While the election of an African-American president signaled that significant areas in America has made a appreciable measure of progress regarding race, there are continuing signs that the certain regions, specifically the Deep South, still clings bitterly to the last vestige of a colorful past replete with despicable acts of lawlessness, terrorism, and murder. The poorly disguised racist attitudes reflected in the incessant virulent personal attacks on President Obama by a large number of tea partiers, right wing media figures, and conservative politicians alike has only served to further poison an already divisive political atmosphere. Although some members of the Republican Party and other conservatives have voiced legitimate concerns and questions regarding President Obama's economic, healthcare, and foreign policies, they have become increasingly hard to hear over the blaring drone of the carny folk blather at the tea parties and on the air waves. America has been reduced to giving ample air time to any loud-mouthed, mouth-breathing jackass who spouts the most outrageous statements, which serve no other real purpose other than to garner viewers and shamelessly pander to their fears and prejudices. How cynical have we become to allow a television network like Fox to unabashedly exploit Jerry Springer-like crowds for ratings? Of course, this type of yellow journalism masquerades as serious reporting. Under the guise of patriotism and legitimate journailsm, Fox News excels as promoting right wing extremism at the expense of the ignorant many who populate this great land.

     Unfortunately, many of the tea partiers fall into this category. The primary purpose of this so-called grassroots movement, funded by organizations like American Solutions and FreedomWorks headed by Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey and promoted heavily by Fox News, is not so much to protest Obama's economic and healthcare policies, but to deliberately disable the government. These tea partiers have offered absolutely nothing, not one viable solution, to the problems besetting this country, except hate-filled rhetoric and moron slogans which are intended to reflect a genuine concern for the current state of the economy, healthcare, tax policies, and other related issues. On far too many occasions do tea partiers repeat the mantra, "Obama wants a socialist state," or something akin to that, as if they knew the real meaning. Most likely, they couldn't tell you the difference between a socialist and a communist. Many of these drafted volunteers are simply pawns of the fringe wing of an embittered Republican Party. The overwhelming and continual ignorance, anger, and fear exhibited by tea partiers and birthers alike reflect their true feelings regarding race.  These people refuse to accept a legitmately elected black president is the leader of the free world so they employ dishonest and distracting tactics, like advancing absurd conspiracy theories and displaying overtly racist signs, to mask their racist feelings.  These people have no interest in civil disobedience or civil political discourse.  Carny folk such as these are incapable of speaking in full sentences or using two-syllable words.  Intimidation and advocating violence are characteristics of their work and contribution to society.