As open-minded as it gets from someone very partisan:
I went to the “tea party” rally at the Washington Monument on Thursday to check out just how reactionary and potentially violent the movement truly was.
Answer: Not very.
More:
… on the whole, they struck me as passionate conservatives dedicated to working within the system rather than dangerous militia types or a revival of the Ku Klux Klan.
Although shrinking government is their primary goal, many conceded that the country should keep Medicare and even Social Security. None was clamoring for civil disobedience, much less armed revolt.
[…]
I found that I agreed heartily with the tea partiers on what is perhaps their single biggest concern: that America’s swelling government debt seriously threatens our long-term prosperity.
McCartney pays homage to the tired Democrat narrative of race wars but admittedly his observations of the rally he attended did nothing to bolster or validate those claims which he reluctantly acknowledges. The narrative’s grip on him weakens.
The number of black conservative tea partiers is growing as more and more in minority communities realize the inherent dangers that the proposed and passed policies from this administration. To say nothing of how lower income minority communities were robbed when Democrats did away with the voucher system in DC which afforded many financially disadvantaged children the pathway to better schools and a more quality education – they also see the higher unemployment rate, brought on by a government-oppressed economy, which continues to stifle job growth.
Then of course, more black conservatives would likely speak out if they knew they’d receive support after being profiled and attacked for appearing conservative, as in the Gladney case. Many on the left aren’t willing to lose control of a voting bloc, thus use such tactics (violence, making fun of) on those who dare leave the mindset. If the Democrats lose
