George Washington would miff today's tea party

[mgc1961]

FAIRFAX, Va. — For obvious reasons, and with some justification, the supporters of the tea party movement that has so energized the recent political landscape in America seek to enlist the Founding Fathers as fervent champions of their cause.

George Washington impersonators and others in Colonial garb are often part of crowds protesting what they view as an oppressive government heedless of constitutional limits. They think this government might destroy the promise of the American Dream via a dangerous combination of profligate spending, excessive taxing, and overweening regulation.

But several factors make George Washington and the American tea party movement an uncomfortable fit. First, there is a strong tendency among tea party supporters to view the Founding Fathers as a monolithic body united in its view of the proper role of the government and how to interpret the Constitution. While the Founders may have generally agreed on a limited government, there was as much debate then on what the proper limits of government should be as there is today. And within the framework of their heated debate, George Washington was in fact a champion of an expansive government.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/02/103009/gw-would-miff-todays-tea-party.html#ixzz148XgG1as

[alc]

1. and Hamilton's views would make their heads explode

I'd guess they're ignorant but may be actively ignoring the founding fathers who differ with them. I'm sure they'd say Hamilton's bank bills (bail-out for the states) were unconstitutional (Hamilton argued the "general welfare" clause instead of enumerated powers). But the USA probably wouldn't have survived without them. And Hamilton thought the feds could do much more than that.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. The people that make up todays teaparty would be the first

to run to the British and disclose anything they knew about Washington so they could see him hang. Take that to the bank..

[Golden Raisin]

3. 99.9% of them (2010 Tea Partiers)

would have been card-carrying Tories before & during the Revolution.

[dawg]

4. Well of course!

Do you really think they would spit on the union jack and turn their backs on king and country like those *rebels*? Kings are instituted by God for the government of mankind, ya know.