In the post below this one, I asked if teabaggers (and some lefties) would work to support Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate campaign. This is because Brown's unlikely, though not impossible, victory in the January 19th special election is pretty much the only chance left to defeat the health care reform bill.
So, what action are the teabaggers planning for that week? Why, a completely unrelated, entirely symbolic, national strike to protest President Obama's one-year anniversary in office. From The Hill:
Tea Party activists are planning to go on a "national strike" later this month to protest both President Barack Obama and the businesses and other groups that support him.
Their effort, which focuses primarilly on corporations that "employ individuals backing the leftist agenda," will occur in major cities on January 20 -- the date President Barack Obama was inaugurated last year, according to Allen Hardage, who is leading the campaign.
That's very cute. From the "official" statement:
On January 20, 2010 we will demonstrate our power and reach to those companies who employ individuals backing the leftist agenda in every major city, every congressional district and every small rural town in America to spread one unified message. That message is simple: Stop funding socialism. When they refuse to stop backing the major opponents of Liberty, liberal media outlets and socialist leaning elected officials, then we proceed to financially cripple them.
Yeah--demonstrate your power to stop socialism by completing ignoring the one chance you actually have to stop what you consider the biggest instance of socialism in the "Democratic-Socialist" agenda. Opt instead for a type of action that will have no impact except to identify yourself as someone who hates Obama:
Fred Taub, president of Cleveland-based Boycott Watch, said the national strike sounds like a one-day boycott - something he said never works.
"If I choose not to buy gas on Tuesday, I'm going to have to buy gas on Monday or Wednesday instead," he said. "I still have to eat. These one-day boycotts are completely and totally ineffective."
Who cares about effectiveness? This isn't about effectiveness-this is about identifying yourself as someone who hates Obama!
It also reminds me of a poll the PCCC released last month, showing that most Republicans don't actually care about health care reform:
QUESTION: Is the issue of health care reform very important, somewhat important, or not important when you vote?
| Group |
Very |
Somewhat |
Not important |
| Democrats |
61% |
33% |
6% |
| Independents |
36% |
58% |
6% |
| Republicans |
11% |
38% |
51% |
| Other |
34% |
56% |
10% |
This helps explain why the teabaggers are taking a pass on action that could actually stop "socialism," and opting instead for ineffective, symbolic, identity-based actions: they don't care about actual issues or legislation. Whereas only 6% of Democrats and Independents,a nd 10% of "others" consider health care reform "not at all" important in determining their vote, 51% of Republicans hold that position.
That is a remarkable, stunning, and very important poll finding. It also helps explain the mentality of the current conservative, Republican and teaparty opposition. It isn't about issues, or policies, or legislation. For many, even a majority, it is just about demonstrating that they hate you (and yes, I mean you). Everything else is simply a sideshow.
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