If it’s a day ending in ‘y’, someone, somewhere, is calling the Tea Party racist.

On Tuesday, it was Howard Dean’s turn.

Speaking to students at Vanderbilt University, the former Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman said, “I think in addition to a bad economy, the Tea Party arose out of a discomfort with the demographic shift going on in this country,” according to an article at The Student Free Press. 

Claiming the Tea Party consists “…mostly of white people 55 years and older”, Dean said the movement is bothered by what he calls a demographic shift to ethnic and social minorities.  In other words – Tea Party activists are nothing but old, racist white people.

Dean offered no statistics or studies to back up his claim.

The former Governor also said President Obama was “…elected overwhelmingly by voters under 35 years of age” and that the President has not lost any voters to the Tea Party.

But an October study published by the New York Daily News tells a different story.  In a poll of over 2,200 college students, support for the President fell significantly since his election in 2008:

In the recent election, Americans soundly rejected the progressive, far-left agenda being pushed by the President and the Democrats, but Dean said the GOP needs to reject the conservative values that got them elected:

“The problem with Republicans in general is that they offend the younger generation with their attacks on gays and immigrants,” Dean said. “I don’t have much advice for Republican (presidential contenders) other than to abandon their right-wing social agenda.”

In 2008, many bought into the “hope and change” snake oil peddled by the Democrats.  Many people voted without thinking about the consequences of that vote.  Now, after two years, “hope and change” is turning into “franks and beans”, as people across the country see the results of Obama’s socialist agenda.

Dean also told the students that President Obama should not compromise with the Republicans.  One student agreed and said any such compromise would hurt the President in 2012.

Professor John Greer told the Student Free Press:

“Students got to hear a different take on the Tea Party and whether they agree with it or not is up to them,” Greer said. “But for them to be exposed to a different viewpoint is what this course is all about.”

Hopefully, the Professor will let students hear from a representative of the Tea Party.

Related stories:

Memo to liberals: We are not racists for opposing Obama

Poll finds majority of Republicans support Tea Party

‘Tea Party’ coloring book sparks death threats

GOP wins big in State legislatures

Liberal journalist compares Tea Party to Southern secessionists