Perhaps you’re all elated from sharing a sunny day with Tea-Partying friends. Here’s an article designed to rain on your parade. The conclusion is that people who take issue with federal government increasing its $12-13 trillion national debt, bypassing due process, buying up private-sector businesses, and not listening to constituents – hate blacks, despise poor people, and really just want a welfare state that pays them more.

The 9-12 Project wants people to educate themselves. This article highlights two deficiencies. (1) People need to learn the government of a free country is not the Easter Bunny, and (2) Americans need help with statistical analysis.

The article states that 18% of persons, evidently cold-called, identified themselves with the Tea Party movement. At the Asheville rally, attendance stayed steady at 100. Ten in the headcount were Buncombe County Sheriff’s Officers. Five others were identified as infiltrators. (One had been holding signs supporting Obamacare at previous protests, and a group of local performers were allegedly engaged in a publicity stunt.) Several dedicated locals were in Washington, DC. One man said he was from Knoxville. Some were there out of curiosity, but at least half have demonstrated over the years they really understand the benefits of keeping checks and balances on government. Many sympathizers of the Tea Party movement do not have the luxury of taking off work. It would be fair to roughly estimate 100 people in Buncombe County (pop. 230,000) really get it.

The good news is, far less than 18% of the population is avidly Tea Partying, and so the core of the movement is not welfare statist. Furthermore, 100 people in the entire county may sound like small beans, but it is so much stronger than the 7 or 8 patriots of a couple years ago who were branded as loose cannons for daring to think government was wasting tax dollars and becoming overly intrusive. Now that government’s nose is rubbing on everybody’s windows, people are more inclined to take action. This is progress.

Just like the March on Washington months ago, the Asheville Tea Party got underway much earlier than announced. Becki Gray was nabbed to give a speech almost as she arrived. The crowd, of course, agreed with her positions on healthcare, education, slush funds, and corruption in government. Gray told about the erosion of personal responsibility, as government taxed people into depending on its subsidies.

Passersby weren’t particularly enthusiastic, but the party was an opportunity to renew acquaintances with numerous respected friends. Gray said the JLF had sent staff to attend every single tea party in the state today. There were approximately 20.