The Pee-Wee Herman Defense

I know you are, but what am I? Seriously.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen is drawing national attention for remarks he made about the tea party movement in a recent radio interview.
The Commercial Appeal reports that the two-term Democrat said the tea party -- "without hoods and robes" -- has shown an angry, hardcore side of America that's against diversity.

He made the comments Thursday night on The Young Turks, an Internet and satellite radio talk show.

Cohen went on to say tea party members have shown hostility toward anybody who isn't "a clone of George Wallace's fan club," and that he has seen no Republican standing up to appeal for reason.

Memphis Tea Party founder and chairman Mark A. Skoda calls Cohen's remarks "hate speech."

I've run into this while attempting to discuss political matters with a group of Tea Baggers that post on a local news forum. This was posted yesterday as a response to my previous statements:

It's not that you've issued direct threats, it's your tone and rhetoric. Using words like "you people are disgusting", "Tea-bagger", "blatherings" and "little brats" to name a few show your intention is to bait conservatives not debate them.

This town is a hotbed of conservative insanity since Obama was elected. And it's surprising to hear this person is so upset with innocuous rhetoric is used by me and the highly inflammatory and blisteringly false accusations from people like Hannity and Limbaugh are unchecked and unchallenged.

The funny part of all this is, that I'm attending the local Tea Bagger fest on the 15th and I've been threatened - with hugs. People are actually refusing to stand up for their beliefs in favor of feigning compassion.