From the Sidelines: The Non-Partisan Tea Party (or Not).

I have had a couple of invites from some members of the Greater Montville Tea Party to come to their meetings or even join. I am perhaps Montville's most recognizable Democrat and I am not the only "prominent" (in quotes) Democrat to be asked to join. They claim to be non- partisan, want Democratic participation and strictly interested in returning Government of all levels to their vision of what the founding fathers meant when they wrote the Constitution. From my perspective they are just another political group of a particular bent pretending they are simply interested in good Government and want all perspectives in their organization. Now I generally will take people at their word and wait till they show their intent.

So this past week I was sent a copy of an e-mail from the Montville Chapter of The Morris County Tea Party listing 13 reasons to vote Democratic. If you guess that all 13 were highly insulting to any who espouse the Democratic cause, you win the prize. It doesn't really give this Democrat a warm fuzzy feeling of welcome. I guess this ideological attack wasn't meant for Democratic eyes and I am sure some Republicans would think they are funny but it does expose this so called group of non-partisans for what they really are. All of the “Reasons” are pretty offensive to Democrats and the kind of thing you might see on a forum or blog or circulated by attack groups.

Now understand that I spent 13 of 15 years as the only Democrat on the governing body in a township that prides itself on its Republican roots. Years ago I was barred by Kiwanis because of my Democratic politics. I don't have a thin skin and can be as over the top on occasion as anyone. I am neither surprised nor offended. Consider the source. For all the years I was on the the governing body the only times the issue of partisan politics came up was at election time when it suited the Republican Majority to push the fact that I was a Democrat and that is certainly fair. Local issues don't lend themselves to partisan posturing. There is no Republican way to plow snow or Democratic way to fill pot holes. It would seem that this Tea Party feels that having every seat at the county level and the whole of the Montville Township Committee isn't enough for them. For those true independents that believe that they are somehow a group that just wants a return to “Constitutional values” I have a bridge for you. For the Tea Party let me say as far as item 12 on the list of 13: My head is on my shoulders because I can breathe much better than where you suggest my head must be.