If you read our illustrious rivals over at Delaware Politics, or really any conservative blog or any “reporter” on Fox “News,” you are led to believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans are Teabaggers. And I am not even talking about a 50 + 1 majority, I am talking about the “constitutional” majority of over 60% or more. However, a Republican polling outfit called the Winston Group is out with some poll results that should, but won’t, change that narrative.
Only 17% of Americans consider themselves members of the “Tea Party” movement. Of that 17%, 60% are Republicans, 28% are independents, 13% are Democrats, 66% are conservatives, 26% are moderate and 8% are liberal (these supposed liberals must be the members of the site Hillary is 44 or something or firebaggers). Tebaggers are also overwhelmingly male (56%), old, and white. They are also confused. Because while 36% name the economy and jobs as their top issue, 21% say the deficit and spending are their top issue, and when asked to chose between spending money to create jobs versus balancing the budget, the Teabaggers chose creating jobs by a whopping 63% to 32% margin. So why are they all out there crying about spending and deficits when they themselves are interested blowing up the budget to create jobs.
We all know why, and it has nothing to do with spending and deficits.
17%.
In other words, if we had a parliamentary democracy like the United Kingdom, the Teabaggers would be no more powerful than the Liberal Democrats over there, and in case you are ignorant of UK politics, the third party Lib Dems are often treated with scorn and derision in the press and by the dominant two parties: Labor and the Conservatives. But in America, 17% controls all. 17% is a supermajority. The 83% must cater to what the 17% demands, or else we are threatened with violence or worse.