Opinion
President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Others Owe 1.2 Million Tea Party Patriots Apology
By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
05/01/09 4:59 PM EDT
The following statement was issued this afternoon by Jenny Beth Martin and theTea Party Patriots, a national organizing effort created following the April 15 Tea Party protests:
Among the political class it has apparently become acceptable, and even fashionable, for American politicians from the President on down to mock the citizens they represent.
In a development that can only further denigrate the discourse necessary to any effective democracy, politicians and the "serious" news media are now mocking citizens regularly and with impunity.
Supported by mainstream journalists on MSNBC and CNN who themselves use sexual slurs on national television to mock and attack the same citizens, the politicians openly demonstrate their feelings of superiority in regard to those they were elected to represent. They now candidly express their disdain for a significant portion of the American population without threat of reprisal by the mainstream media.
On the morning of the April 15th Tea Parties, the American public was informed on national news by one of the President's economic advisers, Jared Bernstein, that the President was "unaware" of the tea parties taking place in over 850 cities across the nation.
On April 29th, the President informed a town hall meeting in St. Louis that he has now become aware of the tea parties, but only from "certain news channels on which I'm not very popular." He referred to the one million plus Patriots who came out in legitimate and constitutionally protected demonstrations of free speech on April 15th as "folks waving tea bags around..."
While he collects royalties (last year about $2.6 million) from his books, “The Audacity of Hope” and “Dreams From My Father,” the President has the audacity to imply that we the people have nothing legitimate to say about high taxes, wasteful spending and corporate bailouts.
The President also seems to believe that it is appropriate to mock millions of Americans who are expressing their opinions publicly in a peaceful manner.
"Perhaps he feels that by mocking the tea parties and the patriots who attend them, that he can marginalize them. But we know that real patriots cannot be marginalized, and that they will continue to make their voices heard in ever greater numbers," says Mark Meckler, Sacramento Tea Party Coordinator and Tea Party Patriots National Leadership Council Member.
This sort of condescending approach to the grassroots is a hallmark of politicians all across this land. We, the grassroots are mocked by the President as "folks waving tea bags around." Discussion of our legitimate complaints and concerns is avoided through the use of derogatory and condescending rhetoric.
We've heard similar rhetoric from the Speaker Nancy Pelosi who says the tea parties are an "Astroturf initiative," and "contrived events backed by those who like tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans." Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL), called people who attended the Tea Parties "despicable" and "shameful," "corporate interests" and said the events were created by "Republican lobbyists and politicians."
At every level, the president and the majority of politicians at a national level refuse to discuss the issues head on, and refuse to acknowledge the fact that a huge, non-partisan, grassroots movement has coalesced around limited government, fiscal responsibility and lower taxes.
As politicians, they are simply interested in taking and spending more and more of our money, and in leaving our children with the burdens of their excess. And they will mock, deride and oppose anyone who objects to what they are doing.
At this time, the president, and all other politicians who demeaned the protestors, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, included, owe 1.2 million patriots an apology. If our politicians are truly interested in dialogue with the people they claim to represent, such a dialogue must begin with respect for the citizens of this country.
That show of respect will begin when the politicians acknowledge that mocking and demeaning well-intentioned, peaceful Tea Party Patriots who love their country is the height of arrogance, and a terrible mistake. The American people deserve better from their elected representatives, and are beginning to demand it.
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