by Eric Dondero

James Bovard is an author and self-proclaimed "scholar" who has been hanging around the fringes of the libertarian movement for decades. Lately he's penned a scathing editorial attacking the libertarian-founded Tea Party movement. Bovard complains that libertarians and conservatives in the movement are not sufficiently pacifist enough, and are too militaristic in fighting Islamo-Fascism. He also complains that Tea Partiers complain too much about foreigners entering the United States illegally.

From The American Conservative (sic), May 11:

Many “tea party” activists staunchly oppose big government, except when it is warring, wiretapping, or waterboarding. A movement that started out denouncing government power apparently has no beef with some of the worst abuses of modern times.

Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that most tea partyers have studied the copies of the Constitution they generously hand out to bystanders.

Tea Partiers have read the Constitution and our Founding Documents. We Tea Partiers understand "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

What about the Constitutional rights of those 3000 Americans who died on 9/11? What about the Constitutional rights of the 13 US Army soldiers who were killed by Radical Islamist Major Nidal Hassan at Ft. Hood last December? Don't they deserve that Life and Liberty?

Bovard, typical of Leftists masquerading as "Libertarians," offers no solution for dealing with the threat of Radical Islamism.

One has to wonder how much freedom Bovard would have under Sharia Law? He makes no mention of Islamist opposition to individual liberties; free speech, legalized prostitution, gambling, marijuana, gun rights, and capitalism. Does he really expect that a Muslim-run country will be more willing to grant these Rights?

He goes on to offer snarky remarks about speakers who attended a recent Maryland Tea Party rally. Continuing:

Jeffrey Kuhner, a local talk-show host, sneered that Obama “has found his inner Muslim” and raged against his bowing to foreign leaders and kings. He complained that Obama has “taken over college loans,” and warned that illegal immigrants could be “the shock troops of Obama’s socialist revolution.” The crowd ate it up.

Presumably, Bovard is just fine with American Presidents bowing to foreign leaders, Government-subsidized student loans, illegal aliens and even socialism.

Bottom line: The Tea Party is libertarian; Mr. Bovard is anything but.