Tea Party Hypocrites

In the latest political poll in Colorado, respondents were asked their opinion of the Tea Party. They were asked if they viewed the Tea Party favorably (37%), unfavorably (29%), neutral (21%), or no opinion(14%). Then the other poll questions were run up against these categories. This is where it gets interesting. Let’s take a look at three questions.

The first question was: Are Colorado's current laws on medical marijuana ... too loose? Too restrictive? Or just about right? 61% of people with a favorable opinion of the TP believe marijuana laws are too loose. Only 37% of people with an unfavorable opinion of the TP think the laws are too loose. What happened to “keep the government out of our lives!”? What happened to personal freedom?

Another question asked: Should Colorado pass an immigration law similar to the one recently passed in Arizona? Or not? Not surprisingly, 91% of TP supporters thought Colorado should pass such a law. 28% of people unfavorable to the TP thought Colorado should pass such a law. So here we have the small government cheerleaders advocating expanding a government agency, thousands more government jobs (you know, those jobs that don’t count as “real jobs”), and billions more in government spending.

But this one is the kicker. Finally, the respondents were asked, Who should be responsible for cleaning up the oil in the Gulf of Mexico? British Petroleum? The federal government? Both BP and the federal government? Or someone else? While 75% of people viewing the TP unfavorably said BP should be responsible for the cleanup, only 50% of TP supporters agreed, fewer than any other TP category.

This makes me sick. So much for the government staying out of the private sector. The private sector screws up and now the government is responsible for it? Excuse me? How does that jive with your talking points? A group preaching small government would make the government accountable for the private sector's mistake. What, is the philosophy that the government should stay the heck out of the way and let industry have free reign, but then when the private sector messes up, taxpayers are responsible?

And Tea Partiers profess to be “libertarian.” Bullshit. I can tell you with certainty at least 50% are complete and utter frauds. We’ve already seen TPs support cutting government programs but don’t you dare touch my Medicare or Social Security. Now we see it again. It looks pretty clear they’re a bunch of raging hypocrites.

Pick your favorite new theme for the Tea Party:

“Big government for me. Small government for everybody else.”
“Keep government out of the private sector; well, except make tax payers responsible for the bill when they fuck up.”
“We want accountability from our government but expect none from the private sector.”
“Keep government out of our lives! But not out of the lives of Mexicans or pot smokers who are minding their own business.”
“The Tea Party: Gimme mine but screw you.”