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I'm not a liberal, but if I was, I can't imagine what I would have against the Tea Party movement - so hopefully a liberal/democrat could help me out with this.

I understand the movement is made up mostly of conservatives, so wouldn't that either be a good, or at worst, neutral thing for you when elections come around?

Sure, the Tea Party isn't an official party with representatives, but when a big (or the big) election comes around, they'll most likely endorse someone (If they don't, that would fall under neutral). If the person/people they back are Republican, you saw it coming, and you'll pretty much have the same outcome there would have been if the TP never existed (again, neutral result). If the person/people they back aren't Republican, it wouldn't be taking many, if any, votes away from your side - nowhere near the number it would be taking away from Republicans (this would fall under good for you).

Or am I missing something?

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They make us embarrassed to share nationality with them.

You don't get how some of us liberals might be a bit put off by signs like "I came unarmed THIS time?" You don't get how some of us liberals might object to being equated with Communists and traitors? You don't get that the messages of tea party heros like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sarah Palin might alienate us just a wee bit?

Presumably what people have against them is the views that they hold.

I understand the movement is made up mostly of conservatives,

ding ding ding. we have a winnah.

They shriek about being marginalized, ignored and losing their "freedoms" and in the very same breath they talk about marginalizing, ignoring and taking freedoms from anyone who opposes them.

They're a legion of drooling fucking idiots. Come on already.

Listen, besides their unofficial leader, Sarah Palin, champion of all things wrong, I don't mind Tea Partiers who are doing things like running for office. If they want to challenge the GOP status quo, more power to them.

It's the Birthers, the HCR hysterics and the more fringy sign makers(who in fact are mostly not liberal plants) making them seem scary and out of touch.

Edited 2010-04-27 15:55 (UTC)

The Tea Party is mostly Republican (or has that party's blessing) There are Libertarians but they would be in the minority. Libertarians don't want government messing in their private lives, something the Republican would dearly like to do. My husband is one. Yes, he has the Gladston flag waving outside our house. He's opposed to the universal sales tax, in addition to the income tax. So Obama is not his guy. So he'll tolorate the Republicans, even though he thinks most of them are morons. He'd love to tear Palin to ribbons, but she's the party's darling

I'm not a liberal, but if I was, I can't imagine what I would have against the Tea Party movement - so hopefully a liberal/democrat could help me out with this.

Some of these reasons are my own, some are not. But I think these are the ones why liberals don't like 'em:

* The TPers portray Obama et. al. as Marxists, Socialists, Nazis, Dictators, Terrorists, etc.
* The TPers believe and promote myths like "Obama will take your guns away", "We are becoming a socialist state", etc.
* The TPers don't fact check.
* The TPers rely heavily on Fox News, and they don't fact check.
* The TPers blame "progressives" for everything.
* The TPers are believed to be racists.
* The TPers threaten sedition and flaunt firearms.
* The TPers claim to be patriots, while bitching and moaning about the American government. Yet, two years ago when the liberals were bitching and moaning about the American government.
* The TPers adore Sarah Palin, whom they regard as a twit.
* The TPers don't help America's image overseas.
* The TPers insist that this is a Christian nation.

Did I miss any?

You're missing the anger, the indignation, the repugnance that liberals feel towards those who dare speak up and claim that they are wrong.

I would consider my self a tea party member. When in the states I tried to go to meetings and I donate to their cause. I agree with their ideals.

I think they are judged based on a few bad apples. I myself am not a racist although I have been called one because I do not agree with Obama's policies so therefore I must be a racist right?

I am a good hardworking American. I raise my two boys to be God fearing and respectful and patriotic. My husband is active duty military, I have survived two deployments so far. My husband has been in total deployed 5 times and has never complained. He too is alot more conservative than I am. He loves his country. We are what most Tea Party members are like average every day Americans who are scared of what is happening to Americans. I recently learned there are over 140 new government regulations that were created in this new health care bill. That alone should scare people. Do you really want the government regulating your life more. Like in CA trying to ban toys in happy meals... sigh.. Anyway my point is we are not right wing nut jobs or fear mongers. We just want better for America.

I have never ever called a liberal vulgar names that my husband and I have both been called by the media and several of the people in here who do not agree. It is childish and crude. I think if we could all learn to respect each other and be civil it would be a much more pleasant world.

Actually as a liberal I DO hope they rise into prominence as a Libertarian Party. I think siphoning off GOP votes would be great. But then I hope as a result we'll also have a split in the Democratic Party, where liberals leave and we finally break this 2 party system that is ruining our electoral process.

As a progressive Democrat, my issues with the Tea Party:
- Protesting policy, without being able to give a coherent reason why they oppose it without referring to talking points
- Protesting policy without being able to give coherent policy suggestions
- The interchangeable use of Nazism, Socialism, and Communism by this group, as well as interchangeable use of imagery from historical versions of these movements
- A complete lack of knowledge or disinterest in politics or policy predating October 2008
- A sudden interest in civil liberties which never seems to exist during Republican administrations

I love the way that Tea Partier Palin showed up at the McCain rally and stole the show. She seemed like more of a liability than an asset to McCain.

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