“THE TEA PARTY DOES NOT REPRESENT AMERICA”
I have heard this come out of several groups of people:
- Elitists, who they themselves have no clue where America is at, at this point;
- Out-of-touch politicians who call the Tea Party people Tea-baggers which is pretty derogatory. If they would only figure out that these people are the ones picking up the check for the politicians’ “free lunch” they would be a little more respectful. Some found out in the election when they became newly unemployed (or is the new buzzword “de-elected”?); and
- Journalists who are like groupies for politicians, instead of being objective, many have degenerated into slanted “opinionists” who view themselves more as junior cheerleaders for ideology, instead of reporters of fact.
A friend with several master’s degrees who read this article’s draft said I should point out the more extreme labels that some mainstream journalists early on in this election cycle, tried to characterize the Tea Party members as: Racists, anarchists, extremists and even worse.
He supported a tea party candidate for Senate in Colorado and pointed out,
“The labels didn't stick because this is a uniquely grassroots organization without many real national leaders and so diverse that it has defied narrow labels and attempts by people like Couric, Sawyer, Matthews and others to paint these people as a collection of "nuts" or extremists. It has certainly had some growing pains, but so did a young America during the Revolution.”
Maybe some politicians and journalists could not identify this group with the roots of America because the problem is, tea isn’t really “American”. It is tied more to the British, Indian and Chinese cultures.
Maybe the Tea Party should change its name to the Bourbon Party because that IS American.
George Washington made whiskey and Thomas Jefferson, while Governor of Virginia, encouraged pioneers to settle in Kentucky and grow native corn which was later turned into whiskey that was named Bourbon because it originated from the county of Bourbon.
When it comes to identifying a longstanding drink with America, it’s bourbon. From right after the Revolutionary War to the Wild West to Prohibition to NASCAR, bourbon has centuries-old roots in American history, independence and development as a nation.
NASCAR? Yes, racing stock cars in the South evolved from cars being modified to out-run federal revenue agents chasing them because they were delivering homemade whiskey.
IS BOURBON TOO STRONG FOR YOU?
CARLINI-ISM :