Perhaps the headline got your attention. That was the point, and I should say now that it's a completely bogus claim. But it is a claim based on the exact same logic as the claim being made in tons of right-wing blogs and even some mainstream news organizations that a recent poll shows that the Tea Party and Christian Right are (to use ACB's headline) "Closely Linked."
In truth, the poll shows that less than half of the Tea Party identifies as conservative Christian. The poll shows that less than a quarter of conservative Christians identify as being in the Tea Party. Yet somehow, the conclusion being drawn by this poll is that the "Tea Party Is Much Like the Religious Right." Of course, around 1 in 5 Tea Party members voted for Obama, so by that same logic, I guess this poll also shows that the "Tea Party Is Much Like Democrats."
Come on! ABC, NPR, MSNBC, and Reuters -- all are buying this claim. I feel like the kid watching a naked emperor walk by as everyone congratulates him on his beautiful clothes. So let's review the facts one more time: most people who identify as being part of the Tea Party are not conservative Christians, and three times as many conservatives Christians are not in the Tea Party as are.
Now, I can totally understand why the GOP and conservatives would want to spread this false narrative that the Tea Party and the Christian Right are synonymous. They have a relatively small Tea Party movement with tons of energy that is distrusted by their traditional and larger group of Christian Right foot soldiers who are still somewhat disaffected by the Bush years. What better way to turn out the troops than to try to convince the 75 percent of the Christian Right who don't identify with the Tea Party that the Tea Party is really just like them and that they should join up.
That's why Tony Perkins changed his tune from complaining in March that the Tea Party deliberately excludes conservative Christian priorities and that "the groups coordinating [the Tea Party] eschew social issues" to now claiming that "99%" of those who attend his rallies also attend Tea Party events" and that "[w]e see [the Tea Party] as an ally ... we're working with them." I understand why Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network would read this poll and claim "so much for trying to say that Christians and the Tea Party don't have common cause. That theory just went KABOOM!!"
But why in the world are progressives picking up this false narrative? When we see Glenn Beck, Tony Perkins, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich all making the same argument to the media and American people, it should be a clue that this is not an argument we want to be making.
Is there some overlap? Sure. The Tea Party is conservative and (my headline aside) mostly GOP. But there is more difference than similarity between the Tea Party and the Christian Right. Progressives should be highlighting those differences and hypocrisy, not helping Republicans cover them up. Conservative leaders condemn Democratic candidates for not opposing abortion in all cases but welcome the majority of Tea Party members who share that same view. And it's anathema when Democrats argue that government shouldn't define marriage as only between a man and a woman, but it's fine that most Tea Party members hold that same view.
There are lots of ways to spin data. Using data from this poll, we can follow the lead of the Right by focusing on the fact that most Tea Party members oppose gay marriage, which makes the Tea Party sound more appealing to social conservatives...or we could highlight the fact that most Tea Party members support legal recognition of same-sex couples (civil unions or marriage), which would turn off social conservatives.
Why would any Democrat think that it is better to join Palin and Beck in building a narrative that twists the data to help convince the Tea Party and Christian Right that they are one and the same than to push an argument much closer to the truth that forces those two parts of the Republican base to face and wrestle with their huge differences?
Dr. David P. Gushee: Tea Party Libertarianism and Christian Ethics
Jim Wallis: How Christian Is Tea Party Libertarianism?
New Poll: Tea Party Overwhelmingly Christian And Socially ...
Jim Wallis: How Christian Is Tea Party Libertarianism?
'Tea party' is polarizing, but has many 'closet admirers,' poll ...
Christians don't get angry. At least they're not supposed to...
It is what one gets angry about and what one does with that anger that is important.
The problem here is that the Religious Right gets angry over the wrong things - they claim Christianity as the reason to get angry over strictly political or military issues. They claim Christianity but give their first allegiance to political candidates, political causes or love of country.
Christians first allegiance should be to their Creator and Lord. This allegiance allows a proper perspective on everything else. To wit: instead of fighting abortion with violence and protests, make sure every baby is wanted and can be provided for in a loving way; instead of condemning people based on sexual orientation, love and accept everyone; instead of hate and fear toward the immigrant, remember the law of Moses that says "to treat the foreigner among you as a citizen".
So many more, but that is only an example. Most of the time when I hear the Religious Right speak, although I hear the name of God and Christ, I hear nothing of the principles of that faith and I hear the name of God, therefore, taken in vain since it is being used to gain personal advantage - a clear violation of the Third Commandment.
There was a different tea party in the story of Alice in Wonderland written in the 19th century.
In the late 20th century there was a great Canadian rock band called the Tea Party.
A little bit after that Ron Paul had a movement loosely known as the Tea Party which focused on the US tax system.
Sometime in 2009, right after Obama took office, Fox News, the Heartland Institute, Freedomworks, American Solutions and Americans For Prosperity (all corp funded, not grassroots) co-opted the Tea Party protests for their own.
In 2010, the Christian Right co-opted the Tea Party for themselves and here we are today.
Are tea baggers evangelical christians? probably not but their fake movement has been taken over by those religious and corporate backed forces that make them for all intents and purposes a tool for the Christian Right.
End the INSANI-TEA, vote Dem this Nov whether you want to or not. Otherwise, enjoy living in a country controlled by people stuck in the mindset of the 18th century on many fronts.
These are all facets of the right wingnuts, as well. The right wingnuts are their base. Don't tell me they're not tied to each other like white on rice.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." -Sinclair Lewis
http://austinsthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/view-of-an-elephant-wearing-an-american-flag-
carrying-a-cross2.jpg
They don't want to talk about social issues because they would scare voters away if they were more open than they already are about forced childbirth.
Are you afraid of people leaving women alone to make their own choices about their own bodies?
You know they aren't going to be 'leaving social issues alone' if elected. They'll be pushing the Religious Right agenda they speak in their 'values summits' etc, from day one.
One can only conclude that both the headline and the substance of this article appear to be deliberately misleading - typical Tea Party misinformation and obfuscation.
You know what I want? I want less government in my life. I want their hands out of my pockets, They're so deeply in there now that it's nearly sexual assault.
But what about the much more basic abyss in the GOP geography, the one that mystifies observers for 40 years now? The what's the matter with Kansas type of abyss?
The fact that libertarians and social conservatives have little to share in a common party is well taken. But what about the much more fundamental divide and miraculous 'union' of sheep and butchermen?
But you need to explain how candidates like Miller, O'Donnel, Angle's et al views on social issues are any different from those pushed by the Christian Right.
"It's the candidates stupid!"