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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Tea Party serves piping hot cup of hate and bigotry

Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 02:17 PM

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Anti-immigrant hatred was spewed at the Tea Party convention over the weekend, but you probably didn't know it, as it was barely reported.

Instead we had a lot of speculating about Sarah Palin and a 2012 White House run, and the Tea Party crowd came across as fairly decent folk, mad as hell, but civil.

Not so.

Consider the following, widely applauded remarks by keynote speaker Tom Tancredo, the racist anti-immigrant former congressman.

Here are his words about Americans who voted for Barack Obama. He stated there should be a "civics literacy test" for those who voted for Obama. He stated Obama was elected by people who "couldn't spell the word 'vote' or say it in English" and that they had elected a "committed socialist ideologue called Barack Hussein Obama."

Doesn't that just make you proud to be an American? This age-old appeal to racism and anti-immigrant sentiment?

He also claimed that the Mexican president was seeking to create a new country by joining the U.S. and Mexico as one country and eliminating borders.

And that Obama was ashamed to put his hand on his heart when The National Anthem was being played.

Interesting isn't it, that very little was written about Tancredo's rant and hate-filled speech. Are we suddenly afraid to counter such racists in this country? Are we sleepwalking toward disaster where rabble-rousers like Tancredo can fan the flames of hatred and division at a time when we have never needed more to come together as nation?

The Tea Party strikes me as the poison party when they allow such racists to rant on. Shame on them for allowing Tancredo his racist platform.

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windrider48 | Feb 12, 2010, 08:42 PM EST

The Tea Party is a very broad based coalition of disaffected Democrats, disaffected Republicans, and, yes, disaffected independents. Progressive liberals who decry Tancredo should keep in mind that you lot have Barney Frank; isn't he something to be proud of. Oh yes, lest we forget Pelosi, Reid, Dodd. The Obmites are quick to condemn. Once again I will suggest the Obmite prophet...Saul Alinsky. The assault on the Tea Party is text book Alinsky.

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Sungold | Feb 12, 2010, 04:09 AM EST

If you didn't read about the convention in the mainstream media, it's because they like to pretend that the Tea Party movement doesn't exist. I also take exception to the typical liberal assertion that if you disagree with the socialistic policies of the Obama administration, you are a "racist" or a "hater" who "can't stand it that a black man is in the White House". And when you're calling names, remember that "hate speech" goes both ways.

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Felicia | Feb 12, 2010, 12:52 AM EST

Yea for the Tea Party, we finally have a voice against the RINO's and Liberals who are ruining the America I knew. If you are a LEGAL immigrant, welcome to America. If not, it's time for you to leave so that we don't have to keep paying for your health care and education.

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 09:42 PM EST

As for Tancredo's assertions about Obama voters, considering the utter flop Obama has been since taking office I would almost be inclined to agree with Tancredo (although I would clarify by saying a LOT of Obama voters). Certainly they can handle one man's views of them -- considering Bush voters put up with one hell of a lot worse, for one hell of a lot longer, from LIBERAL comentators.

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 09:41 PM EST

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 09:37 PM EST

Here we go again, McNamara31 (3rd or 4th time, in this post) -- they're NOT immigrants. They're ILLEGAL ALIENS. Totally different categories -- or didn't you know the difference? As far as what makes me an 'expert' (sarcasm noted), I have eyes, ears and common sense -- not to mention my American birthright which my LEGITIMATE Irish immigrant ancestors handed to me -- and which ILLEGAL ALIENS are now stomping and spitting on, emboldened by the support of a foolish few.

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willieboy | Feb 11, 2010, 08:00 PM EST

Everyone is entitled to his opinion. If you don't like it KMA.

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McNamara31 | Feb 11, 2010, 07:44 PM EST

IrishandProud...Tancredo was an equal opportunity demeaner. He attacked everyone who voted for Obama inferring that they all, including immigrants, were below the intelligence level to vote. Sounds exactly like the Navitist attitude that demeaned my Irish relatives when they arrived in America. And BTW, what makes you such an expert on today's immigrants anyway.

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 06:42 PM EST

The only Klan-like material around here is Niall's attitude toward Tea Party people...and those few who buy that line of attack (such as hartfordwoman)...for it's THEIR perspective (pandering to illegals) that's been adopted full-tilt by the powers that be in the USA...and which has been largely fueling this enormous, populist backlash we're now seeing, in the USA. ILLEGAL ALIENS OUT...NO EXCUSES, NO APOLOGIES.

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 06:37 PM EST

No, it ISN'T, McNamara31. The Irish immigrants of old were exactly that -- IMMIGRANTS. That is totally different from the ILLEGAL ALIENS, of today. The Irish came to America and suffered discrimination and hardship...but they actually WANTED to assimilate and become Americans. NOT SO with illegals. They want to live here illegally, get out jobs and money, and yet keep on being what they were before, and have US pander to THEM. Totally, utterly different from my Irish ancestors.

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McNamara31 | Feb 11, 2010, 04:33 PM EST

hartfordwoman I'm with you. Many people forget, or never knew, how the Irish were treated when they first arrived in the U.S. Back then, it was the "Navitists" who spouted the beliefs of the Tea Party Convention Attendees. They thought there was no place for the likes of the Irish in "Their America".Different times, same bigotry.

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windrider48 | Feb 11, 2010, 03:30 PM EST

Let's all be careful with the name calling. Name calling is an old progressive trick...it's a tactic of the far left. Intimidate the dissenters. To compare the Tea Party people with the Klan is ignorance of the members and aims of the movement. It might not be as much fun on blogs, but stick to proveable fact.

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BigGuns | Feb 11, 2010, 03:19 PM EST

I find nothing but truth in what Tom states!!!

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hartfordwoman | Feb 11, 2010, 02:50 PM EST

BTW for anyone who isn't in the US - literacy tests were used to keep blacks out of the voting booth for decades - do you suggest a return to that? Racism in an Irishperson - after the way WE'VE been treated? Not very wise my friends.

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IrishAndProud | Feb 11, 2010, 02:48 PM EST

And...lastly...Obama IS a committed socialist ideologue, Niall! Do you actually think he's NOT? It's PRECISELY the kinds of comments you've made in your article, Niall -- the condescending, stereotyping, WRONG stuff you say (you're talking about the MAJORITY of folks in this nation, remember) that has only added to their numbers and increased their passion.

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