Xenophobes

 Below is part of an essay by Sean McElwee.

 "The Tea Party has all of the hallmarks of a nationalist xenophobic (dare I say Fascist) movement:  89% white, 58% keep a gun in their house, a faction believe that violence  against the government is justified, most believe America is a country in decline, they are anti-immigrant, authoritarian, opposed to social progress, anti-gay and anti-abortion. overwhelmingly support the death penalty, really dislike Muslims, very much dislike immigrants (to the point of militarizing the border) and they’re really, really racist. Obviously, the Tea Party is not a single cohesive group, but it’s clear that the anti-immigrant wing holds major influence in the coalition of crazy. Sinclair Lewis summed up the situation a century ago, 'When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.'"

Sean is wrong about the teabaggers being Fascists (Fascists worshiped the State). But the baggers are weirdly nationalist--as if the nation consists only of white males--and obviously xenophobic. They represent a political mental illness that has always been with us in one form or another.