Obama was their man and the [Iowa] caucuses were his launch pad for the White House. Checking back, I described the scene in the school gym as “grassroots politics at its most vibrant”.
That was before I attended a Tea Party event. The gathering I chose was essentially at random. I happened to be in Cincinnati, Ohio and wanted to see a local event, rather than a big Tea Party rally, for myself. A few hours later, I was inside the Old Spaghetti Factory in Fairfield, Ohio…
The discussion ranged from the philosophical, pondering the role of government and the duties of citizens, to the practical, how to canvass and organise. And while there was certainly anger about the state of the country and disdain for Obama there was also humour and good cheer. Anyone could take the microphone, and many did…
No one questioned Obama’s citizenship or his allegiance to the country. Fiscal matters predominated and social issues were barely touched on. There is no doubt that the Tea Party has attracted some eccentrics and extremists. But what popular movement hasn’t?
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