"People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," that's what former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), told 600 or so delegates of the grassroots movement assembled at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville at the First National Tea Party Convention. (Read more)
What in the world is wrong with these people? Or to be fair, that person (although it couldn't be missed that the crowd cheered).
Is this really the best way to start on a quest to unify America and bring a dignified and honorable conservatism to our political leadership?
I, admittedly a lone representative of free market herbal tea drinkers who have been watching the developing Tea Party with interest, am not impressed.
In fact, I am anything BUT impressed. I am disappointed, disgusted and right now, wanting a lot of personal distance from the Tea Party leadership. They do not represent my personal conservative values.
Not only do I know many extremely intelligent and educated people who voted for Obama (I may not agree with them, but I am not going to pretend they can't spell V-O-T-E or are not intelligent), but the reference to a test that was given decades ago to illiterate black citizens in an effort to legitimize their inability to vote legally was one of the most prejudiced comments I have heard in many years.
My son, a graduate of UCLA and one of the most honorable, responsible, and intelligent men I know, voted for President Obama. He knows how to spell V-O-T-E. He's extremely intelligent. And he's white.
And the former Congressman couldn't stop there, he had to continue with references to mandatory civics and literacy test requirements as a prerequisite for the right to V-O-T-E. Tests similar to those given in the South prior to the Johnson civil rights years. Are we really doing a U-turn? Is that honestly the desire of the Tea Party folks? If it is, I may switch to coffee.
I remember sitting with my fellow ASB officers around a square arrangement of desks at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, CA in 1972. I remember that we had been called to a special meeting. We watched in uncomfortable silence as student after student entered the room and moved to stand behind us and around the square grouping of desks and kids, since there was nowhere else to stand. These were members of the Black Caucus on campus.
I remember being afraid, and yet not. These were kids I passed in the halls every day, sat next to in class and knew from school activities. One was a fellow club member, another was an amazing athlete, the rest were students I knew, but did not know - if that makes sense.
However, known or unknown, there was something in the air that day, something I didn't like and couldn't identify; it seemed a bit like fear mixed with anger, but I wasn't sure. It was almost palpable and therefore almost contagious as it filled the room and I found my heart beating soundly against my chest. It was a day that changed me forever.
These young black students were attending our ASB meeting to affirm their rights, to remind us that we live in America - land of the free, and to send a message to everyone in the school. They weren't there to demand or intimidate or call names, they were there to exercise their rights as students, as citizens, as Americans. Oh, there was a LOT of tension, it was palpable, everyone felt it, but we worked through it and around it and in spite of it. And we all learned something that day.
The Black Caucus read a statement. We listened. And then we responded. And they responded to us. We listened more. It was calm, it was passionate, it was tense, it was critical, but there were no junior high antics. There was a tolerant respect going both ways. We were on new territory, it was uncertain how things were supposed to go. No one knew.
It was silent in the room after they left. We had just experienced history in the making: a peaceful, respectful airing of beliefs, desires and rights.
It was the year of the Equal Opportunity Employment Act of 1972. We were on the heels of the most significant decade of the Civil Rights Movement. A lot had happened while we were in elementary school and junior high, and now we had come face to face (literally) with the reality of what the fight had been for.
I still have a letter from then-Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, commending me (as a member of the elected ASB officers) for my role in managing what could have become a name-calling, and even riotous, session of accusations, false pride and egos. Every member of the ASB leadership council received a letter from Governor Reagan.
I have always wondered if the members of the Black Caucus received a similar letter. They deserved it more than we did.
The former Representative from Colorado used a different strategy at the Tea Party Convention this week. His antics stirred the troops to action; he captured the nation's attention - if only in disbelief and disgust.
And he did more harm, in my opinion, to the future of conservative common sense and free market politics in those few moments that he spoke, then the hundreds of thousands of tea party followers could ever do - even if they were all dressed in odd attire and marching down the Mall in DC. Oh sure, it will blow over, that's the way politics work, but the memory will remain.
Maybe we are scared as a nation because of the multiple layers of issues that seem to be getting worse every day. Maybe we are looking to 2012 as more of a deadline than a movie.
Maybe we feel threatened because of something unidentifiable that is in the air and feels contagious. Maybe color truly hasn't become a non-issue for the majority of Americans as we had hoped.
And maybe all of that makes some of us return to our junior high school tendency (born from insecurity, fear and a lack of knowledge) to point fingers, talk behind backs, spread rumors and call names. I really don't know, but I do know that I don't like it or approve of it or want any part of it.
I was taught long ago that you can make a point, you can totally disarm a verbal opponent, and you can "level" the opposition without resorting to junior high tactics. It comes with maturity and it's called character. And preparation. And confidence (based in reality). And telling the truth. And sticking to eternal principles. I know, I've experienced it. And I've used it, successfully. Many times. Although I haven’t always been proud of the fallout. Winning isn’t always fun.
It's time for the Tea Bag group to grow up. They have our attention and many of us like at least some of their conservative ideology, but we will soon lose that affinity if they don't show some maturity, clean up their act, exercise some restraint, choose their words more carefully, and have respect for the rights of American citizens of any race, color, creed or education to V-O-T-E as they choose.
And if they can't do that, we can simply toss the tea bag out.
I left junior high in 1969 and I don't plan to return, not even for a tea party.
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