What is the Tea Party?

I'm sure that those of you who read this blog already know what the Tea Party is.  But for those of you who don't, let me clear up any misconceptions or flat-out lies you've heard from the mainstream media.  I'll do that by telling you what the Tea Party is not.
The Tea Party is not just a group of old, angry white people.  It consists of people from all different backgrounds, incomes, ethnicity, and status in society.  They are not racists.  That label has been thrown around very liberally, pardon the pun, by the left to anyone who dares to disagree with President Obama.  This is a cop-out to me since no other group has ever been given that label by disagreeing with a President in the past.  Don't be blind, racism exists in more than one direction.  Look at the Black Panthers, nuff said.  Most people in the Tea Party disagreed with the policies implemented by George W. Bush.  Their disagreements are motivated by ideology, not racial prejudice.  The Tea Party is not a bunch of dumb, uneducated redneck hicks.  They know more about the Constitution and American history than many of the ones in Washington, DC who should be experts on those subjects, our Congress and our President.
So here's what they Tea Party is.  They are a group of concerned American citizens who feel that this country is headed in the wrong direction, as most Americans do.  The difference is that those who have chosen to join the Tea Party are passionate enough to not sit idly by and watch the destruction happen.  They are taking a stand.  They know that increasing the size of government and reckless spending will never lead this country back to the level of greatness it once had.  They believe in small government and the free market system.  They believe that the government should live within its means and have a balanced budget.  Most importantly, they believe that ALL politicians need to be reminded that they work for the citizens of the United States of America, who voted them into office.  Not the special interest groups, lobbyists, or other politicians who offer sweetheart deals for their state in exchange for supporting a bill that they wouldn't ordinarily agree to.  And if they forget that, the Tea Party will work to get them voted out of office.  No rioting, no violence, just peaceful demonstration and the power of the ballot to make their voices heard.  If you agree with these principles, I beg you, don't sit on the sidelines anymore.  Look up your local Tea Party group and get involved, like I did.  You won't regret it.  May God Bless the Tea Party, and God Bless the Republic.