American politics has often been a rough and tumble sport, but an escalation of physical violence at Tea Party events raises a legitimate question about the willingness of the Tea Party activists to remain a peaceful political movement.
In March of this year, a mob of Tea Party protesters physically assaulted a Parkinson's victim in Ohio who was peacefully holding a sign favoring President Obama's Health Care reform.
In my own hometown of York, PA, a mob of Tea Party supporters verbally assaulted a postal carrier as he walked by their rally on the steps of the old courthouse.
On October 17th, an Alaska newspaper editor was assaulted and handcuffed by the security entourage of Alaskan Tea Party senatorial candidate, Joe Miller.
Yesterday, a group of Lexington supporters of Kentucky Tea Party Senatorial candidate Rand Paul violently wrestled a woman to the ground and stomped on her head. The woman, Lauren Valle of MoveOn.org (a liberal watchdog group) was trying to present the Tea Party candidate with an award when the Tea Party mob stepped in and took her to the ground.
The angry rhetoric of the Tea Party is moving beyond the scope of political rhetoric and quickly taking on the dangerous overtones of physical violence. Placards stating, "Kill Obamacare", "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy", "Death to Tyranny" and "The Time for a Second Amendment Solution is Now" have become staple signs at Tea Party rallies, as have calls for a second revolution using any means necessary. Angry Tea Party chanters leave no doubt that the Tea Party is advocating a complete overthrow of the government, and Tea Party supporters have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to use physical violence to accomplish that end.
Newt Gingrich's proclamation that the Tea Party is the militant wing of the GOP appears to be right on point.
Can civil war be far behind? I hope not, but that sentiment is not shared by the Tea Party and it should give us all a reason to be concerned.
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