Republicans are trying to harness/infiltrate the teabagger movement. They want those who are certain to turn out to vote in November to vote for Republicans, and not third party candidates.
That's going to be hard if Republicans are forced to go on the record of what they think about teabaggers. Republians who move too far to the right can't pick up votes in the center, and voters in the center don't want to be associated with racists and homophobes.
What matters here is just getting the media to ask the questions (see below).
There's something useful for Democrats and progressives to use against Republicans no matter what the answer is.
Of course, the media have tried to portray teabaggers as "patriotic" dissenters. Teabaggers need to be shown in an accurate light in the media: racists & homophobes.
I've seen Dems (individuals and party committees) call this stuff out before, but haven't gotten any traction in the media. The media saw the hate speech today, and quite frankly, it'd be major media fail if they aren't going to ask Republicans if they stand with racists & homophobes or not.
I was down by the teabagger rally today, and you couldn't miss the racist signs. So there's no excuse for any member of the media to not report this and question whether the Republicans are trying too hard to appeal to the racist teabaggers. These are questions that are begging for some answers from Republicans, especially Republican leaders:
Do Republicans stand for what teabaggers stand for in light of the racist language used towards civil rights hero John Lewis or the homophobic language used towards Barney Frank?
If they don't agree with what teabaggers stand for...
... then why are prominent Republicans standing in front of a crowd of people who are racist and homophobic?
... then, why are prominent Republicans trying to appeal to the teabaggers?
If a Republicans says they don't agree with teabaggers, do they think Republican colleagues who communicate with teabaggers, are racist and homophobic?
Do they think that Republicans will be hurt in the fall if they get too close to teabaggers? Or do they think Republicans will gain more by throwing their lot in with racists and homophobes?
Will Republicans who don't agree with what teabaggers stand for, campaign for or raise money for any Republicans who don't disown teabaggers? Do they think Republican party committees should spend money in support of Republicans who do agree with what teabaggers stand for?
If they do agree with what teabaggers stand for, would those Republicans consider themselves racist or homophobic?
We need to get Republicans on the record. I think they're trapped. Evading the question makes them look bad, and answering definitively either way invite other questions. Even if they say they don't stand for what teabaggers stand for, that can be used to split the teabagger vote and the Republican vote -- meaning a Dem can win this fall with less than 50% of the vote.
If you're on twitter, tweet members of the media.
Get the word out to local media about how Republicans (like Michelle Bachmann) are apparently okay with associating themselves with these people. You can write a letter to the editor. You can find additional local media contacts here.
General national media contact information here.
Call CSPAN's Washington Journal (airs at 7am). Republicans appear on the show all the time and will tomorrow morning. Phone numbers:
Republicans: (202) 737-0001
Democrats: (202) 737-0002
Independents: (202) 628-0205
Outside U.S.: (202) 628-0184
If you have a Republican congress(wo)man, write them and ask where they stand on this kind of behavior and if they are going to campaign or raise money for any Republican who hangs out with teabaggers. For House members, you can find contact information here. For Senators, find contact information here.