No racism in tea party, ridiculous claim

In recent days, strident voices have leveled allegations of nationwide pandemic "racism" at the tea party movement. That is serious. It also seems to me to be ridiculous. The authors have an obligation to thoroughly document their claims or retract them and apologize. Since they are claiming a pattern of association - that tea party groups characteristically welcome Nazis and Klan people - it should be easy to document.

In attending a number of tea party rallies and demonstrations, I have never sensed the slightest hint of anything racist. The subject of race is nowhere on their agendas. The tea parties are striving to promote an end to profligate spending, fiscal responsibility, honesty in government, an end to deficits, a return to sanity and a government that serves its constituents, instead of the other way around.

Black and Hispanic friends are included in the tea party crowd. Neither they nor I would participate if there was any sense that any sort of racism was percolating under the surface somewhere. I'm dead certain it isn't.

But if the claimants can provide verifiable documentation of, say, 100 incidents across the country, supporting their claim of pandemic, nationwide "racism" characteristic within the tea party movement, I would change my mind and end my associations with tea party people. Such documentation might have the longevity of "disappearing ink," however.

The tea parties have such broad support, however, that leftist opposition at tea party events is not likely to slow the tea party movement appreciably. Anyone who questions that should go to a tea party event and talk with people there. You will find conservatives, moderates, union members, young people, old people, school teachers, libertarians, and people of all stripes and races in the crowd.

Peter G. Malone

St. Charles