Tea Party Group Slams Rep. Waters Over 'Straight to Hell' Outburst

Rep. Maxine Waters speaks during an event at Inglewood High School in Inglewood, Calif., Aug. 20. (AP)

A national Tea Party group urged Democrats to adhere to their own calls for civility after Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters told a restless crowd over the weekend that the "Tea Party can go straight to hell."

Mark Meckler and Jenny Beth Martin, who lead the Tea Party Patriots, suggested President Obama should step in to put a check on the overheated rhetoric.

"We've had Democrats calling American citizens 'terrorists' and 'hostage takers,' and now an elected Democratic representative says that we can 'go straight to hell.' The president and all leaders of the Democratic Party, who have called for civility in the past, are neglecting to censure their own. Is civility only required from their opponents?" they asked in a statement. "Perhaps it's time for a new-NEW era of civility. ... The president's silence on these latest violations of civility has been deafening, but not surprising."

Waters was ratcheting up her rhetoric as she and other lawmakers are confronted with the epidemic of joblessness in their home states. The California Democrat last week told a Detroit crowd that she was frustrated with the Obama administration's approach to the economy, urging voters to "unleash" her on the White House.

But at a forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday, Waters directed her ire at the Tea Party.

"I'm not afraid of anybody. This is a tough game. You can't be intimidated. You can't be frightened. And as far as I'm concerned, the Tea Party can go straight to hell," she said.

Video of her remarks was captured by the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles.

Waters and other lawmakers at the event were faced with a series of questions from residents about what the government can do to fuel job creation.