Aristocrats at the tea party:the corporate interests in a movement that claims to be populist

[Hannah Bell]

According to a poll by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation, some 11 percent of Americans say they've engaged in "active support" for the Tea Party movement--a vaguely defined label applied to anti-tax, anti-"Big Government," pro-"patriotic" agitation. Only 5 percent of people claim to have "attended a rally or meeting held by any organization associated with the Tea Party movement"--a relatively small number, especially considering that polls tracking "activism" have a record of inflating such numbers.

But you'd never know that from the media. To hear them tell it, America is being swallowed under by a right-wing tidal wave.

"My only goal is to support the grassroots activists who are fighting for responsible, limited government--and our Constitution," Palin wrote in USA Today about her decision to speak at the recent National Tea Party Convention.

It's hard to understand how any movement claiming to be "populist" and "grassroots" could charge $549 for admission--as the organizers of the National Tea Party Convention did. More importantly, it raises the question of just who was shelling out the cash to hear the former Alaska governor read notes about "hope" and "change" off her hand...

http://socialistworker.org/2010/02/25/aristocrats-tea-party

[lazarus]

1. I remember reading a little while ago

that 33% of Americans have a favourable view towards the Tea Party movement. And 39% of Americans have a favourable view of socialism

And yet, I don't hear about how there's a rising tide of people advocating for a socialist America.

[SpiralHawk]

2. "Smirk." - Corporatists (R)