Enemy of left and proud of it
In dozens of tea party events, rallies and demonstrations, I have never seen or heard a "racist" sign or remark. That isn't what tea parties are about.
They promote adherence to the Constitution, government obeying the public will, reduced government spending and influence in society, eliminating the federal deficit, reducing the debt, ending judicial activism, honoring God, and-so-on.
You don't hear race relations discussed, much as you don't hear talk about eradicating crabgrass. Race and crabgrass aren't relevant.
On the other hand, "racist" is a term in today's leftist dialectic, the "doublespeak" (ref., George Orwell's "1984") with which leftists say one thing to the general public and another thing to their leftist collaborators.
In applying it to tea party people, it is both an inappropriate smear and an identification of such people as enemies of the left.
The tea party people I know would be pleased to be identified as enemies of the left.
Peter G. Malone
St. Charles