One of the biggest myths about the Tea Party is that a driving force in its creation was anger over bank and Wall Street bailouts. It's true that some rank-and-file joiners did feel that way at first, but they were quickly co-opted by the movement leaders -- including radio talkers and groups funded by the Koch Brothers -- into worshipping the rich instead.
Here, by way of Brian Hickey, is what the local Independence Tea Party has to say about Occupy Wall Street:
“The idea that Wall Street is the root of all evil is also an anathema to us. Like any other institution, Wall Street has its corrupt figures–and such individuals should be dealt with accordingly,” said Ms. Adams. “But to condemn Wall Street, en masse, is akin to condemning our entire free enterprise system.
“Our Association deplores corporate bailouts (GM), corporate subsidies (Solyndra), and corporate welfare. At the same time, however, we recognize the contributions and achievements of America’s chambers of commerce.
So why does the Tea Party deplore the government rescuing GM -- which actually makes things and employs thousands of middle-class Americans -- and yet make no reference of the massive corporate bailout of AIG, which makes nothing but profits (or risky losing bets). This is what hypocrisy looks like,
It's also clear that the Tea Party ascribes magical powers to Barack Obama. Adams goes on to state:
“Currently, the federal government, led by the Obama Administration, is stifling the American economy with its reckless deficit spending and zealous over-regulation of the private sector economy.
“The result has been a disastrous three-year-plus recession (which many are now calling a depression) that has devastated American families with its high unemployment rate and its built-in cost of living increases.”
According to economists, the recession started in December 2007 -- 13 months before Obama became president. Who knew he was such a force that he could bring down the economy that far ahead of time!
Will, why don't you relax and forget about things for a while? Turn on the Phillies game .........— RufusG- Bunch, I've learned, after reading your columns, to believe the opposite of what you report. You're way off base with the usual agenda. Poor biased reporting.— dogman5
- Still waiting.....Solyndra?..............Fast and Furious?— georgel
- Wow Will, one dirty blogger who needs a shave and a haircut who provides one source = "tearing down the myth"? What did you smoke with the Wall Street hippies?— blackhawk90
Comment removed.- Uh oh Will...Fox just outed you...http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/05/newsman-covers-protests-for-paper-and-advocate-group/— DuncanIdaho
- batty and blackcanary, get into the 21st Century. There are no hippies. Haven't been any for 35 years. Maybe you should come out of Mom's basement and see the real world insted of your old rightie fantasy. As usual, though, neither of you addressed the column Will wrote about the tea folks being two-faced. But, then again, republicans generally are, so no big story there.— mike l
- batty and blackcanary, get into the 21st Century. There are no hippies. Haven't been any for 35 years. Maybe you should come out of Mom's basement and see the real world instead of your old rightie fantasy. As usual, though, neither of you addressed the column Will wrote about the tea folks being two-faced. But, then again, republicans generally are, so no big story there.— mike l
- Totally lost in this "article" is the fact the Tea Party and these protesters agree that bailing out the banks was a BAD thing. But hey, why look for common ground when you can spread hate. That's much more fun and productive.— Another_1
- Demand eleven: Immediate across the board debt forgiveness for all. Debt forgiveness of sovereign debt, commercial loans, home mortgages, home equity loans, credit card debt, student loans and personal loans now! All debt must be stricken from the "Books." World Bank Loans to all Nations, Bank to Bank Debt and all Bonds and Margin Call Debt in the stock market including all Derivatives or Credit Default Swaps, all 65 trillion dollars of them must also be stricken from the "Books." And I don't mean debt that is in default, I mean all debt on the entire planet period.
— Fisher - Still waiting.....Solyndra?..............Fast and Furious? — georgel
Solyndra? Ha Ha, that will make a good campaign commercial. Barry telling Georgie Steffie that "he doesn't regret anything" about that debacle.
Fast and Furious? Will is an intellectually dishonest reporter. He is so hyperpartisan he will never do any investigative reporting that will lead to any embarrasement of the Democrats. Anyone who is a self proclaimed "senior poobah" at MediaMatters does not "fly straight".— blackhawk90 - The first time I read an article written by Will Bunch, I knew right away he was and is just another liberal so called news reporter. I googled his name one day and found out that Mr. Bunch is with Media Matters and Salon.com. Which as everyone knows are very left wing sites. I have emailed Mr. Bunch directly in the past concerning the left wing bias he brings to every article he writes. However, I have never received a response. In my opinion, Mr. Bunch is a typical liberal so called news reporter who does not want to have a debate about issues. It's the liberal way or no way at all. Better look out Will, a real news organization is checking into you. I'd bet real money that Mr. Bunch would never go on Hannity or O'Reilly's shows to debate issues. Mr. Bunch prove me wrong.— Bob Northeast
- Comment removed.
- And so far, WIll hasn't addressed how racist the group is. See how white the people in the pictures at wall street protest are? Where are the blacks, hispanics, etc? O the horror of this lilly white group!I demand divesity reeducation for all of them! They can't represent America. The are homgeneous.They must be impuned, pilloried and ridiculed all because they are so..so..so..WHITE! Come on WIll, yelling racism is your fall back position. And MIKE L-they don't dress like hippies (most of the time) but I know a group of those flower children that are still that way in their hearts.— georgel
- “Our Association deplores corporate bailouts (GM), corporate subsidies (Solyndra), and corporate welfare. At the same time, however, we recognize the contributions and achievements of America’s chambers of commerce.
Ahhhhhhh, If this was an exact quote, then WHY are there parentheses around GM and Solyndra? I didn't know people talked in parentheses. Seems to me like the dirty blogger who needs a shave and a haircut inserted these into the general quote.
By the way Mike I, you need to get a respirator. The fumes in Pottstown are turning you into a Pottstoid.— blackhawk90
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
PLEASE COMMENT WITH PASSION...
...but not with racial slurs, potentially libelous allegations, obscenities or other juvenile noise. Such comments will, at our discretion, be deleted in their entirety, and repeat offenders will be blocked from commenting. ALSO: Any commenter advocating killing any government official will be immediately banned.
Thanks.
- Atrios
- Kiko's House
- Suburban Guerilla
- Booman Tribune
- All-Spin Zone
- Philly (Dragonballyee)
- Afro-Netizen
- Rowhouse Logic
- MyDD
- Bad Attitudes
- Billmon
- iFlipFlop
- CorrenteWire
- upyernoz
- Tattered Coat
- Fables of the Reconstruction
- Slacktivist
- Citizen Mom
- The Next Mayor
- Philly Future
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Philebrity
- Young Philly Politics
- Phillyblog
- Welcome to Phillyville
- Phawker
- A List of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago
- Keystone Blog
- Philadelphia - America's Hometown
- BlankBaby
- Above Average Jane
- Phillyist
- Metroblogging Philadelphia
- The Clog
- Josh Marshall
- Daily Kos
- Juan Cole
- Oliver Willis
- Andy Borowitz
- War and Piece
- Wonkette
- BuzzFlash
- Raw Story
- Cursor
- Crooks and Liars
- Swing State Project
- Kevin Drum
- Talk Left
- AmericaBlog
- Hullabaloo
- Mad Kane
- Think Progress
- Jesus' General
- The Carpetbagger Report
- Majikthise
- Echidne of the Snakes
- David Sirota
- Glenn Greenwald
- TBogg
- Fire Dog Lake
- Taylor Marsh
- Matthew Yglesias
- Jon Swift
- Drudge Report
- Beer Leaguer
- The 700 Level
- Dick Polman
- Balls, Sticks and Stuff
- Shallow Center
- Philling Station
- Phillies Nation
- A Citizen's Blog
- The Good Phight
- Romenesko
- Editor and Publisher
- Pressthink
- Buzzmachine
- The Inksniffer
- Media Bloodhound
- Eat the Press
- Mickey Kaus
- Media (Huffington Post)
- Blinq
- The Corner
- Instapundit
- Andrew Sullivan
- Free Republic
- James Taranto
- Blonde Sagacity
- ScrappleFace
- Blogorrhea
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- January 2008
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
