Santelli: I'm Proud Of The Tea Party Movement I Helped Spawn

The man who delivered the rant that spurred the epidemic of tea party demonstrations around the nation said on Wednesday that he was "pretty proud" of the movement that he helped spawn, viewing it as a distinctly American experience.

CNBC's Rick Santelli, whose brash criticism of the White House's mortgage relief plan earned him a bit of notoriety as well as the hearts of a healthy chunk of libertarians, was asked by his colleagues to reflect on how far the message had spread.

"I don't know [if this is a] cultural phenomenon," he said. " But I'll tell you what, I think that this tea party phenomenon is steeped in American culture and steeped in the American notion to get involved with what's going on with our government. I haven't organized, I'm going to have to work to pay my taxes so I'm not going to be able to get away today, but I have to tell you, I'm pretty proud of this, from a grassroots standpoint and I'm sure some of the media out there is peg us that way, but isn't it about as American as it gets for people, roll their stroller, make their signs and go voice their opinion about the direction of the country? Good, bad or indifferent, that's a great thing. And there are not a lot of countries that afford their people that type of right. It's a great thing."

Santtelli, in the end, is just one of many notable actors in this tea party business. The movement, as documented by the Huffington Post's Jason Linkins, has roots in Ron Paul's presidential candidacy -- supporters pledged to fly a blimp and drop tea into the Boston Harbor. Once the CNBC host gave a voice to the cause, it took off like wildfire, co-opted, at one point, by conservative groups eager for a populist card to play. Over time, of course, fed-up taxpayers became frantic anti-Obama protesters. And herein was the line that Santelli declined to cross.

"Populist rant, mobs, pitchforks, that's vocabulary that I'm certainly not using," he told his CNBC colleagues. "But I'm sure it will be out there nonetheless."

Comments

[hbreitman]

11:05 PM on 04/19/2009

The United States needs to declare bankruptcy; just like Iceland.
I find myself in a bind. I believe that any Honest Patriotic American would say: “I care about making money as much as I care about Liberty.” However, if the United States Government went bankrupt, large private businesses and vital small businesses would suffer. Even though I know Libertarianism is the only path to true liberty, the only way true liberty can be acualized in the light of recent economc events may have negative consequences especially when it comes to my small business’ bottom line. I’m sure you can understand, this would be a devestating blow to my family. I mean, I thought the whole point of Libertarianism was to have a goal of a free-market so that Liberty can be restored. Libertarianism is forward-looking Conservatism with a static political theory which has been backed up by reason. It gives us hope for a richer future. Congressman Paul, I want to know what is the best way to rectify my political philosophy and my business interests with conventional logic.

[hbreitman]

11:05 PM on 04/19/2009

All of us in the private sector know that it is sometimes best to declare bankruptcy and re-structure your business. It sounds hard, but we don’t have to worry because it’s just the government. How are they going to appear to be a sound business model when they are paying money to tax collectors but the Armed Forces and public law enforcement have been dissolved?

[hbreitman]

11:04 PM on 04/19/2009

Why starve the beast when you can kill it? First and foremost, no one would have to pay taxes because our currency is based off Federal Reserve Notes which are backed by government trust. We would have no choice but to return to a standard for our money! This would take time but the United States would no longer be a slave to foreign interests because they wouldn’t even want to bother us. It is a self-evident truth that Freedom and Liberty are the principles this country was founded upon. The only way to reach Nozick’s dream of an absolute free market with fair contracts is to “root out” the bad contracts. Then people can make new contracts and be free of an oppresive State. Bad contracts are created because left wing legislators in Congress think they know how to spend my inheritence.

[hbreitman]

11:03 PM on 04/19/2009

From The Desk of A Concerned Libertarian:
Dear Congressman Ron Paul,
I am writing this letter so that we can both profit from an opputunity which can (finally) bring about Liberty. When I was skimming the Associated Press for entertaining stories about celebrities, I unfortunately heard some “bad news.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The country of Iceland is bankrupt!?!?!? My great-great grandfather was Icelandic! I immediately got in contact with my parents, who happened to be vacationing in Iceland, so I could make sure everyone was okay. Boy was I surprised when they told me, “Don’t worry about us, everything is fine over here.” Instantly Anarchy, State and Utopia by Professor Robert Nozick came to mind. It hit me: what we Libertarians need is for our government to declare bankruptcy.

[hbreitman]

11:02 PM on 04/19/2009

Let's do it people. Let's make bold decisions about what's best for our future! Here's a letter I wrote to Congressman Paul. Both liberals and conservatives have said they respect this man so I felt it was best to send him my insights. Enjoy!

[katekid]

08:10 AM on 04/16/2009

Santelli, now there's a critter you will not see at a Mensa meeting any time soon.

[tomasedison]

05:59 AM on 04/16/2009

SANTELLI as out of touch with the American middle class as anyone could possibly be....

[YunekFlava]

11:51 PM on 04/15/2009

Do you think these T-Baggers realize they are pawns in the Network ratings war and who is vying for king of the dungheep? Probably not.

[YunekFlava]

11:49 PM on 04/15/2009

My mother used to always say to me " Be careful what you wish for" and Be careful what you take credit for". Be careful Sam Saugage Head, you're taking credit for the wrong thing.

[oscartucker]

10:58 AM on 04/16/2009

Notice, though, he won't take full credit for what his ranting and raving and big mouth brought forth:

"Populist rant, mobs, pitchforks, that's vocabulary that I'm certainly not using," he told his CNBC colleagues. "But I'm sure it will be out there nonetheless."

Did he show up at a "teabagging", or was he busy at work and couldn't get away??? Loves his job, huh?

[Indie2008]

11:33 PM on 04/15/2009

Spawn seems an appropriate word.

[realitybase]

10:12 PM on 04/15/2009

It's about time the government storm the real gates of executive wealth - the wealth that the "upper" class has stolen from OUR country's treasury.

The tea-baggers do not believe in a civil society, and the rich have taken advantage of the ignorant via Faux news to instigate a revolution.

They won't like the end result though. Remember the Alamo.

[Indie2008]

11:24 PM on 04/15/2009

FOX news carefuylly avoided showing the racist anti-Obama signs at these rallies. What does that have to do with any sincere protest against high taxes?

[mmgbizgirl]

08:32 PM on 04/15/2009

The America you're talking about has people hanging from trees.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

07:58 PM on 04/15/2009

Santelli needs to grow a set. He incites and gets this junk started, then when there's opposition to it he wants to distance himself, now on the day of he wants to take credit again and show pride. Typical traitorous repuke behavior, thinking that we don't have records from last week proving his continuous flip flopping.

[Jayne Vanderlay]

07:40 PM on 04/15/2009

Santelli is mediocre

[MideastDove]

07:29 PM on 04/15/2009

"As american as it gets"?

Looks to me like they are ready to smash the store windows of a certain ethnic/religious group.