GayPatriot

The Internet home for American gay conservatives.

Given Tea Party focus on economic issues, no wonder gays have infiltrated movement

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In  his reflection on the Maine GOP’s decision to adopt a new Tea Party-flavored platform at its convention this past weekend, James Taranto offers a great insight into social conservatives and Tea Parties:

In truth, most of the religious right is part of the spectrum of respectable political opinion in America. While everybody deplores racism, opposition to abortion and to same-sex marriage are mainstream positions to everyone except extremists on the other side. To call the tea-party movement socially conservative or “religious right,” then, does not have the same sting as calling it racist or violent.

Yet it does seem to be almost as inaccurate. An April New York Times poll found that while tea-party sympathizers were more conservative than average on social issues, by 78% to 14% they said economic issues are more important–nearly identical to the response from non-tea participants. While tea-party sympathizers were less pro-abortion than others, 40% said Roe v. Wade was “a good thing.”

One can see why liberals and Democrats would be eager to pigeonhole the tea-party movement as socially conservative. A substantial number of voters are put off by the religious right, either because their views are more liberal or because, even if not, they find its preoccupation with matters like abortion or gays creepy or beside the point.

Emphasis added.

Given this focus on economic issues, it’s no wonder Tea Party participants have not been averse to the homosexual infiltration we’ve detected.  Now, we wonder how those social conservatives would react if the media reported on gay participation in the movement which, by our observation, far exceeds that of extremists hoisting racist signs or spouting hateful racial epithets.  (Indeed, by our estimate, there have been more gay men and lesbians at Tea Parties in the Los Angeles area alone than racist epithets hurled by Tea Party participants at protests across the country!)

Comments

  1. Count me in! My partner and I are part of the “Tea Movement”. We may not be able to get out to any rallys, but fly our Gadsen and American flags proudly on our front lawn.

    Proud Tea Baggers from Stony Brook, Long Island!

  3. Leah and TnnsNE1,

    Do either of you have any desire or hope of getting the TEA Party movement to incorporate the gay “agenda?”

    Or, are you supporting the TEA Party agenda over and above any other issues?

    And, do you feel like you are “infiltrating” or joining openly and enthusiastically with like minded people. Furthermore, do you think if you were known to be gay that the TEA Party people would even care?

  4. Dude. Infiltrated? I just showed up at our local rallies, EVERYBODY knows I’m gay – NOBODY cares. I get TONS more hate at the (gay) bar cos I don’t like ol’ Bammy….

  6. B. Daniel Blatt… I wish that I could go. But I have to work. And when it comes to the Tea party movement wanting them to incorporate the “gay agenda” Well, the “gay agenda” is not my “agenda”. I am a lesbian who converted to conservatism in 2008. Yep, I was a big Hillary supporter. And I had done a lot of research on Obama at that time. And I knew that he would be very bad for America. I wasn’t keen on McCain, but when Hillary lost the nom, and McCain introduced Palin… I flipped big time. I think that I kind of woke up from a deep sleep. And I believe that the speach that Obama made in Berlin, really woke me up to the path that this man would take this country. And NO, it was and is not about race! For me it’s all about losing our freedoms. I believe in less Goverment, less taxes and I believe that the POTUS should be proud of this country and not bow and not apologize to other countries. Now, that’s my “agenda”… ” Don’t tread on me!”

  7. If your progressive/libertarian views are subordinate to federalism, social conservatives have no problem with LGBT constituents. Equal justice, not social justice.

  8. If your progressive/libertarian views are subordinate to federalism, social conservatives have no problem with LGBT constituents.

    If you understand that federalism is merely a side show in the fundamental conflict between individual rights and state power, advocates of liberty have no problem with LGBT constituents either.

  9. I have been to 4 Tea Party events now, and I’ve never seen a single instance of anti-gay bias. And I’m working full time for one of the most conservative congressional candidates ever, he couldn’t care less.

    My freedom as an American comes first. And most Tea Party people agree.

  11. Because the Tea Party isn’t about any particular social issues but rather is about the ever-growing Federal Government and the subsequent loss of individual rights, it looks like a natural fit for everyone who values individual liberty. Sexual orientation really isn’t an issue with the Movement. It’s probably even likely that were a candidate for office to be anti-gay with the intent to create legislation taking away more liberties from gay people that candidate would be considered to be unfavorable to the Movement.