It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you. Unfortunately for the Lynchburg Tea Party, “they’re” really not out to get them.
lynchburgteaparty.com: Media Persecution of the Tea Party
The members of the press are not on their side. Horsecrap. Isn’t it so nice to paint everybody with such a broad paintbrush? It’s stupid rhetoric like this that makes me wonder about the leadership of these tea party groups.
Personally, I agree with all of the five principles that are stated in that articles. However, I’ve been a very vocal critic of some people associated with the tea party movement because of their actions, and rightfully so. It all started with Nigel Coleman & his group attempting to shout down Tom Perriello at his Danville town hall meeting. Then you’ve got Coleman’s idea to burn Tom Perriello & Nancy Pelosi in effigy that went up um… in flames. After that, Coleman smiles and says that he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Recently, we’ve got Mike Troxel (his name’s on the article) posting the address of what he thought was Tom Perriello and turning out to be his brother’s address. Let’s add to that the re-posting of that information on Nigel Coleman’s Facebook page. After it was shown to be his brother’s address, Coleman posts “Oh well, collateral damage.” Coleman’s apology on this amounted to another smile and “oops moment” which was ridiculed by most people, including the Danville Register & Bee.
Egregious actions like this deserve all of the media attention that is focused on them. If the tea party groups want to have any credibility with the mainstream public, they need to cut their ties to people like Troxel & Coleman immediately and forcefully. As a member of the media, I’m personally not out to “persecute” the tea parties. I’m writing this to point out that these proverbial bad apples are ruining the applesauce. Kurt Fiegel & Mike Lloyd, I’ve got no problem with you or your group. Mike Troxel (the first name signed to the article), you’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve to complain about “media persecution” based on your recent actions. You got exactly what was coming to you because of what you did.
In conclusion, I’m pissed off about this article because they are lumping the “media” together as one group that is out to destroy the tea party movement. That’s bullshit. We’re not all out to persecute the group though we will gladly shine the light on any actions that are deserving of criticism.
Followup: I’d have to loved to have made this comment on the Lynchburg Tea Party’s website, but commenting is only opening to registered members.
Bruce, as per usual you put the nail on the head. I read in the R&B where Coleman hosted a meeting with Rob Hurt and Jeff Clark and said something to the extent of “Perriello deserves a second term. He needs a term in jail.” I couldn’t help but think what a terrible spokesman the Tea Party has reprensenting them. Coleman’s always been the one inciting violence. With him, it’s not a “bad egg” (though generally I agree w/ you that it has been individual idiots not the movement), it’s the leader of the local unit.