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Tea Party Movement

2015-11-18T06:40:20Z

JAnder: Added information about the Boston Tea Party relevant to the topic.

The '''TEA Party Movement''' (TEA is a backronym for Taxed Enough Already) is an ongoing, nationwide mainstream movement of [[grassroots]] protesters, encompassing millions of individuals and thousands of self-organizing groups, all united in accomplishing a single goal: returning [[Conservative|fiscal responsibility]] and limited government to the [[United States]] through the exercise of political [[activist|activism]].<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/15/morning-bell-the-tea-party-movement/ Morning Bell: The Tea Party Movement], [[Heritage Foundation]], April 15th, 2009.</ref> The main focus of the TEA Party Movement is a rebuke of outrageous mandates, overspending and a [[radical]] agenda by an out of touch federal government with values similar to [[King George III]] (see [[Boston Tea Party]]).<ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/24073/ What the Tea Parties Are About], April 16, 2009, [[Glenn Beck]]</ref> <br /> Of course the Boston Tea Party was about taxation without representation, resentment about the high price of tea brought on my the East India Company's monopoly, and also the fact that the tariffs were lifted, but only for the East India Company.

== Beginnings ==

On December 16th, 2007, supporters of [[Ron Paul]] staged a re-enactment of the [[Boston Tea Party]] as a fundraiser event, and to promote Paul's bid for the presidency.<ref>[http://www.ronpaulforums.com/content.php?909-Who-Started-The-Modern-Day-Tea-Party-Movement-%28video%29&s=2b6ae18ef5615484bda67fa3c01678d6 Who Started The Modern Day Tea Party Movement? (video)], ronpaulforums.com, (Accessed August 19, 2011).</ref><ref>Warner Todd Huston. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110805120631/http://bigjournalism.com/wthuston/2011/05/14/ap-tars-tea-party-movement-as-grandfathered-by-ron-paul/ AP Tars Tea Party Movement as ‘Grandfathered’ By Ron Paul], [[BigJournalism.com]], May 14, 2011.</ref> Paul's GOP campaign received a "moneybomb", which broke the record for 24 hour fundraising.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/17/nation/na-paul17 Paul collects $6 million in a single day], [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.cnet.com/news/ron-pauls-tea-party-a-bigger-money-bomb/ Ron Paul's Tea Party: a bigger money bomb], 2007.</ref> This event coincided with the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.<ref>Kenneth P. Vogel. Associated Press. [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-17-ronpaul-fundraising_N.htm 'Money bomb': Ron Paul raises $6 million in 24-hour period], [[USA Today]]</ref> This was seen as a major upset to the Republican GOP establishment.<ref name=huffington>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/will-palin-and-the-neocon_b_456824.html Ron Paul vs. Sarah Palin for the Soul of the Tea Parties], [[Huffington Post]] (2010)</ref> Paul's youthful, libertarian minded, supporters created a divide within the Republican Party.<ref>[[PBS]]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3NtysJ5WI0 The Ron Paul Phenomenon], [[YouTube]]</ref> <ref>[http://thefederalist.com/2014/08/13/the-libertarian-moment-cant-just-be-a-moment/ The Libertarian Moment Can’t Just Be A Moment]</ref>Juan Williams, a commentator at Fox News, commented that the Tea party emerged "from the ashes" of Paul's 2007-2008 presidential campaign.<ref> Williams, Juan (May 10, 2011). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/10/juan-williams-surprising-rise-rep-ron-paul/ "Juan Williams: The Surprising Rise of Rep. Ron Paul"], [[Fox News]]</ref> David Weigel at slate.com said, "The first modern Tea Party events occurred in December 2007, long before Barack Obama took office, and they were organized by supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas..." <ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2010/08/five_myths_about_the_tea_party.html Five Myths About the Tea Party]</ref>

The tea party movement grew exponentially in magnitude in February 2009; however, while [[Rick Santelli|Rick Santelli's]] famous impassioned speech on CNBC was perhaps the most visible spark that ignited Tea Party gatherings across the nation, the movement's genesis was in progress long before that notable day.<ref>Tea Party Arose From Conservatives Steeped in Crisis. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304173704575578332725182228.html Birth of a Movement], ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 29, 2010.</ref> The movement was in gestation for years, in the hearts and minds of American citizens concerned about the path down which [[progressive]] policies have been taking the United States of America. The emergence of the Tea party Movement has been called [[Main Street]] America's indictment against the ruling class.<ref>Doug Mainwaring. [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/13/tea-partys-inception-a-rebirth/ MAINWARING: Tea Party's inception a rebirth], ''[[The Washington Times]]'', August 13, 2010.</ref>

With a silent but growing number of concerned citizens worried about the increasing government debt, impetus was given to the grassroots movement when radio talk-show host [[Rush Limbaugh]] criticized the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]] on January 27, 2009. Limbaugh accurately predicted the [[stimulus bill]] would make the [[recession]] worse, and said it is the wrong kind of government intervention.
{{Cquote|I don't believe it is a "stimulus plan" at all -- I don't think it stimulates anything but the Democratic Party. This 'porkulus' bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades."<ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318906638926749.html Rush Limbaugh: My Bipartisan Stimulus], [[Wall Street Journal]], January 29, 2009.</ref>}}

On February 9, 2009, a Cape Coral woman named Mary Rakovich led a small protest outside President Barack Obama's townhall meeting in Fort Myers, [[Florida]].<ref>[http://www.news-press.com/article/20090211/OBAMA/90210068 Those outside Harborside in Fort Myers had plenty to see, say], ''The News-Press'', February 11, 2009.</ref><ref>Dick Armey, Matt Kibbe. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704407804575425061553154540.html?KEYWORDS=tea+party+movement A Tea Party Manifesto], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', August 17, 2010.</ref> Then in late March of 2009, faced with the prospect of heavy fines from the city for not having the proper permitting or insurance, Mary Rakovich moved forward with future protests but with the backing of national organization ''FreedomWorks''. Rakovich said ''FreedomWorks'' offered to provide the insurance per the city's rules.<ref>[http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/504707.html?nav=5011 Tea party finds new life, broadens cause], cape-coral-daily-breeze.com, March, 31, 2009.</ref>

The first anti-spending protest, organized by Liberty Belle, occurred in [[Seattle]], Washington on February 16, 2009.<ref>Derek Erwin. [http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/04/dozen-ring-liberty-belles-sound-800.html A 'Dozen' Ring Liberty Belle's Sound, 800 Cities Ring-Back], ''A 1-In-100 Blogger'', accessed April 18, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Michelle Malkin]], Glenn Reynolds. [http://www.pjtv.com/video/Pajamas_TV/Tea_Party_Protests%3A_Mesa%2C_Seattle%2C_Denver_%28Michelle_Malkin_and_Glenn_Reynolds%29/1406/ Tea Party Protests: Mesa, Seattle, Denver], [[Pajamas Media]], February 16, 2009.</ref> Another protest was held the following day in [[Denver]] on February 17,<ref>[http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/18732002/detail.html President Signs Massive Stimulus In Denver], accessed April 2, 2009.</ref> and a protest in Mesa, [[Arizona]] on February 18 brought 500 protesters.<ref>Gary Grado, Sonu Munshi, Hayley Ringle. [http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/135640/ More than 500 protest Obama's arrival], accessed April 2, 2009.</ref> The American people began organizing Tea Party protests en masse after Rick Santelli's famous speech on February 19, when he declared, "We're thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July! All you capitalists that want to show up at Lake Michigan, I'm going to start organizing."

=== Shout Heard 'Round the World ===
The Tea Party Movement gained support when on February 19, on live [[Television|TV]], [[CNBC]] reporter [[Rick Santelli]] argued about the [[bailout]]s and shouted, "The government is promoting bad behavior."<ref>[http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/02/rick-santelli-tea-party.html Transcript of Rick Santelli's speech], February 19, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701 Rick Santelli's Shout Heard 'Round the World], [[CNBC]], February 19, 2009.</ref> Standing in the middle of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Santelli declared that America needed "a new kind of tea party," so that citizens can express their discontent with "the government's support of fiscal irresponsibility."<ref>Jennifer Rubin. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/mr-president-turn-back-while-theres-still-time/ Mr. President: Turn Back While There’s Still Time], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', February 20, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Matt Drudge]]. [http://www.streetinsider.com/Insiders+Blog/Rick+Santelli+-+The+Rant+Heard+Round+the+World/4419854.html Rick Santelli - The Rant Heard 'Round the World'], streetinsider.com, February 19, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago>Andy Roesgen. [http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty Protesters Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party], myfoxchicago.com, February 27, 2009.</ref>
{{Cquote|The government is promoting bad behavior! [...] How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage that has an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills? Raise their hand. (boos) President Obama, are you listening?! We're thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July. All you capitalists that want to show up at Lake Michigan, I'm going to start organizing. [...] I'll tell you what, if you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson, what we're doing in this country now, is making them roll over in their graves.<ref>Rick Santelli, February 19, 2009.</ref>}}

With the help of ''DontGo'', ''[[TCOT Report|Top Conservatives on Twitter'' (TCOT)]], ''[[Smart Girl Politics]]'' (SGP), ''[[American Spectator|The American Spectator]]'', ''Americans for Tax Reform'', ''[[FreedomWorks]]'', and ''[[Heartland Institute|The Heartland Institute]]'', the Chicago Tea Parties were scheduled to happen nationwide on February 27, 2009.<ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/23/the-chicago-tea-party-is-on/ The Chicago Tea Party is on!], February 23, 2009.</ref>

=== February 27th Tea Parties ===
Americans across the country gathered in 50 cities to protest the newly-passed Stimulus Bill of 2009.<ref>[http://www.tcotreport.com/Talking_Points.htm Talking Points and Theme for the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party], ''[[The TCOT Report]]'', February 24, 2009.</ref> Over 30,000 people made it to this event.<ref>Teri Christoph. [http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2488056%3AVideo%3A24070& SGP.TeaParty], ''[[Smart Girl Politics]]'', February 27, 2009.</ref> Many at the event were upset over the economic stimulus packages and [[bailout]]s for [[Wall Street]] pushed through by both [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] and [[Barack Obama|President Obama's]] administrations.<ref>[http://www.raleigh3.com/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago/>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Location !! Sponsors<ref>[http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=page&page-id=68 Schedule of American Tea party Protests (with Sponsors)], [[Pajamas Media]], February 27, 2009.</ref> !! Details
|-
| Atlanta, Georgia || TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo || A reported 300 to 400 protesters gathered outside the Georgia Capitol in protest of a $787 billion recovery bill.<ref name="georgia">[http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/02/27/budget-debate-launches-new-tea-party/ Budget debate launches new tea party], [[Christian Science Monitor]], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/71521/ Tea Party from Atlanta], pajamasmedia.com, February 17, 2009.</ref>
|-
| [[Chicago, Illinois]] || Don'tGo<ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/19/chicago-tea-party/ Don'tGo Movement: Pledge to Have a Representation at Chicago Tea Party], February 19, 2009.</ref> || Approximately 300 people braved the 25 degree cold and wind in Chicago.<ref name="illinios">[http://www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2009/02/breaking-chicago-tea-party-pictures/ BREAKING - Chicago Tea Party (Pictures) UPDATED Now With Video!], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/27/the-birth-of-a-new-revolution/ The Birth of a New Revolution], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago/>
|-
| Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas || Americans for Prosperity,<ref>[http://www.redcounty.com/texas/2009/02/the-tea-parties-were-successfu/ The Tea Parties were successful - here's the proof], February 23, 2009.</ref> TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo, Dallas County Young Republicans || A "Texas-sized Tea Party" of 300 or more Texans met in Fort Worth, protesting big government and taxes.<ref name="fortworth">[http://txtcot.ning.com/video/tea-party-09-made-the-world Tea Party '09 made the world news], February 27, 2009.</ref> One sponsor, TCOT, collected over 800 signatures during the event.<ref>[http://txtcot.ning.com/profiles/blogs/tea-party-09 Tea Party '09], February 28, 2009.</ref>
|-
| Denver, Colorado || TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo || At the East Capitol Steps, 100 "[[Atlas Shrugged]]" fans braved cold temperatures for a "Nationwide Chicago Tea Party" to protest the [[Obama Administration]]'s [[bailout]] plan.<ref name="dcolorado1">[http://coloradoindependent.com/23026/ayn-rand-stars-at-denver-stimulus-tea-party-protest Ayn Rand stars at Denver stimulus ‘tea party’ protest], ''Colorado Independent'', February 28, 2009.</ref><ref name="dcolorado2">[http://colorado.newsplatoon.com/2009/02/24/denver-tea-party/ Denver Tea Party], [[Colorado]], February 24, 2009.</ref>
|-
| [[Houston, Texas]] || TBD || Large groups, not entirely made up of Republicans, tried to create a modern day version of the Boston Tea Party.<ref>[http://houstontps.org/?page_id=163 Houston Tea Party Society, In the News, Audio, Video], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=352345&shu=1 Houston's Tax Day tea party], February 27, 2009.</ref>
|-
| [[Washington, D.C.]] || Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Young Conservatives Coalition, The Heartland Institute || The American Tea Party made some noise outside the White House.<ref name="dc_examiner">[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/New-American-Tea-Party-40442172.html DC Tea Party thrown at the White House], ''The Washington Examiner'', February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.freedomworks.org/petition/iamwithrick/index.html 2009 Taxpayer Tea party], February 28, 2009.</ref> Several hundred taxpayers showed up at the DC Tea Party protest in Lafayette Park,<ref name="michellemalkin">[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/27/scenes-from-the-tea-party/ Scenes from the D.C. Tea Party], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref name="dcfreedomworks">[http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/video-from-the-dc-tea-party Video from the DC Tea Party], ''[[FreedomWorks]]'', February 28, 2009.</ref> including "Joe the Plumber."<ref name="hotair">[http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/27/joe-the-plumber-at-dc-tea-party-no-one-on-the-hill-gives-a-rip-about-you/ Joe the Plumber at D.C. Tea Party: No one on the Hill gives a rip about you], ''[[Hot Air]]'', February 27, 2009.</ref>
|}

== Scheduled Rallies ==
[[Image:Headnew.jpg|right|380px|right|Tax Day Tea Party poster]]
=== Tax Day Tea Party ===
: ''Main Article: [[Tax Day Tea Party]]''
Success from the Chicago Tea Party protests, as part of a concerted nationwide effort, led to the first of many scheduled Tea Party rallies. Following the February 27th Tea Parties, a group called ''Americans for Prosperity'' of [[North Carolina]] began implementing plans for a "Tax Day" Tea Party rally in Raleigh on the tax filing deadline.<ref>[http://www.raleigh3.com/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009.</ref> Leading up to the Tax Day Tea Parties, the events were organized and promoted by volunteers, activists, and [[Political action committee]]s across the [[United States]].<ref>[http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/freedomworks-co-sponsoring-taxpayer-tea-parties-ac FreedomWorks Co-Sponsoring Taxpayer Tea Parties Across Oregon], [[FreedomWorks]]</ref> By taking advantage of online viral [[marketing]] to get the word out,<ref name="investorsnews">[http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=470054&Ntt=tea+party 'Tea Party' Protests In 35 Cities], March 2, 2009.</ref> the speed and scope with which the Tax Day Tea Party protests were organized can be attributed to the use of [[Twitter]] [[TCOT Report|#TCOT]] feeds,<ref>[http://tcotreport.com/ TCOT Report], ''[[The TCOT Report]]''.</ref> on [[blog|blogs]],<ref>Marc Ambinder. [http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/tea_parties_pajamas_and_mediaevent_symbiotics.php Tea Parties, Pajamas, and Media/Event Symbiotics], ''The Atlantic'', February 25, 2009.</ref> and the social networking Website [[Facebook]].<ref name="facebook">[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/04/going-galt-and-the-next-tea-party-wave/ “Going Galt” and the next Tea Party wave], [[Michelle Malkin]], March 4, 2009.</ref>

==== 2009 ====
The Tea Party Movement held its first scheduled nationwide protest on April 15, 2009, a day that became known as the [[Tax Day Tea Party]].<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975867505519363.html Tax Day Becomes Protest Day], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', April 15, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/thousands-anti-tax-tea-party-protesters-turn-cities/ Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities], [[Fox News]], April 15, 2009.</ref> In the spirit of the [[Founding Fathers]] [[Boston Tea Party]], the rallies used themes from the [[American Revolution]] and also adopted the "American Tea Party Anthem," a song first performed during a March 21, 2009 Orlando, Florida Tea Party that drew over 4,000 people.<ref>Michelle Malkin. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/21/tea-party-usa-the-movement-grows/ Tea Party U.S.A.: The movement grows], February 21, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://newsblaze.com/story/20090323074552zzzz.nb/topstory.html "Tea Party" Song Becomes YouTube Hit]. ''Newsblaze'', March 23, 2009.</ref><ref>Andrea Shea King. [http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/asking/2009/04/14/american-tea-party-anthem-singer-lloyd-marcus-this-whole-thing-is-rush-limbaughs-fault/ American Tea Party Anthem Singer Lloyd Marcus: "This whole thing is Rush Limbaugh’s fault."], ''Big Hollywood'', April 14, 2009.</ref> [[Dick Armey]] of [[FreedomWorks]] became one of Washington's principal supporters of the Tea Party movement.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516136,00.html Dick Armey to Speak at Atlanta Tea Party], [[Fox News]], April 15, 2009.</ref> [[Glenn Beck]], [[Rand Paul]], [[Michele Bachmann]], [[Sarah Palin]], and many others encouraged and even participated in aspects of the movement.

President Obama is seen to have responded to the tea parties with requested budget cuts of $100 million on April 20, 2009.<ref name="rushlimbaugh">[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042109/content/01125107.guest.html Obama Responded to Tea Parties with $100 Million in "Budget Cuts"], RushLimbaugh.com, April 21, 2009.</ref> Rush Limbaugh contended, "I'm sure they've got internal polling data that shows these tea parties are successful and these tea parties are a problem. So they're responding to the tea parties here. That's all this is." According to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey on April 20, 2009, the poll found that fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans had a favorable view of the tea parties held nationwide, including 32% who said their view of the events were "Very favorable." Thirty-three percent (33%) held an unfavorable opinion of the tea parties. Fifteen percent (15%) were not sure.<ref name="rasmussenreports">[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/51_view_tea_parties_favorably_political_class_strongly_disagrees 51% View Tea Parties Favorably, Political Class Strongly Disagrees], ''[[Rasmussen Reports]]'', April 20, 2009.</ref>

==== 2010 ====
The Tea Party Patriots<ref>http://www.TeaPartyPatriots.org</ref> announced a milestone in the Tea Party movement: 2 million people attended the April 15 Tea Party events across the country in 2010, and 2,000 groups are now voluntarily affiliated with the Tea Party Patriots through its [[Web site]].<ref>PR Newswire. [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100429.DC96062&show_article=1 Tea Party Numbers Released: 2 Million, 2 Thousand], ''[[Breitbart.com]]'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>Greta Van Susteren. [http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/tea-parties-on-tax-day/ Tea Parties on Tax Day], ''GretaWire'', April 16, 2010.</ref> Recent polls have shown that 48% of voters believe their views are reflected more closely in the values of the Tea Party movement than in the views of President Obama.

=== Independence Day ===
: ''Main Article: [[Independence Day Tea Party]]''

The same organizations decided to repeat their performance on [[Independence Day]] (July 4, 2009). Even more people attended; the largest such rally was held on the grounds of the Southfork Ranch (scene of the [[television]] series ''Dallas '), in [[Plano]], [[Texas]], which drew 37,000 attendees. The themes that organizers and participants sounded at these events were much the same as were those at the Tax Day events: advocacy of limited government, decrying of high levels of taxation, and refusal to countenance plans for [[socialism]] and especially socialized [[medicine]].

=== Labor Day ===
Several organizations also organized Tea Parties on [[Labor Day]], once again sounding the same limited-government, low-tax, and anti-socialistic themes. Those organizations that did not plan such events often referred people to those that did.

=== September 12 March on Washington ===
: ''Main Article: [[September 12 March on Washington]]''

[[File:Gadsden_snake.jpg|250px|right]]The largest TEA Party event thus far has been the September 12 March on [[Washington, DC]]. This was an event organized initially by the FreedomWorks Foundation, but nearly all Tea Party organizations decided to participate in this event, primarily by chartering buses and registering people for transportation to Washington. FreedomWorks estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 persons attended, and they base that estimate on the number of persons who responded when their Master of Ceremonies asked all attendees within earshot to send the text message "Freedom" to a designated five-digit telephone number. However, the [[London]] ''[[Daily Mail]]'' estimates attendance at as many as a million persons, on the basis of eyewitness accounts and aerial-photographic evidence.<ref name=dailymail>Gardner D, "[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1213056/Up-million-march-US-Capitol-protest-Obamas-spending-tea-party-demonstration.html A million march to US Capitol to protest against 'Obama the socialist']," ''[[Daily Mail|The London Daily Mail]]'', September 14, 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009.</ref> Estimates of total attendance are difficult to obtain, primarily because the size of the crowd far exceeded the estimates by the event planners, with the result that many attendees were never able to get within earshot of the stage or even the sound system, and the temporary sanitary facilities were hopelessly jammed, with fifty persons standing in line to use each portable "necessary."

=== Operation: Can You Hear us Now? ===
TEA party demonstrations have targeted local and national media outs across the country to oppose massive government spending. In a press release, the movement was led by FaxDC in about 100 cities across the U.S. on September 17th. <ref>[http://www.lookingattheleft.com/2009/10/tea-party-movement-denounces-media-corrupton/ Tea Party Movement Denounces Media Corruption], Lookingattheleft.com, October 19, 2009.</ref> [[Rush Limbaugh]] has previously spoke for the need for such media targeted TEA protests.

* NBC studios in Burbank
* CNN in Atlanta and
* Affiliate stations of NBC, ABC and CBS
* The New York Times
* Los Angeles Times
* Other prominent newspapers.
[[File:Canyouhearusnow.jpg|350px]]

===TEA Party Movie===
''TEA PARTY: The Documentary Film'' was released Thanksgiving Day 2009, is a documentary of five grassroots activists. The story line ''"from home town rally goers and rally organizers to national activists taking part in the 912 Taxpayer March on Washington."'' The theme is about principles, a call for a return to constitutionally limited government, personal responsibility, and fiscal restraint at the Federal level.<ref>[http://www.teapartymovie.com/ TEA Party the Movie]</ref>

===Pink Slips Campaign===

''Main Article: [[Pink Slips campaign]]''

Organized in part by Joseph Farah from [[WorldNetDaily]], they had a goal of sending each and every member of Congress more than 5,000,000 pink slips.
<br>
Each pink slip reads '''YOU ARE BEING PUT ON NOTICE''' and

*government health care
*cap and trade
*"hate crimes"
*any more spending

''"If you vote for any of these, your real pink slip will be issued in the next election"''

As of November 2009, 8 million pink slips have been sent to Congress at a cost of $29 each <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=117136 True grass-roots effort? The 'pink slips' campaign], [[WND]], November 25, 2009</ref>

== Noteworthy achievements ==
=== Elections ===
* The first Tea Party activist to win a special election for a state assembly seat was [[Dean Murray]] in Long Island.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,586821,00.html Meet the First Tea Party Activist to Be Elected Into Office], ''[[Fox News]]'', February 19, 2010.</ref>
* The most stunning victory credited to the Tea Party Movement, specifically to the [[Tea Party Express]], was the surprise nomination of [[Sharron Angle]] over the establishment favorite [[Sue Lowden]] as the Republican candidate for the Senate seat of [[Nevada]].
* The Tea Party Movement is credited with helping to elect [[Senator]] [[Scott Brown]] in an upset for the seat formerly held by the late [[Ted Kennedy]].
* For the [[2010 Midterm Elections]], the [[Nationwide Tea Party Coalition]] listed the top 50 Tea Party candidates running for U.S. House of Representatives; 31 of 50 of these challengers won their elections.<ref>[http://www.electiondayteaparty.com/ Election Day Tea Party 2010], ElectionDayTeaParty.com, a project of the [[Nationwide Tea Party Coalition]].</ref>
* They also won several Senate seats, electing [[Rand Paul]], [[Marco Rubio]], [[Pat Toomey]], and [[Mike Lee]] to the Senate in the 2010 elections.
* [[Conservatives]] picked up a total of 63 seats in the [[House of Representatives]] for the 2010 Midterm Elections.
* The Tea Party once again played a role in elections in 2012, responsible for [[Richard Mourdock]]'s defeat of long-term incumbent [[RINO]] [[Richard Lugar]] and [[Ted Cruz]]'s defeat of entrenched establishment Lieutenant Governor [[David Dewhurst]] in Republican primaries and Governor [[Scott Walker]]'s winning his recall election.
* Republican Majority Leader, [[Eric Cantor]], loses primary to Dave Brat, a TEA Party candidate, in June 2014. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/eric-cantor-faces-tea-party-challenge-tuesday/2014/06/10/17da5d20-f092-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor succumbs to tea party challenger Dave Brat], [[Washington Post]], June 11, 2014.</ref>

=== Education ===
* The Tea Party Movement has exposed the [[progressive]] agenda and its significant correlation with the failings of higher education in America.<ref>''Our universities haven't taught much political history for decades. No wonder so many progressives have disdain for the principles that animated the Federalist debates.'' [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704631504575531913602803980.html Why Liberals Don't Get the Tea Party Movement], by Peter Berkowitz, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 16, 2010.</ref> {{Cquote|Neither [[professors]] of [[political science]] nor of [[history]] have made a priority of instructing students in the [[Founding Fathers|founding principles]] of American [[Constitutional Republic|constitutional government]]. Nor have they taught about the contest between the [[Socialism|progressive vision]] and the [[Limited government|conservative vision]] that has characterized [[American Government Lecture Two|American politics]] since [[Woodrow Wilson]] helped launch the progressive movement in the late 19th century by arguing that the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] had become [[obsolete]] and hindered [[democratic]] reform. ... They do little to teach about [[Federal republic|self-government]]. They certainly do not teach about the [[virtue|virtues]], or [[quality|qualities]] of [[mind]] and [[character]], that enable citizens to shoulder their political responsibilities and prosper amidst the opportunities and uncertainties that [[freedom]] brings. Nor do they teach the beliefs, practices and associations that foster such virtues and those that endanger them. ... [America's] [[University|universities]] have produced two [[Generation|generations]] of highly educated people who seem unable to recognize the spirited defense of fundamental [[American]] [[Principle|principles]], even when it takes place for more than a year and a half right in front of their noses.}}

== Themes ==
The Tea Party Movement is a protest of the [[generational theft]] of public tax monies, the tremendous extensions of United States Federal debt and authority, the apparent restructuring of the Federal government with the intent to contravene the system of checks and balances for which the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] provides, and the attempt, which some movement organizers say has been in progress for several decades, to sacrifice [[liberty]] for permanent dependency. The Tea Party Movement began with a protest against two aspects of current public policy:

# Excessive taxation
# Special privilege

[[Rick Santelli]] specifically cited the mortgage [[bailout]] policies of early 2009 as a prize example of the government doing special favors for certain classes of voters, in return for their continued support, and also of the "moral hazard" in which such policies inevitably place anyone who "buys on time," i.e., buys any sort of asset, from a home appliance to a parcel of [[real estate]], using borrowed money.

As the movement has progressed, it has begun to sound broader themes, which one may best summarize as:

# Self-responsibility
# Self-autonomy
# Limited government
# A requirement that government live within its own means, just as individuals must live within theirs
# Capitalism
# Freedom of all varieties of production and trade
# Respect for the [[United States Constitution]]

== Characteristics ==
=== Autonomy of local organizers ===
Most organization of Tea Parties and similar events is local. Typical of the movement is the Morristown Tea Party Organization ([[Morristown]], [[New Jersey]]), which has a five-member board of trustees and about fifty dedicated volunteers who handle operations, communication, and logistics without assistance or direction from any regional or other organization. State-wide coordinating bodies do exist (for example, New Jersey Tea Parties United), but local organizations are responsible for most of their activities, fund-raising, and legal functioning. In this regard, the Tea Party Movement is similar to the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, which never seeks to dictate to individual churches how they must conduct their affairs.

=== Individual comportment and deportment ===
Event participants, and especially event planners, are urged to comport themselves in a manner respectful of the rights and feelings of others. Organizational leaders consciously endeavor to distinguish their movement from many [[liberal]] protest movements, which often characterize themselves by rude behavior, [[vandalism]], and even physical assaults against their opponents. Any person who persistently suggests that Tea Party Movement participants engage in activities remotely similar to this may usually consider themselves excluded, and in some cases organizers have summoned law-enforcement authorities to deal with provocative behavior by attendees at planning and other meetings.

=== Symbols ===
[[File:Gadsden_flag.png|200px|right]]By far the most prominent symbol at Tea Parties is the [[Gadsden Flag|Gadsden]] [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)|Rattlesnake Flag]].<ref>''Heraldric'': Or a rattlesnake sable and or coiled as to strike, facing sinister, on a bed of grass vert; motto "Don't Tread On Me"</ref><ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/Tea-Party.html Gadsden Flag at Tea Party Protests]</ref> The ''[[American historical flags|Come And Take It]]'' Flag has also appeared most notably at the September 12 March on Washington. Tea Party participants have almost always used home-made and home-decorated signs and other artifacts, in sharp contrast to the uniform, professionally printed signs carried at [[liberal]] demonstrations.

Most of the signs bear lampoons of the most highly publicized Obama Administration policies, from "Czars" to socialized medicine; moreover, Barack Obama is not the only target of criticism, the [[MSM]] has also been challenged in some rallies, both for their failings in covering the Tea Party Movement and also for what most participants regard as a collective decision by Mainstream Media organs to function as ''de facto'' government and/or [[Democratic Party]] as organs rather than the objective and disinterested commentators that they pretend to be.

Some of the signs that have been seen and photographed at these events have provoked cries of outrage from Tea Party Movement opponents, alleging bad taste, e.g. a picture of Barack Obama with the square mustache affected by [[Adolf Hitler]] and bearing the caption "I've Changed," and a sign bearing the message "Bury ObamaCare with [[Edward M. Kennedy|Kennedy]]." After the liberal Mainstream Media quickly blamed conservatives and even [[Rush Limbaugh]], some research was done to find the true source of the Hitler poster. It was later uncovered that the provocative Hitler signs were from a group of [[Leftist|far-left]] [[Lyndon LaRouche]] supporters, as they were infiltrating the Tea Party rallies as a means to spread their extreme visions.<ref>Seton Motley. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2009/08/12/nbc-cnn-msnbc-all-assign-communist-larouches-obama-hitler-poster-conse NBC, CNN and MSNBC All Assign Communist LaRouche's Obama-Hitler Poster to Conservatives, Limbaugh], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', August 12, 2009.</ref>

=== Demographic profile ===

A [[Quinnipiac polling|Quinnipiac Poll]] conducted in March 2010 found that thirteen percent of American voters say they are part of the Tea Party movement, a group containing more women than men. 49% told pollsters they voted for [[Barack Obama]] in 2008, while only 44% voted for [[John McCain]].<ref>[http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1436 Quinnipiac Poll, Question 50e, March 2010.], [[Quinnipiac polling]]</ref> Despite these findings, the [[White House]] has been linked to efforts to label the Tea Party as [[racist]].<ref>[http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2010/07/obama-administration-linked-to-fraudulent-racist-tea-party-video/ White House Linked to Fraudulent Racist Tea Party Video], [[Gateway Pundit]]</ref>

== News Coverage ==
[[File:MSMbyTEA.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Attitude of Tea Party Movement participants toward four MSM outlets]]

By far the most industrious news organization that has covered the Tea Party Movement is the [[Fox News Channel]], especially with commentators [[Neil Cavuto]], [[Glenn Beck]], [[Sean Hannity]] and [[Greta Van Susteren]]. Coverage of the Tea Party events by the [[Mainstream Media]] has lacked both quantity and quality. The three traditional broadcast networks ([[ABC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]]) have attempted to falsely discredit these events as corporate-sponsored or sponsored by the [[Republican Party]] and other conservative or reactionary groups, and have generally censored the movement by refusing to cover major events.<ref name=baker>Baker B, "[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2009/04/16/abc-cbs-nbc-try-discredit-tea-party-protests ABC, CBS and NBC Try to Discredit 'Tea Party' Protests]," ''[[NewsBusters]]'', 16 April 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009. Baker does a side-by-side comparison of coverage of the Tax Day Tea Parties and of several pro-immigration rallies held on 1 May 2006.</ref><ref>[http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/08/25/tea-party-group-hit-with-death-threats Tea Party Group Hit With Death Threats] Supporters of the Tea Party Movement receive death threats from socialists and liberal extremists, but the [[MSM]] looks the other way and refuses mention the story.</ref>

===Uncivil Language===
Several news anchors working for [[CNN]] and [[MSNBC]] used uncivil language to describe Tea Partiers and coined the phrase "teabaggers," which is a crude term used to slur conservatives. Additionally, President Obama used the crude term as an off-color connotation attempting to mock Tea Party Movement organizers and participants across the nation. During an interview with the ''[[New York Times]]'', Barack Obama described the people of the Tea Party Movement as "the teabag, anti-government [extremists]."<ref>Michael Patrick Leahy. [http://www.tcotreport.com/obamaslur.html In Pep Talk to Democrats Yesterday, Obama Used Crude Term to Slur Conservatives], ''[[The TCOT Report]]'', November 8, 2009.</ref> [[Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] accused Tea Partiers of having "acted like terrorists" in a fight over raising the nation’s debt limit, according to several sources in the room with him, as reported by ''[[Politico]]''.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60421.html Sources: Joe Biden likened tea partiers to terrorists], ''[[Politico]]'', August 01, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/01/biden-criticized-for-calling-tea-party-republicans-terrorists-over-their-debt/ Tea Party Group Calls on Biden to Apologize for 'Terrorists' Remark], [[Fox News]], August 02, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_081611/content/01125108.guest.html Ryan Rhodes Calls the Program], [[Rush Limbaugh]], August 16, 2011.</ref>

Confronted with an epidemic of joblessness in her home state of [[California]], liberal-[[socialist]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUaY3LhJ-IQ&feature=related Maxine Waters threatens to nationalize U.S. oil industries], [[YouTube]], (Accessed August 22, 2011).</ref> [[House of Representatives|House]] representative [[Maxine Waters]] tried deflecting blame by telling a group of supporters that the "Tea Party can go straight to hell."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/22/rep-waters-tea-party-can-go-straight-to-hell/ Tea Party Group Slams Rep. Waters Over 'Straight to Hell' Outburst], [[Fox News]], August 22, 2011.</ref> She then threatened: "And I intend to help them get there."<ref>[http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2011/08/liberal-msm-omitted-maxine-waters-overt.html Liberal MSM Omitted Maxine Waters Overt Threat to Tea Party], ''Bluegrass Pundit'', August 22, 2011.</ref> At a [[Labor Day]] speech with Barack Obama in attendance, right before the president spoke, James P. Hoffa declared war against the Tea Party Movement. He offered to a cheering Obama, "President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these sons of bitches out."<ref>[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/09/06/teaparty/jimmy-hoffa-bring/ Jimmy Hoffa, bring it on!]</ref><ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/09/06/don_hoffa_goes_to_the_mattresses Don Hoffa Goes to the Mattresses], [[Rush Limbaugh]]</ref> In a show of the same attitudes that several liberal leaders have expressed in graphic and ugly form, anonymous liberals created a Tea Party murder game, called "Tea Party Zombies Must Die."<ref>Tiffany Gabbay. [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/tea-party-zombies-must-die-new-online-lets-you-murder-beck-bachmann-palin/ ‘Tea Party Zombies Must Die’: New Online Game Lets You Gun Down Beck, Bachmann, Palin...], ''[[The Blaze]]'', September 6, 2011.</ref>

===Death Threats===
Tea Party organizers are not controlled or funded by the Republican Party or any established interest group. However, ''[[FreedomWorks]]'' and [[Dick Armey]] are well known supporters of the Tea Party Movement, and thus receive dozens of threatening and harassing calls and E-mails each day. ''FreedomWorks'' provided ''U.S. News & World Report'' with some of the recordings of the threatening calls, which include physical threats and profanity aimed at the group, Tea Party spokesmen and even [[conservative]] talkers. ''"You guys better watch it,"'' says one caller. ''"Now, we are going to destroy and obliterate [[Rush Limbaugh|Rush [Limbaugh]]] and [[Sean Hannity]],"'' said another. ''"Those two guys are dead."''<ref>Paul Bedard. [http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/08/25/tea-party-group-hit-with-death-threats Tea Party Group Hit With Death Threats], ''U.S. News & World Report'', August 25, 2010.</ref>

===Commentary===
[[Gordon Anderson]] wrote:
{{Cquote|Corruption and abuse of power seek to cloak themselves under the banner of security interests in order create elite ruling classes that are a threat to the security of those they are sworn to protect and the constitutions they are supposed to uphold. Citizens in both the United States and the European Union are witnessing the fruits of their lack of vigilance. This is a core underlying concern and reason for the rise of the “Tea Party” movement and its European counterparts. Such movements will continue arise as leaders of the so-called “free world” continue to violate the major principles of sound governance and hide corrupt actions under veils of secrecy.<ref>[http://forum.newworldencyclopedia.org/index.php/2010/12/wikileaks-and-the-balance-of-political-principles/ Wikileaks and the Balance of Political Principles]</ref>}}

[[Ron Paul]] was once asked about the political disagreements, within the Tea Party, on issues such as Iran. He responded to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC:
<blockquote>"I think the message gets a little bit diluted when a lot of people come in and the Republican party wants to make sure that maybe there's a Neocon type of influence." <ref name=huffington /></blockquote>

===Polls===
In late 2009, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed 41% of Americans had a positive view of the tea party movement and 24% had a negative view . By contrast, 35% of Americans had a positive view of the Democrats and 28% had a positive view of the Republican Party.<ref>[http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/12/16/wsjnbc-news-poll-tea-party-tops-democrats-and-republicans/ "WSJ/NBC News Poll: Tea Party Tops Democrats and Republicans,"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' Dec. 16, 2009</ref> By the beginning of 2013, the percentage of people saying they have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party had dropped to 30% with 49% saying they had an unfavorable opinion.<ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/january_2013/just_8_now_say_they_are_tea_party_members Just 8% Now Say They Are Tea Party Members], [[Rasmussen Reports]]</ref>

{{Conservatism}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
{|background="none" width="100%" border="0"
|valign="top"|
* [[Tax Day Tea Party]]
* [[Independence Day Tea Party]]
* [[9/12 March on Washington D.C.]]
|valign="top"|
* [[Tea Party Organizations]]
* [[Contract From America]]
* [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)]]
|valign="top"|
* [[Boston Tea Party]]
* [[Tea Party Students]]
|valign="top"|
* [[Vladimir Jaffe]]
* [[Movement Action Plan]]
|}

==External Links==
* [http://www.nationalteapartyconvention.com/ National Tea Party Unity Convention], TEA Party Nation (TPN).
* [http://www.onlinetaxrevolt.com/march/ The Online Tax Revolt March], Choose an Avatar and March Online to Washington.
* [http://taxdayteaparty.com/ Tax Day Tea Party]
* [http://www.reteaparty.com/ America's Re-Tea Party]
* [http://www.teapartypatriots.org/ Tea Party Patriots]

===Music Videos===
{{main|Tea Party Movement Videos}}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2H8xHFXC8U&feature=player_embedded American Tea Party Anthem], by Lloyd Marcus
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT54cGEv7Nk I am America], by Krista Branch
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwvuimX2bjI&list=QL Rise Up], music by Jeremy Hoop from ''[http://www.teapartymovie.com/film.html The Tea Party Movie]''
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfH46DTAkxo When You're Holding a Hammer (Everything Looks Like a Nail)], by Kyle Hill and Bryan Glover
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3CIPnQUOK0 Tip of the Spear], music by Phil Cuomo and Phil Valentine from the motion picture ''[http://philvalentine.com/AnInconsistentTruth.htm An Inconsistent Truth]''
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG38P92wQlc Don't tread on me], by the band ''[[Metallica]]'' ([http://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/Don%27t-Tread-On-Me-lyrics-Metallica/1F9C85C5B25CB6FF4825688D0034190D Lyrics])
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qygtToan0Ko&sns=em You Picked a Fine Time .... Obama (sung by OSU Students)], Song by OSU Students: "You Picked a Fine Time To Lead Us Barack"
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xPMq45p6Q We Ain't Goin' Away] by Bruce Bellott

[[Category:Taxation]]
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Tax Revolts]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Conservative Organizations]]
[[category:Libertarians]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]

United States presidential election, 2016

2015-11-18T06:34:27Z

JAnder: Added a fact.

''See also [[2016 presidential debates]] and the [[candidates on homosexuality]]''

The 58th United States presidential election will be held on November 8, 2016. The 2016 election will be an open field in the [[Republican Party]]. [[Democrats]], as in [[communist]] countries, are not expected to have any real choice other than [[Hillary Clinton]]. Of course Bernie Sanders is a major opponent to her.

==Republican Party candidates==
{{TOC right}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Social Conservative !! Moderate/[[Establishment]] !! Maverick
|-
| [[Mike Huckabee]] || [[Jeb Bush]] || [[Donald Trump]]
|-
| [[Ted Cruz]] || [[Marco Rubio]] || [[Ben Carson]]
|-
| [[Rick Santorum]] || [[John Kasich]] || [[Carly Fiorina]] - appeals to women
|-
| [[Bobby Jindal]] || [[Chris Christie]] || [[Rand Paul]] - appeals to men
|-
| || [[Lindsey Graham]] ||
|-
| || [[George Pataki]] ||
|}

===Announced Republican candidates===
A record-breaking total of 17 individuals formally announced their candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election. Their first [[2016 presidential debate|debate]] was held on Thursday, August 6th, on the [[Fox News Channel]], and viewed by a record-breaking audience of 24 million people.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|Former Arkansas governor who ran well in the 2008 primaries, and is particularly popular with [[evangelicals]]. He is the strongest candidate against [[judicial supremacy]] and the [[homosexual agenda]]. Huckabee has kept himself in the public eye for the past six and a half years as the host of a news-and-commentary show on the Fox network.
|His record on social issues is rock solid, but some question his record on fiscal issues.
|On September 2, 2015, he announced his support for the [[Christian]] Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, and telephoned her as other candidates were either ducking the issue, or speaking out against her. Huckabee launched an exploratory committee on April 17, 2015. <ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/huckabee-set-to-announce-claims-ive-beaten-clinton-political-machine/article/2563219</ref> He announced his candidacy on May 5, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/05/huckabee-announces-2016-white-house-bid/</ref>
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
|Son of [[Ron Paul]], voted against GOP establishment's spending compromise bills, advocate for cutting spending, can unite libertarians and conservatives, voted against NDAA. Made waves with historic [[filibuster]] against [[CIA]] director John Brennan over the Obama administration's claimed authority to use drone strikes against US citizens on American soil.
|Some of his father's more hardcore followers think he's a "traitor" for endorsing [[Mitt Romney]] in 2012, voted for [[Chuck Hagel]] as Defense Secretary. Supported the Supreme Court's liberal wing when it struck down Section 3 of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], suggesting he's somewhat supportive of the [[Homosexual Agenda]].
|Has criticized [[Paul Ryan]], [[Jeb Bush]], and [[Chris Christie]] as a candidate might, delivered 2013 Tea Party response to the SOTU, which the news media didn't cover. Announced candidacy on April 7, 2015.<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325139-1/senator-rand-paul-rky-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref>
|-
|[[Ted Cruz]]
|Previously active in the tea-party movement, solid on opposition to Obamacare and gun control. Good debater.
|Like Obama, some question as to eligibility. As a first-term Senator, relatively inexperienced. Alienated some due to role in government shutdown.
|Bypassed the exploratory committee process and instead made his formal announcement of candidacy on March 23, 2015.<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?324979-1/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Has gained in the polls since the first debate.
|-
|[[Marco Rubio]]
|Favorite of [[Fox News]], articulate, Hispanic, able to win key battleground state of [[Florida]] since he's from there, was on Romney's shortlist in 2012.
|Has been seen as a stalking horse for Jeb Bush.
Rubio used to be a Tea Party favorite when he defeated [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]], but many have since soured on his actions, endorsed amnesty and has written an amnesty bill with [[Chuck Schumer]] and six other Senators, friends with [[Jeb Bush]], denounced [[Michele Bachmann]]'s investigation into [[Huma Abedin]], supports the party's [[neoconservative]] wing which is why he supports sending troops into Syria.
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at [[Jack Kemp]] library, delivered GOP response to Obama's 2013 SOTU, put his capital on the line working with seven other Senators on a controversial amnesty plan many conservatives oppose but has now eased away from it. Announced candidacy on April 13, 2015.<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325251-1/senator-marco-rubio-rfl-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref>
|-
|[[Carly Fiorina]]
|Former CEO, a good track record of attacking liberalism. Has gained support and attention since the first debate. She was widely considered the winner of the preliminary debate held for those not in the Top Ten as rated by the polls.
|Failed to win an election as a candidate for Senator, rejected Tea Party support, embraces the establishment GOP.
|Her entrance in the 2016 campaign would deny Democrats and Hillary Clinton the image of men vs. a women argument, aka 'war on women'. Fiorina formally launched her campaign for the Republican nomination on May 4, 2014.<ref>http://www.wsj.com/articles/carly-fiorina-im-running-for-president-1430739879</ref>
|-
|[[Ben Carson]]
|Plain-spoken, with common-sense solutions to the country's problems.
|Has said states can enact gun control.
|The world-renowned surgeon made waves by skewering Obama's policies at the White House correspondent's dinner. Carson formally announced his candidacy on May 4, 2015, in Detroit, saying ""I'm Ben Carson, and I'm a candidate for president of the United States."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/04/ben-carson-tells-tv-station-is-running-for-president/</ref>
|-
|[[Rick Santorum]]
|Strong social conservative base, runner-up in the 2012 primary, by 2016 endorsing [[RINO]]-turned-Democrat [[Arlen Specter]] will be a distant memory for many because he died in 2012. Strongly opposed to [[homosexual agenda]].
|May have been a [[stalking horse]] for Romney in the last election, which he'll vehemently deny; in 2016 voters may want a new face to lead the party instead of an also-ran, media portrays as fanatic, voted for Bush's spending to be 'part of the team'.
|Has founded an organization called Patriot Voices which may serve as a fulcrum for his campaign. Santorum announced his candidacy on May 27, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/27/santorum-set-to-announce-2016-plans-wednesday/</ref> Is currently near the bottom of the field of 17 Republican candidates.
|-
|[[George Pataki]]
|Former governor of a large state.
|Very low name-recognition nationally.
|Pataki announced his candidacy on May 28, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/28/former-new-york-gov-pataki-announces-run-for-2016-gop-presidential-nomination/</ref>
|-
|[[Lindsey Graham]]
|Moderate Senator from South Carolina. Is pro-military and an advocate for a strong national defense. Good public speaker.
|Widely seen as a liberal on immigration issues. Is considered a clone of Sen. [[John McCain]] in the Senate.
|Announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee in January 2015. Graham announced his candidacy on June 1, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/01/graham-set-to-enter-2016-race-with-focus-on-middle-east/</ref>
|-
|[[Jeb Bush]]
|Able to win Florida, has Hispanic wife and kids, multilingual, backing of [[Karl Rove]] though if he doesn't run Rubio will get it. Presumably has the backing of most [[George_H.W._Bush#Family|Bush family]] members, with the notable exception of his mother, [[Barbara Bush|Barbara]], who stated, "We've had enough Bushes" during an April 2013 interview<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51667537#51667537</ref>.
|Outspokenly supports amnesty and Common Core, neither Tea Partiers or independent voters want a third Bush, told GOP primary voters they wouldn't elect Reagan today.
|Might count on Rubio to be a stalking horse because of their friendship but has contradicted Rubio on immigration in his latest book, if he and Clinton are the nominees many voters might gravitate to a third party. Bush officially announced his candidacy on June 15, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/15/after-long-wind-up-bush-set-to-enter-2016-white-house-race/</ref>
|-
|[[Donald Trump]]
|Business smart, name recognition, holds some conservative positions. Leads in almost all polls. Has forcefully campaigned on the issues of illegal immigration and international trade.
|Celebrity type with a bombastic style that can be a distraction.
|Trump announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/</ref>
|-
|[[Chris Christie]]
|Blunt criticism of teacher's unions won conservatives over for about a year, [[Ann Coulter]] supports him.
|Unprofessional style, abrasiveness, overweight, praised Obama's Hurricane Sandy efforts only days before the 2012 election, has gotten heat for appointing Sharia judge and having pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor. Not endearing himself to conservatives with his statements on things like gun control. Is near the bottom in most polls.
|Christie announced his candidacy on June 30, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/30/christie-announces-2016-bid-for-white-house-becomes-14th-gop-hopeful/</ref>
|-
|[[John Kasich]]
|Two-term Ohio Governor, former U.S. Congressman. Popular with establishment types worried about Jeb Bush's inability to gain any traction.
|Expanded Medicare in his state, said the [[Bible]] supports [[Obamacare]], D.C. beltway insider, and will not oppose [[same-sex marriage]].
|On July 21, 2015, Kasich officially declared his candidacy, stating, "I have decided to run for president of the United States."<ref>http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/07/21/john-kasich-presidential-announcement.html</ref>
|-
|[[Jim Gilmore]]
|Former governor of Virginia, a crucial swing state.
|
|On July 30, 2015, Gilmore officially declared his candidacy, stating, "I am a candidate for president because our current Washington leadership is guiding America on a path to decline, and I can reverse that decline."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/30/former-virginia-gov-gilmore-enters-white-house-race/</ref>
|}

=== Other possible Republican candidates ===
These individuals have expressed interest in running or have been mentioned as possible candidates.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Sarah Palin]]
|Very popular with the conservative base, record of cutting the size of government, expert on energy issues. Already experienced on national ticket.
|Thanks to the media, the electorate has already made up their minds about her. May prefer the role of commentator and not run for her and her children's sakes.
|
|-
|[[Condoleezza Rice]]
|Articulate, popular, foreign policy experience, takes the race and gender cards off the table, gave impassioned speech at the RNC, inspiring childhood story.
|Pro-choice, ties to Bush administration, never elected to any office, just appointed; left-wing immigration stance, had role leading up to [[Iraq War]], single status will mean she won't have the emotional support of a family for a Presidential run as [[Laura Bush]] has said; admired by some conservatives, disliked by others like [[paleoconservatives]] and from how [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Donald Rumsfeld]] have criticized her, she doesn't even have all the [[neoconservatives]] wrapped up.
|Some conservatives would think her running would be a good idea, others won't. She declined to run in 2008 and 2012, but from the speculation she was going to be Romney's VP, she might this time.
|-
|[[John Thune]]
|Senator who defeated [[Tom Daschle]], relatively conservative for a Senator.
|Voted for TARP and often votes for other spending bills the leadership pushes, not well known.
|
|-
|[[Susana Martinez]]
|Gave a good speech at the RNC, conservative Governor of a blue state, Hispanic.
|Might not be interested, expanded Medicare in her state.
|
|-
|[[Jan Brewer]]
|Former governor of Arizona. If she runs, will use potent immigration issue as foil to Bush and Rubio. Can take its mantle and change debate to pressure other candidates to tack right on the issue. Outspoken critic of Obama.
|May not be interested in the Presidency, expanded Medicare waiver for Obamacare, and is no longer in elective office. Has lost some support from conservatives.
|
|-
|[[Kelly Ayotte]]
|Represents a swing state
|Voted in favor of amnesty
|If Rubio is the Presidential nominee, he's likely to make Ayotte his running mate hoping the ticket will appeal to two swing states (Florida and New Hampshire), Hispanics, and women, offsetting Hillary with the last group. Both Rubio and Ayotte have been taken under the wings of McCain and Graham since getting in the Senate.
|-
|[[Allen West]]
|Conservative black Congressman from Florida who speaks his mind, some conservative activists insist that he run.
|Lost his race for re-election to the House two years after getting voted in.
|Has compared his loss to [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s before he became President in a radio interview.
|-
|[[Brian Sandoval]]
|Hispanic, fiscal conservative
|Pro-choice, expanded Medicare in his state, [[Harry Reid]] doesn't seem to mind his performance as Governor. <ref>http://blogs.rgj.com/politics/2013/02/20/reid-says-hell-run-for-re-election-in-2016-wont-comment-on-sandoval-as-opponent/</ref>
|Sandoval is likely to win Reid's seat for the U.S. Senate instead of running for president.
|}

=== Republican candidates that dropped out of the race ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Rick Perry]]
|Strong record of experience as Governor of [[Texas]]. Supports [[Second Amendment]]. Before the next election he might see a debating coach. Strong fundraiser. Not expanding [[Medicare]] to adjust for [[Obamacare]] like some other Governors are doing.
|Performed poorly in the last time, is an also-ran without [[Rick Santorum]]'s likely momentum in a race that will probably also have multiple other Republican Governors, also signed a state version of the DREAM Act and mandated vaccines for schoolgirls.
|Perry announced his candidacy on June 4, 2015. Perry became the first candidate to drop out of the race in September 2015. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/11/rick-perry-drops-out-of-2016-presidential-race/ RICK PERRY DROPS OUT OF 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE, Breitbart, September 11, 2015]</ref>
|-
|[[Scott Walker]]
|A once-seeming [[movement conservative]] who defeated a recall that was pushed by [[George Soros]] and the unions, exhibited conservative determination in passing right-to-work in his state and surviving the relentless union attacks that followed.
|[[AFL-CIO]] and the other union special interests have him as a top target, but he stood his ground until recently where he's starting to adopt RINO stances on issues, such as refusing to speak out against [[same-sex marriage]] in a meaningful way and not taking a strong stance against the ''[[Obergefell]]'' decision.
|Walker formally announced his candidacy on July 13, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/13/walker-announces-2016-white-house-bid/</ref> To announce dropping out Sept. 21st, 2015.
|-
|[[Bobby Jindal]]
|Populist conservative who says conservatives should be skeptical of big business, Indian-American, cleaned up Louisiana after Katrina and Governor Blanco, evangelical who also focuses on energy issues like Perry before him.
|Severely lacking in charisma.
|Jindal announced the formation of an exploratory committee on May 18, 2015.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/18/politics/bobby-jindal-forms-exploratory-committee/</ref> Jindal announced his candidacy on June 24, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/24/louisiana-gov-jindal-looks-ready-to-jump-into-2016-race/</ref>
|-
|}

==Democratic Party candidates==

===Announced Democratic candidates===
These individuals have formally announced their candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Hillary Clinton]]
|Has wanted to be President for decades, has Clinton machine and big money behind her, teflon image helped along by the media, quitting Secretary of State position lets her run, she will have the "sexist" card at her disposal.
|Role in Benghazi and decades worth of scandals going back to the 90s, cheerleaded for the Iraq war, facing corruption chargesfeminist. Bill Clinton may be a distraction.
|Clinton announced her candidacy on April 12, 2015.<ref>https://www.hillaryclinton.com</ref>
|-
|[[Bernie Sanders]]
|Independent that is lockstep with the Democrat party. Popular among socialists.
|As head of the Veterans Affairs Committee, he has done nothing to fix scandals and help veterans. Endorses Obama's policies.
|At a press conference on April 30, 2015, Sanders announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/29/vermont-sen-bernie-sanders-am-running-for-president/</ref>
|-
|[[Martin O'Malley]]
|Former governor of Maryland. Partisan and aggressive liberal.
|Martin who? He has low name recognition. Fiercely supports raising taxes and other very liberal stances, although that might help in the primary.
|O'Malley announced his candidacy on May 30, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/30/omalley-returns-to-baltimore-set-to-seek-democratic-nomination-2016-white-house/</ref>
|-
|}

[[Democrats]] will not have a choice other than [[liberal]] Hillary Clinton. If a competitive race were allowed by the party bosses (and it won't be), the candidates mentioned below her could be contenders:

===Other possible Democratic candidates===
These individuals have expressed interest in running or have been mentioned as possible candidates.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Joe Biden]]
|Tries to set image as he's "one of the folks" even though he's a millionaire. He'll have Obama's Chicago machine. Incumbent VPs often receive the party nomination
|Very gaffe-prone, VP to an unpopular administration.
|Currently yukking it up as Obama's Vice-President and has openly expressed some interest in running. Hasn't talked about running...yet. Should be good seeing how he and Hillary deal with each other on the stage if they both run.
|-
|[[Andrew Cuomo]]
|Tried to make himself look like a fiscal conservative, he's part of a political family like Jeb and Hillary, governor of a large state.
|Uncompelling, declared intentions to seize guns from lawful gun owners, which he's used executive orders to do.
|His late father, the former Governor, said he expected him to run. His gun confiscating executive orders are not sitting well with the American people by and large.
|-
|[[Mark Warner]]
|Senator from a swing state with a relatively moderate record compared to others, might try to get points with independents that the other Democrats won't have.
|He votes with his party most of the time, voted for gun control even though he claims to be pro-gun.
|
|-
|[[Elizabeth Warren]]
|Popular in [[Occupy Wall Street]] and other progressive circles, elected in very competitive Senate race.
|Caught lying about being a Native American so she could get [[affirmative action]] at Harvard, her very liberal views and rhetoric probably won't resonate in states less liberal than [[Massachusetts]].
|Won election to the Senate in November 2012 against [[Scott Brown]].
|-
|[[Al Gore]]
|Former Senator and Vice-President. Represented a state that generally votes Republican. Since leaving office, Gore has made a career out of lecturing the world on the dangers of "Climate Change."
|
|Is being talked up as a possible candidate by Democrats worried about the scandals attached to Hillary Clinton.
|}

=== Democrat candidates that dropped out of the race ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Lincoln Chafee]]
|Former governor of Rhode Island, former Republican
|
|Chafee announced his candidacy on June 3, 2015.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/03/former-ri-gov-lincoln-chafee-one-time-republican-declares-candidacy-for/</ref>
|-
|[[Jim Webb]]
|Former Virginia Senator and Secretary of the Navy
|Webb's surprise candidacy looks like a public relations stunt by party bosses to make the [[Democrat Party]] look more mainstream than it is. It is doubtful that this is a serious attempt to win the nomination.
|Announced his candidacy July 2, 2015 <ref>http://www.webb2016.com</ref>
|}

== See also ==

*[http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/events.phtml?s=c List of primaries and debates]
== References ==
<small><references/></small>

{{DEFAULTSORT: 2016, United States presidential election,}}
[[Category: United States Presidential Elections]]
[[Category:2016 presidential election]]

Talk:Homosexuality

2015-11-18T06:19:35Z

JAnder: /* God's Greatest Commandment */ new section

[[Talk:homosexuality/archive_Set1|Archives]]

== 8 major identical twin studies demonstrate homosexuality is not genetic ==

Eight major studies of identical twins in Australia, the U.S., and Scandinavia during the last two decades all arrive at the same conclusion: gays were not born that way. http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines/identical-twin-studies-prove-homosexuality-is-not-genetic [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 05:28, 15 January 2015 (EST)

== Cleaning up ==

There are WAY too many sections and subsections on this page, I'm going to see if I can combine the major information and remove the subsections with little content to make the Table of Contents readable. There are actually sections with two sentences or less right now. That kind of material would be better left in subpages or just referred to in the See also section; perhaps mentioned briefly in another section. I'd like to clean up the page so it is more readable though. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 20:35, 25 January 2015 (EST)
:[[User:Conservative]] I saw the page was recently protected. If you dislike the edits being made, can you tell me what exactly you disagreed with? By and large I just moved material around to trim unnecessary categories or duplicate sources, and added sections on xenoestrogens and polling.[http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Homosexuality&action=historysubmit&diff=1135467&oldid=1134830] My next edit by the way was going to involve moving the Ex-homosexuals section into the Personal Choice section. Just through categorizing, moving sections with little to no content into other areas, I had reduced the number of total sections from 35 to 16 and was about to reduce it to 15 so that the Table of Contents would be readable. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 23:20, 25 January 2015 (EST)
::JZambrano, I admire your zeal. At the same time, at this juncture, I have multiple demands on my time and I am unable work with you on major revisions to this article. And wouldn't be fair to the people I made promises to for me to get involved in such a project. It would cause unnecessary delays which they would not appreciate.

::At a future time, perhaps we can revisit this matter. In the meantime, I suggest contacting [[User:Daniel1212]] and perhaps you two could discuss your suggestions as far as improving article. Daniel1212 created a lot of homosexuality related content to Conservapedia. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 23:53, 25 January 2015 (EST)

:::I notice Daniel hasn't done much editing since 2012 and none since October. Will he be online enough for that? I did leave them a message just in case. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 00:23, 26 January 2015 (EST)
::::It is going to have to be enough for now. And another person who edits using the User: Conservative account has a demanding job and is now a part-time business owner too. So I know that person cannot help as well. It is a particularly busy time for that person.

::::Second, you wanted to give a strong emphasis to xenoestrogens in the article and place the material near the very top of the article. I don't foresee such a change happening.

::::Lastly, I know you want to discuss this matter further right now, but I politely decline to do so given my present commitments. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 01:02, 26 January 2015 (EST)

:::::Alright, I was just curious where the objection lay. I have no problem with moving the xenoestrogen material further down on the page. Were there any other concerns about the proposed edits? --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 23:26, 29 January 2015 (EST)

== It should be illegal ==

I am tired of seeing fellow members of my community being converted into homosexuals. The countries of the world should just ban homosexuality and make it a crime so as to prevent younger minds with potential being indoctrinated by this evil. {{unsigned|JoaoV}}
:A user that one of your collective have [http://www.conservapedia.com/Special:Contributions/JoaoV blocked] user:conservative. Why block him then restore his edit after JoeyJ has removed it? [[User:Davidspencer|Davidspencer]] 12:05, 1 March 2015 (EST)
::Cons, I don't often agree with you, but I must give credit where credit is due. (Ooh! Another idiom article to write! I'm way behind.) You did exactly the right thing in restoring Joao's edits. You of course used the principle that talk pages are ongoing journals of a discussion, and edits are not to be removed unless they are libelous. I don't agree with Joao's comment, but I think it's within the realm of acceptable comments here. By the way, I used to have a coworker generally called John, but his real (Hispanic) given name was Joao.
::While I'm heaping praise on you, you recently replied to something underneath a paragraph, by someone else, that had two of the grammatical and stylistic errors that I used to accuse you of.
::And now I see that you have unblocked him. Congratulations. Joao will now have the distinction of having been unblocked by <s>the person most hated at RW</s> probably CP's most interesting admin, one who does not often unblock people :-) [[User:SamHB|SamHB]] 16:37, 1 March 2015 (EST)
=== JoaoV's response ===

::Thanks for unblocking me. My intention is to use this wiki for educative purposes, I don't want to cause trouble. Concerning homosexuality, I am glad that you are trying to undo it and these articles are very informative. I beg you to forive me though for having a more cynical view of it however as my experiences with homosexuality in my neighbour have been purely negative. See, here is my problem: I have seen good, upstanding neighbours that were previously heterosexual (I do not believe that "I was in denial" myth) and had girlfriends and went to church being converted. We all got along well and even though in my neigbourhood there were differences among various denominations, we never criticized each other. We were all Christian after all. Then one day a number of college-age deviants start going door to door and asking us to answer to bizarre questionaries (at one point I heard one of them ask (and I joke you not) "What's your wildest sex fantasy?". You notice that I previously used the word "converted". Well, you see, most of us either tried to tell them about The Lord when the weird questions started and a few of us didn't bother to answer, but a young male member of our community not only answered them earnestly but actually invited them inside. After that day, everything went downhill in our community as apparently the deviants were there to "inform" our neighbourhood and others about various laws concerning homosexuality and other deviations and how the law ''protected'' such degeneracy. It began with the male neighbour (whose name was Joaquim). He began to flaunt that he was "no longer going to lie" and "that he was going true to his self". He, who had been a model citizen and neighbour up to that point, had been successfully converted into the religion of the homosexuals. I do not know what tactics they used or why they did it, but I '''know''' that Joaquim was not "born that way". He openly challenged God by behaving like a sodomite and trying to coax others into joining him. As Joaquim was not just a neighbour but my friend I tried to convert him back to the true faith, but my efforts were in vain. I don't know what tactics the deviants used, but my friend had a spiritual death that day. His faith died. The one before us afterwards was just another deviant of the bunch - worse, he had become a missionary of their wicked cult. And what had once been a great neighbourhood suddenly became a den of degeneracy and corruption. A man a few streets below started to wear womens' clothing, a few more started to preach the homosexual lifestyle and a worrying number of adolescents were admitting to "trying things". Those of us who still cling to tradition tried to show them the light but they would not listen - the alure of the flesh was greater to them than the word of The Lord. That day my hope for peace died. I stopped turning the other cheek. I started shunning them and others even condemned them in public. At the very least we managed to keep them away from our homes and children. Others are doing so as well and although our neighbourhood is not the same at least it's purifying itself. The reason I want homosexuality banned is not to persecute homosexuals. It is to prevent good people, like Joaquim, from being corrupted. Every time I recall this story I feel like I have failed myself because Joaquim was a long time friend. Our group of friends had shared with him movies, church goings, sports, and videogames. He had made our lives better by being our friend. But because he couldn't resist temptation - and because he was tempted in the first place - there is now an empty seat whenever we try to make a group activity. This saddens me. What could I have done to convert him back? Is there still hope for him? Doubt started to linger in my heart. "You're not my friends. Friends don't judge their friends." Joaquim said. But he was wrong. If a friend commits a crime and you are called to judge him, God demands that we answer with the truth. We must show mercy and compassion, but we must not lie. Well, thanks for reading my story. I'm sorry to have let it out here, it's just... I wish homosexuality didn't exist. I want our group of friends to be complete as it once was. --[[User:JoaoV|JoaoV]] 23:52, 5 March 2015 (EST)

== "Causes of homosexuality" ==

The section entitled "Causes of homosexuality" does not address its purported topic at all, but merely serves as a brief introduction to several topics to be addressed later in the article. This section (along with most of the rest of the article, IMO) is in need of a serious rewrite. [[User:IsabellW|IsabellW]] 23:19, 13 May 2015 (EDT)

== God's Greatest Commandment ==

I would, as a God fearing conservative, like to have the sentence that refers to homosexuality being condemned more than any other act in the Holy Bible to be removed. Yes it is condemned, but I think that this view ignores God's greatest commandment: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. If that is his greatest commandment then NOT loving your neighbor as yourself would be the greatest sin. Do not mistake me here, homosexuality is a sin, but just not quite the most evil of them all.

Founding Fathers

2015-11-18T06:09:22Z

JAnder: Added a fact.

[[File:Gilbert Stuart Portrait of George Washington.jpg|thumb|Portrait of George Washington by [[Gilbert Stuart]].]]
'''The Founding Fathers''' are the leaders who founded the [[United States]], especially the 40 dignitaries who signed the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Historians consider the most important founders to include [[John Adams]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], and [[George Washington]]. Washington is known for his leadership and honesty; Hamilton for his brilliance; John Adams for his morality; Franklin for his inventiveness; Madison for his scholarship; and Jefferson for his egalitarianism.

The 55 initial participants -- all of whom would be considered "Founders" in the broad sense of the term -- wrote 15,000 articles, books and other materials. A study found that the [[Bible]] comprised 34% of their direct quotations. They particularly liked quoting the [[Book of Deuteronomy]].

==Republicanism==
The Founding Fathers sought "Honor" -- freedom from corruption, and a positive devotion to civic virtue. These were key elements of [[Republicanism]], and the Founding Fathers made republicanism the core values of the American system of government.

[[Corruption]] was the great evil the Founding Fathers confronted. When Britain showed too much corruption, it was time to break free with the [[American Revolution]]. To overcome the temptations of corruption--such as luxury and bribery--in their own lives, the Founding Fathers cultivated the virtue of disinterestedness. That is, the made a conscious effort to not be the creature of his financial interests, and not give any sign to the public that they sought luxury or bribes. The goal was to be impartial, concerned only for the public good, not the advancement of friends or, still less, of party. Despite their many good qualities, many still owned other human beings.

Even personal shame and humiliation was preferable to a tarnished honor or the hint of corruption. When Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was accused of corruption for making secret payments to a man named James Reynolds, Hamilton revealed he had been set up and was paying blackmail to Reynolds following an affair with Mrs. Reynolds. Duels over honor were common in the era--Hamilton was killed in one, as was Hamilton's son.

== Signatories of the [[Declaration of Independence]] ==
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[John Adams]]
*[[Samuel Adams]]
*[[Josiah Bartlett]]
*[[Carter Braxton]]
*[[Charles Carroll of Carrollton|Charles Carroll]]
*[[Samuel Chase]]
*[[Abraham Clark]]
*[[George Clymer]]
*[[William Ellery]]
*[[William Floyd]]
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
*[[Elbridge Gerry]]
*[[Button Gwinnett]]
*[[Lyman Hall]]
*[[John Hancock]]
*[[Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]]
*[[John Hart]]
*[[Joseph Hewes]]
*[[Thomas Heyward]]
| valign="top" |
*[[William Hooper]]
*[[Stephen Hopkins]]
*[[Francis Hopkinson]]
*[[Samuel Huntington (signer) |Samuel Huntington]]
*[[Thomas Jefferson]]
*[[Francis Lightfoot Lee]]
*[[Richard Henry Lee]]
*[[Francis Lewis]]
*[[Philip Livingston]]
*[[Thomas Lynch, Jr.]]
*[[Thomas McKean]]
*[[Arthur Middleton]]
*[[Lewis Morris]]
*[[Robert Morris]]
*[[John Morton]]
*[[Thomas Nelson, Jr.]]
*[[William Paca]]
*[[John Penn]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Robert Treat Paine]]
*[[George Read]]
*[[Caesar Rodney]]
*[[George Ross]]
*[[Benjamin Rush]]
*[[Edward Rutledge]]
*[[Roger Sherman]]
*[[James Smith (signer)| James Smith]]
*[[Richard Stockton]]
*[[Thomas Stone]]
*[[George Taylor]]
*[[Matthew Thornton]]
*[[George Walton]]
*[[William Whipple]]
*[[William Williams]]
*[[James Wilson]]
*[[John Witherspoon]]
*[[Oliver Wolcott]]
*[[George Wythe]]
|}

== Signatories of the [[Articles of Confederation]] ==
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Andrew Adams]]
*[[Samuel Adams]]
*[[Thomas Adams]]
*[[John Banister]]
*[[Josiah Bartlett]]
*[[Daniel Carroll]]
*[[William Clingan]]
*[[John Collins]]
*[[Francis Dana]]
*[[John Dickinson]]
*[[William Henry Drayton]]
*[[James Duane]]
*[[William Duer]]
*[[William Ellery]]
*[[Elbridge Gerry]]
*[[John Hancock]]
*[[John Hanson]]
*[[Cornelius Harnett]]
*[[John Harvie]]
*[[Thomas Heyward Jr.]]
*[[Samuel Holten]]
*[[Titus Hosmer]]
*[[Samuel Huntington]]
*[[Richard Hutson]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Edward Langworthy]]
*[[Henry Laurens]]
*[[Francis Lightfoot Lee]]
*[[Richard Henry Lee]]
*[[Francis Lewis]]
*[[James Lovell]]
*[[Henry Marchant]]
*[[John Mathews]]
*[[Thomas McKean]]
*[[Gouverneur Morris]]
*[[Robert Morris]]
*[[John Penn]]
*[[Joseph Reed]]
*[[Daniel Roberdeau]]
*[[Nathaniel Scudder]]
*[[Roger Sherman]]
*[[Jonathan Bayard Smith]]
*[[Edward Telfair]]
*[[Nicholas Van Dyke]]
*[[John Walton]]
*[[John Wentworth Jr.]]
*[[John Williams]]
*[[John Witherspoon]]
*[[Oliver Wolcott]]
|}

== Signatories of the [[United States Constitution]] ==
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Abraham Baldwin]]
*[[Richard Bassett]]
*[[Gunning Bedford, Jr.]]
*[[John Blair]]
*[[William Blount]]
*[[David Brearly]]
*[[Jacob Broom]]
*[[Pierce Butler]]
*[[Daniel Carroll]]
*[[George Clymer]]
*[[Jonathan Dayton]]
*[[John Dickinson]]
*[[William Few]]
*[[Thomas Fitzsimons]]
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
*[[Nicholas Gilman]]
*[[Nathaniel Gorham]]
*[[Alexander Hamilton]]
*[[Jared Ingersoll]]
| valign="top" |
*[[Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer]]
*[[William Samuel Johnson]]
*[[Rufus King]]
*[[John Langdon]]
*[[William Livingston]]
*[[James Madison]]
*[[James McHenry]]
*[[Thomas Mifflin]]
*[[Gouverneur Morris]]
*[[Robert Morris]]
*[[William Paterson (jurist)|William Paterson]]
*[[Charles Cotesworth Pinckney]]
*[[Governor Charles Pinckney|Charles Pinckney]]
*[[George Read (signer)|George Read]]
*[[John Rutledge]]
*[[Roger Sherman]]
*[[Richard Dobbs Spaight]]
*[[George Washington]] (president of the Convention)
*[[Hugh Williamson]]
*[[James Wilson]]
*[[William Jackson (secretary)|William Jackson]] (Secretary)
|}

== Other Founding Fathers ==
{|
| valign="top" |
*[[Oliver Ellsworth]]
*[[Patrick Henry]]
*[[John Jay]]
*[[George Mason]]
*[[Thomas Paine]]
|}

==Further reading==
* Ellis, Joseph J. ''Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation'' (2002), good overview of leading figures by top scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Founding-Brothers-Revolutionary-Joseph-Ellis/dp/0375705244/ref=cm_lmf_img_5_rdssss0 excerpt and text search]
* McClanahan, Brion. ''The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers'' (2009), popular book by conservative writer. [http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Founding-Fathers-Guides/dp/1596980923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251266508&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wood, Gordon. ''Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different'' (2007), very good overview by leading conservative scholar [http://books.google.com/books?id=uOovRxek5AIC&dq=intitle:Revolutionary+intitle:Characters+inauthor:wood&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]

== References ==

* [http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html The Constitution from the National Archives]
* [http://www.foundingfathers.info/documents/constitution.html The Constitution of the United States of America]

== See also ==
* [[Founding Fathers quotes that mention God]]
* [[Gallery of American Heroes]]
* [[David Ramsay]]
* [[Hero]]: [[Gallery of American Heroes]]
* [[Memorial Day]], [[Veterans Day]], [[Remembrance Day]]
* [[Oath Keepers]] - Support and defend the [[unalienable rights]] of [[America]]
* [[Vow]]
* [[Police state]]s-[[Nanny state]]s violate the [[United States Constitution]]-[[Bill of Rights]] (especially [[Second Amendment]] and [[Fourth Amendment]]) and [[Citizen]]'s [[Unalienable rights]] by not upholding their oath to support and defend the [[Constitution]].

== External Links ==

* [http://www.archives.gov/ The National Archives]
* [http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/ The National Archives - Historical Documents]
* [http://patriotpost.us/histdocs/ The Patriot Post - Historical Documents]

=== Founding Fathers Quotes ===

* [http://www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/ Mark's Quotes: Founding Fathers Quotes]
* [http://www.dojgov.net/Liberty_Watch.htm USDOJ & Government Watch: Spirit of America Liberty Quotes]
* [http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm Eads Home Ministries: Founding Fathers Quotes]
{{Conservatism}}

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]
[[Category:American Revolution]]
[[Category:Republicanism]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Early National U.S.]]
[[Category:Veterans]]
[[Category:Oath Keepers]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:United States History]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category:People Associated with Firearms]]
[[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category:Survivalism]]
[[Category:United States History Figures]]
[[Category:Patriots]]

Liberal quotient

2015-11-18T06:04:49Z

JAnder: Added basic knowledge of ratios.

'''Liberal quotient''' is a new term coined by Conservapedia to quantify how [[liberal]] a group is. It is used for assessing political bias and for evaluating statements or positions by such a group.

The liberal quotient is defined as the ratio of liberals to conservatives in a group. Thus the liberal quotient is zero when there are no liberals in the group, and, by definition, infinity if there are no conservatives.

According to a Harris Poll from 2005 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=548], 40% of all Americans identify as moderates, 35% as conservatives, and 18% as liberals. This gives a liberal quotient of about 1:2. In other words, there is one liberal for everyone two conservatives. These numbers have been fairly constant during the last decades.

A [[Wikipedia]] user can choose from 32 different categories to self-identify their political ideology. There are 240 users who chose to self-identify as liberal, and 75 who self-identified as conservative. This means that the group of editors on Wikipedia that chose to self-identify has a liberal quotient of about 3:1. Or three liberals for every one conservative. By combining these two sets of data you would not get proof that Wikipedia is six times more liberal that the average American, because that number requires more than 100% of Americans. It also requires that you treat the above ratios as fractions (3/1 is six times 1/2) rather than as ratios (3/4 is much greater than 1/3).

Groups having a high liberal quotient would include university faculties, the National Education Association, the leadership of the [[Democratic Party]], the management of the ''Village Voice'' and ''New York Times'', and the leaders of the [[ACLU]]. Groups having a low liberal quotient would include a trade association of small business owners, an association of Christian athletes, and worshipers at church on an ordinary Sunday, with the exception of black protestant congregations [http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=174].

== Comparison to Other Metrics ==

While some liberals oppose any measurement of their influence, others have proposed different metrics. One alternative proposal of a liberal quotient is the percentage of liberals in a population or group.

This metric fails to distinguish between conservatives and moderates. For example, this metric yields the same result if there were 50 liberals and 50 moderates as if there were 50 liberals and 50 conservatives, even though the two groups have very different political biases.

The formulation LQ = L/(L+C) has also been proposed - the Liberal quotient is the ratio of self identified liberals to the sum of self identified liberals and conservatives. This yields a range from 0 to 1, and is not affected by moderates or the unidentified. But by constraining the quotient to a scale of 0 to 1, it understates a large increase in liberal control. A group having 9 liberals and just one conservative would have a liberal quotient of 0.9, while a group having 99 liberals and only one conservative would have a liberal quotient of only 0.99. Increasing the liberal control eleven-fold would result in only a 10% increase in this quotient. A rebuttal to this criticism is that this is just how percentages work.

Proponent of this measure point out that both measure are mathematical equivalent. Given a liberal quotient defined as LQ=L/C the alternative measure can be obtained by the transformation LQ/(1+LQ). Since one measure can be obtained from the other by a simple transformation, preferring one over the other is simply a matter of taste.

== Criticism ==

Critics of the liberal quotient point out that it discounts groups identifying neither as liberal nor conservative, such as the 40% of moderates in the American public. A group with 97 moderates, 2 liberals, and 1 conservative has the same liberal quotient as a group with 1 moderate, 66 Liberals and 33 conservatives, although some might claim the latter group is more liberal. Furthermore, while "conservative" may be considered a general description for someone with right-wing ideological beliefs, "liberal" does not carry the same connotations for people of the left wing; many socialists would not consider themselves to be liberals.

It has also been pointed out that this metric does not differentiate between groups with differing levels of liberal beliefs; an extreme left-wing group may have the same liberal quotient as a mildly liberal group.

The metric can fail to distinguish between conservatives and moderates. The liberal quotient yields the same result if there were 50 conservatives and 50 moderates as if there were 100 conservatives, even though the two groups have very different political biases.

A rebuttal is to these criticisms is that it is unclear what moderates add or subtract to a group. For example, it is argued that the counterweight by provided 33 conservatives to the 66 liberals in the presence of 1 moderate, than that is just as effective as the counterweight provided by 1 conservative to 2 liberals in the presence of 97 moderates. The influence of moderates are in this argumentation purposefully ignored, for the sake of simplicity.

In this context it has also been pointed out that the term ''liberal quotient'' can be misleading, and will often be understood to mean liberal fraction. The liberal quotient of 1:2 of the American public, for example, might be mistaken to mean that 66% of all Americans are conservative, although it is only about 35% according to the Harris poll.

A more fundamental criticism is directed to the use of the liberal quotient when applied to media outlets or encyclopedias. Rather than estimating the political orientation of editors, critics propose to consider the political orientation of the actual content. Recent scientific studies on media bias look at the media content, and not at the orientation of the editors, and use in addition other measures than the quotient of articles with a liberal bias versus articles with a conservative bias [http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=947640#PaperDownload][http://ideas.repec.org/p/umc/wpaper/0501.html]. Note, that both studies nevertheless conclude that most media outlets have a liberal bias.

Another problem with applying this metric to media outlets and encyclopedia is that, in contrast to groups, unbiased articles, the analog to moderates, do not swing their orientation in the presence of biased articles. An encyclopedia with 99.7% unbiased articles, 0.2% liberally biased articles, and 0.1% conservatively biased articles, has the same liberal bias as a product with 66.6% liberally biased articles, 33.3% conservative articles , 0.1% unbiased articles. However, the first would be considered a reliable source of information, while the second would be highly unreliable. And this despite having the same liberal quotient. Even if the influence of moderates in a group of people might be unclear, the influence of unbiased articles on on the reliability of an encyclopedia is obvious.

Other criticism of the liberal quotient is directed at the way it is used in comparison of the bias of Wikipedia with statistically sound results from a Harris Poll. The identified problems are:
* The comparison relies on raw data from a self-selected sample [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedians_by_political_ideology].
* It compares 2 answers of a poll with 3 possible answers, to 2 of 32 user categories.
* It compares the outcome of a poll in which respondent can only choose one option, with one a self-identification project, in which users can choose as many options as they like.

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[[Category:Liberalism]]