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Should the Tea Party movement stand down today?

Posted 16 Oct 2009 in Barack Obama, conservatism, teaparty

I wonder whether today’s protest against President Obama at Texas A&M University might be a blunder on behalf of conservatives. Via Dallas Morning News:

…conservative activists from around the state, including members of the Tea Party movement that disrupted congressional town hall meetings this summer, plan to converge on campus to voice their displeasure with various Obama policies.

“People are fed up with an overreaching government,” said Paul Reiger, chairman of the Brazos County Republican Party, which is coordinating the protest this afternoon near the auditorium where the 41st and 44th presidents will make their first joint appearance since Obama’s inauguration. “If we don’t stand ground at the most conservative major university in the country, we’re not going to stand our ground anywhere.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m against the vast majority of President Obama’s radical socialist agenda. And I’ve been a part of the Tea Party movement since day one. I’ve also supported the April 15 Tax Day protests, attended the gigantic July 4 rally, and “went Galt” on July 30.

But Obama’s visit to A&M today is intended to mark the 20th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light” volunteer effort. That’s not something we need to stand against. Protesting Obama’s other policies at this nonpartisan function makes the Tea Party movement look like Code Pink; unable to switch off from rant mode.

As the saying goes, “even a broken clock is right twice a day.” Today is one of those broken clock moments for President Obama. Certainly, we need to stand against the president’s many efforts to weaken America and change our nation in a humbled clone of Europe. But today’s Points of Light event is neither the time nor place to get loud. A little discretion might better serve the cause of conservatism.
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UPDATE: Tea Party protests like the one yesterday in San Francisco are a much more productive use of our time and energy.

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UPDATE: Here is former President George H.W. Bush’s letter regarding President Obama’s Friday visit to Texas A&M:

Howdy! As you have probably heard, I have invited the 44th president of the United States of America to come visit the Bush Library and Texas A&M, and President Obama has graciously accepted.

Along with the administration, faculty, and so many of you, I am honored that the president, our president, is taking the time and making the effort to come to College Station (on Friday) to talk about an issue that unites all Americans, namely, community service and its vast importance to our continued well-being as a nation. Our country still faces many tough challenges, and the message that will come out of our Presidential Forum on Service, I hope, is that every American regardless of age has an important part to play in helping us overcome the obstacles to our common progress.

This is not about politics. This is about the importance of service to our communities and our country.

It would be hard to imagine a more deserving college campus to host a Presidential Forum on volunteerism and community service than Texas A&M, which is, after all, a school steeped in a rich tradition of service.

That’s why I am so proud to have our Bush Library and Museum and Bush School of Government and Public Service here, and I cannot wait for President Obama to experience the open, decent and welcoming Aggie spirit for himself.

This will be an important national moment, and a moment for Texas A&M to shine in the global spotlight as it always does. I sincerely hope and believe it will serve as a point of Aggie pride for many years to come.

Gig ‘em!

— George Bush (#41), Houston

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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