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Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Robert McCartney ()
Date: April 18, 2010 04:15PM

By Robert McCartney
Sunday, April 18, 2010; Page C1

I went to the "tea party" rally at the Washington Monument on Thursday to check out just how reactionary and potentially violent the movement truly was.

Answer: Not very.

Based on what I saw and heard, tea party members are not seething, ready-to-explode racists, as some liberal commentators have caricatured them.

On the whole, they struck me as passionately dedicated to working within the system rather than dangerous militia types or a revival of the Ku Klux Klan.

Although shrinking government is their primary goal, many conceded that the country should keep Medicare and Social Security. None were clamoring for civil disobedience, much less armed revolt.

"Someone said in the Revolutionary War, they fired bullets. This time, we're firing politicians," said Clinton Lee, 28, a wedding photographer from Tampa wearing a Thomas Jefferson T-shirt.

The rally, estimated in the tens of thousands, also displayed an irreverent spirit that I found endearing. I can't help but smile when small-business owners don three-cornered hats and hoist rattlesnake flags in exercising their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.

The mistrust of authority reminded me of anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in which I participated four decades ago in the same spot. Participants were appalled when I made the comparison. They hastened to say they weren't modern-day hippies.

At the protest, I mostly ignored the speakers so I could probe what the participants wanted and how they viewed the world. I interviewed 19, picked at random, in three hours.

I found that I agreed heartily with the tea partiers on what is perhaps their single biggest concern: that America's swelling government debt seriously threatens our long-term prosperity.

Judging by some portrayals of the tea party, some might think it posed a threat to the community. They would be wrong.

Commentators on MSNBC and elsewhere have called the movement racist and likened it to the Klan. Two African American congressmen alleged demonstrators shouted racial epithets at them at the Capitol a month ago. Multiple investigations found nothing to support those allegations. More recently, a New York Times poll found that 48 percent of those surveyed who support the tea party movement also believe that not enough has been made of blacks' problems.

I saw no evidence of racism at Thursday's rally. A sign read: "Not prejudiced. Not racist. Not violent. Not disenfranchised. Not silent anymore."

Paul Butterfield, 48, an engineer from Ontario, N.Y., said: "We've achieved equal rights [in many areas]. But creating a welfare state is a step backward."

Although united in their hostility to big government, the protesters were ideologically varied. A 24-year-old Internet marketing company owner strongly opposed the health-care bill but noted, "I love Medicare. That takes care of my grandparents."

Many expressed nuanced positions.

When I asked him why he was there, Robert Cressy, 67, a Rockville investment executive, launched into a detailed, numbers-packed analysis of federal debt-growth forecasts.

If the trend of excessive government spending continues, "we are going toward bankruptcy," Cressy said. "We are on the road to having the same problems as Greece and California."

Nevertheless, he said he supported the initial bank bailouts, despite their high cost, because they were necessary to stabilize the financial system.

Many were simply looking for an honest discussion of the issues. I heard occasional proposals to repeal the progressive income tax, abolish the Federal Reserve Board and privatize the U.S. Postal Service.

Michael Engels, 33, a D.C. firefighter who lives in Easton, Md., said he did not like the current Social Security program. But like others, he drew the line at civil disobedience and violence.

"I don't think you'll see people fighting in the streets," Engels said. "I would pray to God that that doesn't happen."

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: yesys ()
Date: April 18, 2010 04:59PM

At least they have some argument. I'm glad they're not just shouting SOCIALISM every 10 seconds.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Date: April 18, 2010 06:34PM

Hey, dumbass. Robert McCartney is a columnist for the Washington Post. He's not the editorial board. The Washington Post has not endorsed the Tea Party movement. Claiming that what McCartney wrote is an endorsement is like claiming that anything George Will or Richard Cohen write is a Washington Post endorsement.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: call signal charlie ()
Date: April 18, 2010 06:43PM

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey, dumbass. Robert McCartney is a columnist for
> the Washington Post. He's not the editorial board.
> The Washington Post has not endorsed the Tea Party
> movement. Claiming that what McCartney wrote is an
> endorsement is like claiming that anything George
> Will or Richard Cohen write is a Washington Post
> endorsement.

Aww, you're just upset anyone reporting for a mainstream media outlet didn't support your "TEABAGGERS ARE VIOLENT MANIACS AND THE SKY IS FALLING" bullshit rhetoric.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Date: April 18, 2010 06:48PM

call signal charlie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> > endorsement.
>
> Aww, you're just upset anyone reporting for a
> mainstream media outlet didn't support your
> "TEABAGGERS ARE VIOLENT MANIACS AND THE SKY IS
> FALLING" bullshit rhetoric.


I could care less. If the Washington Post actually endorsed the movement, I would say "that's fucked, but that's their opinion." But, unlike you I'm not going to blatantly lie about what actually happened by claiming the Post endorsed the movement when it didn't.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: call signal charlie ()
Date: April 18, 2010 06:56PM

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> call signal charlie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > > endorsement.
> >
> > Aww, you're just upset anyone reporting for a
> > mainstream media outlet didn't support your
> > "TEABAGGERS ARE VIOLENT MANIACS AND THE SKY IS
> > FALLING" bullshit rhetoric.
>
>
> I could care less. If the Washington Post actually
> endorsed the movement, I would say "that's fucked,
> but that's their opinion." But, unlike you I'm not
> going to blatantly lie about what actually
> happened by claiming the Post endorsed the
> movement when it didn't.

I didn't lie, it was the OP. And I am willing to bet he just isn't good at writing down his thoughts rather than being a blatant liar.

Speaking of lies, Dem. leaders like Obama, Howard Dean, Maxine Waters, Henry Waxman, etc. all distance themselves from the fucking nutjob Code Pink, right?

Don't you have a Code Pink party to get to?

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: David Boaz ()
Date: April 18, 2010 11:06PM

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey, dumbass. Robert McCartney is a columnist for
> the Washington Post. He's not the editorial board.
> The Washington Post has not endorsed the Tea Party
> movement. Claiming that what McCartney wrote is an
> endorsement is like claiming that anything George
> Will or Richard Cohen write is a Washington Post
> endorsement.

Whether you consider it an epiphany or gradual acceptance of the tea party movement, the fact that Robert McCartney wrote such an eyewitness account of an anti-tax movement is significant. Actually, raising taxes is sort of an idee fixe for McCartney. After 27 years shaping the local news coverage at the Post as a writer and editor, he became a columnist in June 2009. Since then, he’s written many times about the urgency of raising taxes: Converting Fairfax County into a city only makes sense ”if it’s used to raise taxes to get more money for roads.” (July 5) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds should just be honest and “Propose to raise taxes to fix the roads. Yes, you read that correctly. Raise taxes” because “The public sector needs to expand.” (August 9) “Deeds is willing to raise taxes for transportation, while McDonnell isn’t, and some kind of tax increase is the only way to do the job.” (September 18) One observer of Gov. Robert McDonnell’s inaugural address (whattaya know, Deeds’s willingness to raise taxes yielded him a whopping 41 percent of the vote) “predicted that McDonnell would have to raise taxes to pay for transportation despite promises not to do so. ‘There is no other choice,’ Bhandari said.” (January 17) The region must come up with another $850 million a year in revenue for its costly, poorly run subway system. (January 21)

That Robert McCartney sees no evil in the tea party movement is significant indeed. While he does not currently sit on the editorial board (see http://www.washpost.com/news_ed/editorial/editboard.shtml) he is also not on the op-ed staff (see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/writers/index.html?). However, he does have the ear of both of these groups.

Evolutionary or revolutionary, the Post's position on the tea party movement is positive.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Reader ()
Date: April 18, 2010 11:19PM

The article appeared on Sunday's page C1, the front page of the Metro section. More of a colorful eyewitness account than an endorsement or opinion column.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: dakotadoug83 ()
Date: April 18, 2010 11:33PM

My goodness. You mean someone from the Post went out and found out what the Tea Party movement is actually all about instead of just making things up, inventing things out of whole cloth? Someone asked Tea Party folks what they actually thought instead of putting words in their mouths? I didn't know they had actual journalists at the Post any more. I thought they were all Colbert Kings and Eugene Robinsons and so on who just made things up to fit the pre-ordained race narrative they've pedaled for years. Kudos to Mr. McCartney for actually reporting on the truth, not what he "wants" to be the truth.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Carol24 ()
Date: April 19, 2010 11:30PM

The Tea Party is made up of everyday Americans standing up to protect what used to be just a year ago considered normal American values: a government that doesn't spend us into oblivion, free markets, and respect for private property and individual liberty.

When you see how liberal policies have ruined the once-great city of Detroit and how radical leftist policies have impoverished and enslaved the people of Cuba, how can you conclude that giving up our power to those in government so they can make things "fair" is in the least bit reasonable?

America's greatness has come from our liberty, and millions have come here for freedom and opportunity, not to have our lives micromanaged by fanatic bureaucrats who fantasize that they know best.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Dane Bramage ()
Date: April 20, 2010 05:39AM

I was pleasantly surprised (shocked) to see a fair representation by McCartney.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: April 22, 2010 03:03PM

Carol24 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Tea Party is made up of everyday Americans
> standing up to protect what used to be just a year
> ago considered normal American values: a
> government that doesn't spend us into oblivion,
> free markets, and respect for private property and
> individual liberty.
>
> When you see how liberal policies have ruined the
> once-great city of Detroit and how radical leftist
> policies have impoverished and enslaved the people
> of Cuba, how can you conclude that giving up our
> power to those in government so they can make
> things "fair" is in the least bit reasonable?
>
> America's greatness has come from our liberty, and
> millions have come here for freedom and
> opportunity, not to have our lives micromanaged by
> fanatic bureaucrats who fantasize that they know
> best.


Carol you are a dumbshit cunt..how conveneient of you to use for comparison sake Cuba..a coimmunist country vice lets say France or England. Cuba...who has done pretty well considering thay have had to suffer a US embargo for 50 years.

And no one is out to manage your life...now god forbid you should be a responsible adult. I love the new US definition of freedom...being able to be as irresponsible as possible and let other people pay for my medical needs.

Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: miller ()
Date: April 22, 2010 03:23PM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Carol you are a dumbshit cunt..

Is that language really necessary? You make me ashamed to be a liberal. Do the rest of us and our cause a favor and stop making us all look like sexist pigs.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Date: April 22, 2010 03:23PM

miller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vince(1) Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Carol you are a dumbshit cunt..
>
> Is that language really necessary? You make me
> ashamed to be a liberal. Do the rest of us and
> our cause a favor and stop making us all look like
> sexist pigs.


Like Bill doesn't say stuff like that to Hillary.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: April 22, 2010 03:36PM

miller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vince(1) Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Carol you are a dumbshit cunt..
>
> Is that language really necessary? You make me
> ashamed to be a liberal. Do the rest of us and
> our cause a favor and stop making us all look like
> sexist pigs.

+100

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: Mandy ()
Date: April 22, 2010 09:20PM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Carol24 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Tea Party is made up of everyday Americans
> > standing up to protect what used to be just a
> year
> > ago considered normal American values: a
> > government that doesn't spend us into oblivion,
> > free markets, and respect for private property
> and
> > individual liberty.
> >
> > When you see how liberal policies have ruined
> the
> > once-great city of Detroit and how radical
> leftist
> > policies have impoverished and enslaved the
> people
> > of Cuba, how can you conclude that giving up
> our
> > power to those in government so they can make
> > things "fair" is in the least bit reasonable?
> >
> > America's greatness has come from our liberty,
> and
> > millions have come here for freedom and
> > opportunity, not to have our lives micromanaged
> by
> > fanatic bureaucrats who fantasize that they
> know
> > best.
>
>
> Carol you are a dumbshit cunt..how conveneient of
> you to use for comparison sake Cuba..a coimmunist
> country vice lets say France or England.
> Cuba...who has done pretty well considering thay
> have had to suffer a US embargo for 50 years.
>
> And no one is out to manage your life...now god
> forbid you should be a responsible adult. I love
> the new US definition of freedom...being able to
> be as irresponsible as possible and let other
> people pay for my medical needs.


Wow. For real?

Why hasn't this piece of shit been banned yet?

Vince...your mother must have been a filthy little whore to have raised an asshole fuck like you. All you do is talk shit, you belong on Jerry Springer. I mean seriously wtf is wrong with you? I bet "Carol' would beat your ass if you said that shit to her face.

I bet you have limp dick, huh? Can't rub one out to get rid of all the hate?

Go throw yourself off a bridge Limpdick.

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Re: Washington Post Endorses Tea Party Movement
Posted by: sitdownbitch ()
Date: April 22, 2010 09:56PM

"piece of shit....filthy little whore...asshole fuck....talk shit...beat your ass...said that shit...limp dick...rub one out...limpdick"

Hey, Mandy, go wash that rotten cunt of a mouth you have out with soap, bitch.

And then bend over, so Daddy can get sum.

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