Why Is The Mainstream Media Defending The Tea Party?

By James Frye

Ever wonder why the Tea Party is getting a lot of coverage?  Let’s be honest here – this far-right “movement” is a minority of a minority Republican Party that came into existence when they lost the 2008 election to President Obama.  Their rallies and demonstrations are small but lead the news when they happen.  They got national coverage of a 2009 600-attendee ‘convention’ and all the major networks covered their favorite “leader’s” speech, Half-Governor Sarah Palin, who isn’t doing so good with the rest of the country:

Palin’s approval rating has now crashed to 29%, which is down from 37% in March. Palin is also dragging down the GOP’s 2010 candidates, as her endorsement was viewed as a negative by 52% of those surveyed.

Compare that to the Netroots Nation gathering that same year that had thousands of attendees.  But guess who got the press?

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By: James Frye

Long time progressive activist in the Pacific Northwest and self-studying student of politics