Despite what I may have been led to believe, the so-called Tea Party Movement is not made up of uneducated red necks from the trailer park. According to research conducted by CNN, tea partiers are mostly college educated white, male baby boomers, who earn more than $50,000 a year, live in rural areas, and identify themselves as conservatives.
These baby boomers---so-called activists---let it be known that they did not want to see the Health Care Reform Bill pass and their actions were nothing short of despicable. For example, a crowd of them shouted the "n word" at Congressman John Lewis, They yelled homophobic epithets at Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay congressman. And one protester actually spat on a Black member of Congress.
But they didn't stop there. Death threats were issued to Democrats who voted for reform—one had a coffin left on his lawn and another was told snipers would kill the children of lawmakers who voted yes. Several Democrats had their district offices vandalized, and a gas line was cut at a home that tea partiers mistakenly believed belonged to Rep. Tom Perriello.
Who said baby boomers were the most diverse generation?
4 comments:
Bev let me tell you there are like 32 million people to the north of your country just shaking their heads.
This ugly hatred is a mucky mixture of racism and plain old ignorance. Rather than rant about fears of socialism and all sorts of other fairy tales, why won't these Tea Party folks actually visit and "study" a country that for many Americans is mere minutes away (Canada).
They can view first hand what a national health care program looks like. We have a healthy entrepreneurial class here, a conservative government running our country and citizens that don't have to make decisions between obtaining necessary health care for their children or other loved ones and paying the mortgage.
That's the kind of risk you'd sadly expect to see in a Third World country, not the richest country in the world.
It is so bizarre to see some of the most vitriolic arguments coming from poorer Americans (who have the most to lose) but who are buying into the fear being generated by a few wealthy Americans (like Republican Congressmen) who want to keep profiting from the status quo.
Very good question about this Baby Boomer Generation...I think what we're seeing is old attitudes and prejudices can run very deep...
Well, well, well...what a fine kettle of 3 day old fish we have here.
The demo graphics of Tea Party Baby Boomers should read, bigoted, small minded, lower middle classed, apathetic, educated but not informed, mealy mouthed, mean people.
Being in a higher income and educated does not mean that if you live in middle class America. It does not make you the smartest sea shell on the beach. Nor.. does it make you compassionate!
Living in a trailer park or a red neck does not mean that you are the opposite.
But, as with most bigots regardless of your age, education or living arrangements...there is always someone that you feel is less important and less deserving than you.
America has had it own way to use genocide...and it is through health care...
In this case it is those who can not afford health and preventative medicine. Preventative medicine would save countless lives and dollars.
Thank goodness that this Health Care Bill will help republicans, democrats, third party people and even those who do not vote.
Bad health can happen as quickly as Florida weather...and it can wipe out your savings put you in a situation that you are not ready for. As Baby Boomers we are not 30 any more...some of us will not recover.
Call it a Tea Party or a right to be a bigot, to right to fuel hatred and ignorance, we as Americans have the right to embarrass our selves. It is called freedom of speech. But Baby Boomers, pick your fights more carefully or they will reach up and bite you on your BIG Tea Party arse.
But take note...that Sarah Palin will be out there leading these folks, because they fit her demographics. The uninformed who want a pretty face to lead them down the yellow brick road.
Just remember Baby Boomers, that the man or woman behind the curtain (Wizard of OZ reference) is all smoke and mirrors.
It is health care, western medicine, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies that have been killing people, denying them health care and preventative health care. Our own special American approach to genocide. They are who you should be directing your anger towards.
Do not be pulled around by the nose ring, spewing hate at the wrong people responsible for this issue that has been killing us all, for generations.
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
BabyBoomerAdvisorClub.com
I totally agree with everything you said in your post and the comments of your readers. I can absolutely not understand where the vitriol and hatred are coming from! We are the last industrialized country to provide health care to its citizens. What can possibly be wrong with joining the rest of the modern nations in the world and giving our people access to what should be a right for all.
I'm perplexed, saddened and, most of all, horrified by the actions of these small-minded bigots. What a terrible stain they have left in their wake.
When I heard about all of the vandalism and death threats to democrats, I couldn't stop thinking why issues become so important that a person has to resort to death threats? It boggles my mind how people can not be civil and argue issues with respect. And I heard some republicans recently using language like "arm yourself" "revolt", etc., which I find so disturbing. What is this world coming to??
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