Really Big Coloring Books, a Missouri-based publisher of coloring books for children, has come out with "The Tea Party Coloring Book for Kids." According to the publisher’s Web site, the coloring book, available for $3.95, “Teaches children (and parents) about the origins of the Tea Party and what it involves. A very pleasant song, coloring and activity book on Liberty, Faith, Freedom and so much more!” Wayne Bell, publisher of the 32-page coloring book, claimed in a CBS interview
that the book is ”not really making a political statement." Like anyone would even suspect that a book about a political movement had anything to do with politics. The Los Angeles Times reports that the coloring book is rife will grammatical errors. “Government is "suppose [sic] to use our tax dollars" wisely. Federal debt has "become a life style because as [sic] this will bankrupt our country," reads one sentence, according to the Times. So at least the coloring book will prepare children to write out the signs carried at Tea Party rallies.
According to a St. Louis TV station, a branch of the US military bought 3,000 copies of the book to pass out to children. Our nation’s military using tax dollars to politically indoctrinate kids should strike you as a bad idea, whatever your politics. More alarming, however, is the fact that crayons are not included with the book, meaning children may be forced to engage in the socialistic practice of sharing crayons. My guess is that the manufacturer didn’t want to risk the wrath of Glenn Beck when the conservative pundit found out that a brown crayon would have to be included.
The publisher’s Web site says that the coloring books are “manufactured in the United States with Soy Ink and guaranteed 100% safe against non-toxic inks, paints & dyes! We participate in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program.” So it’s a product that helps keep manufacturing jobs in America, reduces the amount of harmful chemicals introduced into the environment and promotes ecology?
This is a Tea Party book we’re talking about, right?
