# Unconvinced that mainstream conservatives (Tea Partiers) are evil and stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248 "2011-09-14T03:51:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/41 "2011-09-14T19:25:40Z")
The government mandating the purchase of a product is pretty damn far away from even resembling a free market. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/42 "2011-09-14T20:08:27Z")
There’s something we need to keep in mind about this disgraceful display: ain’t nothin’ “mainstream” about it. This was strictly a Tea Party event, the audience was carefully chosen from members in good standing, no moderates need apply. It was iike Woodstock for the intellectually constipated, the radical right getting together with the radical right to congratulate themselves on their radicalism. They were primed to cheer the most extreme position. And there is a tendency amongst conservatives generally to be anxious that they are not seen to be weak, they would much prefer to be seen as hard-headed “tough guys”. So they were already primed to cheer raucously for Perry’s execution record, they were waiting for it. Same thing with the stuff about letting people die. I cut them this much slack, they are not sophisticated thinkers, complex issues annoy and confuse them. The people exploiting them are far more culpable, they are professional cynics with vast financial resources, and they know exactly what they are about. There is a lot of stupid, but not that much evil. But the stupid are being misled by the evil. So you got a lot of stupid, an elite cadre of evil, but very very few who are both stupid and evil. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/43 "2011-09-14T20:58:36Z")
Seldom have I found a Venn diagram less consoling. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/44 "2011-09-14T21:28:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This was strictly a Tea Party event, the audience was carefully chosen from members in good standing, no moderates need apply. It was iike Woodstock for the intellectually constipated, the radical right getting together with the radical right to congratulate themselves on their radicalism. They were primed to cheer the most extreme position. While I have no doubt that you are correct, my question then is: Why the hell did they put it on TV, where those moderates were likely to actually _see and hear_ the cheers for death? You’d think they would keep these sort of events a bit more under wraps - town halls and the like, instead of showcasing their nasty thoughts to the entire country. ---
**Author:** ![spazurek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@spazurek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazurek)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/45 "2011-09-14T22:17:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There’s something we need to keep in mind about this disgraceful display: ain’t nothin’ “mainstream” about it. > > This was strictly a Tea Party event, the audience was carefully chosen from members in good standing, no moderates need apply. It was iike Woodstock for the intellectually constipated, the radical right getting together with the radical right to congratulate themselves on their radicalism. They were primed to cheer the most extreme position. > > And there is a tendency amongst conservatives generally to be anxious that they are not seen to be weak, they would much prefer to be seen as hard-headed “tough guys”. So they were already primed to cheer raucously for Perry’s execution record, they were waiting for it. Same thing with the stuff about letting people die. > > I cut them this much slack, they are not sophisticated thinkers, complex issues annoy and confuse them. The people exploiting them are far more culpable, they are professional cynics with vast financial resources, and they know exactly what they are about. > > There is a lot of stupid, but not that much evil. But the stupid are being misled by the evil. So you got a lot of stupid, an elite cadre of evil, but very very few who are both stupid and evil. I’d so love to believe you, but the popularity of Bachmann, Perry, Paul, Cantor, Ryan, etc. unfortunately casts great doubt on this theory. The very-near-undoing of the government in August was a clear testament to the power and influence of the Tea Party. Even if you’re right that they’re not a numerical majority of conservatives, they evidently wield the most power, making them the _de facto_ mainstream. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/46 "2011-09-14T22:47:24Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > While I have no doubt that you are correct, my question then is: > > Why the hell did they put it on TV, where those moderates were likely to actually _see and hear_ the cheers for death? You’d think they would keep these sort of events a bit more under wraps - town halls and the like, instead of showcasing their nasty thoughts to the entire country. Because they don’t understand how vile they are. They think they’re decent people. Like torture supporters, or those who think it’s okay if poorer Americans die through a lack of access to health care if doing something about it may affect their own personal fortunes, amen. It’s a corollary to that there theory mentioned in the science denialists thread, the one concerning people who aren’t just wrong but too stupid to understand they’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/47 "2011-09-15T00:10:23Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > No, burning _your_ dog is hilarious. Burning my dog is tragic. If you didn’t want to watch your dog burn, you should have invested in flame-retardant treatments for your dog. Everyone knows that it’s possible even for puppies to be set on fire. You have only yourself to blame for his flammability. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/48 "2011-09-15T00:24:34Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > True. Let’s not forget that at heart, it’s really a grass-roots movement consisting of people from across the political spectrum who are angry at the failings of government, and who have come together to support a platform consisting entirely of [formerly]fringe-Right ideas. Created by Fox News, and led by its employees. And, after all this time, still lacking a coherent agenda other than “Government sucks, we have to cut spending on something or other (don’t ask us what) and Obama is anti-American”. [The transcript of Blitzer’s questioning of Paul:](http://gantdaily.com/2011/09/13/transcript-gop-candidates-squabble-over-health-care-during-tampa-debate/) > [@](#): > > BLITZER: Thank you, Governor. Before I get to Michele Bachmann, I want to just — you’re a physician, Ron Paul, so you’re a doctor. You know something about this subject. Let me ask you this hypothetical question. > A healthy 30-year-old young man has a good job, makes a good living, but decides, you know what? I’m not going to spend $200 or $300 a month for health insurance because I’m healthy, I don’t need it. But something terrible happens, all of a sudden he needs it. > Who’s going to pay if he goes into a coma, for example? Who pays for that? > PAUL: Well, in a society that you accept welfarism and socialism, he expects the government to take care of him. > BLITZER: Well, what do you want? > PAUL: But what he should do is whatever he wants to do, and assume responsibility for himself. My advice to him would have a major medical policy, but not be forced – > BLITZER: But he doesn’t have that. He doesn’t have it, and he needs intensive care for six months. Who pays? > PAUL: That’s what freedom is all about, taking your own risks. This whole idea that you have to prepare and take care of everybody – > (APPLAUSE) > BLITZER: But Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die? The rest is even more incoherent. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/49 "2011-09-15T01:25:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The rest is even more incoherent. Incoherence is the least worrying thing. It ought to be more concerning that this is a well-considered position by Mr. Paul after losing someone under these circumstances. [Link.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/07/16/552670/-Gay-Ron-Paul-staffer-dies-of-pneumonia-without-health-coverage,-leaves-$400K-of-debt) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/50 "2011-09-15T01:51:46Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > > There is no “liberal health care plan”; Obama’s plan is just a warmed over Republican plan, and Obama isn’t a liberal or even close. > > ROTFLMAO!! > > I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there. > > DT, what color is the sky on your home planet? You want to argue that Obama isn’t a liberal, you better be ready to argue that the Pope ain’t Catholic in your next breath. Please; he’s basically a black Reagan politically. He’s not even close to liberal; he’s at most a moderate conservative. > [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > So…does that make Obama evil and stupid? 😕 He certainly seems to be. Were you under the impression I liked him? > [@Fenris](#): > > Coming from the guy who wants to record women he’s having sex with _without their knowledge_ because he thinks that they’re all so evil they’ll falsely cry rape after the fact, just to cheat him out of money, this is freakin’ hilarious. > > Sorry you diseased woman-hating perv, you get no cred when it comes to talking about how others value women. :rolleyes: No, that was me pointing out the mirror position of all the women who say that it’s perfectly reasonable to treat every man as a potential rapist and murderer. And got labeled a “woman hater” by people like you, because that’s what happens when you express resentment at being labeled a potential rapist and murderer because you are a man. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/51 "2011-09-15T06:33:18Z")
Like when you [said](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13362568&postcount=180): > [@What do you think about recording sex sessions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602/181): > > As has been repeatedly been pointed out, the answer to that question is “a woman”. One more time; the problem is the lopsided favoring of women when it comes to such accusations, not any particular woman. There’s no identifiable group of women that can be avoided to stay safe. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/52 "2011-09-15T18:48:43Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > He certainly seems to be. Were you under the impression I liked him? No, I was under the impression that all Republicans are evil and stupid, and now you are expanding conservative liberals (or is it liberal conservatives?) onto that pile and labeled Obama as such. I didn’t know goalposts had 8 legs and moved faster than a race horse until now. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248/53 "2011-09-26T16:45:15Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Created by Fox News, and led by its employees. And, after all this time, still lacking a coherent agenda other than “Government sucks, we have to cut spending on something or other (don’t ask us what) and Obama is anti-American”. > > [The transcript of Blitzer’s questioning of Paul:](http://gantdaily.com/2011/09/13/transcript-gop-candidates-squabble-over-health-care-during-tampa-debate/)The rest is even more incoherent. Oh, it’s perfectly clear…in that Paul says that churches can take care of all those pesky sick and injured people. Ummmmm…yeah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconvinced-that-mainstream-conservatives-tea-partiers-are-evil-and-stupid/596248.md?page=2)