Many Tea Partiers part of religious right

[MattusMaximus]

Hmmm... is this a surprise to anyone?

Many supporters of the conservative Tea Party movement that has shaken up politics share the same views as the Christian right on social issues like abortion and the role of religion in public life, according to a poll released on Tuesday.

While the loosely organized Tea Party movement has focused largely on shrinking the size of government and other fiscal issues, its backers are more likely to support government restrictions on gay marriage and other social issues, the Public Religion Research Institute found in its American Values Survey.

The survey found significant overlap between the Tea Party, made up mostly of Republicans, and the religious right, which has played a significant political role for decades. ...

Okay, so we're going to make government "smaller" and "get it out of your life" by... allowing it to stick its nose into the most intimate aspects of your life. But since it's in the name of Jesus, it's okay I suppose.

 

[leftysergeant]

So they let their superstitions shape their politics. Is that a surprise? Some of them still seem to believe in supply-side ecconomics.

Superstitious lot, they are.

 

[AlBell]

The Tea Party is a big tent; room for everyone and all welcome.

 

[johnny karate]

And yet they end up being overwhelmingly white, middle-aged Conservatives.

Funny how that worked out.

 

[AlBell]

It's premature to think anything is 'worked out'.

 

[Piggy]

Heard a hilarious interview a couple of weekends ago.

Spokespersons for the two largest TP organizations were on the radio.

One was insisting that they were not at all religious, and were focused only on taxes and small government and the Constitution.

The other was saying how their members supported right-to-life and Christian-nation and all that.

He was very enthusiastic about the subject, while she got edgier and edgier trying to politely insist that those items were not part of the TP agenda.

 

[johnny karate]

Are you implying there's some bold, new version of the Tea Party on the horizon that will be something more than a group of predominantly white, middle-aged Conservatives?

 

[Accidental Martyr]

Hmmm... is this a surprise to anyone?

No.

 

[Puppycow]

So the Tea Party is just the religious right rebranded.

 

[theprestige]

Hmmm... is this a surprise to anyone?


Okay, so we're going to make government "smaller" and "get it out of your life" by... allowing it to stick its nose into the most intimate aspects of your life. But since it's in the name of Jesus, it's okay I suppose.

Funny how the article you quote actually points out that in spite of being full of religious nutbags, the Tea Party Movement has consistently focused on non-religious issues and left religion out of it.

Not so funny is how you somehow interpret it to mean that the Tea Party Movement is all about religion.

 

[theprestige]

So the Tea Party is just the religious right rebranded.

Well, except without the religion part, as the article quoted in the OP makes clear.

I'm pretty sure the Religious Right already has a political movement. Call it the "Religious Right", for lack of a better term.

As far as I can tell, the Tea Party movement seems to attract religious conservatives who are tired of every political fight being co-opted by the Religious Right, and would prefer to focus on other issues instead.

You'd think more people would welcome a political movement that was able to leave its religious prejudices at the door, and talk about something else for a change. But no... I guess once you get used to seeing that boogeyman all the time, you get so you miss it when it's not around, and insist that everybody you meet must be the boogeyman in disguise. Maybe the Tea Partiers are the only people having an honest political discourse in this country right now?

 

[Puppycow]

Well, except without the religion part, as the article quoted in the OP makes clear.

Let me quote it to you then:

Nearly half of those who identify with the Tea Party believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, and a similar proportion thinks that public officials do not pay enough attention to religion, the survey found. They are more likely than the population as a whole to view America as a Christian nation.

 

[Suddenly]

If you take TP rhetoric and every time you see/hear the word "constitution" you replace it with "bible," it sounds familiar, if sometimes vaguely so. All they've done is change the "sacred text" they reference to support their own subjective beliefs of How Things Should Be. Rather than God and Jesus they cite the founding fathers. Same shell game.

Both allow them to see/label those with a different understanding as either anti-christian or against the constitution. It is a rather obnoxious and stupid tactic, but effective against/among the weak minded.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Hmmm... is this a surprise to anyone?

Of course not.

 

[Cleon]

In other news, I hear there's a fascinating new study analyzing the defecation habits of forest-dwelling ursines.

 

[Didaktylos]

In other news, I hear there's a fascinating new study analyzing the defecation habits of forest-dwelling ursines.

... and the death of Queen Anne is at long last confirmed.

 

[AlBell]

Still a Big Tent though; if your economic concerns outweigh your concern for being a social liberal in good-standing at places like this forum, come on in.

 

[Cleon]

Still a Big Tent though; if your economic concerns outweigh your concern for being a social liberal in good-standing at places like this forum, come on in.

And if you're a mentally unhinged racist lunatic, they'll run you for governor!

 

[Chaos]

If you take TP rhetoric and every time you see/hear the word "constitution" you replace it with "bible," it sounds familiar, if sometimes vaguely so. All they've done is change the "sacred text" they reference to support their own subjective beliefs of How Things Should Be. Rather than God and Jesus they cite the founding fathers. Same shell game.

Both allow them to see/label those with a different understanding as either anti-christian or against the constitution. It is a rather obnoxious and stupid tactic, but effective against/among the weak minded.

Rather like ID as dressed-up creationism, then?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Still a Big Tent though...

Apparently not big enough - I tried to join and they said my IQ was too high.