Tea Party, Responsible or Irresponsible?

Those who would hold Sarah Palin responsible for the recent attack in Arizona miss the mark. Palin and the entire Tea Party movement should be held irresponsible. History is littered with those who use the rhetoric of violence to achieve their goals. The use of language and images that call to mind the use of violent force is beyond the pale.

One of the basic lessons of our belief system is that words and images have power. Did Palin and the Tea Party movement directly call individuals to violence? No, what they have done is even more sinister. By using images like “Cross hairs” and language laced with violence like “time to lock and load” they have created a climate of hatred and fear in the political discourse in this country along with the subliminal message that violence is acceptable. Conveniently, the use of these tactics leaves their movement with plausible deniability when acts of violence occur as a result of their hate mongering.

There are many who will come to the defense of the Tea Party as a result of this incident and rightly point out that they do not support violence. These individuals support the conservative ideals espoused by this young and immature political movement. As part of the political discussion, conservatism is a legitimate viewpoint in the national debate. Yet, if conservatives continue to support those who irresponsibility use violent rhetoric and imagery, veiled as political opinion, they should be held irresponsible as well.