From the halls of the glibertarian right to the swamps of wingnuttia, I keep reading some lame variation of “it’s unfair to call the Teabaggers racists.”

Now, again — I don’t see much value in accusing people of being racists, because as I’ve pointed out previously, very few racists actually come and out and admit they’re racists. On the other hand, condemning racist behavior is useful, and exactly what the NAACP did this week.

Today, NAACP delegates passed a resolution to condemn extremist elements within the Tea Party, calling on Tea Party leaders to repudiate those in their ranks who use racist language in their signs and speeches.

Perfectly fine. So when, say, Glenn Beck goes on national television and says,

This president, I think, has exposed himself as a guy, over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture…

Teabagger leaders like Sarah Palin should have her ghostwriter get on Facebook and write, “I strongly condemn Glenn Beck’s racist remarks.” But she did not. Why?

Or when Steve King (T-IA) says,

…the president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race – on the side that favors the black person.

…Teabagger groupies like Glenn “Instapundit” Reynolds should write, “Steve King’s comments about President Obama are beyond the pale and have no place in the Tea Party.” But he did not. Why?

Or when Mark Williams, former leader of the Tea Party Express writes,

I am mocking those people who call themselves “Colored People” and who are now fighting to be kept as government owned pets, whilst hurling charges of racism at those who embrace freedom and civil rights.

…Teabagger cheerleaders like Jonah’s bloggers at NRO should come out and say, “Williams’ bigoted remarks are not indicative of the Tea Party movement.” But they did not. Why?

So the NAACP is quite right to insist that prominent Teabaggers police their own, because they have thus far absolutely refused to do so.

And all this is an aside to the fact that there are reams of photographic evidence and lots of credible polls (see here, here and here) that show that a majority — not some tiny minority — of Teabaggers have serious issues with race.

The bottom line is, a perfectly reasonable person could look at all of this ugliness and might conclude that the Teabaggers are a racist movement. And the Teabaggers have no one to blame but themselves.

Qui tacet consentire videtur, as they say.