Robert Nelson: In protest of a very partisan protest (must read on the tea parties in a R paper)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10612305

Published Friday April 17, 2009
Robert Nelson: In protest of a very partisan protest
BY ROBERT NELSON
WORLD-HERALD COLUMNIST


Robert Nelson

I was genuinely excited to attend the so-called “tea party” on tax day outside the Douglas County Courthouse.

I was excited because I hate the idea of paying to bail out the greedy. I hate the idea of expanding this nation’s debt in ways sure to handcuff my children and grandchildren.

And what was particularly exciting to me was the promise that this anti-tax rally would be a nonpartisan event.

This because I’ve come to distrust both major political parties in this country. I respect many Republicans, I respect many Democrats, but both parties seem to be hopelessly straddled and corrupted by their fringe constituencies. And both have well-documented culpability in this latest mess.

Time for a new party? That’s what was implied by organizers of this event.

Boy. What a crock.

This “tea party” was nothing more than a thinly veiled, talk-radio Republican crankfest attempting to rewrite recent history regarding debt, deficit spending, bailouts, stimulus dollars and taxes.

And out came the usual suspects. Signs heralding old immigrants (our forefathers) while denigrating the new ones (Mexicans). Dozens of signs blaming Obama for all the nation’s ills (he’s been president how long?). And the sign knocking 545 members of Congress, 10 more than there really are.

FULL story at link.