Comments on: Tea parties: scalding or soothing evangelicals? http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=loving-fearing-tea-party "The press . . . just doesn't get religion." -- William Schneider Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:04:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jettboy http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161130 Jettboy Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:37:34 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161130 As a Tea Party watcher and sympathizer, there really is a disconnect between the religious and the secular side. It is true that a lot of religious are also Tea Party supporters, but it seems to be made up of mostly secular economic conservatives. Bring up issues of "gay marriage" and "anti-abortion" among the tea party and watch the sparks. If the MSM and liberals weren't so blind I could see them pulling some kind of Alinsky stunts to pull the tea party apart. Luckily these two groups hate them both and so see them as the same thing; keeping a cohesion by shared enemy. As a Tea Party watcher and sympathizer, there really is a disconnect between the religious and the secular side. It is true that a lot of religious are also Tea Party supporters, but it seems to be made up of mostly secular economic conservatives. Bring up issues of “gay marriage” and “anti-abortion” among the tea party and watch the sparks. If the MSM and liberals weren’t so blind I could see them pulling some kind of Alinsky stunts to pull the tea party apart. Luckily these two groups hate them both and so see them as the same thing; keeping a cohesion by shared enemy.

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]]> By: Harris http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161103 Harris Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:49:46 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161103 As an on-the-ground political participant, I found Politico's take to be similar to what I'm seeing: the activists driving the GOP right now -- the ones with the most energy -- see to be much more self-identified economic/libertarian sorts. There does seem to be a gap, or at the least, a shift of energy and rhetoric: culture war issues lack the grip. I suspect what makes this so confusing is that the economic conservative often also has a religious identity, as well. Thus when reading comments in a comm box, writers will utilize evangelical or culture war language and so echo the usual cultural war themes. But what seems to get the base excited these days (at least hear in Michigan) are the economic issues. As an on-the-ground political participant, I found Politico’s take to be similar to what I’m seeing: the activists driving the GOP right now — the ones with the most energy — see to be much more self-identified economic/libertarian sorts.

There does seem to be a gap, or at the least, a shift of energy and rhetoric: culture war issues lack the grip.

I suspect what makes this so confusing is that the economic conservative often also has a religious identity, as well. Thus when reading comments in a comm box, writers will utilize evangelical or culture war language and so echo the usual cultural war themes. But what seems to get the base excited these days (at least hear in Michigan) are the economic issues.

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]]> By: Tyson K http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161085 Tyson K Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:37:14 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161085 Dave, <i>Politico</i> has actually had some coverage of how some tea party leaders are consciously modeling their activism on that of leftist '60s leaders like Saul Alinsky. Here's one article; there are others. I know I read somewhere a tea-party strategist or maybe even conservative office-holder saying that though they completely disagree with Alinsky's views, his tactics were spot-on. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27285.html Dave,
Politico has actually had some coverage of how some tea party leaders are consciously modeling their activism on that of leftist ’60s leaders like Saul Alinsky. Here’s one article; there are others. I know I read somewhere a tea-party strategist or maybe even conservative office-holder saying that though they completely disagree with Alinsky’s views, his tactics were spot-on.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27285.html

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]]> By: Dave http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161083 Dave Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:29:10 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161083 The Tea Party movement is amorphous enough that both the MSM and Republican niche leaders who want to corral it can see anything they want in it. It reminds me, paradoxically, of the lefty youth movement of the Sixties. The press never got a decent handle on that either. The Tea Party movement is amorphous enough that both the MSM and Republican niche leaders who want to corral it can see anything they want in it. It reminds me, paradoxically, of the lefty youth movement of the Sixties. The press never got a decent handle on that either.

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]]> By: dalea http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161060 dalea Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:18:22 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161060 Politico has some numbers: <blockquote cite="">There’s little data on the disparate tea party movement. One small CNN survey of self-identified tea party activists found that 68 percent identify themselves as Protestants or other non-Catholic Christians, as opposed to just 50 percent in the general population. Only 9 percent of the activists say they’re irreligious, as opposed to 14 percent in the broader sample. But an in-depth study of 49 tea party leaders by the free-market oriented Sam Adams Alliance suggested that the leadership consciously avoids social issues and plans to continue doing so. “None of them chose social issues as the sole direction for the movement,” said the group’s marketing director, Anne Sorock, who oversaw the study. She said that while many of the leaders held conservative views on social issues, “they were completely adamant that [the issues] were not a part of their agenda for the long term.” </blockquote> If there is little data, how does the reporter know the movement is disparate? It seems that reporters should be gathering information on the participants before making declarations about them. I would really like to see in depth interviews with a number of tea partiers before making any journalistic descriptions of them. Politico has some numbers:

There’s little data on the disparate tea party movement. One small CNN survey of self-identified tea party activists found that 68 percent identify themselves as Protestants or other non-Catholic Christians, as opposed to just 50 percent in the general population. Only 9 percent of the activists say they’re irreligious, as opposed to 14 percent in the broader sample.

But an in-depth study of 49 tea party leaders by the free-market oriented Sam Adams Alliance suggested that the leadership consciously avoids social issues and plans to continue doing so.

“None of them chose social issues as the sole direction for the movement,” said the group’s marketing director, Anne Sorock, who oversaw the study.

She said that while many of the leaders held conservative views on social issues, “they were completely adamant that [the issues] were not a part of their agenda for the long term.”

If there is little data, how does the reporter know the movement is disparate? It seems that reporters should be gathering information on the participants before making declarations about them. I would really like to see in depth interviews with a number of tea partiers before making any journalistic descriptions of them.

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]]> By: Mollie http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161059 Mollie Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:02:10 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161059 Whoops! It was already fixed. Now it's doublefixed. Also, a reminder to avoid using derogatory terms when discussing tea partiers. Whoops! It was already fixed. Now it’s doublefixed.

Also, a reminder to avoid using derogatory terms when discussing tea partiers.

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]]> By: Mollie http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161058 Mollie Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:01:28 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161058 dalea, Thanks -- I fixed the link. dalea,

Thanks — I fixed the link.

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]]> By: Bobby http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161056 Bobby Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:54:23 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161056 I noticed your comment and fixed the link. Should work now! I noticed your comment and fixed the link. Should work now!

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]]> By: dalea http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161051 dalea Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:56:51 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161051 The Politico link goes to a story dated 3/02/2010 titled: <i>How real is the Dems' momentum?</i> Did not find any mention of the tea partiers. The Politico link goes to a story dated 3/02/2010 titled: How real is the Dems’ momentum? Did not find any mention of the tea partiers.

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]]> By: Jerry http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161050 Jerry Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:50:51 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161050 <blockquote cite="">The reason why social conservatives and economic conservatives can play well together … is the guy who wants to go to church all day just wants to be left alone.</blockquote> This does not apply, of course, to issues such as stem cell research, abortion etc where the left is saying that people should be left alone to follow their conscience. Thus the statement is wrong on its face. I'm also waiting to hear something about how religion is playing in the larger (from a facebook friend perspective) pro-moderate Coffee Party although that might not have been settled yet.

The reason why social conservatives and economic conservatives can play well together … is the guy who wants to go to church all day just wants to be left alone.

This does not apply, of course, to issues such as stem cell research, abortion etc where the left is saying that people should be left alone to follow their conscience. Thus the statement is wrong on its face.

I’m also waiting to hear something about how religion is playing in the larger (from a facebook friend perspective) pro-moderate Coffee Party although that might not have been settled yet.

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]]> By: Paul http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161047 Paul Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:09:16 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161047 It may depend on the religious ones, after Romney’s astounding statement to the Tea Party to vote his way, since he feels he is the GOP shoe-in, Mitts evangelical blogger's may feel the Tea Party stands next to only the devil, there is where the fear is. http://mittromney2012potus.blogspot.com/ It may depend on the religious ones, after Romney’s astounding statement to the Tea Party to vote his way, since he feels he is the GOP shoe-in, Mitts evangelical blogger’s may feel the Tea Party stands next to only the devil, there is where the fear is.

http://mittromney2012potus.blogspot.com/

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]]> By: Truth Unites... and Divides http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161045 Truth Unites... and Divides Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:55:21 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161045 During the 2008 primaries I saw the blogging media highlight the sharp differences between fiscal conservatives and social conservatives. Secular fiscal conservatives do not play nicely with theistic social conservatives. During the 2008 primaries I saw the blogging media highlight the sharp differences between fiscal conservatives and social conservatives. Secular fiscal conservatives do not play nicely with theistic social conservatives.

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]]> By: Mollie http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161043 Mollie Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:23:57 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161043 Peter, Agreed. At the very least they should have noted how invested he's been in this narrative for DECADES. Peter,

Agreed. At the very least they should have noted how invested he’s been in this narrative for DECADES.

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]]> By: Peter http://www.getreligion.org/2010/03/loving-fearing-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-161035 Peter Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:23:48 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=28811#comment-161035 The Times story hinges on Norquist, who infamously talks out of both sides of his mouth to whatever audience he us in front of. He likes social conservative firepower but is uninterested in the culture war. He is friendly with gay conservatives and has shown no passon for the pro-life agenda. Some context would have helped here if he is the lynchpin authority. The Times story hinges on Norquist, who infamously talks out of both sides of his mouth to whatever audience he us in front of. He likes social conservative firepower but is uninterested in the culture war. He is friendly with gay conservatives and has shown no passon for the pro-life agenda. Some context would have helped here if he is the lynchpin authority.

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