Sheryl Crow Says Tea Partiers 'Haven't Educated Themselves'

The June edition of Glamour magazine features a Katie Couric interview of singer Sheryl Crow. When asked about the Tea Party movement, here’s what Sheryl had to say:

KATIE COURIC: What do you think of the Tea Party movement? Because that is the specific sort of group of people who would say we’re out there, we’re getting involved in the process and–

SHERYL CROW: I think our system is broken in ways that can’t be fixed at this moment until we get some kind of campaign finance reform and we get people in office who–I think perhaps everybody starts off in office being altruistic and thinking they’re going to make big changes, and then they see the big dollars coming in. I don’t know what it is at the most fundamental level that…you know, what’s first, the chicken or the egg? But I appreciate the fact that those people are out there and that they are fired up.

My main concern is that it’s really fear-based. What’s coming out of the Tea Party most often, especially if you go onto YouTube, and you see some of the interviews with these people who really don’t even know what the issues are, they’re just swept up in the fear of it and the anger of it. They’re not sure what they’re angry at; they don’t understand what’s happening on Wall Street. They haven’t educated themselves, but they’re just pissed off. And I understand that, I’m pissed off too. But knowledge is power, and anything less than that when it comes to anger can be dangerous.

So that’s why we cling to guns and religion!

Hold on there, Sheryl. Let’s wade through these thoughts and reconsider what you’ve said.

1) The tea party movement is fear-based. Nope. It is based on a keen appreciation of individual responsibility and the threat posed by statist policies. That’s why tea party supporters make a point of offering liberty-based policy solutions. If you want to see fear-based activism that’s also fear-evoking, try the SEIU-sponsored storming of a private residence.

2) Some tea partiers don’t know what the issues are. I can’t speak for the level of engagement of every member of the tea party movement, but many are motivated by a strong desire to learn more about the big issues of the day. In fact, a March 2010 Rasmussen survey found that “52% of U.S. voters believe the average member of the Tea Party movement has a better understanding of the issues facing America today than the average member of Congress.” Go to any tea party and you’ll see homemade signs touching on topics ranging from the Constitution, government-sponsored enterprises, monetary policy, and regulatory overreach. Tea partiers know the issues–plus they’ve got great wit.

3) Tea partiers don’t know what they’re angry at. Really? How about corporate bailouts? Runaway government spending? Increasing taxes? Misguided plans to drive up energy costs through cap’n’tax? My colleague John O’Hara wrote the book about issues driving the tea party movement; Crow should give it a scan before she cavalierly dismisses such a wide swath of the American public.

4) Tea partiers haven’t educated themselves. This is off base on so many levels. A February 2010 CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey found that “nearly three-quarters of Tea Party activists attended college, compared to 54 percent of all Americans.” Glenn Beck’s show–watched by many tea party activists–is adding tomes on history and economics to Amazon.com’s best-sellers list. After Glenn Beck featured the economist Friedrich von Hayek on his show, The Road to Serfdom shot to the #1 slot on Amazon.com. Tea partiers are educating themselves, just not with big government dribble.

5) “But knowledge is power, and anything less than that when it comes to anger can be dangerous.” Crow gets this one right–knowledge is power. Active and informed citizens are a force to be reckoned with. The tea party movement’s political potential is scaring the bejeezus out of political fixers who prefer the Obama-Pelosi-Reid status quo. That’s why liberals are working so furiously to discredit the tea party movement in advance of the 2010 elections. The good news is that liberty-based ideas are on the move!

Crow and I are unlikely to see eye-to-eye on tea parties, but it would be refreshing to see Glamour and other outlets regularly feature women who appreciate the genuine grassroots movements supporting economic freedom.