Citizens Respond to Tancredo Tea Party Comments
Target:
Tea Party, Coffee Party, elected officials, news media
Petition Expressing America's Response to Tom Tancredo's Tea Party Convention Speech
As citizens of the United States of America, we take exception to former Congressman Tom Tancredo's assertion that the election of President Barack Obama was the unfortunate result of a "the cult of multiculturalism," and a lack of a "civics literacy test," and other measures that might have prevented recent immigrants and people of color from voting. We object to Mr. Tancredo's denigration of the American electorate as "people who cannot even spell the word vote, or say it in English." And, we object to his call for a culture war in the name of preserving "Judeo-Christian principles whether people like it or they don't."
As the opening speaker at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Memphis, TN, the former Presidential candidate went on to say, "And if you don't like it, don't come here! And if you're here and you don't like it, go home! Go someplace else."
We recognize the right of all people in the United States to express their views no matter how racially insensitive or irresponsible. However, in light of the news media's diligent effort to represent Tea Party activists as the voice of "real America," we feel it is our civic duty to point out that backward, intolerant, and offensive statements such as these do not represent the values of the vast majority of Americans, including many Tea Party supporters.
We ask Tea Party organizers to stop providing platforms for those who wish to incite racial and cultural conflict. Language discrimination, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and voter suppression are not in keeping with our values as Americans. Moreover, such ideas should not be used as an organizing principle for a peaceful social movement described by former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin as "the future of America."
Respectfully,
The Coffee Party Movement,
and the undersigned
----------------------------------------------------
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JoinCoffeeParty
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/yz9glsc
Contact us:
coffeeparty2010@gmail.com
As citizens of the United States of America, we take exception to former Congressman Tom Tancredo's assertion that the election of President Barack Obama was the unfortunate result of a "the cult of multiculturalism," and a lack of a "civics literacy test," and other measures that might have prevented recent immigrants and people of color from voting. We object to Mr. Tancredo's denigration of the American electorate as "people who cannot even spell the word vote, or say it in English." And, we object to his call for a culture war in the name of preserving "Judeo-Christian principles whether people like it or they don't."
As the opening speaker at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Memphis, TN, the former Presidential candidate went on to say, "And if you don't like it, don't come here! And if you're here and you don't like it, go home! Go someplace else."
We recognize the right of all people in the United States to express their views no matter how racially insensitive or irresponsible. However, in light of the news media's diligent effort to represent Tea Party activists as the voice of "real America," we feel it is our civic duty to point out that backward, intolerant, and offensive statements such as these do not represent the values of the vast majority of Americans, including many Tea Party supporters.
We ask Tea Party organizers to stop providing platforms for those who wish to incite racial and cultural conflict. Language discrimination, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and voter suppression are not in keeping with our values as Americans. Moreover, such ideas should not be used as an organizing principle for a peaceful social movement described by former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin as "the future of America."
Respectfully,
The Coffee Party Movement,
and the undersigned
----------------------------------------------------
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JoinCoffeeParty
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/yz9glsc
Contact us:
coffeeparty2010@gmail.com
Petition Expressing America's Response to Tom Tancredo's Tea Party Convention Speech
As citizens of the United States of America, we take exception to former Congressman Tom Tancredo's assertion that the election of President Barack Obama was the unfortunate result of a "the cult of multiculturalism," and a lack of a "civics literacy test," and other measures that might have prevented recent immigrants and people of color from voting. We object to Mr. Tancredo's denigration of the American electorate as "people who cannot even spell the word vote, or say it in English." And, we object to his call for a culture war in the name of preserving "Judeo-Christian principles whether people like it or they don't."
As the opening speaker at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Memphis, TN, the former Presidential candidate went on to say, "And if you don't like it, don't come here! And if you're here and you don't like it, go home! Go someplace else."
We recognize the right of all people in the United States to express their views no matter how racially insensitive or irresponsible. However, in light of the news media's diligent effort to represent Tea Party activists as the voice of "real America," we feel it is our civic duty to point out that backward, intolerant, and offensive statements such as these do not represent the values of the vast majority of Americans, including many Tea Party supporters.
We ask Tea Party organizers to stop providing platforms for those who wish to incite racial and cultural conflict. Language discrimination, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and voter suppression are not in keeping with our values as Americans. Moreover, such ideas should not be used as an organizing principle for a peaceful social movement described by former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin as "the future of America."
Respectfully,
The Coffee Party Movement,
and the undersigned
----------------------------------------------------
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JoinCoffeeParty
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/yz9glsc
Contact us:
coffeeparty2010@gmail.com
As citizens of the United States of America, we take exception to former Congressman Tom Tancredo's assertion that the election of President Barack Obama was the unfortunate result of a "the cult of multiculturalism," and a lack of a "civics literacy test," and other measures that might have prevented recent immigrants and people of color from voting. We object to Mr. Tancredo's denigration of the American electorate as "people who cannot even spell the word vote, or say it in English." And, we object to his call for a culture war in the name of preserving "Judeo-Christian principles whether people like it or they don't."
As the opening speaker at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Memphis, TN, the former Presidential candidate went on to say, "And if you don't like it, don't come here! And if you're here and you don't like it, go home! Go someplace else."
We recognize the right of all people in the United States to express their views no matter how racially insensitive or irresponsible. However, in light of the news media's diligent effort to represent Tea Party activists as the voice of "real America," we feel it is our civic duty to point out that backward, intolerant, and offensive statements such as these do not represent the values of the vast majority of Americans, including many Tea Party supporters.
We ask Tea Party organizers to stop providing platforms for those who wish to incite racial and cultural conflict. Language discrimination, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and voter suppression are not in keeping with our values as Americans. Moreover, such ideas should not be used as an organizing principle for a peaceful social movement described by former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin as "the future of America."
Respectfully,
The Coffee Party Movement,
and the undersigned
----------------------------------------------------
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JoinCoffeeParty
Join the Coffee Party Movement on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/yz9glsc
Contact us:
coffeeparty2010@gmail.com
We signed the "Citizens Respond to Tancredo Tea Party Comments" petition!
# 89:
6:35 pm PDT, Mar 19,
Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
We need to see everyone as part of our community. We are one world. The earth is our home. Open your heart and mind to love everyone; and be prepared to need strength and commitment for that - even in the face of being hurt or attacked.
We need to see everyone as part of our community. We are one world. The earth is our home. Open your heart and mind to love everyone; and be prepared to need strength and commitment for that - even in the face of being hurt or attacked.
# 88:
8:52 am PDT, Mar 14,
Gracie Pogue, Illinois
Statements like that come from an uneducated, unthoughtful and fearful mind. Too bad.
Statements like that come from an uneducated, unthoughtful and fearful mind. Too bad.
# 87:
10:36 pm PST, Mar 13,
Cindy Houde, Connecticut
i always belived you can not agrue with a jackassd
i always belived you can not agrue with a jackassd
# 86:
2:29 pm PST, Mar 13,
Ryan Perry, Wyoming
I'm not afraid of the government. I'm afraid of the Tea Party!
I'm not afraid of the government. I'm afraid of the Tea Party!
# 85:
1:59 pm PST, Mar 13,
Angela Mills, Massachusetts
# 84:
1:02 pm PST, Mar 13,
Michele Scott, Washington
# 83:
12:05 pm PST, Mar 13,
Nathan Leon, Texas
I assure you, Mr Tancredo, that I can spell, and I did vote for Obama. But you comments, while firing up a decidedly MINORITY section of the Republican demographic, has also managed to alienate the more moderates of your own party. Please don't use fear for personal gain. It is unbecoming, and very hurtful to the whole system. You give a bad name for the rest of your party, and foster distrust from the other side of the isle. You time in congress would be better served finding ways ahead, instead of doing everything in your power to further your own name. I am of ethnic decent, and while I take great umbrage with your comments, I still believe somewhere inside you there are good ideas waiting to get out. Why can't you take more time developing these ideas and bring them to light instead of writing hurtful speeches? Don't you have any faith in your ability to legislate, while not having to rely on such underhanded and useless arguments? I beg you, stop with the rhetoric, and come with some great ideas. Or help those whom you believe have good ideas. A good policy will always triumph over bad, if given the proper chance. And if you don't think that fact is true, then I'm not sure you are in the correct profession.
I assure you, Mr Tancredo, that I can spell, and I did vote for Obama. But you comments, while firing up a decidedly MINORITY section of the Republican demographic, has also managed to alienate the more moderates of your own party. Please don't use fear for personal gain. It is unbecoming, and very hurtful to the whole system. You give a bad name for the rest of your party, and foster distrust from the other side of the isle. You time in congress would be better served finding ways ahead, instead of doing everything in your power to further your own name. I am of ethnic decent, and while I take great umbrage with your comments, I still believe somewhere inside you there are good ideas waiting to get out. Why can't you take more time developing these ideas and bring them to light instead of writing hurtful speeches? Don't you have any faith in your ability to legislate, while not having to rely on such underhanded and useless arguments? I beg you, stop with the rhetoric, and come with some great ideas. Or help those whom you believe have good ideas. A good policy will always triumph over bad, if given the proper chance. And if you don't think that fact is true, then I'm not sure you are in the correct profession.
# 82:
1:18 pm PST, Mar 1,
Name not displayed, Virginia
# 81:
3:01 pm PST, Feb 13,
Tamara Shipp, Virginia
I have a Master's degree in English, and I voted for President Obama. I think I can probably spell "vote" ... Oh, look, I just did it. And ... be careful what you wish for. Many of the Tea Party faithful might not be able to pass that civics literacy test.
I have a Master's degree in English, and I voted for President Obama. I think I can probably spell "vote" ... Oh, look, I just did it. And ... be careful what you wish for. Many of the Tea Party faithful might not be able to pass that civics literacy test.
# 80:
12:22 pm PST, Feb 12,
Iris Chynoweth, California
# 79:
8:27 am PST, Feb 12,
Name not displayed, Minnesota
# 78:
6:56 pm PST, Feb 11,
Name not displayed, Virginia
Tom Tancredo is simply unacceptable. He does not represent mainstream America.
Tom Tancredo is simply unacceptable. He does not represent mainstream America.
# 77:
9:29 am PST, Feb 10,
Kathy Lineker, Virginia
# 76:
8:31 am PST, Feb 10,
Angel Martin, Rhode Island
For more impact, add a personal comment here
For more impact, add a personal comment here
# 75:
11:39 pm PST, Feb 9,
Shannon Maynard, Oregon
# 74:
8:01 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Virginia
# 73:
7:36 pm PST, Feb 9,
Lenny Zenith, Michigan
Your thinly veiled racism is ignorant, and will disable you in the end. You are cutting off your nose to spite your face, where did your ancesotrs come from?
Your thinly veiled racism is ignorant, and will disable you in the end. You are cutting off your nose to spite your face, where did your ancesotrs come from?
# 72:
5:51 pm PST, Feb 9,
Jennifer L., Canada
Absolutely unacceptable. His outmoded way of thinking and dinosaur self should really just go ahead and die now.
Absolutely unacceptable. His outmoded way of thinking and dinosaur self should really just go ahead and die now.
# 71:
3:36 pm PST, Feb 9,
Jungsook Yoon, New York
# 70:
1:26 pm PST, Feb 9,
Gregg Reynolds, Virginia
The Tea Party and other similar organizations are part of a cancer of fear that continues to grow, spread and destroy the USA. Fear and it's derivative Hate are promoted by corporate interests for financial gain and in so doing these individuals and organizations are continuing to transform our slow glide down into a nose dive down. Mean while China and Europe have already made plans for the end of oil while we continue to believe that oil will last forever. A society built on the backs of slaves and immigrants and armed to the teeth will not take kindly to the hardships created by the end of oil. Global oil peaked in 2002 which means it's half gone in less than 150 years. Our grandchildren will see the end of oil. The Tea Party like Enron and Wall Street thrives on deception and emotion rather than rational thinking and planning for the future. The Tea Party is only a symptom of the problem. The American way of life is in serious decline but instead of learning to live with less those with influence and power have chosen to fight wars to try to acquire as much as possible for themselves in hopes it will somehow protect them as our current way of life painfully draws to an end. Events leading up to the Twenty First century issued in the beginning of The Long Emergency. Sharing could help but unfortunately in our form of narcissistic capitalism sharing is despised and only seen as a form of weakness. Instead we grab all the gusto we can while we can which has transformed a once healthy economy into a towering tsunami of debt. Poorly regulated free enterprise destroys everything in its path and in the end even destroys itself. Sadly we are all responsible. Those of us that chose to participate in the American Experiment voted to elect people to represent us that could not resist the temptations of power, money and influence. Meanwhile Madison Avenue's sexy ads, Wall Street's short term profits and Wal-Marts low prices drew us all in. While all this seemed to point to upward mobility we ignored the consequences of the growing mountain of debt underpinning everything. If we thought the Dot Com bubble was bad or the Energy bubble or the Housing bubble wait until the Debt bubble bursts. We haven't seen anything yet.
The Tea Party and other similar organizations are part of a cancer of fear that continues to grow, spread and destroy the USA. Fear and it's derivative Hate are promoted by corporate interests for financial gain and in so doing these individuals and organizations are continuing to transform our slow glide down into a nose dive down. Mean while China and Europe have already made plans for the end of oil while we continue to believe that oil will last forever. A society built on the backs of slaves and immigrants and armed to the teeth will not take kindly to the hardships created by the end of oil. Global oil peaked in 2002 which means it's half gone in less than 150 years. Our grandchildren will see the end of oil. The Tea Party like Enron and Wall Street thrives on deception and emotion rather than rational thinking and planning for the future. The Tea Party is only a symptom of the problem. The American way of life is in serious decline but instead of learning to live with less those with influence and power have chosen to fight wars to try to acquire as much as possible for themselves in hopes it will somehow protect them as our current way of life painfully draws to an end. Events leading up to the Twenty First century issued in the beginning of The Long Emergency. Sharing could help but unfortunately in our form of narcissistic capitalism sharing is despised and only seen as a form of weakness. Instead we grab all the gusto we can while we can which has transformed a once healthy economy into a towering tsunami of debt. Poorly regulated free enterprise destroys everything in its path and in the end even destroys itself. Sadly we are all responsible. Those of us that chose to participate in the American Experiment voted to elect people to represent us that could not resist the temptations of power, money and influence. Meanwhile Madison Avenue's sexy ads, Wall Street's short term profits and Wal-Marts low prices drew us all in. While all this seemed to point to upward mobility we ignored the consequences of the growing mountain of debt underpinning everything. If we thought the Dot Com bubble was bad or the Energy bubble or the Housing bubble wait until the Debt bubble bursts. We haven't seen anything yet.
# 69:
12:35 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, California
# 68:
7:52 am PST, Feb 9,
Mary Carolyn Perry, California
# 67:
3:01 am PST, Feb 9,
J Alabi, New York
"Real Americans" are not exclusively white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. "Real Americans" speak languages other than and in addition to English. "Real Americans" stand up for life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, fairness, tolerance and respect. "Real Americans" do not express racist thoughts and then cover them by saying that they are exercising their freedom of speech. And "real Americans" know that the supreme law of the land, from inception of the country, has been the Constitution, not the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, or any other religious text. The United States of America is a secular nation, and was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Mr. Tancredo and the rest of the cynics from the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry and the other Big Business interests who are funding the so-called Tea Partyers would do well to remember this.
"Real Americans" are not exclusively white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. "Real Americans" speak languages other than and in addition to English. "Real Americans" stand up for life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, fairness, tolerance and respect. "Real Americans" do not express racist thoughts and then cover them by saying that they are exercising their freedom of speech. And "real Americans" know that the supreme law of the land, from inception of the country, has been the Constitution, not the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, or any other religious text. The United States of America is a secular nation, and was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Mr. Tancredo and the rest of the cynics from the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry and the other Big Business interests who are funding the so-called Tea Partyers would do well to remember this.
# 66:
9:35 pm PST, Feb 8,
GERI HOWARD, California
Tom Tancredo is a most unsavory person.
Tom Tancredo is a most unsavory person.
# 65:
9:32 pm PST, Feb 8,
Linda Shum, New York
# 64:
8:36 pm PST, Feb 8,
Erik Childress, Illinois
# 63:
7:25 pm PST, Feb 8,
Laura Stillman, Colorado
As one of the co-founders of the Interracial Family Orgamization-www.interracialfamily.org I completely support the cause to drown out the ignorance with the voices of the REAL Americans. Americans that embrace the and celebrate the diversity that are all the flavors that make this country so beautiful.
As one of the co-founders of the Interracial Family Orgamization-www.interracialfamily.org I completely support the cause to drown out the ignorance with the voices of the REAL Americans. Americans that embrace the and celebrate the diversity that are all the flavors that make this country so beautiful.
# 62:
6:44 pm PST, Feb 8,
Ben Hamamoto, California
# 61:
5:14 pm PST, Feb 8,
Holly Meschko, Ohio
# 60:
5:03 pm PST, Feb 8,
Carol Bruce, Virginia
It is time for a return to civility. There is no place in this great country for the kind of divisive and hate-filled rhetoric put forth by Mr. Tancredo.
It is time for a return to civility. There is no place in this great country for the kind of divisive and hate-filled rhetoric put forth by Mr. Tancredo.
# 59:
4:34 pm PST, Feb 8,
Teresa Whitney, New York
# 58:
4:33 pm PST, Feb 8,
Carole Hagen, Oregon
# 57:
2:21 pm PST, Feb 8,
Susan Yoon, California
# 56:
2:08 pm PST, Feb 8,
Name not displayed, New York
Mr. Tancredo, this country was founded on democratic principles, which states that dissent and dialogue are natural, healthy, and ESSENTIAL part of the governmental process. The Constitution was written "by the people" and "for the people" - and you are now living in a multicultural country whether you like it or not, and by the people means people of every race, ethnicity and creed. Please do not cheapen the lofty ideals on which the United States was founded by your thoughtless and hate-filled words.
Mr. Tancredo, this country was founded on democratic principles, which states that dissent and dialogue are natural, healthy, and ESSENTIAL part of the governmental process. The Constitution was written "by the people" and "for the people" - and you are now living in a multicultural country whether you like it or not, and by the people means people of every race, ethnicity and creed. Please do not cheapen the lofty ideals on which the United States was founded by your thoughtless and hate-filled words.
# 55:
1:54 pm PST, Feb 8,
Janice Stouse, Missouri
# 54:
12:55 pm PST, Feb 8,
William Lai, Washington
Mr. Tancredo, Shame On You! You should learn to lead your base rather than mindlessly try to appeal to the worst aspect of your team.
Mr. Tancredo, Shame On You! You should learn to lead your base rather than mindlessly try to appeal to the worst aspect of your team.
# 53:
12:33 pm PST, Feb 8,
David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 52:
12:20 pm PST, Feb 8,
Marsha Riggan, Indiana
I have found that intolerance comes from ignorance. Perhaps you should test for that?
I have found that intolerance comes from ignorance. Perhaps you should test for that?
# 51:
11:58 am PST, Feb 8,
Eric Byler, Virginia
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