The hateful acts that occurred at the tea party rally in Washington this weekend were not isolated incidents -- they are part of a growing pattern of violent rhetoric, racially charged imagery, and paranoid conspiracy theories emerging from the Republican party's grassroots supporters.
Republicans officials have contributed to this atmosphere with fear-mongering and coded racism, and they have actively courted this element of their party. It's time that Republican leadership is forced to address what it's helped to create.
Please join us in confronting Republican leaders and demanding that they take responsibility for tamping down the bigotry and hate among their supporters, and that they disavow the fear-mongering that leads to it. And please ask your friends and family to do the same -- unless we take a strong stand against this kind of hate, it will continue. We need as many people as possible -- of every race -- demanding that it stop.
Our members are calling on Michael Steele, John Boehner, and Mitch McConnell to do two things:
- Unequivocally condemn bigotry and hate among your supporters, and make clear that those who embrace it have no place in your party and that you reject their support.
- Make clear that you will not tolerate fear-mongering and coded appeals to racism from officials in the Republican party, at any level.
Here's the message we sent to our members today:
Dear ColorOfChange.org member,
Racism and hate at Tea Parties is getting worse, and it has to stop.
Tell GOP leadership to stop condoning it now:
It's time to hold the Republican Party accountable.
You've probably heard about Tea Party members shouting "Nigger!" at Black Congressmen during a protest in Washington, D.C. last weekend. One of the protesters spat on Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, while another called openly gay Representative Barney Frank a "faggot" as the laughing crowd imitated his lisp.1
But Saturday was just the most recent example of the intolerance and hate coming from right-wing extremists this past year. At times it's been instigated by Republican leaders. When not, it's usually condoned and seen as part of a strategy to score politically. Either way, it's completely unacceptable and has to stop.
It's time to confront Republican leadership and force them to take responsibility for the atmosphere they've helped create. Join us in drawing a line in the sand, and ask your friends and family to do the same:
http://colorofchange.org/hate/
We're calling on RNC Chair Michael Steele, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to publicly do two simple things:
- Unequivocally condemn bigotry and hate among their supporters, and make clear that those who embrace it have no place in their party.
- Make clear that they will not tolerate fear-mongering and coded appeals to racism from officials in the Republican party, at any level.
Republican leaders publicly denounced Saturday's ugly scene, but they failed to acknowledge that this is only the latest incident in a pattern of violent rhetoric, racially charged imagery, and paranoid conspiracy theories at Tea Party rallies.2 Many Tea Partiers aren't simply about dissent -- they use fear and hatred to assault the very legitimacy of our elected leaders. It's the worst America has to offer.
Despite this, Republican leaders court the Tea Party movement while methodically supporting, exacerbating and exploiting their fear and anger for cynical political ends.3 This is nothing less than a betrayal of American values, and it's up to us to force the Republicans to stop aiding and abetting this enterprise:
http://colorofchange.org/hate/
The Tea Party movement has been marked by racially inflammatory and violent outbursts since its inception a year ago. GOP leaders are trying to pass off this weekend's assaults on Congressmen Lewis, Cleaver, Clyburn and Frank as isolated incidents. But when so-called "isolated incidents" crop up again and again, a pattern starts to emerge. The examples are numerous.
At rallies held to protest tax day last year, Tea Partiers carried signs that announced "Obama's Plan: White Slavery," "The American Taxpayers are the Jews for Obama's Oven," and "Guns Tomorrow!"4 The Republican National Committee had endorsed the rallies, and RNC Chairman Michael Steele encouraged Tea Partiers to send a "virtual tea bag" to President Obama and Democratic Congressional leadership.5 After reports of the fear-mongering signs surfaced, Steele did nothing to distance his party from the lunatic fringe. He has even gone so far as to say that if he didn't have his current position, he'd be "out there with the tea partiers."6 Some Republican governors even planned a "Tea Party 2.0" for the following month in an effort to build on the rallies' momentum.7
The Tea Party's venomous rhetoric picked up steam over the summer, when angry mobs flooded town hall meetings legislators had organized as sites for rational, civil debate on health care reform. After one meeting in Atlanta, a swastika was painted on the office of Congressman David Scott (D-GA), who had also received a flier addressed to "nigga David Scott." 8 Some protesters showed up at town hall meetings carrying guns, including at least one man who was armed at an event where the President was speaking 9. Again, Republicans responded to these tactics with silence, doing nothing to denounce them.
Similarly, there was no public outcry from Republican leadership when Mark Williams, a leader of the Tea Party movement, was exposed for having described the President as "an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief" on his blog.10 Instead, members of the GOP continued to show up to and endorse Tea Party rallies. And as recently as Sunday -- the day that the historic health care bill passed the House -- Republican members of the House riled up the same Tea Party crowd that had earlier harassed their fellow members with hate and bigotry.
Our country deserves better than this. No matter what party one supports, we should all take strong action to support civil, honest, and respectful public debate. Can you take a moment to call on Michael Steele, John Boehner, and Mitch McConnell to denounce the racist rhetoric and fear-mongering that have been ongoing, significant characteristics of the Tea Party movement, and tell those who embrace these divisive and un-American beiefs that they have no place in their party, as members or leaders? And when you do, please ask your family and friends to do the same:
http://colorofchange.org/hate/
Thanks and Peace,
-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Milton and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
March 23rd, 2010
1. "Tea Party Protests: 'Ni**er,' 'Fa**ot' Shouted At Members Of Congress," Huffington Post, 3-20-2010
http://huff.to/atRmru
2. "10 Most Offensive Tea Party Signs And Extensive Photo Coverage From Tax Day Protests," Huffington Post, 4-16-09
http://huff.to/9Sgf3S
3. "Memo Reveals GOP Plan to Exploit Fear of Obama," AOL News, 3-4-2010
http://huff.to/c4ZOH4
4. See Reference 2
5. "Tax Day Tea Parties Officially Endorsed By Republican Party," Huffington Post, 5-15-2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/tax-day-tea-parties-offic_n_186788.html
6. "Steele: I'd join the tea parties," Politico, 1-15-10
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31177.html
7. "GOP govs plan Tea Party sequel," Politico, 5-12-2009
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22436.html
8. "Rep. David Scott's (D-Ga) office spray-painted with Swastika," Daily Kos, 8-11-2009
http://bit.ly/8YInIb
9. "Armed and Dangerous?" Talking Points Memo, 8-11-2009
http://bit.ly/LV1wb
10. "Tea party leader calls Obama a welfare thug," The Loop, 9-15-09
http://theloop21.com/news/teaparty-leaders-calls-obama-welfare-thug
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opV3vTj5hyI
The ding dong Rick Sanchez at CNN earlier today tried to suggest that use of the word "socialism" was an example of the Right trying to incite violence and extremist sentiment. I suppose Mr. Rucker above would suggest that use of "socialism" is an example of "code." Talk about conspiracy lunacy, and this time it's from the Left. Funny how extreme rhetoric on one side precipitates equally ludicrous extreme rhetoric from the other.
There is nothing in what I said in my initial post to suggest that I condone or endorse the name calling. Zip. I wonder why you assumed I might. Was it because I tried to suggest that the majority in both parties are reasonable people that would never attempt to inspire or condone bigotry?
I love how some people see no evil in their own ranks. Which party do the New Black Panthers likely belong to? (you know, the ones in Philly who shouted racial epithets at white voters)
And yes--to the tea partiers "socialism" is code. Just like "San Francisco values".
You can't incite the hatred day after day and then claim you're not responsible when it gets too ugly. The republicans obviously want the tea partiers on election day--if that is the case, the republican own them year round.
And it won't be funny when "extreme rhetoric" on the right gets someone hurt. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to have to wait too long.
Just the same, you have my name on your petition. Good luck with that!
They can't help themselves.
The best thing to do is every time they jump the shark, make em famous for it.
Let reasonable people see them for what they really are.
I posted that Rick Warren was dangerous because he had gone to Uganda and stated that "homosexuality cannot be tolerated." My question was--exactly what did hemean by "not tolerated"? The same way Hitler didn't tolerate jews (and gays and gypsies)? I was castigated by people who thought I was over reacting.
Well--what happens?
Uganda's government--shored up by homophobic right wing pastors across the US--writes a law to kill homosexuals. Rick Warren of course says he would never support actually killing people.
So yeah, I'm gonna blame the republicans for whipping the lunatic fringe. Yes, I am suggesting that the GOP in general is an enabler of future domestic terroism and that it is currently endorsing vigilantism.
You betcha!
That said, it would be nice to see them act like responsible members of the community and apologize.
Why?
I am an voting, tax paying American. YOU do not speak for me. I am also calling on you to discontinue using "the American People" as pawns in your anti-progressive, fear mongering rhetoric. Again..YOU NOT speak for me and the TENS OF MILLIONS of other Americans JUST LIKE ME.