'You have made mothers mad, you'll wish you hadn't'

Chuck Pinkey

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August 30, 2011

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Tue Aug 30, 2011, 03:24 AM EDT

"As far as I'm concerned, the Tea Party can go straight to hell." -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

Ah, such an example of grace and dignity, from someone who professes to be liberal and tolerant. It's quite an elitist remark from a "representative of the people." Don't you wish liberal politicians would get as angry at terrorists, as they do the Tea Party?

They and their fellow enlightened liberals rail at the Tea Party with the disdain usually reserved for deadly enemies. We are called hostage-takers, terrorists, racists, ignorant and lapdogs of the rich. We are accused of wanting to starve the elderly and poor. Some claim the Tea Party is the new Nazi Party.

They brand their fellow Americans as selfish, mean-spirited and uneducated.

"The Tea Party is a tool of the far right, financed by the big business," they insist. The left claims that we are ultra-extremists with a radical agenda.

Why all this anger and hatred? Why the disdain and name-calling? Why the lack of civility? Why, because they are afraid. That's right, scared to death!

Mahatma Gandhi, who faced down the mighty British Empire, said, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." We are already at the third phase.

We have hosted two tea parties and will soon do another, but before our rallies, we noticed mothers and grandmothers calling and coming in to find out the dates and times of the event. Here you have middle-aged Americans and senior citizens, who generally are not political, "mad as hell" and looking to do something about it.

I said to my wife: "Look at these folks! Here are the people who have built this nation and whose sons and daughters have defended it. They are not young students, who have yet to experience life. These people are the backbone of our country. If you are doing something to make Mom and Grandma this angry, you are making a huge mistake."

It reminded me of a story years back, while in basic training. Our drill sergeant was screaming about all the "unnecessary" clothing, food and even the safety devices on our weapons and planes. He maintained that it was "your mother's fault!"

Not knowing enough to keep my mouth shut, I asked, "How so, Drill Sergeant?" "Figure it out, you piece of whale s***! American mothers are the most powerful force in this country. They make us take care of your worthless asses, because they love you. Your daddy knows enough not to go against them and any son worth his salt does what his mother says. If the mothers of America want something, it happens!" he bellowed.

"Would you go against your mother, boy?" he exclaimed. "Never, Drill Sergeant, but my mother wants me to come home. Does that mean I can leave?" I replied.

He cried: "Get down and give me 100!!! In fact smart **s, do it until I get tired."

The old sergeant was right, but I wonder what he would think of his mother and grandmother being called Nazis and terrorists? Senior citizens labeled as hostage-takers and racists? And, what would he think of the folks who have produced and paid, being told to "go to hell" by those elected to serve them?

Have you noticed, although we feverishly disagree with the liberal side, we don't speak of them with the hatred and callousness that it directs at us? Sure, we criticize our political leaders and our government, but not our country or our fellow citizens.

Think about that. We are not labeling fellow Americans as radicals, Nazis, terrorists, kidnappers, etc. ... Sadly, the same cannot be said of the liberal left. Our efforts are directed at Washington and state capitals. Their efforts are to demean and belittle.

Even when we protest our porous borders and defunct welfare system, we are targeting government policies and leaders, not individual, everyday Americans.

Having attended a few tea parties, I've witnessed many posters about our president and certain high-level politicians, that shall we say, were not complimentary. Of course, a Tea Party is a protest rally! However, never have I seen anything remotely racist or vaguely violent. Tea Party folks are for smaller government, less spending, and following the Constitution and our laws.

Many independents, who voted for Obama, will not swallow the Kool-Aid again. Even his liberal core is eroding! A recent poll showed that 79 percent of Americans feel the United States is heading in the wrong direction. We agree and are determined to right the course.

Our methods are working and theirs are not. The Tea Party produced a landslide in 2010, to be followed by a greater victory next fall. Their name-calling and hatred have only galvanized our resolve and added to our numbers. You have made mothers mad and in 2012, you'll wish you hadn't!

Chuck Pinkey is the owner of River Valley New Holland Inc. in Otego. He can be reached at chuck.rvnewholland@gmail.com.