American politics is so much fun—I love watching it on TV.
But from time to time the subtleties escape me. This is one of those times. The opponents of universal health care are not referred to as "idiots," which would be the appropriate name—instead, they're called "teabaggers."
What the heck is a "teabagger"? I looked it up on the Urban Dictionary. There are several definitions. One of them involves actions that don't seem to apply in this context. (But it sounds like fun.)
For the benefit of all your foreigners out there, here are the definitions that seem to be relevant ...
4) a person who is unaware that they have said or done something foolish, childlike, noobish, lame, or inconvenient.and ...
A whining fool shouting loudly for liberty but not willing to pay the bill."After most American workers saw more money in their paycheck due to the lower tax rate, the teabaggers at Fox News railed against high taxes, but did not discuss how much Jesus hated hypocrisy."
6 comments :
A teabagger is someone who participated in the Tea Party protest on April 15 of this year, our income tax day. It refers to the Boston Tea Party and involved various reenactments of dumping tea into harbors. Sometimes the demonstrators simply wore tea bags. They were generally conservatives who oppose Obama and what they perceive as too much government spending.
I find it interesting when people will get together to "fight" oversized government when it is trying to create something for the general wellfare of the people. But seemed to have no problem with the overspending when bombing a country that was not a direct threat nor guilty of the charges given.
I've always found that hypocrisy interesting.
Personally, I find these definitions much more appropriate than the historical reference.
Oh please.
Some conservatives decided to emulate the Boston Tea Party and some left-wingers decided to refer to them as "tea baggers".
It was obvious that the snickering left-wingers had something in mind other than that long ago Boston event.
I had to do my own research and found this which explains (but doesn't excuse) the snickers.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tea-Bag
The last I heard Anderson Cooper who is gay has semi-apologized for the "tea bag" snarkiness emanating from his CNN program.
This almost as funny as the Obama's interesting body language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCIg0BiXbE
Coming from England, I find the american culture wars endlessly fascinating and surreal.
@James
It was a member of the right-wing who inadvertently initiated the use of the term "teabagger" to apply to the anti-tax groups organized by the Republican Party. He had a sign that read "Tea Bag the Liberal Dems Before They Tea Bag You", the photo of which went viral to much ensuing hilarity. The folks at The Daily Kos and The Daily Show couldn't believe the comedic opportunity they had been handed the right-wing...nut jobs.
Sorry.
Note also there is overlap between teabaggers, birthers, and deathers. As well as with Creationism, global warming denialism, and the usual collection of unrealistic beliefs.
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