Many of us hit the streets in 2009 in protest because we could readily see that this president was leading the nation in the wrong direction: massive spending inevitably leading to increased taxation, financial mismanagement tanking the economy, enormous growth in government to the injury of liberty, exploding debt and deficits putting posterity in the crosshairs, centralization of power and the erosion of constitutional republic.

Those protests created a Republican majority in the House, the only thread holding the country back from the brink and preventing complete collapse these last few years. Recently, more conservative Republicans decided to take a stand and fight to the finish, primarily over the criminal excesses and destructive power of ObamaCare, but also for the sake of economic health and national security overall. Like true statesmen akin to the Founders, they put everything on the line for the sake of country. In rational circles that's called "patriotism."

From the beginning, the group protesting government tyranny has been vilified. What became known as the Tea Party was immediately and viciously attacked by Obama Democrats everywhere, especially in media. There is no rational reason for these attacks, other than the perceived threat. Oligarchs everywhere fear and hate liberty lovers. You cannot establish central, domineering authority unless you clean out those pests, by any means.

It should not surprise anyone that Obama liberals take Saul Alinsky's advice and apply it by isolating opposition figures and attacking them mercilessly with ridicule and condemnation. Anyone familiar with spiritual warfare has  frequently seen such tactics. As Alinsky accurately pointed out: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage," especially with the aid of enormous power in media helping hammer home the message.

Ridiculing the Tea Party and anyone associated with it became the full time work of Obamoids and media. Political crucifixion became the favored pastime. Scapegoating and condemning the Tea Party became a profession for Leftists, along with politicians and celebrities. A vicious war was waged, the overall aim, crushing traditionalism, a continuance of war being waged by the Left for decades. Expecting reasoned debate, bipartisanship, or cooperation in this atmosphere is expecting what never was and never will be. Deep divisions leading to gridlock were created by vicious ridicule from the Left, demonization that only escalates as circumstances deteriorate across the board.

Through it all, commonsense Americans simply stayed the course, calling out for reform, reminding the powerful that fiscal responsibility, free markets and a constitutional republic have always served us well, and will again, if given a chance. Obama insists the door be closed forever on those opportunities, that the shining city become Detroit universal.

The truly disheartening development was seeing Republicans turn against the Tea Party, almost from the beginning. Consumed with the D.C. culture, addicted to power and money, these RINOs made a choice. To avoid  ridicule and condemnation and maintain their positions of privilege, they made a deal with the devil. They agreed to accommodate, even promote, the Obama march toward tyranny. They made their bed with the enemy and turned on their friends, blaming and condemning Tea Party Americans. Having sold out, they nonetheless asked for money and votes, helping condemn and ridicule the Tea Party while pretending patriotism.

And so today the Tea Party is blamed for the slim down, the sequester, the debt, and deficits, for looming bankruptcy and default, for downgrade and decline, when in truth, the Tea Party has been the only force willing to stand for principles that could be our salvation if we had more courageous leaders like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul and Mike Lee willing to fight for their application.

It is the height of irony that the ones promoting proven solutions are falsely accused of creating problems, and lynched without trial, all in the name of achieving the 'fundamental transformation of America,' translation: complete destruction of our way of life.

Allan Erickson enjoyed an 11-year career in radio, television and print journalism as a reporter, talk show host, and operations manager. He then turned to sales and marketing for 20 years. He is the author of the book The Cross & the Constitution in the Age of Incoherence, Tate Publishing, 2012. He is available to speak in churches addressing the topics of faith and freedom. To contact him, email: allanlerickson@gmail.com