President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
I had the welcome chance to speak at the convention of the Tea Party of the San Francisco Bay Area last weekend (yes there is one!). I wanted to share my impressions, because they are totally at odds with the image of the tea party in the media. Apparently, President Obama has given an interview to Rolling Stone where he has called the Tea party the tool of “very powerful, special-interest lobbies.” He also claims that it has members who are “a little darker, that have to do with anti-immigrant sentiment or are troubled by what I represent as the president.”
Obama could not be more wrong -- in fact, his thinking shows a lot more about his problems than the tea party's. If the Tea Party is being run by special interest lobbies, then our special interest lobbies are in a lot of trouble. The convention was held at the Mill Valley community center. There were about 500 people there; it was standing room only. They spent the whole day milling about between different tables that represented various groups, ranging from the NRA to the seller of a cookbook of "conservative recipes." I didn't look, but I assume it was full of recipes for meatloaf and mashed potatoes with nary a sprig of endive in sight. There were funny T-shirts, cut-outs where you can get your picture taken next to Lincoln, Reagan, or Palin, and lots of sugary foods from Costco.
It was all very unprofessional, by which I mean that it did not seem the least bit stage managed or fake, in the way that the events put on by professional political operatives usually are. It was all quite spontaneous. Here's an example. The speakers were unorganized, and had to speak in the hall in competition with all of the tables. So if people were not interested in a speaker, they would just go on buying and selling books and T-shirts or signing up for petitions, and eventually the speaker would be drowned out. If they were interested, the chatter would stop and eventually people would stop and listen. It was, in a charming way, the competition of the free market of ideas at work.
I talked to a lot of the people who organized it, out of academic curiosity, because I wanted to see how these folks fit into our theories of political mobilization. These folks were not out of central casting or the textbooks. The organizer of the event, Sally Zelikowsky, was a stay at home mom (with a law degree), who finally got fed up with Obama's nationalization of the economy and health care, and just started emailing people. She had the off-the-cuff idea to have a protest on tax day in downtown San Francisco of all places, followed by a march to Nancy Pelosi's office -- it drew more than a 1,000 people. Here's another example. There was no tea at the event, neither iced nor hot! A professional political operative wouldn't have forgotten the tea for a tea party event. But the nice lady in charge of refreshments was a retired flight attendant, and it just didn't occur to her. I talked with another organizer, who had a very interesting argument to make about a specific Anti-Federalist paper on patriotism. Most people have never heard of the Anti-Federalists, not to mention the Federalists -- luckily, I had read it. But not exactly what they teach in lobbying 101.
The idea that the attendees are anti-immigrant or racist or sexist is, I think, bizarre. It could only be made by journalists or Presidents who haven't been to one of these conventions. I saw people of different races (in fact, Ward Connerly spoke later after me), sexes, and ages. They were certainly not rich -- I met everyone from high school baseball coaches to lawyers and doctors. They seemed drawn together by three things. First, they are really interested in the Constitution. Second, they think that the federal government under this President has violated the Constitution's limits on federal power over the economy and society. Third, they are patriotic and believe that America is an exceptional country and worthy of the devotion of its citizens.
I think Obama foolishly and mistakenly attacks the tea party as the tool of special interests or as potential bigots. It says more about him that he attributes hateful motives to people who simply disagree with him as a matter of policy and of the Constitution. He has become so arrogant and out of touch with the American people that he sees disagreement as bad faith racial animus or class conflict. It is a sign that he thinks he has some kind of messianic mission and that he is a figure of world-historical significance, and that all opposition is somehow immoral. Luckily, the Framers designed our political system to remedy itself when confronted by demagogic leaders, and hopefully the November elections will be the first start.
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Jun '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Sometimes the greatest benefit is just finding out that you're not alone. I imagine, being a conservative in the Bay Area is still a pretty lonely road.
Jul '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
The first time the Tea Party held an event at the Mill Valley community center, some residents tried to keep us out of the center, claiming that the political nature of our gathering was not in keeping with "community standards of inclusion and tolerance".
Sep '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
He knows, he is lying.
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
John, I'm impressed by how you viewed your experience. You described a situation that many would look at negatively and you astutely saw the positive.
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
I'm surprised they didn't succeed in getting you banned.
I really thought John was going to tell us he was in Danville or Orinda. To hold a Tea Party meeting in Mill Valley is really to go into the belly of the beast. Kudos to the organizers. I wish I'd known as I was in Sausalito last weekend and would have dropped by. Not that the local press would ever promote such a gathering....
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
John's testimony is further evidence in support of my thesis that Barack Obama is for conservatives the gift that keeps on giving. He and his minions denounce those who dissent from their orthodoxy as Astroturf, Nazis, racists, and the like; and, by drawing attention to their critics, they encourage and strengthen them.
I do not believe -- let the record show- - that Barack Obama is a Manchurian candidate invented by Karl Rove and cannily foisted on the Democratic Party. But the President is doing his best to prove me wrong.
Edited on Sep 30, 2010 at 3:59pmSep '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Wonderful description!
Its too bad one of the New York Times' better writers could not have given a similar account of some tea party before, say, in April of 2009 or even by July 2009. It could have spiked their sales and web hits, you never know...
But they didn't, and why should they? They immediately realized the tea partiers were against their interests. They went into reactionary mode. No need to understand their concerns, its a political fight.
So they did what they always do, demonize, marginalize, ridicule and smear.
If you begin to see that you are the only one in the room with a sense of reality, and you get in touch with a mix of ordinary, successful ,educated and proactive working taxpayers who seem to be quite charitable and nice, and who also share this odd perspective, then the whole phenomenon becomes quite understandable.
Edited on Sep 30, 2010 at 3:56pmMay '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
I just like Tea Partiers because they keep sending me jokes:
An indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand and the other hand pulling a male buffalo. He says to the waiter: "Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Sure, Chief. Coming right up."
The indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, and then just walks out.
The next morning the indian returns. He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other. He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter: "Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Whoa there! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"
The chief smiles and proudly says, "Training for position in United States Congress. Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."
Aug '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Aaron Miller: I just like Tea Partiers because they keep sending me jokes:
Aaron, Today I received the same joke in an email from a colleague at work. But this colleague is (or was) a staunch Democrat, has referred to Tea Partiers as "Tea Pottiers," displayed a Woody Guthrie toy Guitar memento with some quote about "This Weapon Kills Fascists," bore quite a bit of animosity towards Ronald Reagan. My colleague did manage to say something nice about Wm. F. Buckley the other day. Hmmm, maybe we're really making progress. This gentleman retired today, though. I'll have to return the favor and send him conservative e-care packages.
Aug '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
John, not bad on-scene reporting...very intelligent, diagnostic probing below the surface. You know, if you ever wanted to find honest work outside of the law...you could try journalism.
(You know I am just playing, right? I very much appreciate your legal blog topics and writing too...)
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
David, I got that from a retired, conservative oilman who has a log cabin in Colorado and has been everywhere from Alaska to Dubai.
He also sent me a story about a homeowners association in Dallas that got tired of litter from illegal construction workers. When the supervisor wouldn't respond:
They organized about twenty folks, named themselves The "Inner Neighborhood Services" group, and arranged to go out at lunch time and "police" the trash themselves. They bought navy blue baseball caps and had the initials "INS" embroidered in gold on the caps.
After the Inner Neighborhood Services group's first lunch time pickup detail, with all of them wearing their caps and some carrying cameras, 46 out of the total of 68 construction workers did not show up for work the next morning, nor the next week.
The General Contractor is madder than hell, but can't say anything publicly because he could be busted for hiring illegals.
Wallace and his bunch can't be accused of impersonating federal personnel, because they have the official name of the group recorded in their homeowner association minutes along with a notation about the vote to approve formation of the new subcommittee!
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
What a beautiful & authentic account. I've not seen many such affirmative accounts of the Tea Parties, even on this site.
Sep '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Franco: Wonderful description!
Its too bad one of the New York Times' better writers could not have given a similar account · Sep 30 at 3:53pm
Edited on Sep 30 at 03:56 pm
The New York Times just waiting for the asteroid...
Sep '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
This is against the probably against the code of conduct but I was wondering if there are any plans to do an audio version of crisis and command?
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Paul A. Rahe: I do not believe -- let the record show- - that Barack Obama is a Manchurian candidate invented by Karl Rove and cannily foisted on the Democratic Party. But the President is doing his best to prove me wrong. · Sep 30 at 3:19pm
Edited on Sep 30 at 03:59 pm
Truly, I was happy to vote for McCain - squishy, back-stabbing, "aisle-crossing" McCain - for fear of what an Obama presidency would mean. But, provided we can survive the next couple of years, an Obama presidency could turn out to be just what we needed! Nothing stops a blind leftward drift like a far-left president constantly talking down his nose at his subjects.
Obama's people probably think Rolling Stone reinforces his hip image. Well, team, not if he spends half the interview whining about his racist opposition and complaining that only 95% of media outlets report from his left jacket pocket!
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Bill Clinton must alternate between gnashing his teeth and licking his chops at the prospects of Hillary 2012.
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Maybe but these
George Savage
Bill Clinton must alternate between gnashing his teeth and licking his chops at the prospects of Hillary 2012. · Sep 30 at 9:41pm
Perhaps but what do you make of these 2012 match-up Gallup poll results. I'm shocked. Obama 52% - Hillary 37%?
O
May '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
I'm shocked, SHOCKED to find John's account differing from this fine picture:
Tea & Crackers
(by a journalist who must have absolutely no axe to grind...)
:)
Sep '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
Why do you foster the notion that what O says reflects what he thinks. O's comments about the tea Party are calculated to encourage liberal voting and discourage conservative voting. With him, as with most political pros., they may reflect what he thinks, but probably, since they would require an unusual degree of ingnorance, do not. Viewing them as reflecting his true thoughts is misquided.
Jul '10
Re: President Obama Is Wrong About the Tea Party
SoNowThen: I'm shocked, SHOCKED to find John's account differing from this fine picture:
Tea & Crackers
(by a journalist who must have absolutely no axe to grind...)
:) · Sep 30 at 10:28pm
You just don't get it do you...
The Tea Party is a Predominantly White gathering that is Predominantly White.
And speakers tell the Predominantly White Crowd what they should do to make sure that the Predominantly White Crowd keeps its power and traditions in the society. These speeches make the Predominantly White Crowd cheer.
Just look at any pohoto of the Predominantly White Crowd waving their Predominantly White signs, though some of the Predominantly White Crowd do wear Predominantly White T-Shirts, all with Predominantly White slogans that are so obviously racist in nature.
Anyway, the Predominantly White Crowd of 800,000 plus numbers approximately 79,000 which are Predominantly White and motivated by fear and bigotry.
I read that in the New York Times, so you cannot dispute it!