Tea Party has become less popular than “atheists” and “Muslims"

[Dolores Ibárruri]

This brought a smile to my face. For normal Americans, it looks like the Tea Party is becoming a toxic brand.

Polls show that disapproval of the Tea Party is climbing. In April 2010, a New York Times/CBS News survey found that 18 percent of Americans had an unfavorable opinion of it, 21 percent had a favorable opinion and 46 percent had not heard enough. Now, 14 months later, Tea Party supporters have slipped to 20 percent, while their opponents have more than doubled, to 40 percent.

Of course, politicians of all stripes are not faring well among the public these days. But in data we have recently collected, the Tea Party ranks lower than any of the 23 other groups we asked about — lower than both Republicans and Democrats. It is even less popular than much maligned groups like “atheists” and “Muslims.” Interestingly, one group that approaches it in unpopularity is the Christian Right.

So what do Tea Partiers have in common? They are overwhelmingly white, but even compared to other white Republicans, they had a low regard for immigrants and blacks long before Barack Obama was president, and they still do.

More important, they were disproportionately social conservatives in 2006 — opposing abortion, for example — and still are today. Next to being a Republican, the strongest predictor of being a Tea Party supporter today was a desire, back in 2006, to see religion play a prominent role in politics. And Tea Partiers continue to hold these views: they seek “deeply religious” elected officials, approve of religious leaders’ engaging in politics and want religion brought into political debates. The Tea Party’s generals may say their overriding concern is a smaller government, but not their rank and file, who are more concerned about putting God in government.

This inclination among the Tea Party faithful to mix religion and politics explains their support for Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. Their appeal to Tea Partiers lies less in what they say about the budget or taxes, and more in their overt use of religious language and imagery, including Mrs. Bachmann’s lengthy prayers at campaign stops and Mr. Perry’s prayer rally in Houston.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/op...party.html?hp#

[ipod]

We had our own equivalent some years ago and they disappeared in the mist, leaving a mess behind them..the PDs !

[Social Conscience]

Any comment yet from Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin on this?

[Kevin Doyle]

We had our own equivalent some years ago and they disappeared in the mist, leaving a mess behind them..the PDs !

I wouldn't have said the PDs were religiously motivated, far from it, they supported secular politics and the complete separation of church and State unlike the Tea Taliban.

[Kevin Doyle]

Any comment yet from Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin on this?

Is Ron Paul a religious nut?

[Social Conscience]

Is Ron Paul a religious nut?

Not sure if he is into the sky fairies or not but seemingly he is seen by many as the movement’s intellectual godfather.

[Clanrickard]

This brought a smile to my face. For normal Americans, it looks like the Tea Party is becoming a toxic brand.
]

Our analysis casts doubt on the Tea Party’s “origin story.” Early on, Tea Partiers were often described as nonpartisan political neophytes. Actually, the Tea Party’s supporters today were highly partisan Republicans long before the Tea Party was born, and were more likely than others to have contacted government officials. In fact, past Republican affiliation is the single strongest predictor of Tea Party support today.

I think people are seeing through the facade and what they see are extreme right wing loopers.

[liamfoley]

Is Ron Paul a religious nut?

To many here any Christian is a "religious nut." He is a Christian by the way.
I find it funny to see people tie themselves up in knots to spew hatred for the Tea Party movement. Presumably you all are okay with bailouts for banks? What people know about the Tea Party is what GE owned MSNBC tell you. You are being manipulated by big business and you don't even know it.

[Cassandra Syndrome]

Any comment yet from Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin on this?

Ron Paul?

[logic]

I read the article but won't really be taking it seriously. It lost all credibility when it claims you have to be a racist to support the tea party or republican party

So what do Tea Partiers have in common? They are overwhelmingly white, but even compared to other white Republicans, they had a low regard for immigrants and blacks long before Barack Obama was president, and they still do.

Clear from this quote that they don't consider republicans real americans either

Tea Party supporters are increasingly out of step with most Americans, even many Republicans.

It raised one or two real issues but I won't be acknowledging them from an article full to the brim of bias.