Maybe it is because it is splashed all over my usual haunts (Twitter, Facebook, and such) or maybe it is because of Kristen Hinman’s recent RFT article profiling one of the tea party’s St. Louis leaders, Dana Loesch** (which on first read had about ten comments, and now has close to 100, that vary widely in their veneration and vilification). Either way, since I have been St. Louis-locked since my honeymoon trip in 2008, I would have thought that the the city was ground zero for the Tea Party movement- and it may still surprise some folks to find out that isn’t the case. While we might not have massive sugar cubes and cream pitchers coming out our ears as the epicenter, we do have our share of intense, local constituents who are part of said movement- as Kristen’s piece (and all those comments that follow) point out.

If you were to string me up by my toes and poke me with those tiny, plastic martini swords for hours, I would admit to being nothing more than an independent liberal. I was raised in a family of fervent Democrats, and my education straight through, and continuing with, grad school has been text-book liberal. So you could say I am lucky to not be walking around with a donkey tattooed on my forehead. That independent moniker is hard earned through open-minded debate with some pretty smart, red-leaning folks- including my husband.

I am one half of a mixed marriage- The Mister is a born and raised Conservative to the core. We still wait in the freezing cold to cast our ballots even though we know our votes are just canceling the other’s out. We are creating a political null- even our family members cancel each other out as those we love have served and supported both sides of the isle. We have both been more politically active in mind and action at some times than others, but with the current political climate it is hard to not at least be slightly stirred… and it’s not even a big election season.

Here’s the thing (there is always a thing, isn’t there?). I have been politically aware since puberty, and I can’t recall a time when I have been called so many names… even as a girl having to deal with other mean girls during all that awkward puberty stuff. I have been called an “idiot,” a “libtard,” “political vermin,” and the list goes on and on. Maybe it’s just feels like the worst of the Tea Party people with the worst cases of the nasties are all up in my face right now? Hopefully. The point of it is, I want to understand what their platform is, I want to see them as a viable opposition to my beliefs, but it’s hard when I am getting more insults than issues thrown my way. It’s tough to respect those who can’t scrounge up enough respect to at least not bastardize the label that has been given to my political beliefs. In the words of Jimmy, when he solved the problem of violence that was blighting the bloods and the kryps, “I mean, come on…” I’m not calling you all names.

I am hoping that it is just a case of the crazies are being the loudest right now, but to be honest with ya… my feelings are kinda hurt. And instead of taking my ball and going home, I decided to resurrect “The Bitch” and start blathering about it online.

**Full disclosure here: I have been close with Dana off and on for almost 10 years now and was interviewed for the RFT piece.**