A New Majority? PJTV Poll Tracks Tea Party Supporters
Starting today, PJTV — via its Tea Party TV wing, but we’re all PJ Media really — is sponsoring a weekly tracking poll on the public’s attitudes toward the Tea Party Movement (top line results here, video discussion here). Conducted for us by Pulse Opinion Research, these are “likely voter” polls using methods licensed from Rasmussen. One-thousand voters were surveyed on the first go-round with a sampling error of +/- 3%
We would be delighted to know your reactions to these polls as we go forward in the comments sections here or at PJTV. Feel free to suggest questions you would like to see asked and answered. I will be posting my reactions here.
For the first week’s results, I found one at least “interesting” and two I would have to categorize, by varying degrees, as “startling.”
Interesting: 54 percent supported the Tea Party Movement strongly or somewhat. The two categories of support were equally divided. Only 41% opposed the TPM (28% strongly, 13% somewhat).
Startling: 31 percent of self-identified Democrats support the TPM either strongly or somewhat.
Most Startling: Of the 54 percent who support the TPM, 52 percent do so privately [italics clearly deliberate]. Furthermore, just 9 percent consider themselves members of the movement but an additional 21 percent state they have friends and families who are.
In other words — despite all those demonstrations and town hall meetings you may have been watching, reading about or participating in — the Tea Party Movement is still largely sub rosa. Why? Well, a variety of answers suggest themselves (and I am sure you will have more), but, as a Hollywood screenwriter who voted for Bush, I know full well the necessity of keeping your mouth shut. And if we are a nation of people who have been keeping our mouths shut, look out in November.
To be “transparent,” however, as the parlance goes, I should point out that not all polls are showing as much favorability to the TPM as ours. Washington Post/ABC News has one showing some significant disapproval. (The WaPo/ABC poll is of “adults,” not “likely voters,” as ours is.) On the other hand, this poll, conducted by Democratic Party operatives, is perhaps more ominous for the Dems than ours.
As most of you know, much of the devil of polling is in the details and PJTV is making all details of our weekly Tea Party polling available to subscribers. These details will include cross-tabbing and similar specific data-oriented features as well as the ability to read the weekly results earlier than others. This is another inducement for you to join with us and support PJ Media. Subscriptions begin at five dollars per month. You will also find other benefits of membership available here.
Meanwhile, the public part of the poll is on the next page.
Given your current knowledge of the Tea Party Movement and their positions on the issues, would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the Tea Party Movement?
27% Strongly support
27% Somewhat support
13% Somewhat oppose
28% Strongly oppose
5% Not sure
Have you publicly shown support for the Tea Party Movement by speaking openly about it or is your support for the Tea Party Movement a private matter?
36% You publicly support the Tea Party Movement
52% You support the Tea Party Movement privately
12% Not sure
Do you consider yourself part of the Tea Party Movement or do have any close friends or family members who are part of the Tea Party Movement?
9% You are a Member of Tea Party
21% You are not member of the Tea Party but have friends or family who are
66% You no ties to the Tea Party
4% Not sure
How likely are you to vote for a candidate for Congress who the Tea Party Movement supports?
23% Very likely
25% Somewhat likely
14% Not very likely
25% Not at all likely
13% Not sure
Special questions for this survey only:
How strongly do you agree with the statement “The Tea Party Movement is racist?”
16% Strongly agree
19% Somewhat agree
16% Somewhat disagree
36% Strongly disagree
13% Not sure
When you think about the charges of racism in the Tea Party Movement, do you believe they are based on fact or do you believe they are politically motivated?
21% You believe charges of racism are based on fact
55% You believe charges of racism are politically motivated
24% Not sure
I see the establishment media is very effective at slamming the Tea Party, or else there would not have been as many opposed, and 51% think the TP is at least a little racist?
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Interesting how the “strongly support” and “strongly oppose” numbers are so close.
.
Remember the “unexpected” degree of support Bush had in the first election? “Silent conservatives”, just like we see here. (I’m usually silent because I dislike some idiot ranting like a demented maniac in my face.)
I voiced my opposition to Obama during the 2008 elections at the golf course in front of a bunch of guys having a few beers and discussing politics. I know – beer and politics are like water and oil. Anyway one guy was clearly an Obama supporter and started ranting about Bush this – Bush that – to the point of getting quite red in the face and I could swear he was foaming a bit. A couple of guys asked politely for him to stfu but he continued on to the point of making it quite a scene. One of his buddies told him if he didn’t stop he was going to call 911. It shut him up.
Some time ago one of his buddies that I talk with quite a bit mentioned that someone asked him – in Sarah Palin fashion how that hope and change was working out. All he got out of him was a f**k you. Not much of a discussion.
Immediately after Obama’s election, I happened upon a virulent liberal website that vowed to “marginalize” all opposition to this man’s programs. It struck me that that is the basic tactic and has been for forty years. It is imperative that we not allow the liberal citizen continue this behavior with impunity. If nothing else, we need to call them on it.
I think you mean 35% think the Tea Party is at least somewhat racist.
The GOP served it’s purpose in helping to abolish slavery. It’s time for the Tea Party to become the new party of liberty
If you won’t show us the cross tabs, it’s hard to take this seriously.
ts, as indicated in my post above cross tabs and much more are available for PJTV subscribers. Hope you will join us.
Just curious, do you also make that request of Gallup, Zogby, CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, CBS News, or ABC News/Washington Post, or do you only request it of PJM?
If you do make the same request of all polling units, congratulations, you’re an intelligent person who knows that the devil is in the details.
If not… well… do I have to spell it out?
This is a turning point in the history of the U.S.A. I agree with Roark; I believe there is a new party coming to DC, that will shake the foundations of this country, resulting in the fulfillment of the vision of our founders. God Bless America.
This is truly an exciting time in history and I’m humbled that I’m here to witness it.
Yes, this is a turning point in American History.
For far too long, we Americans have remained lazy and complacent and have been all too willing to accept laws and movements based on Political Correctness and then Later on Cultural Diversity. Afterall, we are a good and forgiving country made up mostly of hard working, tax paying, occasional church-going believers who, even if we do not attend a church, the majority consider themselves to be Christians and believe in God.
While we have been busy working, raising our families, and otherwise getting on with our lives and being responsible, we have turned on the TV for entertainment and for a brief look at the Top News Stories of The Day in our communities, states, nation and world. We have not taken much time to really figure out what is going on in our own communities, much less the state, nation or world. We have depended on the Major TV networks: ABC, CBS, NBC and later on CNN, Fox and other news and TV outlets. Our entire world views have been painted by what these Outfits called News Outlets have gotten together and disected and decided to Tell Us. As we got on with our lives, our world and national views and opinions have been formed based on what the Talking Heads have Programmed Us To Believe and at times, they Parade Out Some Expert to Back Up The Same Stories that they, The Talking Heads have been programming us to believe. Thus, our opinions, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs have been Programmed Into Our Minds by the Programs we Watch or Listen To. And, at the same time, the Hollywood Propagandists who write TV scripts, Movies, Etc. have been Programming us with the Hollywood Version of Facts and History. They have been the primary Movers of Public Opinion including the Pushing of Political Correctness and Cultural Diversity.
They have Programmed Us To Believe that If It Is On TV or IN Print, that It Has To Be True. After all, would they “Dare To Say It On TV, If It Is Not Ture?” Well, of course, the answer is yes. The TV and Hollywood Propagandists and the Main Stream Media are One In The Same. They have the same Owners and Handlers. They have purposely been Brainwashing and Dumbing Down Americans seeking their own profits, and their own personal agendas that their owners want pushed on the Average American Citizen.
They write TV scripts ostensibly for Family Entertainment that are actually pushing Political and Social Agendas. Social Agendas that have included Socialism and Collectivism, Secular Humanism, Hedonism, Mockery of Chrisitan Values, Mockery of Traditional Family Values, Mockery of Morality, Mockery of U.S. Traditions, Values, Customs, Language, Beliefs, Language and Borders.
And, at the same time, Our U.S. government has been being shaped by the Power Brokers, who are carrying out in Official Capacity With Legislation and The Creation of the Bureaucratic Machine the same Agenda that the Propagandists Who Control the Media, TV, Hollywood, Movies and the general Entertainment and News Industry
have been programming us to Accept and To Believe In.
And, beginning in the 1960′s, the Federal Government Began the Most Massive Social Engineering Projects of All Times. And, in a mere 45 years or so, the Propagandists in Hollywood, The MSM, The U.S. Government’s Bureaucracy, and the Public Education System have successfully Dumbed Down and Brainwashed The Majority of the Nation, and it was all Part of A Bigger Plan and has been Accomplished by a Concerted effort by folks whose sole purpose has been to Destroy American Values, Customs, Beliefs, Traditions, Language and National Borders. In a short 45 years, we have gone from being a Producer Nation to a Consumer Nation. We have gone from being the worlds largest Creditor Nation to the World’s Largest Debtor Nation, and the current Liberal Democrats in DC along with their RINO co-conspirators, are running up this Debt at the fastest rate of any nation in the world in the entire history of the world. In a mere 45 years, our public education system has successfully Dumbed The Nation from being in the top 3 best public education systems in the world to the 2009 level of being the #28 best public education system in the world. Did the rest of the world get better? Of course not, we have been purposely Dumbed Down and Brainwashed By Design of those Running the National Teacher Unions, The U.S. Department of Education, and the Policy Makers and Law Makers in the U.S. Government and the Local And State Governments Willingly and Cowardly relinquished their Responsiblities to the Citizens of their Communities and States with the Promise from the Federal Establishment That They, The Feds would give them a Piece of the Monetary Pie if they go along with the Federal Plan. And, then the Local And State governments gave into the Federal Mandates By Blackmail Schemes. The Feds say to the states: “Go Along With Our Suggestions, or You, the STATES LOSE YOUR FEDERAL Funding.” This is how they have Blackmailed Their Socialist Agenda into Actuality.
In a mere 45 years, the Official Government Policies and the Brainwashing By the Hollywood Media have Destroyed Traditional Family Values and Families. In 1966, over 80 percent of poor children, regardless of race, color or ethnicity lived with 2 parents. And, of these 2 parent families, at least one of the parents had a public job and worked for a living and provided for their families. Today, that figure is less than 20 percent, and the other 80 percent of poor children live with a single parent, usually a female, and many times this female is a child herself, or with some other family member or in state custody in foster homes.
I would like to believe that these dismal figures and the dismal state that We, The People find our nation in has been quite unintentional, but looking at it honestly and in being intellectually honest, I know better. Now, the Average American Citizen has been an uwitting partner in the demise of America and our values, traditions, bleifs, culture, language, borders, and our U.S. Constitution. The average American has been Dumbed Down and Brainwashed and Programmed subtly by the Programs They Have Watched and From Print Media That They Have Read. But, mostly, the Brainwashing has come from TV Sitcoms, TV News, and TV DocuDramas being Presented As Facts. And Mini-Series being Presented As Facts.
We have to Correct This Brainwashing and Clear Up The Lies That People Have Come To Believe as FACTS.
Oliver Stone and Michael Moore and many more TV and Movie Writers, Directors and Producers have been Writing, Directing and Producing nothing more than Propaganda and Lies and they have become Masters of The Big Lies as they Prey on our Weak Minds and Emotions.
They have tried to make us ashamed of bein U.S. Citizens and Americans. They have tried to Re-Write History knowing that the average citizen watching the drivel and lies that that knowingly are producing and showing will believe it. Propagands and The Big Lie Technique is one of the oldest War and Political Strategies ever been devised and the modern day Hollywood and Political Class have Mastered The Big Lie with the Advent of Electronics, and their Primary Weapon and Means of Distribution of Lies and Propagandas has been the TV and Other So-Called Entertainment and Media Outlets. But, the TV has been the main way of distributing propaganda and in destroying the nation’s Values, Traditions, Customs, Beliefs, Morals, National Identity, Language and Borders. And, this Dumbing Down, Propaganda Campaign, and Destruction of Traditional American Values, including Patriotism and Love our Our Country has been no accident. This has been carried out methodically and almost completely.
The TEA Party Movement is mostly made up of Individuals, who have Turned Off The Tube, and have De-Programmed Our Minds of the decades of Brainwashing and Dumbing Down. In short the TEA Party Folks Woke Up From a 4 decade Fog and realized that those we had entrusted to the country to, Our Elected Officials, Had Sold Us Out and Were Destroying Our Nation, and that they only Care about We, The People, Come Election Day.
That is why the MSM, Hollywood, Career Politicians of Both Parties, and the Homeland Security Network have been so vehemently Opposed to The TEA Party Movement, To Libertarians, To Anybody Who Dares Challenge Their Authority and Their Reign of Power and Sellouts and Abandonment of Constitutional Law and Government. In short, the establishment and all their agencies Hate The Truth and They Hate Exposure, and they Hate Being Taken Down from their Positions of Power, Wealth and Fame that they have Gained at the Expense of We, The People, at the Expense of the U.S. Constitution, and at the Expense of our Children and Grandchildren for Generations to Come.
That is Exactly Whey The Tea Party and other Honest and Courageous Movements are seen as Such a Threat to those in power. Because the Truth Scares the hell out of them.
And, that is why the Media and Hollywood has been so Vocal and Vehemently Hateful toward the TEA Party Movement and to it’s Leaders such Sarah Palin and others. But, we are AWAKE Now, and there is no Putting The Genie Back In The Bottle, and in November, we are going to continue Taking Our Country Back from the Power Elites of Both Parties who have been Selling Us Down the River Now for Over 4 Decades, and We are Going to Abolish about 70 percent of the Bureaucratic Machinery that they Have Put Into Place for Their Own Personal Power to Regulate and Charge Fees in Ways that they Cannot Do with Legislation. We are going to return the U.S. Government to It’s Constitutional Duties, and relinquish to the Cities and States their Rightful Places With Local Control of things such as schools, welfare, health care, etc. and leave the Free Market to Decide What We Buy and Not a Government that is Now Regulating Everyting from Apples to Zippers and everything under the sun in between A and Z.
America Has Awaken. The Excesses, Arrogance and Greed of our Elected Officials, Hollywood Elites, and Bureaucrats have Been Exposed and We Are Coming After Them in November 2010 and again in November 2012, and we are going to Return to Constitutional Law with a Limited Federal Government which is Free of Lobbyists who now Buy our Politicians To Do The Bidding of The Lobbyists, at the Expense of We, the People.
I want to thank you for taking the time to write such a powerful summary of the current problems we face. I think you should continue to express your views whenever you have the chance since we need many strong voices to counter the powerful communication medias that are aligned against us. Thanks.
Greyhawk – well written however the exception I would take is that America is awakening , it hasn’t awakened yet. Unfortunately the vast majority of the population ( not the voting population , just the population in general ) is still enshrouded by the mainstream media fog/smoke. November and 2012 will be a start but we’re probably 6 years from the voter tidal wave.
Greyhawk
I’m not so certain America has yet truly awoken to the reality of what is happening.
All you have detailed is correct, but the end-game (for what I call the Bureaucratic/Government machine, aided by their adoring sycophants in the media and entertainment) is FAR more insidious & damaging than anything we’ve yet witnessed.
Only through the efforts of TEA partiers – as harnessed via the political vehicle of Republican electoral victories – can we hope to halt the madness. For indeed Obama & his fellow collectivists mean to destroy the America of our founding by deliberately and systematically instigating such social upheaval that the fundamental compact must collapse.
Make no mistake. This is no accident.
As Wayne Allyn Root has warned: They mean to OVERWHELM THE SYSTEM!
Barrack Obama is no fool. He is not incompetent, at least not politically. To the contrary, he knows exactly what he’s doing. He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. economy to create systemic failure, economic crisis and social chaos — thereby destroying capitalism and our country from within.
For insight into his motivations, look no further than to his past. Barack Obama taught ‘Rules for Radicals’ at Harvard and Columbia Universities, (He was a ‘guest lecturer, by the way, not a ‘law professor’, as liberals like to claim).
As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Obama is following the plan of Cloward & Piven, two professors at Columbia University. They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system with government spending and entitlement demands. Add up the clues below. Taken individually they’re alarming. Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant, Machiavellian game plan to turn the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority that desperately needs government for survival … and can be counted on to always vote for bigger government. Why not? They have no responsibility to pay for it. They will always be on the receiving end, & will never be asked contribute anything other than their continual agitation for MORE ‘social justice’/redistribution, & their consistent vote to grant MORE power to the bureaucratic/government machine.
Witness:
– Universal health care. The health care bill had very little to do with health care. It had everything to do with unionizing millions of hospital and health care workers, as well as adding 15,000 to 20,000 new IRS agents (who will join government employee unions). Obama doesn’t care that giving free health care to 30 million Americans will add trillions to the national debt. What he does care about is that it cements the dependence of those 30 million voters to Democrats and big government. Who but a socialist revolutionary would pass this reckless spending bill in the middle of a depression?
– Cap and trade. Like health care legislation having nothing to do with health care, cap and trade has nothing to do with global warming (or it’s current & more flexible nomenclature, ‘climate change’. It has everything to do with redistribution of income, government control of the economy and a criminal payoff to Obama’s biggest contributors. Those powerful and wealthy unions and contributors (like GE, which owns NBC, MSNBC and CNBC) can then be counted on to support everything Obama wants. They will kick-back hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to Obama and the Democratic Party to keep them in power. The bonus is that all the new taxes on Americans with bigger cars, bigger homes and businesses helps Obama “spread the wealth around.”
– Making Puerto Rico a state. Why? Who’s asking for a 51st state? Who’s asking for millions of new welfare recipients and government entitlement addicts in the middle of a depression? Certainly not American taxpayers. But this has been Obama’s plan all along. His goal is to add two new Democrat senators, five Democrat congressman and a million loyal Democratic voters who are dependent on big government. The Puerto Rico strategy in a nutshell.
– Legalize 12-20 million illegal immigrants (criminal foreign nationals). Just giving these 12-20 million potential new citizens free health care alone could overwhelm the system and bankrupt America. But it adds 12-20 million reliable new Democrat voters who can be counted on to support big government. Add another few trillion dollars in welfare, aid to dependent children, food stamps, free medical care, education, tax credits for the poor, and eventually Social Security. Accelerate the collapse.
– Stimulus and bailouts. Where did all that money go? It went to Democrat contributors, organizations (ACORN), and unions — including billions of dollars to save or create jobs for unionized government employees across the country. It went to save GM and Chrysler so that their employees could keep paying union dues. It went to AIG so that Goldman Sachs could be bailed out (after giving Obama almost $1 million in contributions). A staggering $125 billion went to teachers (thereby protecting their union dues) & some $45 billion more to other uncountable bureaucrats, federal, state, and local. All those public employees will vote loyally Democrat to protect their bloated salaries and pensions that WILL bankrupt America. The country goes broke, future generations face bleak prospects worse than anything to come before, but Obama, the Democrat Party, government, and the unions grow more powerful. The ends justify the means.
– Raise taxes on small business owners, high-income earners, and job creators. Put the entire burden on only the top 20 percent of taxpayers, redistribute the income, punish success, and reward those who did nothing to deserve it (except vote for Obama). Reagan wanted to dramatically cut taxes in order to starve the government. Obama wants to dramatically raise taxes to starve his political opposition. Expect him to use the current debate over the expiration of the ‘Bush tax-cuts’ to advocate that an even higher percentage of Americans be purged from federal tax rolls. Disconnect the a majority of Americans from any fiscal responsibility for their votes, and they will vote themselves every more entitlements. Doled out by the caring hand of government, of course.
With the acts outlined above, Obama and his regime is attempting to create a vast and rapidly expanding constituency of voters dependent on big government; a vast privileged class of public employees who work for big government; and a government dedicated to destroying capitalism and installing themselves as socialist rulers by overwhelming the system. If people are sufficiently desperate, Obama believes they will DEMAND that he and his fellow statists be given enough authority and discretion to ‘save’ them.
Add it up and you’ve got the perfect Marxist strategy to overthrow our Constitutional Republic – all devised by Columbia University Professors Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven. & fanatically advocated by Obama’s sociopolitical hero Saul Alinsky.
Know you this, the most glaring deficiency of dogmatic collectivist governance has always been its capacity for moral relativism – to rationalize and accept evil. And to perpetrate it. As the only value an individual can have is that which he can contribute to the collective, collectivism justifies literally ANY abuse or depravity to be visited upon that individual, on all of them, in the name of ‘progress’. So long as it advances the goals of the Party. Witness the old Soviet Union, the National Socialists, the Khmer Rouge, the Red Chinese. Now witness what Obama is doing to America today. Will this be our fate?
Remember, the most important date of the past ten years and of the next 26 months is this: Tuesday, November 2, 2010. It’s not enough just to vote. Get everyone you know, everyone you can possibly influence, & get them to the polls.
We MUST stop this full-scale assault on our constitutional republic.
88 days. Fail ye not!
—–
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence. Government is force, and force, like fire, is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master. – George Washington
hello. this good discourse ignores the judiciary and the legal background shenanigans. Big Gov’nmnt=Bad. got it. socialism=Bad. globalists destroying the American dollar for carbon credits? nothing to do with the destruction of the American Constitution? this administration just part of a system that will welcome any mouthpiece? voting will have no effect.
Another poll question I would like to see you ask:
“Many people have said that Tea Party members and the candidates they endorse have many extreme views that most Americans do not share. What do you think?
1. Strongly agree, the Tea Party is definitely extremist.
2. Somewhat agree, the Tea Party is somewhat extremist.
3. Somewhat disagree, the Tea Party is NOT extremist.
4. Strongly disagree, the Tea Party is definitely NOT extremist.
5. Undecided.”
Since this is one of the talking points the dems have been using a lot lately, I am curious as to how many people beleive it.
Dont forget Richard-the left has been using the word “racist” at every possible opportunity lately and its backfiring on them. Same thing will eventually happen with the tea party, especially if blacks like Col Alan West, a huge favorite of the Tea party, gets elected this fall.
The newest racist charge? The House ethics committee which is currently investigating seven African-American lawmakers.
I would suggest that they ask the wrong question. The correct question would be: Why do those being investigated believe that they could get away with such obvious violations?
Good point. In addition to my question about extremism, there should also be a question about whether people beleive the racism charge.
I understand the points you are making, but the motivation of people either in support of, or against the Tea Party is not clarified by this survey. Many people, if not most are not overtly political animals, so to get people to take an active part in the Tea Party, or any Party is difficult. Often people vote for the least offensive candidate, others ( in my opinion the stupid voters) vote a straight Party line. To get people to be active in the Tea Party, or the Green Party, something has to really motivate or anger that person. I think the active members of the Tea Party are angry with the direction the USA is going, the taxes, and how taxes are used. Another point of common ground may be the inability of the Federal Government to control immigration. After all there are laws that the Federal Government either cannot or refuses to enforce. If, just if, the Federal Government got their thieving hands out of health, education, welfare, General Motors and other issues that they have no Constitutional mandate to regulate, the Feds might be able to regulat immigration, and lower taxes.
Forgotten Man, I think I would have used another phrase than “the inability of the Federal Government to control illegal immigration”. I don’t think “ability” has anything to do with it whatsoever. I think that the Obama administration and Democrat members of Congress believe that they have a handle on 12 million brand new votes, and plan to find any way they can to grant amnesty to get them. It’s about the only way they can stay in power, short of provoking another war. It’s the First Imperative of Politics: Get reelected. It’s a terrible thing to say, but I don’t think there is much of anything the Democrats would not do to stay in power, including breaking the law.
bd: The first imperative of politics is to get elected.
In Good Times, this is true; In the rapidly approaching
Hard Times, when the people are hurting, and looking for
someone to help, and/or someone to _blame_, not so much.
Most of the Congress Critters are both incompetent and
cowardly, and will resign to spend more time with their
families in an undisclosed location.
Good point.
Instead of talking about the governments ability to control immigration, we should talk about the governments unwillingness to control immigration. The key in this case is not capacity but will and desire. Obama, and other presidents before him could do more to stop illegal immigration, they just dont want to.
Right now, the Tea party needs to do is what George Soros “shadow party”(otherwise known as the communist party) has done to the Demonrats. The demonrats are no loner American, they are now the communist anti-american party. Most of them are now quite open about it. The Tea Party needs to become the republican party, kick out the phonies like Bloomberg(islamic dihmi) and George HW Bush(who as reagans veep actually told Gorbachev Reagan was an “extremist”-such gratitude for the man who got your RINO ass elected dimwit). Ive attended tea parties on several occasions and also helped organize local 9/12 chapters and I find a lot of angry folks, mostly at the left, rather than Ds or Rs.
GHW Bush could never be an ‘extremist.’ He was quoted as saying he never entered a grocery store as a child. This is the privileged class, all money, power and status comes from associations, intra-marrying and clubs. You might call him a ‘Brahmin preservationist’ perhaps, similar to someone who defends the environment. He was royalty forced to coexist with a ‘yahoo’ like Ronald Reagan, though it’s clear the coexistence was very very strained.
I used to think this was exaggeration, until I
learned that these people will stand up at a
social occasion, such as a wedding, and yell
out their Alma Mater as a Toast/Brag; Sad.
Yes, but sort of funny as well (alma maters).
First, it’s interesting that most everyone seems to have some notion of what “the tea party” is, even has it has never been defined clearly, nor formally.
When I talk to myself, I define the tea party as a manifestation of American pride, and the love of our founding documents on the part of people (and grizzlies) who fear its demise by anything between begnin neglect and outright hostility. The reason why “the tea party” does not need a formal charter is because its members regard the declaration of independence and the US constitution as its charter, allready writen some 240 years ago, in round numbers.
Because of this, I think the tea party existed before it ever became visible, and the fact that it is still largely underneath the waterline as seen on any postcard of political tourism does not diminish its strength. So, I expect its effect to be a big surprise in November, as big as the fall of the Berlin wall and the crumbling of the Soviet Union just over almost 20 years ago.
Things can happen with unforeseen speed, even it the forces behind it are largely ignored, purposedly or otherwise. President Obama should be credited for having released the latent energy, whether intentionally or not.
The future success of the Tea Party is no surprise to the dems. The very reason they attack the Tea Party so strongly and so often is because they know the Tea party is succeeding, and that they represent the greatest threat today to progressive idealogy. They also know that the TEA party actually IS articulating the will of the American people, and know that the only way to stop it is to tell the big lies, racism and extremism, about what the Tea party represents.
In a convoluted way, given the bizarre calibration of their compass, this is the greatest compliment the lefty zealots could pay to the tea party. If throwing insults around is what floats their boat, why would they waste their precious rethorical projectiles on those that don’t give them pause? The most ironic thing is that I would love to meet democrats at the tea parties, and I would welcome them heartily, because one does not need to be a Rep. or an Ind. to recognize that the point of having children was not to turn them into slaves.
In this crazy picture, sincere democrats who do come to the tea parties might try to keep a low profile, fearing the possibility of finding themselves unwelcome, which is not the case! It’s not honest democrats myself and other tea party goers are worried about, it’s the nutcases who are holding the democratic party hostage of their nutty designs.
hello. i completely agree with your observation of a vague, generally undefined movement. i have a word to describe members: Patriot. these modern defenders see the light shining in the bell tower, and recognize the enemy comes from within. the system of checks and balances is broken. the parties no longer represent. although there is no clear platform, nor leader for the movement; every member (across each party affiliation) is a Patriot at heart. too much family history has been fought to preserve our Constitution, to not stand and fight for it. give us liberty, equality, security, and the hope for a better future: or kill us all.
Simon -
To support your position and the poll, the MO Prop C really drives home the point. First, even if all the republicans voted for Prop C, they wouldn’t be able to come up with a 70% super majority like they did. That means there were a LOT of dems and indies voting to eliminate the federal mandate.
Secondly, the amount of folks that voted on Prop C outnumber the amount of folks voting for the candidates (Rep Sen Votes + Dem Sen Votes < Votes cast on Prop C). That means people are willing to withold their votes (refusing to hold their noses) but will still make the effort to head to the polls and vote against the government mandate.
The more these numbers from MO are examined, the louder the Obamacare face-slap sounds.
Roger, there appears to be a bit of an error. On the first page, you’ve listed 13% as ‘strongly oppose’ and 28% ‘somewhat oppose’, while on the next page those numbers are reversed.
Thanks, Rossignol. Typo on our end. Corrected.
Hopefully I didn’t scoop the MSM. ‘Conservative Makes a Typo’ could be headline news. At the very least, you’d be in the week’s running for Worst Person in the World.
Heh…. I can think of several people who would be nodding their heads.
#7 bobdog
I agree that the Democrats intend to buy a big new voting block. G W Bush also let this problem fester. John McCain swings both ways on the immigration issue as well. I would like to have the Federal Government do things that it is charged to do in the Constitution, not every feel good social program they think will buy them votes. To be harsh about it I don’t think anyone should get any financial help for anything if they drink, smoke , do drugs, or commit a felony. I think that if they are poor they don’t have money for these activities, and if they can find space in their budget for cigarettes of alcohol they can find money for food, clothing, and medical care. Maybe it is time for the States to amend the Constitution to stop anchor babies and social programs to illegal aliens. They could also include term limits, maybe 4 years in the Congress, one term in the Senate and no pension for any elected official.
I have been advocating term limits for years.
I think one term in Congress, and one term in prison sounds about right.
No doubt at least some – and perhaps many – of the Dems who said they supported the ‘partiers did so because they realize that the ‘partiers are weakening the GOP by splitting it into the semi-sane and rabidly-insane parts.
Maybe next poll ask, “would you support the ‘partiers if they were able to repeal SocSec” or similar. Repeat with other Angle/RandPaul ideas, such as the latter’s idea that coal mines should be self-policing and all the rest.
I’m curious as to the geography of your sample. Did you sample all fifty states? I have a hard time seeing New York’s Democrats reflecting the same Tea Party sentiment as shown by the Democrats in your poll.
Humorous cartoon on why voters should support the Tea Party Candidates at http://drawfortruth.wordpress.com/category/tea-party/
One might get some very interesting and counterintuitive
data by asking people to choose between wants and needs;
Most importantly, that they do not realize they will face
such choices beginning in January 2011, when taxes go up,
and inflation follows.
We can look for the Democrats and their cronies, to take every effort to win this November election. The Political Class, including the MSM and numerous lobby organizations, enjoy a superior position of power and taxpayer dollars. They will not go away quietly, no without a fight.
Since I live in Illinois and Cook County, I expect the Democrats and Unions and State Government Employees, inluding Teachers to cheat, if they think they can.
Will also see how many of the so called Tea Party actually shows up to vote.
Indeed.
We can’t take back our country if everyone sits on their fannies in their La-Z-Boy (as I’ve said before, they’re named that for a reason) on the first Tuesday in November.
Not registered to vote? Register NOW.
Registered? Get your fanny to the voting booth!
I saw a bumper on HBO recently. I honestly don’t know exactly what show was being promoted, but it featured a black woman reciting a poem in which she explicitly named the Tea Party movement as part of the oppression of black people.
It is one thing when leftists spread lies about us being racists. Leftists telling hateful lies is something that happens every day. It is quite another to see someone buying into those lies and repeating them.
It honestly made me sad and I felt sorry for this woman. If she believes the lies about the Tea Party movement, then what other destructive lies has she bought into? How is her life being damaged by those lies, her potential destroyed? What possibilities are there for her that will never be realized because she has come to believe that America itself is her enemy?
Yhis drone on HBO obviously hasn’t seen this -
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/08/04/black-tea-partiers-to-naacp-believe-it-or-not-we-dont-hate-minorities/
My only concern with The Tea Party is the strong possibility that it will split off a substantial enough number of folks, people who would otherwise have voted Republican, allowing the Democrats continued domination of Congress and the national agenda.
If you’re referring to the general elections, you needn’t worry. Remember, the Tea Party isn’t an actual political party at all, much less one that will be running alongside Dems and the GOP in November. At that time there’ll be no one to split off; it will still be, at least officially, just Democrats vs. Republicans again – the difference being, with any luck, a whole new and much improved cast of Republicans, courtesy of the Tea Party.
Mr. Simon I do not believe that people understand what the tea parties are about. At any rate go here as I took these 60 pictures at the local Syracuse,NY Tea Parties the last two years.
“Semper Fi”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aylathecat/sets/72157624524032200/
My impression – and I’m often wrong despite all the Holiday Inn Express nights – is that the real purpose of the Tea Parties as relates to elections and parties is as incubator of a principled conservative who would otherwise be drowned in the politicking, favors, paybacks, chits, bribes and general sliminess of standard political processes and conventions. To enable the emergence of someone like an Allan West (for instance) or another relatively unseasoned or unsoiled politician who has enough draw to surge up the creek bed and reach the headwaters. So to speak.
I think you are right. It is about restoring personal freedom and reverting back to smaller, less intrusive and more efficient government. Democrats don’t have any candidates who can past muster here. Republicans have some and it is there that an affect will be felt.
I would add that the TPM should also help to reduce the emphasis on things that should not be dictated by political action, like religion in goverment, gay rights and right to choose. These things have kept a lot of people solidly in the Democratic camp becasue they fear being controlled in this way much more than they fear loss of economic health and freedom.
The problem with any poll is breaking down numbers, raw data is easily converted to suit the situation. A liberal site will get very different results from a conservative site for the same poll, and they will both be correct. Its due to small fluctuations in the manner the companies operate the poll, especially automated polls.
There really should be regulations in place to standardize polling companies and provide more accurate results.
how exactly are likely voters being determined..?
If the company cannot disclose this, then the numbers cannot be trusted.
What regions are being called..?
setting up random polling in areas hard hit by unemployment will yield very different results than in wealthy pockets.
are the questions being rotated?
asking the same questions in the same order will give different results than rotating questions
Its great to have tracking polls to gauge the effectiveness of a campaign, etc…but the poll itself needs to be carefully monitored. Otherwise it will give accurate polling data, but false conclusions
I concur Alex. With the right P sample, you can statistically prove anything. One of the problems with polls is they tell politicians what opinion to have and what blather to spout at any given time. I’ve seen many a poll be misleading. And, like the weather, people’s opinions change.
Roger could you ask the surveyors doing internal subscriber surveys to include a ‘foreign subscriber’ Option. The external survey will control for this. On some of the surveys I’ve received from PJTV etc I’ve had to beg out because the survey is written as if all your subscribers are yanks. Some of us may want to add a global voice on issues and add ideas form international experience so I tick the box allowing the surveys. I suspect your not fully aware how much you’ve gone global. As Diana points out Liberty is not a American patent. Some of us foreigners might want to comment and may get the surveys but with out the ‘foreign’ designation we come across as undecided or refused to reply. The result would be an error if the non American subscribers creep over 10%. In some cases those US citizens overseas also fall into the foreign category given that while they can vote (it just isn’t always counted I gather )many of the economic questions may not fit them.
I think this election may be analogous to the 1980 presidential election: many Democrats who supported Ronald Reagan did so very quietly. Before the election it was very hard to find Democrats, or members of the educated elite, who would admit to supporting Reagan, yet after the election it was clear many had.
If the November elections result in a change of control in the House, and change of control or something close to it in the Senate, and similar changes in governorships and state legislatures, I think you’ll see supporters of the Tea Party movement’s principles become far more open.
Although we don’t have a presidential election this year, this may be an election as monumentous as the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 as a revolt against the Eastern seaboard elite.
As an older American, in all of my years, I have never witnessed a groundswell movement like the Tea Party and the impact it has had on the political scene. In turn, I have never witnessed as much anger, vitriol, accusations, lies, and denigration of members and supporters of the Tea Party from the media, press, and liberal establishment either. Commentary from the liberal enclaves of so-called intelligent elitists are a clear demonstration of the total disconnect the liberal left has with the average citizen of this country.
When a red-faced, hate-filled, bigoted, and full of lies rant from the likes of Keith Olbermann is directed at the Tea Party, you know in your heart, what they are doing is the right thing for America.
Tea Party members and supporters are “Johnny-come-lately” Americans who, for the first time for most, have decided to step forward, out of the shadows and speak their minds. They attend town-hall meetings and take on established politicians who have lost touch with their constituency as well. Older Americans make up a sizeable portion of the movement and if you read the commentary from the left, you realize just how much disdain liberals have for the aging population of this country, unless you were an active participant in the 60s protest movement.
When I have conversations with others of my age group, it is with a lot of dispair and anger when they describe the feeling of pending abandonment by the ruling political class we have in Washington today. Accusations of supporting socialism because they defend their social security and medicare benefits, paid for by tax deductions from each paycheck they received or still receive. Promises made before they were born or eligible to vote and in which they had no voice. Now, when they demand Washington keep their hands off of these two programs, they are once again ridiculed and accused of hypocrisy.
The La-Z-Boy contingent may not be so willing to stay home in November this year. If reactions from my circle are any indication, the lines at the voting booth will be long and determined to do everything possible to reverse the trend and in a very real sense, let Washington know, we are still here and we still count. Our fathers were members of the Greatest Generation who sacrificed their lives on the beaches, hedgerows, deserts, oceans, and skies to protect this land we call America. There are thousands and thousands of Americans buried in cemeteries across Europe that stand as a reminder of the cost of freedom. Too bad so many who take to the streets in protest of anything American have no understanding or realization of true sacrifice.
That is the difference between the Tea Party members and their critics.
If you’re as old as I am, you may remember Richard Nixon’s “Silent Majority”; it seems they may have finally found their voice.
(Still one of my favorites is Spiro Agnew’s “nattering nabobs of negativity,” which has become today’s MSM; then, as now, the negativity was all against the R’s–and they remain very proud of themselves for bringing down the president who wouldn’t throw his supporters under the bus–thus, “the cover-up” of a crime he knew nothing about until after the fact.)
Polly,
Certainly do remember Nixon and “the silent majority”. It takes a lot to rally the silent majority into vocal action and this administration and congress seems to have accomplished the task of bringing to the surface the beliefs and convictions of these formally quiet citizens.
The comment by “tanstaffl” , #28, reminds me of some of the Tea Party critics who thinks everyone should be able to express themselves with the same ability to speak as does Obama and politicians in general. We need to remember that most of the people attending the meetings are not public speakers and they are angry. When angry, sometimes all you have is yelling and screaming, especially when the object of your anger has steadfastly refused to listen to you and has proceeded with his or her agenda, damn what the people want.
Eventually, the Tea Party will find a voice or voices that will be able to express with clarity and lucidity what the movement is all about.
Bart, I’m unsure of what you mean by ‘older’ Americans. But I do concur that a majority of tea party members (I’m speaking from my own observations of being a member of three separate tea party groups, and having attended some ten meetings and more than a few rallies) are ‘older’. Let’s say over 55.
Interestingly, there is a contingent of very vocal, very motivated, not so angry, highly intellectual, ‘younger’ people as well. People with small children, people who are interested in politics and who are very much in favor of constitutional limits on this mad-dog socialist mentality of the left.
That contingent grows with every meeting I attend. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It’s the smell of victory…
I am a Tea Partier. I was in Washington, D.C., last September for the Tea Party/912 Project march and rally. My reservations for this year’s march and rally in Washington (September 11/12) were made a few months ago.
The Tea Party is for the Constitution; the principles and values of the Founding Fathers; limited federal government and strong states’ rights (as outlined in the Constitution); free markets; lower taxes; freedom and liberty for citizens to direct their own lives and keep the fruits of their labors; and strong personal virtues, such as morality, honesty, integrity, courage, common sense, reason, and faith. What is there in this list to oppose?
Since these are the values that our country was founded on, if you are opposed to the Tea Party, then you are actually opposed to America.
I think the most important questions will be after November, assuming the conservative victory which is expected. Whomever we send to DC will immediately get stuck in the meat grinder of government politics. They’ll be fed information from the Democrat-controlled media and congressional staff, and be led to compromise. Soon, they’ll all be labeled as RINOs.
Will the Tea Party continue after November, or will we go back to being the sleeping giant? It’s critical to stand behind the people we send to government, and let them know we are still there watching, and expecting them to do the right thing. It’s important to let them know what’s really going on, and not misled by the liberal propaganda machine.
I still have a hard time believing that Democrats are Tea-Party members, or even supporters. With all the talk in the Tea Party of reforming the Republican party, I’ve heard very little about any reform to the Democrat party. It’s as if the Democrat establishment are expected to continue being the anti-American party that they are. Who can reconcile being a Democrat and a Tea-Party member? I sincerely hope I’m wrong about this, and that there are registered Democrats who want to change their party. If Democrats are indeed supporting Tea-Party candidates, how many of them will continue to support those candidates with a truly conservative agenda? I fear they will urge compromise.
Which direction should any elected conservatives take? Fiscal conservatism? National Defense conservatism? Social conservatism? These branches are often at war with each other, and siding with one means alienating one of the others. Will conservatives, and the Tea Party members, work on respecting each other’s opinions and values? Like it or not, all types of conservatives need to put away differences and hang together.
This poll shows some positive news, but it’s not the end of the story. It raises as many questions as it answers.
I feel very sub rosa
The last tea party gathering I attended in my area, a lot of the time was taken up promoting one adjacent state’s sheriff and his book.
There was a lot of patriotic hoopla, more emotional than substantive.
There was some “cold, dead hands” talk about the second amendment. Although protecting the entire Bill of Rights is at stake (since it is under assault from this administration), in-your-face rhetoric isn’t going to get the job done.
I felt unconnected and wondered (with my tiny slice of a sample) if the Tea Party, too, was being co-opted by yellers & screamers.
No Such Thing, at first I felt much the same as you. I began seeking out the TP at the beginning of the year. What I found was as you describe it, at first. I found three disparate groups in my little corner of LA County which is close to the Ventura County line. All three groups were from slightly further north of me, where historically it has been more conservative. Ventura county is really an agricultural area being enveloped by the big city and it’s liberal mentality.
After having worked with one of the groups who felt all we were doing was living in an echo chamber, we sought out others who we needed to get something DONE. We are now grouping together, taking over precincts, registering voters, and getting people to register as mail in voters. We will, in small precinct groups, be working like the hated organizers and unions of the left.
It’s actually starting to work. I feel like a Patriot! We can, with the appropriate leverage, win elections. We’re working mainly with local politicians, and believe me, getting guys like Pete Stark, Henry Waxman, Maxine Waters (well, maybe she’ll get rid of herself, but I doubt it…) Joe Baca and Brad Sherman out of office will take more time than we have come November.
This coming election in November though is just practice. As I stated above, I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. It’s the smell of victory.
Take heart, and keep fighting. I’ve seen your posts here before, and we’re with you…
be real careful about anything roger simon writes… he thinks he’s elite and he has a bad case arrogantitus………..
if he doesn’t like your opinion, it will be gone.
Firstly, polls don’t really prove anything.
Secondly, what a misleading set of questions! Asking someone whether they “support the Tea Party” is horribly vague! Support to what extent? Support their right to exist? Support candidates? In what capacity? Vote for them?
I support the Tea Party’s right to exist because I believe that in a Democracy everyone should have the right to assemble and voice their opinions. However, would I ever vote for a Tea Party Candidate or give them money? No way.
I think the most telling stat here is the 66% that stated they have no ties to the Tea Party. Also telling is that of all the people I have met who profess to be part of the Tea Party in some capacity, absolutely 0 of them are under 50. The majority of them are retired or of retirement age. How does that bode well for a movement’s long-term prospects when the majority of them will be in heaven within 20-30 years?
James, we have been there, lived the history, and have a better understanding of what is coming than the younger generation has. Most of us are well educated, make or made above average incomes, provided for our children through college ( we paid all of the tuition for our kids, no grants or scholarships provided at any level), and struggled through the bad times.
If the younger generation do not understand what is before them, they are in trouble. When Mom and Dad, Grandmother and Grandfather are not able to give them the life they have become accoustomed to and they have to learn the hard lessons on their own, look out! As a commentator recently said, the cart is being loaded beyond capacity and continues to add passengers while those pulling the cart are dropping, soon, the cart will come to a standstill or it will be emptied. Neither scenario is a good one to envision, is it?
Be thankful the older generation has finally awakened and found their voice. It may help you and your generation to survive.
THOSE WHO CONTROL THE VOTING MACHINES control the vote-tea party will be forgotten in the media come election time as RON PAUL WAS-and none dare call it conspiracy
Humorous cartoon on “Why You Should Vote for the Tea-Party Candidate” at http://drawfortruth.wordpress.com/category/tea-party/
Conspiracy Theory, you hit the nail on the head. The “older” contingent I was referring to is the “55″ and older group. Most of us who are “55″ and older remember our history because we actually lived it, not learned about in books or edited versions shown on television. My parents worked hard, lived a frugal life, and never thought they were poor or wanted the government to step in and pay their bills. My Dad never earned more than $15,000 a year during his entire working life. My Mom, never more than $7,500 a year. Yet, they paid for a home, raised a family, bought a small place at a fishing village on the coast as a weekend retreat, and they paid their bills.
They struggled, saved, and did without the luxuries of the time, what we consider necessities of today. The critics of the Tea Party are the ones who have never known hunger, have never actually witnessed what actual racism really is, and believe they are entitled to anything and everything they want. What they don’t understand and may never is that our activism is in a way an attempt to protect what they will lose and unfortunately, most likely, will never regain.
The greed from both sides of the aisle have led us to where we are today. The tone-deaf ears of career politicians who actually believe they have achieved some sort of enlightenment and wisdom so they can dictate to us what we can and cannot do, what we will and will not receive, among other dictates that have nothing to do with the reality of life among the general population.
Michelle Obama is a perfect example of the Marie Antoinette mindset. While the country is in a financial turmoil, unemployment figures going up every day, Americans reeling in budgets, and taking shorter, less expensive vacations – if they can afford to take the time, she is in Spain with 30 to 40 friends, staying in a luxury resort where, depending upon reports, they have reserved 40 to 50 rooms costing as much as $2,500 a night (?). She flew over on Air Force 2 with her family and friends. Now, is the the behavior of someone who is in touch with reality? The First Lady is generally a good reflection of the President.
Enough said!
I don’t see how any normally intelligent, functional adult who exercises a shred of routine commonsense can take the D-rat pols and their media lapdogs seriously. “Racist, racist, racist” – yap, yap, yap. Down, Fido! Bad dog! On the other hand, by definition, anyone who is normally intelligent, intellectually honest and minimally informed cannot be a Democrat. Not necessarily a Republican, of course, but certainly not one of Obama’s delusional, lying, vicious dupes.
Yet again, 41% of the U.S. public polled think Comrade Zero is “doing a good job.” Let’s say ten percent are co-conspirators; another twenty percent are free-loaders, out for what they can get at their neighbors’ expense; and the last ten percent are pond scum, floaters too lazy to care. Okay, that won’t change. Stupid is as stupid does. So it’s up to the 60% majority to push back the rising red tide of fascist gangsterism.
“Interesting: 54 percent supported the Tea Party Movement strongly or somewhat.”
When obama says tea partiers are racist he is insulting a majority of voters. This is not good political strategy. I think this is a big factor in the elections last fall.
I and many other people are tired of being insulted by democrats. I’m an independent, not in either party. Some issues I side with democrats some issues I side with republicans. However, the democrats are hell bent on insulting me when I disagree with them and I am extremely disinclined to vote for any democratic candidates and I think other independent voters feel the same way.
We don’t have a commander in chief we have a divider in chief. He was supposed to for bipartisanship and a uniter. He can’t take it when people disagree with him, he has to call them names.