Columns, Congress, Free Speech, Media, Politics

Tea Party and the Myth of a Grassroots Movement

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

 The 2010 elections which gave the Republican Party the majority in the House of Representatives was seen as the elevation of a “Grassroots Movement”, composed of the spontaneously combusted wrath of ordinary citizens fed up with a bloated government. It was indeed a seminal moment for those people who disdained taxation, government handouts in entitlements, and the seeming waste of our tax dollars. The initial angry explosion was a reaction to the proposal and passage of the Health Care Bill. Rallies were organized, town hall meetings disrupted and a “hit list” of both Republican and Democratic members of  Congress circulated. 

The initial mainstream media reaction to this nascent movement was one of disdain, particularly because it was seen as an “out of the Beltway movement”, thus not to be taken seriously. However, this changed in a large part led by FOX News and copied by its “wannabe” CNN. Led by these Cable outlets, thirsting for sensation to fill their 24/7 news maws, all media began to follow suit, not wanting to be left behind. I find it interesting though that as late as April 22, 2010, Politico, hardly a left wing outlet, noted that unwarranted attention and media frenzy had begun, elevating the status of this purported movement: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36185.html  It is ironic that this article, while laying out the irrational amount of attention given to the Tea Party, at its end discounts the effect the movement would have on the election. Its authors certainly were not prescient.

Lost in the tumult of media exaggeration and sensationalism was the fact that this was not at all a grass roots movement of average Americans, but a crafty example of political manipulation laid out in tandem with the compliance of Rupert Murdoch’s news network’s assault upon all things they deem liberal. The prime mover in this is Richard “Dick” Armey, a former Texas Republican Congressman, House Majority Leader, and major senior lobbyist at a worldwide lobbying firm. Armey created the mythology of a grass roots movement, guided its progress, arranged, and then paid for its “spontaneous” events.

Dana Millbank, in the Washington Post related the involvement of Dick Armey in this movement. “Dick Armey is intellectually versatile: The former leader of House Republicans went from being a rainmaker for a Washington lobbying firm to being the unofficial leader of the anti-Washington “tea party” movement.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503730.html

 After the 2010 election victory, sweeping away as many “old school” Republicans as well as Democrats, the media both expressed shock and provided substantive background on what had just taken place. 

“There is particular irony in Mr. Armey — who has spent three decades in Washington, where he has become one of the city’s most enduring insiders — mentoring a movement that wants to hold on to its outsider ethos.” http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/a/dick_armey/index.html

 The vehicle for Mr. Armey’s maneuverings is an organization called FreedomWorks, which if you go to the link below you will see a picture of Glenn Beck and a link to receive kits to be used in August disruptions of Town Hall Meetings. http://www.freedomworks.org/  FreedomWorks has its origin in an organization called “Citizens for a Sound Economy” which is not surprisingly a creation of the Koch Brothers that was tactically split into two entities, one being FreedomWorks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_for_a_Sound_Economy    

 In trying to make sense of politics and the forces competing within it context is everything. By its nature politics is the art of using popular mythological themes (i.e. No New Taxes, less government, terrorism, etc.) to rouse the populace to given action. The Tea Party Movement, FreedomWorks and even Dick Armey have every right to try to influence our political system. They also have every right to utilize what mythology they please, or can create, to advance their cause. Whether there is danger to our political system in their belief in, or promotion of, their myths should not result in suppression of their rights. That is not the Constitutional way in our country. Indeed, their aims and their backers are not hidden, but easily researched, as I’ve done cursorily here. 

 My concerns are that for this country to remain democratic and viable under our Constitution we need the information and context supplied by a free press, bolstered by freedom of expression. When the popular punditry and the mainstream news media do not supply context, but actually play a role in creating myths  about the forces engaged in struggle for the hearts and minds of people, our democratic institutions suffer.

 That the so-called Tea Party is a movement backed by some of the most powerful forces in this country to put forth an agenda that is beneficial to them and represents their ideology, should be contextually a part of any news report, media sound bite, or internet article. The myth of this movement being a spontaneous uprising of average citizens is well represented in media reportage. For the average citizen struggling to keep their families and themselves together, getting their news from small doses of mainstream media, it serves to reinforce the myth by omiting context. That this amalgam of people, led cunningly by a Washington Insider and lobbyist, is confused as to their purpose and misled by an ideology that is possibly antithetical to their needs is best represented by that well known poster, prominently shown at a Tea Party Rally: “Keep your Government Hands off of my Social Security and Medicare!” Such is the effect of political mythology on the minds and actions of people.

 Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

98 thoughts on “Tea Party and the Myth of a Grassroots Movement”

  1. Bdaman,

    Thanks, I’ve already done part two, my normal hurricane preparations early.
    As far as the other comment. I originally thought I was commenting on another thread. Arguing on my own generated thread is against the standard I’ve set for myself, so I eliminated it.

    As for Haiti it makes me sad to contemplate what the people there have to suffer through. I was friends with and worked with many Haitians in NYC. Loved the people, their intelligence, wit and culture. Why certain populations get so screwed by life is beyond me.

  2. @bdaman,

    Obviouslty Spinwell came to his senses and thought better of that comment. He must have remebered that Soros, though not a brownshirt, was an admitted Nazi collaborator that as a 14 yr old helped the Nazi’s send his fellow Hungarian jews to concentration camp while posing as a christian.

    GeneH/Buddha knows what’s floating out there. Hopefully, he’ll come to his senses and stop the charade.

  3. Bdaman,

    On a more serious note is there anything for me to worry about weather wise down here this weekend? Local TV is whipping up their usual apocalyptic warnings.

  4. Mike I just saw your comment and now it’s gone. WTF

    anyways my response is above in anycase.

    P.S. I have been graciously asked to provide the surf forecast for this years U.S. East Coast Surfing Championship in Virgina Beach, August 22-28.

  5. Morning Mike. I don’t think so at this moment. More than likely a wind and rain event for South Florida. Your gonna be on the Westside of the system which is the weaker side. We won’t know for sure until tomorrow. This is when Emily is forecast to pop out on the Northern side of D.R. and Cuba. The poor people of Haiti are getting the shaft again.

    Current intensity models point from Tropical Storm to Cat 1 in about 72 hours. Two days ago it was strong T.S. to Cat 3 so the overall trend is down. I would suggest though getting provisions and stocking up on a few items today so that you eliminate the need to venture out. Get a new book to read ect. ect. and start paying closer attention to my page starting tomorrow.

  8. kderosa

    That will soften the blow when the evidence (which exists) comes to fore. Or, you finally admit to your wrongdoing.

    Any Idea, if or when, you will be providing this evidence ?

    Roco

    I dont know, that seems far fetched to me. But Breitbart asked Buddha to come work for him, so maybe it is possible.

    I remember that, maybe thats why Buddha doesn’t post here anymore. Maybe he finally accepted the offer.

  9. kderosa:

    “Which one of your employers were you wearing the “Buddha” mask for? Did they stop paying you or did you stop for another reason?”

    I did think Buddha posted quite a bit, maybe that explains it. He was working for Soros or one of his puppet orgs.

    So what you are saying is that Buddha was and possibly is a paid activist. Paid by the Soros orginization to act as a brownshirt to stifle conservative dissent?

    I dont know, that seems far fetched to me. But Breitbart asked Buddha to come work for him, so maybe it is possible.

    Buddha does write pretty well and makes a pretty good argument even if you dont agree with them [the arguments not Buddha/Gene]

  11. @anon nurse — “Many come by their honesty naturally… — they don’t need anyone else “to keep them honest”…”

    Others apparently don’t, and do need it.

  12. @Gene “Buddha” Howington

    I see you’ve fallen back to a new “ultimately irrelevant” position. Good for you. That will soften the blow when the evidence (which exists) comes to fore. Or, you finally admit to your wrongdoing.

    Perhaps you are right on the ultimately irrelevant part. Of course, changing identities was not the only thing you did that casts aspersions on your low character. How about those imaginary sock-puppet conversations you had between your identities?

    First as Buddha:

    Buddha Is Lauhging1, July 7, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    Gene,

    Dude, no wonder you picked something like Eta Carinae as an avatar. You are on fire! We have several other science geek types who frequent here. I saw where you’ve met OS, Tony and LK. Keep an eye out for Slartibartfast and Bob, Esq. as well. Slarti is a mathematician and Bob just loves physics. You guys will hit it off just great.

    And go, Team NASA!

    Then as Gene H:

    Gene H.1, July 7, 2011 at 11:19 pm

    Buddha,

    Thanks for the compl[i]ment. I’ll have to say that among the many reasons I chose Eta Carinae, being “on fire” never came to mind. Mainly I picked it for aesthetic reasons. It’s a very pretty stellar event. There were some philosophical reasons as well, but pretty sold the deal. I should also say I’ve really enjoyed your posts too. You’re a rather savagely funny fellow. Jonathan has provided a great forum with his blog and you and the other “Regulars” really give it additional character. I’ve only been reading Jon’s blog for about a week now and I’m completely hooked. It provides some of the most stimulating conversations I’ve seen on the Internet in quite some time. Let me second your “Go, NASA” and I’ll leave it at that.

    Then as Buddha again:

    Buddha Is Lauhging1, July 7, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    Gene,

    “Savagely funny”? I like your choice of adjectives. Thanks for noticing.

    Do I even need to get into all the lies you’ve posted trying to establish the “Gene H” identity as a new participant of the forum?

    If you could merely control your behavior and personal attacks, we wouldn’t have to keep reminding the forum of your duplicity. You’ve brought this problem on yourself.

  13. kderosa 1, August 3, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    @anon nurse – “One has to wonder why s/he stays.”

    To keep you and the others honest.

    That’s the thing, kderosa. Many come by their honesty naturally… — they don’t need anyone else “to keep them honest”…

  14. kderosa,

    I’d much rather people think I’m someone else than think I’m a corporatist shill. Who I am is ultimately irrelevant. What you are is not.

  15. @Gene “Buddha” Howington

    Look at you getting all bold with your innuendo.

    Which one of your employers were you wearing the “Buddha” mask for? Did they stop paying you or did you stop for another reason?

  16. The Tea Party has influenced congress to cut funding to IED research. As a disabled veteran who fell victim to an IED and as the father of a soldier serving in Afghanistan, I can confidently say the tea Party is as un-American as al Queda. Ed, you wouldn’t say any of those things to my face…for long.

  17. “To keep you and the others honest from screwing up the agenda of my employers.”

  18. @anon nurse – “One has to wonder why s/he stays.”

    To keep you and the others honest.

  19. Back to Mr. Spindell’s blog:

    “That the so-called Tea Party is a movement backed by some of the most powerful forces in this country to put forth an agenda that is beneficial to them and represents their ideology, should be contextually a part of any news report, media sound bite, or internet article.”

    Should we preface all articles that reference the Tea Party with such a statement?

    Would your wish also hold for the SEIU, AFL-CIO, MoveOn,MMFA,Alternet, movements also backed ‘by some of the most powerful forces in this country’?

    Should the Koch brothers be mentioned, but George Soros and George Kaiser remain in the background?

  20. Ed,

    Dezza isn’t “a regular” on this site. Pay no attention to those who mock, taunt, and goad — only bullies engage in these behaviors, IMO.

    My experience is that this is a pretty “civil” blog.

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