A walk around the Virginia Tea Party Convention
Going in, I had no strong preconceptions about what I was going to find at the Virginia Tea Party Convention. Unfortunately there were no patchouli-scented protesters out front, no yelling, sign-waving supporters lining the sidewalk — these would’ve made for good photos.
Despite reports that the Tea Party is a corporate invention or at least well funded, the rows and rows of tables present the convention as being a constellation of smaller groups. It felt like being at a craft show, sort of, except that the only things for sale are t-shirts, stickers, and buttons. It may have been all of the older white ladies in sweaters.
A small percentage of the stuff for sale indicates a frustration with both the Republicans and Democrats — a percentage slightly higher than that bearing the Confederate flag. There were a lot of McDonnell and Cuccinelli stickers, though (maybe 2nd only to “Guns Save Lives” and up there with “CUT SPENDING” and “DON’T BELIEVE THE LIBERAL MEDIA“). Judging solely by the swag for sale and the stickers on attendees, the Tea Party folks aren’t disenchanted Republicans and Democrats, so much as a hardcore set that has always leaned right. Interestingly, there were also a lot of books for sale.
Everything seemed normal enough on the surface. I did have one kind of paranoid conversation, with a neighbor of mine not shy about sharing her understanding of things, about the UN’s Agenda 21, a sustainable development program of which Tea Party folks have said “is evil and we will all be slaves.” Their notion as I understand it is that zoning for sustainable growth will lead to the loss of our property rights and is part of a world-wide conspiracy between Obama and “his European elitist plutocrat puppetmasters”. So there was that…
The crowd was very much mostly older white folks. I know everyone says that about the Tea Party — but it’s so very true. I didn’t do a head count, but my take was that maybe 85%+ of the folks there were older than my 38 years* and all but maybe 2 were white. The crowd seemed evenly split male/female.
The outer hall was ringed with tables of stuff for sale and with info on different affiliated groups. The hall was busy, if not crowded. The big room had more tables, a stage, and hundreds of chairs, and was really empty. There were 2 smaller rooms with break-out sessions underway, with both rooms standing-room only.
I got to the convention at 4PM on Friday afternoon, late in the program on the 1st day of the 2 day Tea Party Convention. This may account for how empty the place was, perhaps Saturday there will be more people?
I think these guys were giving me the dirty eyeball.
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John Murden
John Murden covers Church Hill, the Fan, Carytown/Museum District , Northside, and random Richmond stuff for RVA News.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Well, of course you were getting the dirty eyeball. You forgot to strap on your semi-automatic… which may have labeled you a member of… The Liberal Media…
Coming from the Folk Festival Friday night, the guy doing the news said that there were, “tens of hundreds” of people in attendance.
Really the most interesting thing about the Tea Party meeting is the squabble between Style and Times Dispatch over the Tea Party’s use of the white elephant convention center.
Style blog excerpts:
“…the T-D editorial page supported wasting hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars on the convention center, the performing arts center and a new baseball stadium (we forgot about that one) despite the fact that none of these projects will generate any economic benefit to the Richmond region.”
“You see, the city is skirting dangerously close to its debt capacity limit and needs to float $196 million in new bonds for schools and other infrastructure, and to take over the flailing $66.7 million Broad Street Community Development Authority, another taxpayer-bleeding scheme cooked up by the same people who brought us the convention center.”
Btw, I do agree with Ron Paul when he said today that the nation is headed for tougher times ahead with an unsustainable economy. I wonder what he would say if he knew all of the local history of corporate welfare.
Bopst, that’s a stark contract to the tens of thousands of tens at the Folk Festival.
I know. It warmed my socialist heart…
I just read a report that a total of 2,700 people attended the event. According to the article posted on Inside NoVA, it was, “the biggest draw for any Tea Party convention in history”, according to the chief organizer (Jamie Radtke) of the event.
Is it just me or does that seem like a pitiful few instead of a roaring mass…
All that media noise over less than 3,000 people… Going by the RTD, you’d think that we’d been overrun.
Are you doing a follow up report, John? I want to know what really happened…
In under 2 yrs we have managed to organize into a force that has impacted elections all across the country. Placed 500,000-1,000,000 patriots in Washington several times and are now having state wide conventions. Meanwhile the socialists, unions, and other anti-American organizations can only manage to draw around 10% that number to D.C., even after paying to bus in there supporters. At this rate we should be well prepared for the 2012 elections. I think it is safe to say that the Tea Party has now official gotten started. Now we will use our word of mouth to sweep the movement from coast to coast until Liberal, Progressive, Communist, and Socialists are viewed to be the dirty words that they are. The day just seems to get brighter and brighter. Chuckles and God Bless.
Biased much? Take a look at the last photo above. The pictures show signs which say “DON’T BELIEVE THE LIBERAL MEDIA!” I would strongly advise the readers of this story to take those words to heart, discard just about everything in the above article (except for the fact that there was a Tea Party convention this weekend, the whole thing is crap), and do your own research.
I would also very much like to know if the author is going to discuss the extremely positive moments during the convention, such as the session in which three black Obama voters came to discuss how we could open a dialogue with them and how one of them broke down onstage into literal tears due to the numerous standing ovations they received. She could clearly be seen mouthing “Wow!” and wiping tears away. That is a moment that I, a 33 year old (and I take great offense at being called old), will take away from the convention and carry with me forever.
A well organized and financed minority is still a minority.
Yes, that’s pretty unbiased: show up at the end of the day after everyone has left, take pictures of an empty hall, find two non-whites, and write your report. I was there, and during the events held in the main hall, it was nearly full. There was a mix of people there, young, old, white, black, asian, etc. You can minimize us for now, but wait until November 3rd. We love this country and want to preserve liberty for everyone in it, even those who try to misrepresent our cause.
Hey folks,
I said above that I showed up late-ish (I have job), but there were also things still on the schedule for a few hours yet when I got there. Given the hype, I was expecting there to be more folks there and for there to be more involvement. There *were* people speaking on the main stage, to a crowd of maybe 20. From my direct observation, any large crowds must’ve dissipated somewhat thoroughly after the main draw.
As for the demographics, look at the photos, in the background or of the full rooms from the break-outs: a lot of pink skin and silver hair. Again, I wasn’t trying to misrepresent – this is what I saw. Your young Asian friend must’ve left before I got there.
@BOPST
crushing minorities is on the liberal agenda, eh?
Hey, John, guess what? I also have a job, which is why I was not there on Friday. Did you ever stop to consider that may be the reason for the lower/older turnout on Friday?
As for the demographics, I don’t need to look at your photos because I was there! I too saw young, old, black, white, and asian, but that is because I bothered to look around me.
Did you ever stop to actually listen to what was being said, instead of looking (and you really had to search hard) for Confederate flags or counting the audience members with gray hair? Did you consider there may be valid points to fiscal responsibility and constitutionally limited government?
@Murden: Were you able to attend the event Saturday?
@Bopst. I’m assuming you feel the same way about all the Soros sponsored organizations right?
Personally, I tired of living in the taint between Democratic pussies and Republican assholes.
So it was like a MoveOn/ANSWER convention, but in polar opposites?
There was no MoveOn/ANSWER/Soros sponsored convention this weekend. I wouldn’t have gone to that either.
Did they have any Carl Palladino “I’m not homophobic, I just hate the gays!” t-shirts?
@BOPST – Nope.
Gosh darn it.
Ron Paul’s speech described the serious issues facing this civilization, especially the corrupt monetary system and impending national bankruptcy. He struck me as exceptionally fit, vital and was a forceful speaker for constitutionally limited government. It was great to see the line of 150 people at the Campaign For Liberty table who queued for book signatures; meanwhile the guys in suits at the Heritage Foundation table looked bored and lonely.
People are waking up to the illegal private corporation called The Federal Reserve, and undeclared wars (both the drug war and the global empire).
It took a grand total of about two hours to get in, see Ron Paul and run for the doors. Libertarian socialism is an interesting fusion of liberty-lovin’ communitarian decentralism; we can have freedom and a sense of place and authentic community.
Richmond Folk Festival to Tea Party Convention is an ‘apples to oranges’ comparison. Useless. Feel like this was a “best we can do” article rather than a comprehensive piece, including the highlight components of the event. Even the author had to justify his writing with “I have a job.”
In the end, the Tea Party is making major moves on the political scene, here and elsewhere, and the liberal media (just admit it) is trying to downplay and marginalize the impact. 2,800? We’ll see the impact at the elections…
It’s “Hairy Eyeball” isn’t it?
Yeah, I can’t wait for the tea party to split the conservative vote so progressive liberals can fill more government offices! The Tea Party is your Ralph Nader! Ha ha ha.
Quite a slate the Tea Party is arranging for 2010. There’s the son of a libertarian icon who, in less than a year, went from denouncing the Kentucky GOP machine to palling around with Mitch McConnell, happily accepting party money. And he’s such a great eye doctor, he even created his own accrediting board to certify himself! We’ve got an equine porn aficionado who thinks homosexuality is breaking down the moral fiber of America, yet seems to have no problem fathering children with women who aren’t his wife. We’ve got a half-assed witch who can’t seem to remember where she went to school or to pay her student loans (Fiscal conservatism?) but knows for a FACT that if you touch yourself downtown, Baby Jesus will weep. We’ve got an incumbent Senator who thinks gay people and unwed mothers should be barred from teaching jobs and that homosexuals spread diseases. We’ve got a whackjob who blows off stress by dressing up in an SS uniform…
These aren’t leaders, these are contestants in a Howard Stern wack-pack contest!
Hugh nailed it. These, along with Mrs. Palin are just a bunch of hypocritical nut cases. I get so tired of “liberal media” comments by right wing nuts. Whatever damage these folks think the “liberal media” is doing is nothing compared to the hate filled trash that Fox News packages as news. Thier slogan should be “We spin, you buy…sucker”. I just don’t buy that there was not a majority caucasion audience there. Anyone see photos from one of the TV news camera’s. I would love to prove to that the Red Zinger drinking twit above needs to see someone other than the self certifying eye doctor.
I just looked at the photos above, and can not see one singly afro covered cranium. They must have all died thier hair red and gray to fit in. Be yourself I say.
I am not a Tea Party-er, and I am not a ‘conservative’ (at least in the idiotic way that today’s mainstream media refers to conservative).
However I do think that instead of all this name-calling, citizens should take the time to listen to each other more on issues. We need more Ralph Naders, not less.
For example, as a Green Party member,
I am concerned about some of the new Congressional monkey-ing around with the tax code that would allow the government to confiscate funds from citizens’ private retirement accounts.
(Yes, the link below is from the ‘conservative’ ‘media’, but consider what it is relating)
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39336
I am not surprised by this in the least, not that I approve of it either.
The real root problem is Social Security which somehow became a giant UNSUSTAINABLE pension program instead of a simple safety net for the truly impoverished.
I still offer my quid pro quo- give me universal single payer health in return for a flat income tax that you can fill out on a post card (exempting 30k and below).
Scott I agree with your call to reason. There are idiots on all sides of the political spectrum and trying to label them the same is pointless. One problem I see with that flat tax cutoff is how much evasion will take place for people near that $30,000 number. I’m no fan of universal health care either because I don’t like the fact that it will be run by a corrupt and inefficient government. Shortages and rationing are bound to happen (see Social Security) and when they do, you have to start bringing up the dreaded “Death Panel” word or something akin. Who gets what from this universal system? Not everyone will be treated equally I assure you.
Jeff, thanks for yuor response. I am glad you agree that issues and exchange of ideas should matter more.
On that note, what is the Tea Party doing to challenge the corporations that have taken over our goverment and are raping our environment?
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/09/congress-corporate-sponsors
Unlike the Replublicrats, the Green Party does not accept corporate donations. Would the Tea Party be willing to take that pledge?
I am not interested in debating at length universal single payer health care on this particular thread. However, here’s a short reply:
Right now our health care system is being rationed and run into the ground by corrupt and inefficient corporations. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD makes universal single payer health work for their citizens by promising, and in most cases, supplying better preventative care as well as a basic modicum of care that American citizens are routinely denied. Given the declining state of our economy, its likely that single payer health care is inevitable anyway.
Show the Tea Party Convention from your point of view. Submit alternative photos to c_j_w_n@live.com. We will add your photos to our existing slideshow.
The CJWN Tea Party Slideshow.
I don’t speak for the Tea Party but the environment is one area where I think the Federal government belongs. Without oversight you could potentially create a race to the bottom, with States trying to under regulate to make it easier for manufacturers and other industries to move in and operate. An educated public is the key to de-regulation but right now the concept of the “tragedy of the commons” is probably foreign to most Americans. Still, we should be working to put more power in the hands of an intelligent and active citizenry and not hope for an all-seeing behemoth of a federal government to be benevolent or at the very least benign.
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
Not my words, but I believe they ring true in the current climate. Thank you, Jeff and Scott, for bringing a little rationality and reasonable discussion to this corner of the net.
On NPR this morning, a story was run on the Tea Party from Lynchburg. Here’s a quote from one member…”I retired, and started watching Fox news, and was astonished to learn what was happening in our country…”. A bit of paraphrasing, but basically, if Tea Partiers are getting the basis of thier message from Fox, they truly are a bunch of morons. At least look at several media outlets to form a well rounded position on matters. I listened closely for some kind of well rounded thought or idea, and nothing. No position, no idea, no solution, just a bunch of words.
@RDay- you may be interested in Matt Taibbi’s recent look inside the Tea Party.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/210904
“Let me get this straight,” I say to David. “You’ve been picking up a check from the government for decades, as a tax assessor, and your wife is on Medicare. How can you complain about the welfare state?”
“Well,” he says, “there’s a lot of people on welfare who don’t deserve it. Too many people are living off the government.”
“But,” I protest, “you live off the government. And have been your whole life!”
“Yeah,” he says, “but I don’t make very much.”