Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was recently involved in a physical altercation with rapper Sky Blu aboard an Air Canada flight heading from Vancouver to Los Angeles.

While the politician’s spokesman claimed that Romney had been assaulted by a hostile passenger, the rapper (whose real name is Skyler Gordy) claimed he was actually the victim of assault.  Gordy, a member of the group LMFAO said, “He put a condor grip on me – what am I supposed to do?”  His band-mate chimed in with, “that’s like a Vulcan grip.”

While use of the phrases ‘condor grip’ and ‘Vulcan grip’ cast doubt as to the level of street cred Gordy and his cohorts will have intact after this incident, the altercation raises more serious questions: 

Are Mitt Romney’s anger issues similar to what we’re seeing from the extreme elements of the Tea Party movement?[i]

And

Does the Romney condor grip demonstrate that the Tea Party movement, overwhelmingly white and increasing vocal in its violent dislike of rap music, show that we have not quite attained the level of a post-racial society?[ii]

The answer to both questions is a resounding ‘yes!’

In a recent interview, Mark P. said of Romney, “His airline etiquette seems connected to at least some of the core ideas of the radical right.”

He continued, “In 2008, Kanye West was involved in an altercation at the Los Angeles International Airport.  In addition there were airline scuffles involving rapper DMX in 2004 and 2006.  So rappers are kind of a traditional target of the radical right.”[iii]

A blogger from the Daily Kos explained the Romney/Tea Party connection in the following manner, “After months of threats on the entertainment industry, the Anti-Rap forces known as the teabaggers have struck with their first attack – a really tight squeeze of the arm.”[iv]

Journalist Jonathan C. explained things rather succinctly, “The results that the Tea Party movement envisions include less rap music – and less of LMFAO.” [v]

One thing is certain, anger that propels a 62 year old former governor over a much younger man in a power struggle in the sky, can only be explained by the radical and extremely racist movement that is the teabaggers.

Writer Andrew S. explains that the attack presents a “worrying possibility – that this is populist airline terrorism, whipped up by the GOP and its Fox and talk radio cohorts.”[vi]

But is Mitt Romney, as Andrew suggests, merely the trigger man in a far bigger conspiracy to take out unsuspecting rappers mid-flight?

Perhaps the Democratic Underground states things best, ultimately pointing the blame where it rightfully belongs: 

“We need to absolutely expose Glenn Beck, Michele Bachmann, Michelle Malkin, CNN’s Lou Dobbs, Michael Steele, Rush Limbaugh and the legion of others parroting right-wing lies for trumping up this nonsense and getting people to now commit air assault in a hideous fashion.”[vii]

Indeed, Romney and his many right-wing cohorts need to stop this senseless violence against rap.  When it comes to reclining airline seats, violence and Vulcan grips are never the answer. 

• Every quote contained within this article satirically paraphrases actual examples of the mainstream media trying to connect conservatives and Tea Party followers to heinous acts such as the Austin suicide pilot, the Kentucky census worker suicide, and the Alabama shooting case. Each of these absurd smear attempts is linked below. Note to the mainstream media: This is how absurd you sound when you attempt to smear conservatives with a total disregard for facts, heavily armed with embellishments, and completely devoid of morals.

 Photo Credit:  AP Photo/Cliff Owen

[ii]  Race in America: Does racism explain the ‘tenure shooting’ and Tea Party movement?

[iii]  Matthews’ Southern Poverty Guest Ties Stack To ‘Radical Right’

[iv]  Plane strikes IRS building in Austin

[v]  Race in America: Does racism explain the ‘tenure shooting’ and Tea Party movement?

[vi]  No Suicide

[vii]  Handy Guide to how Republicans and Fox News are responsible for Census worker being hanged