I have stated on the web months ago that the Tea Party Movement needs to keep in check the fringe element that continues to attend their rallys spurring hatred versus discourse. And with the Republican party leaning heavily on the momentum of the Tea Party, they have not done a good enough job vetting the folks that claim to be a part of it.

Now we have stories of people in Tea Party protests yelling “nigger” as Rep. John Lewis walks by among other things. Before people think I am calling every Tea Party member or every Republican a racist, I am not. I honestly believe there are no more racists in the Republican Party than the Democratic Party. HOWEVER, there has for the past 40 plus years a perception that Republicans are more heavily racist. So they should be extra careful with whom they associate. As for the Tea Party, not only the leadership needs to come out strongly and consistently against this fringe element but the rank and file members need to weed out the haters and the racists.

Why? Because now no one is talking about any potential arguments you may have against the healthcare bill; they are talking about how racist you are. And like in the cartoon, you are letting the fringe element define your agenda and others perception of you.