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Simple Logic Defies Tea Party 'Racist' Label

The assertion that the Tea Party is “racist” is not only unsupported by facts, it is also an assertion that is impossible to determine. The simple application of reason — a shocking request to make for those too ideologically rigid to see straight — proves this out.

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Even assuming the most liberal definition of the word “racist”, we must ask how an entire set of people can be proclaimed to be racist. For starters, is there some percentage threshold that any group must cross to be branded “racist”? The question itself is absurd, so we rightly dismiss it. Likewise, if even a single African-American is supportive of or, God Forbid, a member of the Tea Party, does that negate the racism assertion? Or does it brand that unfortunate soul an “Uncle Tom”? Again, the questions are absurd.

Tea Party opponents, and the MSM, have applied the Fallacy of Inductive Generalization to the movement. That is:

1. Sample S, which is too small, is taken from population T.

2. Conclusion R is drawn about Population T based on A.

As we know, in any group, there will be some population of extremists. Tea Party opponents simply cherry-pick a population of extremists from Tea Party gatherings, and fallaciously generalize the entire movement.

So rather than use the cherry-picked, unrepresentative, non-scientific samplings of Tea Party opponents, let’s look at proper sampling. These are commonly called “polls”, which are no substitute for common sense, but do provide statistical support for it.

Gallup says that “Tea Partiers are quite representative of the public at large”. Are we to conclude that the public at large is racist?

Six percent of those polled by Gallup are African-American and support the Tea Party. Are we to conclude these African-Americans are racist?

Rasmussen Reports tells us “63% of Mainstream Americans say their views are closer to the Tea Party”. Are we to conclude that two-thirds of Mainstream Americans are racist?

The Winston Group reports that 41% of Tea Partiers are either Independent or Democrats. Are we to conclude that all of these people are racist?

Finally, we have plain and simple reality. I wasn’t aware that anyone has the ability to look into another’s heart and proclaim them as being anything — other than threatened by a movement with legitimate concerns about the direction of our country.


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