Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Is this the face of the Tea Party?

This photo was used by both MSNBC.com and The New York Times today in stories about the Tea Party.  Is this what the average Tea Partier looks like - Middle aged and older white men, probably veterans, almost certainly Conservatives and/or Republicans, wearing their hearts on their sleeves?  I hate to say it, but that's my impression of the movement.  Is it true, or is it just how the media presents it to us?  I've seen other photos taken at Tea Party events and the only difference I've seen is that middle aged and older white women are involved in the movement too.  There seems to be a paucity of young people involved, of any race or gender, and I've seen no people of color of any age, although I'm sure there must be a few.  With so little apparent diversity, I really can't see how the movement can have any staying power.  Perhaps they might have some short-term success in the upcoming elections, playing off the poor economy and voter dissatisfaction, but I can't see the Tea Party being any more than a passing fad.  That is, unless they can show us they are more than meets the eye.

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