Majority of Americans Viewed Tea Parties Favorably

A slim majority to be sure, but a majority nonetheless (from Rasmussen):

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans have a favorable view of the “tea parties” held nationwide last week, including 32% who say their view of the events is Very favorable.

Thirty-three percent (33%) hold an unfavorable opinion of the tea parties according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.

While half the nation has a favorable opinion of last Wednesday’s events, the nation’s Political Class has a much dimmer view—just 13% of the political elite offered even a somewhat favorable assessment while 81% said the opposite. Among the Political Class, not a single survey respondent said they had a Very Favorable opinion of the events while 60% shared a Very Unfavorable assessment.

One-in-four adults (25%) say they personally know someone who attended a tea party protest. That figure includes just one percent (1%) of those in the Political Class.

The political class is increasingly out-of-step with the voters. Classic "Beltwayitis", the disease in which you believe what is said by other Beltway elites accurately reflects the mood of the country.

Failing to cure this ailment is how members of Congress become former members of Congress.

UPDATE Bill Kristol wants you to know he's not part of the out-of-touch political class:

I suppose I'm a member of the "Political Class." But, lest people think my friend Scott Rasmussen's survey respondents speak for me, I should note that--unlike 99% of Scott's Political Class respondents--I know several people who attended tea party protests, and--unlike 100% of Scott's respondents--I have a very favorable opinion of the events.

I'm not part of the elite political class, and I actually attended a Tea Party.