Tea Party Profile Emerges From Poll
A New York Times/CBS News poll found that the 18 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters tend to be Republican, white, male, married and older than 45.
The nationwide telephone poll was conducted April 5 through April 12 with 1,580 adults. A comprehensive profile of Tea Party Supporters emerges from the poll.
The following is a summary of the results:
• Tea Party supporters are wealthier and more well-educated than the general public.
• Most send their children to public schools.
• They hold the conviction that the policies of the Obama administration are disproportionately directed at helping the poor rather than the middle class or the rich, and 25 percent think that the administration favors blacks over whites.
• They hold more conservative views on a range of issues than Republicans generally. They are also more likely to describe themselves as “very conservative” and President Obama as “very liberal.”
• Their fierce animosity toward Washington, and the president in particular, is rooted in deep pessimism about the direction of the country.
• The overwhelming majority of supporters say Mr. Obama does not share the values most Americans live by and that he does not understand the problems of people like themselves.
• They are more likely to classify themselves as “angry.” Asked what they are angry about, Tea Party supporters offered three main concerns: the recent health care overhaul, government spending and a feeling that their opinions are not represented in Washington.
• Despite their push for smaller government, they think that Social Security and Medicare are worth the cost to taxpayers.
• Like most Americans, they think the most pressing problems facing the country today are the economy and jobs.
• The largest number of respondents said that the movement’s goal should be reducing the size of government, more than cutting the budget deficit or lowering taxes.
• A plurality do not think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president.
• They do not want a third party and say they usually or almost always vote Republican. The percentage holding a favorable opinion of former President George W. Bush, at 57 percent, almost exactly matches the percentage in the general public that holds an unfavorable view of him.
Smaller government demands sacrifice… the sacrifice of assuming the same responsibility
for our own welfare as our ancestors embraced prior to all of these government programs…
which happen to be rapidly unveiling our vulnerability.
We can either confront our fears and determine to define our futures,
or we can continue to put our trust in leaders who spend our hard earned dollars
manipulating voting blocks and political favors.
For those who believe they will benefit while handing the tab to others…
what the government gives, the government can also take away.
Kind of like campaign promises….
medicare is no exception.
We cannot have our cake and eat it too.
Tea party or no tea party…
sacrifice is near.
You can prioritize your spending…
keeping your costs under control by personal freedom and discipline,
or you can be taxed on everything you spend to pay for the spending of others.
Keep an eye on the debt mounting exponentially…
you may not have spent it…
you may never become a recipient defined by its restrictions…
but you will most certainly foot the bill.