The tea party movement has gotten much attention in recent months, but aside from decrying big government and excessive spending, who are the supporters and what else do they appear to believe?A new University of Washington survey found that among whites, southerners are 12 percent more likely to support the tea party than whites in other parts of the U.S., and that conservatives are 28 percent more likely than liberals to support the group.
"The tea party is not just about politics and size of government. The data suggests it may also be about race,"said Christopher Parker, a UW assistant professor of political science who directed the survey.
Indeed, strong support for the tea party movement results in a 45 percent decline in support for health care reform compared with those who oppose the tea party. "While it's clear that the tea party in one sense is about limited government, it's also clear from the data that people who want limited government don't want certain services for certain kinds of people. Those services include health care,"Parker said.He directed the Multi-State Survey of Race and Politics, a broad look at race relations and politics in contemporary America. The survey reached 1,015 residents of Nevada, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia and California. All were battleground states in the 2008 presidential election with the exception of California, which was included in the survey to represent the West Coast.
The survey found that 30 percent of respondents had never heard of the tea party, but among those who had, 32 percent strongly approved of it. In that group, 56 percent of Republicans strongly approved, 31 percent of independents strongly approved and 5 percent of Democrats strongly approved.Among whites who approved, 35 percent said they believe blacks to be hardworking, 45 percent said they believe them intelligent and 41 percent said they believe them trustworthy.
Conducted by telephone from Feb. 8 to March 15, the survey reached 494 whites, 380 blacks, 77 Latinos and 64 members of other races. The sampling error margin is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The Washington Institute for the Study of Ethnicity, Race and Sexuality and the UW Department of Political Science paid for the survey. It was conducted by the UW's Center for Survey Research.Source
Photos - Little One's Alice in Wonderland Tea Party
23 comments:
You can read the racist rhetoric of people who proclaim to be proud members of the Tea Party on any given day in the Journal Star.
After reading the comments any time Pam Adams posts an editorial, it would be surprising if she is not getting a regular barrage of hate mail.
It appears that in several of the survey questions, respondents were asked to stereotype an entire race of people (i.e., are black people hard-working, intelligent, trustworthy?). Did they also ask if Jews were good businessmen? Or if the Italians were good lovers? I bet there's a correlation there, too -- people who favor Italian lovers are more likely to be Tea Party Patriots!
In other news, statistics show that whenever ice cream sales are up on the beach, shark attacks also increase. Thus, the data clearly show that ice cream may have something to do with shark attacks.
Statistics also show that whenever I blog about race I can count on C.J. Summers to come over here and attempt to belittle what I blog about and give me a lesson on what he believes to be the truth.
You have people on your own blog who need some of your enlightenment (David Jordan, Packa, etc...), you might want to check on them...
Otherwise the data would indicate that you agree with their rhetoric.
Emerge,
What you can count on is that when you leave a comment on my blog asking me and my readers to read one of your posts, I will read it and probably comment on it. If you don't want people to visit and comment on your posts, perhaps you shouldn't invite them.
Oh, that's right, I forgot, I'm lucky to even be in your blogosphere...
A comment is one thing - your attempts to belittle my posts are quite another and consistent. Why is that C.J. - what is that attributable to?
Emerge: Don't let CJ rattle you. Nobody that blogs like he does could possibly have a life.
This is his mantra. We bloggers will never live up to his standards.
You are right Randall. Actually, I should be thanking C.J. Summers, it was the constant hate speak from bloggers on the Peoria Chronicle that prompted me to start this blog to try and counter balance all of the erroneous information that is spewed about the black community in the Peoria blogosphere.
There is not enough time in my day to counter all of the garbage. Thankfully, there are a few others who see through the crap and respond accordingly.
Damn I am pissed about this incident.
Emerge, I know that there are bloggers (and you mentioned a couple) on C.J.'s blog whose racial views are certainly less than acceptable to me. I agree that the PJS blogs are often full of racism that offends me, frightens me, and upsets me. I don't believe I have ever read any of C.J.'s own opinions that I believe to be racist. It is true that C.J. doesn't necessarily reprimand comments that are racist or border on racism, but I don't see any signs of his condoning the comments. I believe that C.J. made some comment recently to the effect that he is not drawn to the Tea Party--that's good enough for me. Pam's PJS persona is so unlike the Pam that I have known for years that I am never sure how to react to her comments--and she does elicit racist comments. For whatever reason, I believe she invites them. It is true that C.J.'s blog appeals to a broader range of bloggers than yours does--on any topic, not just those that can be categorized as racial issues. Personally, I believe many people read your blogs but do not make comments. A few of C.J.'s regulars, including me, are regulars of yours, also. In fact, I probably wouldn't have known about you if I hadn't heard about you on C.J.'s blog.
CJ - when looking at these results, try looking beyond the one question itself (Do you believe blacks are hard working?) For example, it's much more revealing in the DIFFERENCES between Tea Party supporters and non-supporters.
Presumably, people could have chosen not to answer such a stereotypical question. Those who did, however, show that Tea Party supporters are much more likely to have a negative opinion of blacks and Hispanics than non-supporters. (and far fewer blacks and Hispanics are likely to be Tea Party supporters).
You are doing a wonderful job, Emerge. I can't help but notice that there are an awful lot of progressive bloggers in the area who've quit blogging. It's hard to be heard in a vacuum.
I've missed something--just where were these questions posted and why would the question about whether or not blacks are hard working even be relevant to the Tea Party movement? At least, I'm surprised (maybe) that they would have the audacity to be that blatantly racist. In reading C.J.'s response--is there a chance that he was belittling the questions and not you, Emerge. I am clearly confused.
Sharon, just dig a little deeper. Go to this link:
http://depts.washington.edu/uwiser/racepolitics.html
From there, click on the "Full Table of Results" at the bottom of the page.
Yes, CJ was belittling the question - but, it would seem, he was also belittling the inference from the question.
Frankly the survey only confirms what we already know to be true - the Tea Party is sowing the seeds of hatred and division.
If you are in a position to stand against it, but instead you make it possible for those views to fester and do nothing to root it out when it comes across your path (or your blog), you are a part of the problem.
Emerge: I think the survey is flawed, and that's what I tried to express, albeit using sarcasm. It was nothing personal against you.
I went to the Tea Party today at around 12:00 (I couldn't resist).
I saw about 150 people; (lots of mommy jeans)women and men in their mid 30’s; women w/kids (who evidently were being home schooled, otherwise they would be in school?); Caucasian; large numbers of people who appeared to be 55 – 60+ (who are more than likely on Medicare or SSI).
I was reading signs and t-shirts as I walked through, nobody made eye contact.
One woman walked by me with a sign that read “All Democrats are hypocrites”. I read it out loud (in a very nice voice – with a smile on my face as I walked towards her and her friend) and said “hey, I’m a Democrat – I’m not a hypocrite”. They ignored me.
Well organized event.
Good for you, Emerge. Did you see Charlie there--he probably was lost in the crowd? Ha--big smiley face! No, seriously, I'm glad that both of you went to check it out. That sign said it all--individuals aren't seen as individuals, just as members of a group to hate.
Look, if we are honest, we will admit that most of us have some racist tendencies that we are unaware of... and then there are those who practice practice their brand of racism like a religion.
Just the fact that we can talk about black and white as if those terms meant anything is a problem.
That is the problem with the poll... do blacks or white or are blacks and white ANYTHING... it is a "Are you still beating your wife" question?
@ kcdad - agreed.
Did any of you hear Glen Beck this morning? He said something to the effect that every time he hears Obama speak, he wants to shout, "I hate you, but I don't because of my faith." Then he conducted what seemed to be a bit of an "altar call," asking people to pray with him and called on them not to hate--right after he admitted to hating Obama--oh, no, he didn't say that because his faith prevents him from hating. What!
Beck is a shock jock carnival clown... there is site dedicated to exposing this fraud.
http://www.bobcesca.com/
One the ladies speaking at OUR T-Party gathering said she wanted to jump through a radio and strangle a liberal... I can't remember who it was... because they had remarked how violent and irrational the T-Party goers are...
It was the "hot finance lady".
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