The GOP Should Stay Away from Tea

In the interest of full disclosure, the Democratic Party is not "left" enough for me.

Which means it is a rare occasion that I will give the Republican Party some well-meaning advice:  stay away from the Tea Party.  Seriously, just walk away.

Given the violence and vandalism of the last few days that have been perpetrated on various Democratic members of Congress, it is clear that Tea Partiers are more about fanatic zealotry than any kind of rational thought or ideals.

And this violence is over something as relatively benign as health care for U.S. citizens.  What would be happening if instead of health care, Congress had been considering going to war with another country?  Oh, sorry, I guess we already did that one.  I guess helpful domestic agendas are all that's fair game right now.

But let's revisit this idea of fanatic zealotry for a moment.  These Tea Partiers, and others, are absolutely furious -- outraged -- that Congress has voted for a bill that as I've said in a previous post, would be beneficial to all of the citizens of this country, even them.  You know what this kind of anger against a rational, compassionate idea sounds like to me?

It sounds like the same kind of behavior that Al Qaeda expects from its followers.  Blind faith that by violently opposing anything that even vaguely resembles an ideology different from your own, you are doing "good" in the name of "all the people", even when your actions hurt your own people the most.

So even though Sen. Boehner (R-Ohio) came off sounding like a blowhard during the "debate" before the vote Sunday, I have to agree with him when he said, "I know many Americans are angry over this health-care bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren't listening. But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable."

Unless the Tea Partiers and their uninformed ilk are ready to be branded terrorists, they ought to follow their Republican colleague's advice.

And the Republicans would do well to start drinking coffee, instead of tea.