# I'm not sure why, but the "Tea Party" Tax Protests really rub me the wrong way. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149 "2009-04-15T05:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/81 "2009-04-15T17:19:36Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > As for the protests, I don’t begrudge the right wing a little frothing at the mouth after all the hyperbole that came from the left about Bush (comparisons to Hitler, etc.). But yesterday I heard a quote on NPR a conservative protester who said that they were angry about Obama’s massive deficit spending. WTF??? Bush _lowered_ taxes and initiated an expensive, unnecessary war, and they’re pissed off at Obama? Reagan also ran on a balanced-budget platform, increased the deficit, yet remains the conservative movement’s modern hero . . . This is a form of doublethink they managed to internalize long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/82 "2009-04-15T17:24:15Z")
Damn, now I have “YMCA” running through my head as an earworm. Thanks a whole fuckin’ hell of a lot guys! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/83 "2009-04-15T17:31:29Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Damn, now I have “YMCA” running through my head as an earworm. Thanks a whole fuckin’ hell of a lot guys! You can cancel it out by repeating some entirely nongay mantra, such as “teabaggers teabaggers teabaggers”. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/84 "2009-04-15T17:42:31Z")
Wait, are we talking about the teabagging movement or the 2M4M movement? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/85 "2009-04-15T17:57:14Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Truly it’s mindboggling why they would want to compare themselves to the most famous anti-tax rally in American history, one that every schoolchild knows about. :rolleyes: I would agree that every schoolchild knows _the name_ of the Boston Tea Party. I doubt 1 in 25 Americans really knows what it was _about_- that for instance even with the taxes tea was incredibly cheap compared to what it was in London or what it had been in America, or that John Hancock (one of the real instigators of the event though he did not take part) happened to be a smuggler whose smuggled tea, even without the taxes, was being undersold by England’s (and the destruction of English tea just coincidentally happened to benefit him financially- and cost the colonists more). It was multilayered in origins, but it was not a protest against the amount of taxes being paid- tea was actually cheaper with the Tea Act taxes than it had been without them. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/86 "2009-04-15T18:01:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You can cancel it out by repeating some entirely nongay mantra, such as “teabaggers teabaggers teabaggers”. Somehow, I now have the phrase “teabagger, teabagger” going through my mind to the tune of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” (from “Fiddler on the Roof”). For Jah’s sake, help!! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/87 "2009-04-15T18:19:49Z")
Here’s one to bring up images of anatomically challenged protesters: teabagger teabaggger teabagger teabaggger teabagger teabaggger teabagger teabaggger teabagger teabaggger teabagger SNAKE! Ahhh, it’s a snake! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/88 "2009-04-15T18:22:04Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Somehow, I now have the phrase “teabagger, teabagger” going through my mind to the tune of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” (from “Fiddler on the Roof”). For Jah’s sake, help!! Teabagger, teabagger, I want to protest I don’t know about what… taxes I guess I’m gonna take this teabag and throw it away Or I could be wed to gays… ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/89 "2009-04-15T18:49:40Z")
The teabaggers are on to you guys and your sophomoric jokes! From a cheat sheet put out by FreedomWorks, the organization pushing this spontaneous grassroots movement (from [TalkingPointsMemo](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/04/dont_let_that_teabag_smack_you_in_the_face.php)): > [@](#): > > DON’T BE DUPED! The term “teabagging” has strong sexual connotations. Be wary of anyone with a camera asking you if you are a “teabagger” or if you enjoy “teabagging” or similar leading questions - they are trying to make a fool of you. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/90 "2009-04-15T18:54:55Z")
Next up, they’re going to protest Obama’s election by burning voting booths in effigy - Get ready for **Poll Smoking Day**! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/91 "2009-04-15T18:59:58Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Next up, they’re going to protest Obama’s election by burning voting booths in effigy - Get ready for **Poll Smoking Day**! Will that be in five days? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/92 "2009-04-15T19:11:30Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > The teabaggers are on to you guys and your sophomoric jokes! > > From a cheat sheet put out by FreedomWorks, the organization pushing this spontaneous grassroots movement (from [TalkingPointsMemo](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/04/dont_let_that_teabag_smack_you_in_the_face.php)): Ah, yes, [FreedomWorks](http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks) . . . ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/93 "2009-04-15T19:29:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I would agree that every schoolchild knows _the name_ of the Boston Tea Party. I doubt 1 in 25 Americans really knows what it was _about_- that for instance even with the taxes tea was incredibly cheap compared to what it was in London or what it had been in America, or that John Hancock (one of the real instigators of the event though he did not take part) happened to be a smuggler whose smuggled tea, even without the taxes, was being undersold by England’s (and the destruction of English tea just coincidentally happened to benefit him financially- and cost the colonists more). It was multilayered in origins, but it was not a protest against the amount of taxes being paid- tea was actually cheaper with the Tea Act taxes than it had been without them. Entirely true – it was about the principle, not the amount. But the grade-school version many people have in their head doesn’t go beyond “they were angry about taxes.” It’s marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/94 "2009-04-15T19:42:31Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > Well, let me clarify a couple of things. First off, I don’t think the tea parties themselves are extremist. I think they’re counterproductive and annoying and that some of these guys could be tipped into extremist land, but I’m not actually _scared_ of the tea parties themselves. > > Secondly, there are quite a few conservatives out there like your dad, and we _do_ care about getting things right, and we _don’t_ like either Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter. We’re just not in control right now. Unfortunately, it’s the Freepers and the Ditto-heads who are running the show, and they might well be in the majority among conservatives. I have no hard feelings against Obama personally. I think he’s a good man who ran a good campaign. As clean a campaign as I’ve ever seen, and I don’t mind admitting that the best candidate won here. > > I also think that the country which Reagan presided over has changed dramatically right along with the rest of the world. The democrats figured that out, and the republicans didn’t, and we paid for it with our self-respect and the election. That doesn’t make me a democrat, and it sure as hell doesn’t make me a liberal. It makes me a conservative who has seen his own party hijacked and betrayed by the very elements we should have separated ourselves from decades ago. Maybe this is the _real_ reason tea parties piss me off. Not because of the protests themselves, but because every time I see the teabaggers on TV, it brings me face to face with what I’ve posted above. > > I could go on and on about what we could do or should do, but the simple fact is that I don’t know. And \*that \*pisses me off more than everything else combined. Btw, thank you for that. Every now and then I need to be reminded that not ALL conservatives are batshit insane. Hat off to you sir. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/95 "2009-04-15T19:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > In Washington, D.C., protesters had planned to dump a million tea bags in Lafayette Square and even promised to put the bags on the tarps and clean up afterward. But their plans were thwarted after National Park Service officials said protesters didn’t have the proper permit to dump the bags, NBC affiliate WRC TV reported. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30227452/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30227452/) We’d still be English colonies… ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/96 "2009-04-15T19:52:35Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the organizers should have harkened back to the Whiskey Rebellion, when the Feds raised taxes due to high debts. (I’ll ignore the part about jackbooted thugs crushing the dissent/insurrection.) I’d rather attend a whiskey party anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/97 "2009-04-15T19:54:49Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30227452/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30227452/) > > We’d still be English colonies… That is hilarious. Here’s [another story](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/15/million-tea-bag-protest-i_n_187243.html) with video. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/98 "2009-04-15T19:56:32Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > But yesterday I heard a quote on NPR a conservative protester who said that they were angry about Obama’s massive deficit spending. WTF??? Bush _lowered_ taxes and initiated an expensive, unnecessary war, and they’re pissed off at Obama? There’s no logical contradiction. 1. Not everyone agrees that Iraq was “unnecessary,” just as not everyone agree with Obamas that massive stimulus was “necessary.” You may not agree, obviously (I’m not inclined to call either “necessary” myself), but that’s another issue; it does not make them hypocritical. 2. Obama’s deficits are 2,3, or 4 times larger than any Bush ever ran. Perhaps some think -400 billion is okay, but -1600 billion is not; or, like myself, they think that fiscally Bush was bad, and Obama is worse. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/99 "2009-04-15T19:58:40Z")
_“It’s fun to play with a Tee - Eee - Ay - bag It’s fun to play with a Tee - Eee - Ay - bag”_ ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/100 "2009-04-15T20:06:34Z")
> [@furt](#): > > 1. Obama’s deficits are 2,3, or 4 times larger than any Bush ever ran. Perhaps some think -400 billion is okay, but -1600 billion is not; or, like myself, they think that fiscally Bush was bad, and Obama is worse. But a lot of Bush’s spending left the country whereas Obama’s spending is going into the pockets of Americans. Obama is trying to stimulate the economy, while Bush’s policies appear to have run the economy into the ground. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=6)