Fox News’ Republican Tea Parties to Waste Tea

Now we here at Teapot Diversions aren’t ones to mix politics and tea, but with 12 million unemployed and foreclosures up 81%, how can we stay silent when a group of individuals are going to waste tea.

Fox News, the Republican Party, and a host of right-wing radio show hosts and conservative organizations like FreedomWorks have been organizing so called “Tax Day Tea Parties” where attendees protest high taxes for the rich and corporations. Part of their stunt is to dump tea into rivers mimicking the historic Boston Tea Party which was done as an act against taxation without representation.

The fact that mystifies most is that the tea partiers of today have the right to vote their representation into Congress; However, it seems that they don’t have the political majority to do so. Though we are all fine with them throwing a teabag temper tantrum, when it comes to dumping perfectly good tea into rivers, we must voice our dissent.

We just got wind of a group here in Oregon, organized by conservative talk radio show host Victoria Taft that plans on dumping 150lbs of tea into the Willamette River in downtown Portland this evening at 6:00. 150lbs of tea? When so many Oregonians have fallen on hard times and can’t even afford tea, this group would rather waste that tea to make some obscure political point. There are groups of individuals in other states planning to do the same thing.

Tea for most is a source of comfort--something that gives us enjoyment at the end of a long busy day. It may even keep many going throughout the day.  For others, with the reported health benefits, it may be viewed as medicine for a better life.  

As it goes now, so many Americans are losing their jobs. They are finding it too hard to pay their bills let alone put food on the table. And buying tea for them is just out of the question. The tea that will be wasted nationwide at Fox News inspired Republican Tea Parties could bring comfort to many facing economic hardship in their lives.

That is why we are calling on ALL tea drinkers nationwide to take boxes of tea to your local food bank.

Those who live in the Portland Metro Area can take boxes of tea to The Oregon Food Bank located on 7900 N.E. 33rd Drive (Between Columbia Boulevard and Marine Drive). Directions can be found by linking here: http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/about_ofb/contact_info/directions.html

Those in other states can find their local food bank by visiting www.feedingamerica.org and using the food bank locator in the lower right hand corner.

Comments

[tea party supporter]

u r ridiculous

[Sofia]

It doesn't get any more ridiculous than dumping tea in a river. These anti-Obama rallies are garbage and a distraction. I am surprised that these people didn't throw a teabagger party when Bush issued the bailout, started two economy busting wars and grew the government.

You can count on me. I will donate some tea to my food bank.

[Tea Party Supporter #2]

You don't stop paying taxes until May 20th. You pay more for government than your home, your energy and your food combined. But it's right wing extremism that is the problem?? I prefer Freedom. Freedom from undue government oppression. They should not take your speach, your money, or anything else that does not harm others....physically. Obama just instituted the largest theft from the American people in history. How can you not be okay with peaceful decent against oppression from the governement.

[TEAMAN]

Great article. I didn't know anything about these parties. I am not very political. I do think it is wasteful to throw that much tea into the river. Isn't it illegal to dump things like that in a river? Seems the EPA or some regulatory agency would have a problem with it.

[Kitty]

It's not only my God given right, but my right as an American under the current constitution to do what I want with my body, my voice, and my tea. If you'd bothered to do a little research you'd know that not only did this Tea Party chapter dump nothing into the Willamette River but each person (numbered between 4000-5000) attending brought a can of food to donate.

[Jon Gill]

Great blog. I love tea, but I don't like teabaggers too much. ;)

The teabaggers were threatened with a lawsuit if they dumped the tea. It was on the news tonight. Way to go with getting the word out.

My wife and I will drop off some tea to the Oregon Food Bank this weekend. -Jon

[Andrea]

What you seem to fail to grasp is that these protests are bipartisan with individuals who understand history and the importance of living within our means as individuals and as a nation. IF tea has been purchased to protest with you should consider this another STIMULUS package as it just increased the demand for tea and therefore secured someones job. In the great NW where coffee dominates, you should get that. AND by the way it was CNBC's Rick Santelli who inspired the tea parties...FOX decided to cover it as a NEWS event, unlike the rest of the media. Also many of the events included collecting for the local food banks. In the long run if they PAID for the tea it's their tea, they can use it however they wish to, HOWEVER, if the government paid for it...maybe then you could disparage its waste.

[Joanne]

I just found your website. Thanks for writing this. The truth is, these teaparties are nothing but anti-obama hate rallies. These are the same people that cheered on Falin-McSame and lost. Now they can't get over it.

And they were hardly bi-partisan. What they were is sponsored by right-wing extremist groups like Freedomworks and pushed by Fox news. Andrea needs to wake up and smell the tea.

Good to hear that they were prohibited from dumping it in the river. Now they can donate it to the food bank.

[Joanne]

The jig is up Andrea:

http://www.sodahead.com/blog/59379/fox-news-covers-up-republican-involvement-in-tea-parties/

[Mana Tea]

150lbs of tea into the river? Isn't that illegal dumping? Glad to hear it was stopped. These folks talk about Government, we the people wasting things. They should look in their own live.