Jake Shannon – A Tea-O-Con Case Study

Jake Shannon – With the recent ouster of Bob Bennett, it seems many incumbent Republicans are scrambling and cranking up the spin-machine in an attempt to jump aboard the recent “Liberty/Tea Party” freight-train. I like to call these folks Tea-o-Cons; Neo-Conservatives who leverage true-blue American libertarian rhetoric to get elected, then once they are in power they actually legislate against liberty and libertarian values.
With the recent ouster of Bob Bennett, it seems many incumbent Republicans are scrambling and cranking up the spin-machine in an attempt to jump aboard the recent “Liberty/Tea Party” freight-train. I like to call these folks Tea-o-Cons; Neo-Conservatives who leverage true-blue American libertarian rhetoric to get elected, then once they are in power they actually legislate against liberty and libertarian values. It’s the old “bait & switch” scam and they are essentially Neo-Conservative wolves in Sheep’s clothing.
On July 12th, 2003, Rep. Ron Paul gave a speech to Congress where he described the Neo-Conservatives (“neo-cons” for short) as former leftists (he calls them former-Trotsky-ites) and their beliefs:
1) Permanent revolution; violent as well as intellectual
2) Re-drawing the middle east through force
3) Pre-emptive war to achieve desired ends
4) The ends justify the means
5) No opposition to the Welfare state
6) Strongly endorse American empire
7) Lying is necessary for the state to survive
8) Believe a power Federal government is a benefit
9) Pertinent acts about how a society should be run should be decided by the elite and withheld from those who don’t have the “courage” to deal with it
10) Neutrality in foreign affairs is ill-advised. Force should not be limited to the defense of our country
11) They dislike and despise libertarians
12) Attacks on civil liberties are necessary
13) Unconditionally support Israel
In essence, Neo-Cons are pro-war, anti-liberty, anti-accountability, deceptive, and pro-Zionist. Tea-O-Cons are simply Neo-Conservative wolves in Tea Party sheep’s clothing. Since I am running for the same office currently held by former Democrat, now Republican Jason Chaffetz, I thought I’d apply a Tea-O-Con analysis toward his legislative legacy. Now, those who’ve seen incumbent Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-3) on The Colbert Nation being soundly defeated in leg wrestling (which is even funnier given he was a kicker for BYU) or doing photo-ops with a goat know that Mr. Chaffetz is very likable. I am in no way whatsoever contesting Mr. Chaffetz’s affability. And to be totally fair, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, has never claimed to be libertarian or to be a staunch defender of the Constitution or Bill of Rights, as far as I know.