A University of Washington poll finds that a majority of "true" Tea Party supporters say it's not the responsibility of government to guarantee equal rights to African Americans and other minorities.
According to the survey, 74% of Tea Party supporters say they agree with the following statement: "While equal opportunity for blacks and minorities to succeed is important, it's not really the government's job to guarantee it."
Fifty-two percent of respondents also said that "compared to the size of their group, lesbians and gays have too much political power."
The latest data on the Tea Party reveals that the anger coming from the movement isn't unilaterally directed at government spending -- one of the group's core issues.
According to University of Washington professor Matt Barreto, who directed the poll, the Tea Party's frustration with Washington "is going hand in hand with a frustration and opposition to racial and ethnic minorities and gays and lesbians."
Other noteworthy findings from the University of Washington poll include:
- 88% of Tea Party supporters approve of the controversial immigration law recently enacted in Arizona.
- Only 18% of those surveyed say gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry.
- 73% of Tea Party backers disapprove of President Obama's policy of engaging with Muslim countries.