A recent New York Times/CBS poll provided a detailed look at the profile and attitudes of Tea Party supporters. 

Boasting a fierce animosity toward Washington, and president Obama in particular, Tea Party anger is rooted in deep pessimism about the direction of the country and strong solipsistic views. These views include a belief that the policies of the Obama administration are disproportionately and improperly directed at helping the poor rather than the middle class or the rich - interestingly the same two socio-economic groups that comprise the majority of Tea Party supporters.

A majority of Tea Party supporters describe their personal financial situation as fairly good or very good. But 55 percent believe someone in their household will lose a job in the next year. They represent just 18 percent of Americans, and describe themselves as very conservative. Their top domestic priorities are the economy and jobs, like most Americans. Yet while a majority of Americans blame the Bush Administration or Wall Street for the current state of the economy, Tea Party supporters blame Congress.

So responsible journalists covering the Tea Party as a "movement" without clearly highlighting just how fringe and extreme they are going forward will represent malicious and misleading coverage at best. In a democratic society, dependent on mass media for news and information, it grossly distorts opinions to portray the interests of a faction in the same light as those of the general public.

But most importantly, this poll reveals these fervent folks to be self-centered and scared. The narrow views they hold so strongly on how America should work, and what they are entitled to, are no longer supported as holding a "good job" and living within your means no longer ensures ones fiscal security. Many Americans are dealing with these issues and much, much more. But the narrow views of Tea Party activists prevent them from arriving at any new understandings that might help them focus their efforts on sound strategies and solutions. So instead, they follow the rantings of Sarah Palin and the misleading rhetoric of professional spinsters like Newt Gingrich to name a few.

There is evidence of the thoughtlessness that drives many Tea Party supporters, and is best illustrated by the comments of Jodine White, 62, of Rocklin, California when asked about the contradiction posed by being on Social Security while fighting against big government. “That’s a conundrum, isn’t it? I don’t know what to say. Maybe I don’t want smaller government. I guess I want smaller government and my Social Security.” She added, “I didn’t look at it from the perspective of losing things I need. I think I’ve changed my mind.”

Bravo Ms. White! Everyone can benefit by looking at things both more closely, and with empathy for how they might affect someone not like us.