Any relatively informed individual knows that the Tea Party does not represent the majority of the American public. They are a fringe group with a voice far in excess of their demographic representation. So why do they drown us out at times, and what can we do.
Perhaps if we stopped talking to empty rooms and filled them with voices we could make a start.
*And as I just published this diary I note there is a Front Page diary regarding Representative Lee Terry's ridiculous statement.....and no link to a Facebook Page, email, etc...
Since the beginning of the Tea Party/GOP threat and realization of a government shut down I've been visiting several Facebook pages of my local representatives in each State where we have either a home or business interests.
What is obvious is that the Tea Party is using messaging through Free Republic, emails, etc., to target certain individuals and then visiting those sites to make their demands and threats regarding what they state "America wants".
At the same time I read diary after diary after diary here where an action is revealed by a Representative or Senator....with absolutely NO links included so that readers can easily make their voices heard.
..and this isn't a newbie habit, front pagers do it also. The past few days I've had requests for links to social sites ignored, or I've tracked them down myself.
If you want to talk to an empty room fine...but if you want people to engage and take action then take the few moments to put in the links and give them the tools to do so instantly. We can make our own noise or we can let the Tea Party fill that void.
5:26 PM PT: ...and another diary up, this one about Renee Ellmers, with no link for action. We can do better and we must if we are going to maintain our momentum.
8:51 PM PT: ...and I've added links to individuals' Facebook pages to two other diaries in the comment section. If you post a diary without the obvious ability to let people take action you're just talking to that empty classroom.
9:10 PM PT: ...and another diary regarding Congresswoman Capito. Incredible how many here simply want to talk only to this room.