How White Is The "Tea Party"?

It seems to be the #1 epitaph thrown against the Tea Party - "it's too white". The New York Times gives it a shot, in the second paragraph of its anthropological study of the bizarre form of life commonly known as the economic conservative, previously unknown to anyone at the Old Grey Whore:

The 18 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters tend to be Republican, white, male, married and older than 45.

Just like this girl, seen in Boston:


Or talk-show host David Webb, about to lead today's Tea Party rally in New York City:


Truth of the Tea Party movement is that it is just about 50/50 male/ female (the Times poll is the first to show it 59-41 male...trying to fulfill the "angry white man" meme?), and it enjoys a healthy mix of all races and nationalities...hey, one can certainly say the Democratic Party is "majority white" as well, no?

Two interesting confessions the Times makes:

Their responses are like the general public’s in many ways.

Are we all radicals now?

Tea Party supporters are wealthier and more well-educated than the general public..

More "well educated", huh? That's always been the coin of the realm at the New York Times; that the views of the well-schooled and well-heeled should take precedence in national decision making. Do they now acquiesce intellectual control to the Tea Party, or will the Times go on an binge of anti-intellectualism? (granted, some may say they have been doing that for a while now...)

The Times tries - lord how they try - to paint the Tea Party as hypocrites and extremists ("And while most Republicans say they are “dissatisfied” with Washington, Tea Party supporters are more likely to classify themselves as “angry.” ) But one can almost feel the air coming out of our intrepid journalists, as the paper's own data lends itself more and more to the truth: This is a Tea Party Nation.

I expect mass suicides on 42nd street any day now...