Attacking the Tea Party Movement

In my column at Townhall today I look at the attacks many on the left are making on the Tea Party Movement.

The latest attack from the left is not aimed at the Republican party or Michael Steele or Rush Limbaugh, but at Democrat, Republican and Independent Americans across the country who have dared to organize "tea parties" to oppose rising taxes, more government control over private enterprise and less individual liberty.

The Tea Party Movement has caught fire and spread from one end of the country to the other. It has captured the imagination of the conservative grassroots and has taken hold. So far the reaction from the national media has been to downplay or ignore the tea party rallies. Reaction from many on the left most recently is to ridicule and openly attack tea party participants.

According to Michelle Malkin, "Bob Beckel appeared on Fox News this morning to sneer at the nationwide event. He derided tax revolters in Montana, joking that 'It was a good thing it wasn't a vodka party, because I guarantee you they all had guns.'Bigoted Beltway jerk. Beckel also claimed the Tea Parties were 'nothing new' and recycled the debunked Playboy website report (deleted from the site) spreading false and illogical rumors that the grass-roots movement is directed from the GOP, national tax groups, and CNBC."

Melissa Clothier has a related blog post regarding "projection."

Update: At first I thought this was a joke, but it appears to be for real.

PA ACORN is hiring an organizer to recruit & mobilize low and moderate income people to win on a variety of issue based legislative campaigns, including passing health care reform, stopping foreclosures, and increasing resources for local schools. The organizer will also be responsible for working with grassroot leaders to identify local issues for local campaigns.

The organizer would work out of the Pennsylvania ACORN office in Philadelphia with daily travel to specific communities in targeted legislative districts, including Norristown, Upper Darby, & Chester City.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to social justice issues, strong work ethic, a commitment to indigenous grassroot leadership, and the ability to work both independently & as part of a team. Previous organizing experience, Spanish, and knowledge of voter databases is also helpful but not required. Starting salary is commensurate with experience and organizer must have valid drivers license and reliable vehicle.

The joke is that this is how liberals staff their protests. I got an email saying Neil Cavuto had a report today about ACORN and others planning to infiltrate the tea parties by carrying racist signs to make the tea party protestors appear racist. And it looks like your tax dollars might be paying for it. Here is the obvious question: If the tea parties are nothing for liberals to worry about, and they are lame, etc., as our lefty commenters here seem to think, then why do those on the left need to crash them and try to make them look like something they aren't? Why is it that so many activists on the left have to be paid to do it? The same question goes for the "community work" done by Americorps "volunteers."

Comments

[Amy]

Our Tea Party organizers are all unpaid. Many of us are taking a vacation day to help the day of. Many of us have put in our own money to help make the event a success. We even have business owners donating man hours and equipment.