Blame Game Roundup: Where Pundits And Politicos Are Pointing Fingers On The Debt Crisis

It’s The Tea Party’s Faul For Being Irrational, Hostage-Taking Terrorist Dictators

Used By: Fareed Zakaria, Bob Beckel, Possibly Joe Biden

If Republicans are children and Democrats weaklings, the Tea Party were, at some point, nearly universally called “terrorists” for “holding America hostage.” Many more than just the above used the terms for the group, arguing that it was their refusal to even consider raising the debt ceiling that made the negotiations so difficult. That S&P suggested Congressional chaos had much to do with their downgrade only fanned the flames, with Congressional Democrats and even Vice President Joe Biden being accused of dropping the t-word (Biden may be the only one involved who actually didn’t). But no one went as far as CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, who accused the Tea Party of having dictatorial, “anti-democratic” attitudes– the sort of language Jay Carney went out of his way to discourage.

It’s Not The Tea Party’s Fault Because Didn’t Spend Any Of The Money (That No One Accused Them Of Spending)

Used By: Rand Paul

This counterpoint deserves its own analysis, as it’s the prototypical example of someone taking down an argument that no one had made in the first place. On last night’s Hannity, Sen. Rand Paul defended the Tea Party from nonexistent claims that they caused the debt crisis by overspending when they were in power. Needless to say, it was quite easy to prove that the Tea Party did not cause the deficit, as they had no Congressional representation until November 2010 (unless Sen. Paul’s (and the Tea Party’s) father, Rep. Ron Paul, counts). This would’ve been a great take-down if anyone had made the argument to begin with.

Bonus Anti-Strawman Argument: The Tea Party Doesn’t Even Exist

Used By: Democratic Commentator Jimmy Williams

This is the worst attempt to blame a specific group for anything we’ve ever seen. Williams, appearing with Dylan Ratigan, was trying to go for the classic “Republican intransigence” argument that is still making the rounds on this matter, but took a detour when railing that the Republican attempt to blame the Tea Party for the debate was a diversion, because it was an “astroturf” group that “doesn’t exist.” Note to pundits: Claiming the people you’re debating don’t exist is a surefire way to lose any debate– there’s a reason Sen. Obama didn’t play this card in 2008 against Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher*.

*not actually a plumber.

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