Rockefeller aims comments at tea party

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

August 8, 2011

By Ry Rivard

Speaking Saturday night at the Charleston Civic Center for the Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Rockefeller said members of the tea party are "extremists" who have "hijacked" the Republican Party and by extension the U.S. House and the Senate.

"They have no shame, and that's an interesting concept because I've never really been up against that before, people who will do absolutely extraordinarily bad things that are extraordinarily bad for the country and not care about it," Rockefeller said.

He noted some of the tea party Republicans have said they would not again run for Congress.

"That gives them the freedom to walk in and destroy the fabric of government," Rockefeller said.

Read more: http://dailymail.com/News/201108071441

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Rockefeller was introducing guest speaker Al Franken at the dinner. It's probably one of the best speeches I've seen my senator from West Virginia give.

[mwb970]

1. Being under attack by a deadly enemy brings out the eloquence.

Seriously, I have never seen America in this kind of trouble before. And to think that this awful menace comes from OUR OWN CITIZENS! We're attacking ourselves. It's almost too much to bear.

[russspeakeasy]

9. I'm old...and never, never seen the likes of it.

corruption and no accountability...wars for no reason...safety nets ripped apart. This government is a scandal. One fraud after another..

[lebkuchen]

14. It keeps getting worse.

that is, less and less democracy.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. No such thing as a "Tea Party" - they're Republicans

FYI. I know the headline cannot be different than the article, however, it bears reminding.

[Inuca]

3. That is not actually true n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. It's true and false.

There is a Boston Tea Party founded in 2006 that has fielded candidates, but it's clear Rockefeller is referring to the people who ran and won their seats as Republicans. The tea party as a political movement is fronted by figures who are all Republicans. I think the above comment is fair in this context.

[Uncle Joe]

12. An Astroturfed segment of the Republican Party.

A wet dream creation of the Koch Brothers, Glenn Beck and Murdoch's Fox "News."

[woodsprite]

10. My son asked me today who the Tbaggers really were.

I told him they were really an extreme faction of the Republican party who feel that they have to break our government, want to rewrite our Constitution, take money and programs away that support the poor while giving rich people and big businesses tax breaks and loopholes so they don't have to pay taxes. They think that their version of the Bible is better than anyone else's, that Science is bad, and that African Americans can't be President.

We were on the way to day camp. I had to give him the short answer. ;) Needless to say, hubby tried to change the subject.

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. They are not an extreme faction of the Republicans, they are its heart and soul

Their politicians vote lock step with them, ergo they are ALL Republicans, whether they claim to be more moderate or not.

[Dawson Leery]

4. The Tea Party and their Disaster Capitalis backers should be talked about

at every turn.

[Inuca]

5. Your senior senator

can at times be very endearing. OTOH I made the mistake to click on your link (you had already excerpted the important parts), and teh comments are beyond vile (at lest the first few that I looked over, I gave up after that).

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. comments are pretty standard for DM

a horribly rightwing paper.
Normally, I wouldn't link to them, but Ry Rivard tends to do solid reporting. He's kind of like the Shepard Smith of their crappy, local FOX act.

[classof56]

7. A great speech indeed.

Unfortunately, I'm guessing the tea baggers love that characterization. Senator Rockefeller words describe the baggers' mission exactly, and they are accomplishing it quite well. They have no regrets because they have no conscience. I'm grateful for Senators Rockefeller, Franken and others for standing up to tell the truth. Only wish they were heard and heeded by more among us. They give me hope!

Tired Old Cynic

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Adenoid_Hynkel.