their hands, and speak out against the madness sweeping across America. Although, as a student of history something tells me that their protests will come too little too late, and therefore those of us who are true members of the Christian faith must pray.
For what exactly?
The safety of our President and the future of this great nation, for I fear that someone within these extreme elements might follow in the footsteps of Jared Lee Loughner, and make an attempt on Barack Obama's life. I am not the only one who is afraid that someone might try to or succeed in assassinating Obama, and given the antics of these madmen who bastardize the name of God in favor of their tyranny and hatred - it's a legitimate concern.
***
Mark William's Racist Letter
http://www.hillbillyreport.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=1754&view=print
Congressmen Harassed By Tea Party Enthusiasts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/tea-party-protests-nier-f_n_507116.html
Mark Willaims Ousted by National Tea Party Federation
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-18/news/27070288_1_mark-williams-mosque-ground-zero
Obama Identified As The Anti-Christ
http://washingtonindependent.com/59514/poll-one-in-three-new-jersey-conservatives-think-obama-might-be-the-anti-christ
Obama Targeted by Psalm 109:9
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/rachel-maddow-frank-schae_n_362415.html
However, bizarre interpretations of scripture, to the point of undermining basic human and constitutional rights aren't the only hallmark of this group, racism is as well. Early last year, the Huffington Post reported on the antics of Tea Party protesters who yelled derogatory expletives at House Democrats during a political function. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was spat on, Rep John Lewis, a hero of the Civil Rights Movement, was called a "n___er", and openly gay Rep. Barney Frank was called a "faggot" by members of the crowd. Naturally, the Tea Party was quick to respond claiming that its organization wasn't racist, and even went so far as to claim that the Congressmen were making the whole thing up. A position they stuck to, until this little gem popped up courtesy of Tea Partier Mark Williams:
Dear Mr. Lincoln,
We Coloreds have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People, and we demand that it stop!
In fact, we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week. We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the "tea party movement".
The Tea Party position to "end the bailouts" for example, is just silly. Bailouts are just big money welfare, and isn't that what we want all Coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare? What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us Coloreds! Of course, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.
And the ridiculous idea of "reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government". What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As Coloreds we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves, and make decisions!
The racist Tea Parties also demand that the government "stop the out of control spending." Again, they directly target Coloreds. That means we Coloreds would have to complete for jobs like everybody else, and that is just not right.
Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government "stop raising our taxes". That is outrageous! How will we Coloreds ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-Coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The Tea Party expects Coloreds to be productive members of society?
Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments, and let us get back to where we belong.
Sincerely,
Precious Ben Jealous, Tom's Nephew NAACP Head Colored Person
Wow.
The National Tea Party Federation eventually kicked Williams out, even though the Tea Party Express leader had previously gone on the air on his California radio show, and labeled the Manhattan boro president tied up in the infamous Ground Zero Mosque a "Jewish Uncle Tom" and President Obama an "Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug." Yet, he was only ousted after his blog containing similar bigoted sentiments gained national attention, thus requiring the Federation to save face by giving him the boot.
Indeed.
Yet, the extremists are back again, this time their rhetoric is firmly aimed at President Obama. What most Americans don't realize is that the ranks of the Tea Party and its various satellite organizations, are filled with ultra-conservative Christian fundamentalists who want to see this country become a theocracy, and taken back to a time where oppression of others based on ethnicity or gender was accepted as "correct" under strict [mis]interpretations of biblical text. This is evidenced by a recent poll showing that one in three conservatives think Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ. Admittedly, this sampling comes solely from New Jersey, but if that same poll was conducted on a national scale how many people would click "yes" signifying their belief that our Executive in Chief is the Devil incarnate?
This comes on the heels of the other recent religiously motivated protest where evangelicals are being encouraged to pray Psalm 109:9 against President Obama. Why is this such a big deal? Well, read the scripture for yourself:
"May his days be few, may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow."
Nice. Nothing like calling for the Judeo-Christian equivalent of a jihad against your President. Yet these are the same people who are calling members of the Democratic Party traitors inciting sedition, and holding up signs demanding they be tried for treason. Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, this is pot. I'm just curious to see how crazy things have to get before the religious leaders within this country quit sitting on their hands, and speak out against the madness sweeping across America. Although, as a student of history something tells me that their protests will come too little too late, and therefore those of us who are true members of the Christian faith must pray.
For what exactly?
The safety of our President and the future of this great nation, for I fear that someone within these extreme elements might follow in the footsteps of Jared Lee Loughner, and make an attempt on Barack Obama's life. I am not the only one who is afraid that someone might try to or succeed in assassinating Obama, and given the antics of these madmen who bastardize the name of God in favor of their tyranny and hatred - it's a legitimate concern.
***
Mark William's Racist Letter
http://www.hillbillyreport.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=1754&view=print
Congressmen Harassed By Tea Party Enthusiasts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/tea-party-protests-nier-f_n_507116.html
Mark Willaims Ousted by National Tea Party Federation
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-18/news/27070288_1_mark-williams-mosque-ground-zero
Obama Identified As The Anti-Christ
http://washingtonindependent.com/59514/poll-one-in-three-new-jersey-conservatives-think-obama-might-be-the-anti-christ
Obama Targeted by Psalm 109:9
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/rachel-maddow-frank-schae_n_362415.html