Tea Party movement: Difference between revisions
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The '''Tea Party movement''' was an [[United States of America|American]] political movement within the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] by fiscal conservatives that began in 2009. The movement was a major factor in the 2010 election in which Republicans gained 63 House seats[ and took control of the U.S. House of Representatives. | |||
The '''Tea Party movement''' | |||
| journal = | Signs frequently capitalize TEA, as an abbreviation for "Taxed Enough Already". Many describe themselves as constitutional conservatives, such as incoming Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota) in her campaign for a House leadership role.<ref name=Politico2010-11-04-Bachmann>{{citation | ||
| journal = Politico | |||
| url = http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=147616F9-F95F-8248-FFE57338F167F01B | | url = http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=147616F9-F95F-8248-FFE57338F167F01B | ||
| title = Bachmann leadership bid adds drama | | title = Bachmann leadership bid adds drama | ||
| author = Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan | | author = Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan | ||
| date = 4 November 2010 }}</ref> | | date = 4 November 2010 }}</ref> | ||
A number of the signs at the Tea Party rallies have compared President Obama with Hitler or with Communism.<ref>Robert Shrum, [http://www.theweek.com/article/index/95607/The_Republicans_Paranoid_Style The Republicans' Paranoid Style], ''The Week'', April 21, 2009</ref> Either of these explanations, however, is compatible that with the idea that it taps into deep anger. | |||
==2010 election effects== | ==2010 election effects== | ||
A number of candidates supported by the Tea Party won election, although prominent ones lost. Prominent winners included Senators | A number of candidates supported by the Tea Party won election, although prominent ones lost. Prominent winners included Senators Marco Rubio (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania (U.S. state)|Pennsylvania) and Rand Paul (Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky). Some of the more visible candidates, who had little political experience and made controversial statements that alienated the center, such as Senate candidates Christine O'Donnell (Delaware (U.S. state)|Delaware), Joe Miller (Alaska) and Sharron Angle (Nevada (U.S. state)|Nevada), lost. According to ''New York Times'' exit polls, 4 in 10 voters showed support for the movement.<ref name=NYT2010-11-02>{{citation | ||
| date = 2 November 2010 | | date = 2 November 2010 | ||
| journal = New York Times | | journal = New York Times | ||
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| author = Kate Zernike | | author = Kate Zernike | ||
| title = Tea Party Comes to Power on an Unclear Mandate}}</ref> | | title = Tea Party Comes to Power on an Unclear Mandate}}</ref> | ||
===Bid for leadership=== | |||
Rep. | Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota), an incumbent who started the Tea Party Caucus, claims a mandate and is a candidate for the chair of the Republican Leadership Conference, the fourth-ranking member of the Republican leadership.<ref name=TheHill2010-11-03>{{citation | ||
| title = Race for Republican leadership posts starting to heat up | | title = Race for Republican leadership posts starting to heat up | ||
| url =http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/127469-race-for-gop-leadership-positions-heating-up | | url =http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/127469-race-for-gop-leadership-positions-heating-up | ||
| author=Molly Hooper | journal = The Hill | date = 3 November 2010}}</ref> Bachmann claims that a | | author=Molly Hooper | journal = The Hill | date = 3 November 2010}}</ref> Bachmann claims that a constitutional conservative must be in the leadership.<ref name=Politico2010-11-04-Bachmann/> | ||
She lost her bid, and eventually supported the "establishment" candidate. <blockquote>Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, and top Republicans are making it clear that he is the insider’s choice. Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia and outgoing Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana already have endorsed Hensarling, sending a clear message that if Bachmann wants the job, she’s going to have to run an insurgent race for it.<ref name=Politico2010-11-04-Bachmann>{{citation | |||
| journal = Politico | |||
| url = http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=147616F9-F95F-8248-FFE57338F167F01B | |||
| title = Bachmann vs Hensarling race heats up | |||
| date = 4 Novemeber 2010 | |||
| author = Jake Sherman | |||
| date = 4 November 2010 }}</ref></blockquote> Hensarling has been introduced by established conservatives such as Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (U.S. state)|Wisconsin, who wrote "Jeb's economic expertise and strong ability to communicate are what we need in our conference chairman to articulate our unified commitment to get our country back on track,.This position requires someone who has a command of these issues and has a history of successfully debating them."<ref name=Politico2010-11-04-Race>{{citation | |||
| journal = Politico | |||
| url =http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1110/Bachmann_vs_Hensarling_race_heats_up.html?showall | |||
| title = Bachmann leadership bid adds drama | |||
| author = Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan | |||
| date = 4 November 2010 }}</ref> | |||
On 10 October, she gave up her campaign and endorsed Hensarling. <blockquote>"Jeb Hensarling has my enthusiastic support for his candidacy to become Republican House Conference Chair. Jeb has demonstrated his commitment to limited government, reduced spending and lower taxes, and he will be a strong voice for the Tea Party's call for these values.<ref name=WaPo2010-11-10>{{citation | |||
| title = Michele Bachmann ends bid to join GOP leadership | |||
| author = Perry Bacon Jr. | |||
| journal = Washington Post | |||
| date = 10 November 2010 | |||
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007911_pf.html | |||
}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
===Candidate identification after election=== | |||
A relatively small number of U.S. Representatives, 12 freshmen in the total of 30, formally joined the Tea Party Caucus organized by Bachmann. The freshman members at the February 2011 meeting were: Sandy Adams (Fla.), Tim Huelskamp (Kansas), Stephen Fincher (Tennessee (U.S. state)|Tennessee), Vicky Hartzler (Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri), Mick Mulvaney (South Carolina (U.S. state)|South Carolina), Dennis Ross (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Marlin Stutzman (Indiana (U.S. state)|Indiana), Tim Walberg (Michigan (U.S. state)|Michigan), Rich Nugent (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Joe Walsh (Illinois (U.S. state)|Illinois) and Allen West (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida). Three members of the founding caucus declined to join in the new Congress: Paul Broun (Georgia), Walter Jones (North Carolina (U.S. state)) and Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming (U.S. state)|Wyoming).<ref>{{citation | |||
| title = House Tea Party Caucus gains fewer than a dozen House freshmen | |||
| author = Shane D'Aprile and Russell Berman | date = 28 February 2011 | journal = The Hill | |||
| url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/146637-house-tea-party-caucus-gains-less-than-a-dozen-house-freshmen?tmpl=component&print=1&page=}}</ref> According to a political analyst with the Washington Post, some Republicans are hesitant, once in office, to identify too closely with the Tea Party, over concern that they will alienate independents.<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-misappropriation-of-the-tea-party-label-and-the-headaches-its-causing/2011/03/17/ABws7Il_blog.html | |||
|date = 17 March 2011 | journal = Washington Post | |||
|title = The misappropriation of the tea party label (and the headaches it’s causing) | |||
| author = Aaron Blake}}</ref> | |||
==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
While there have been many earlier movements that recognized the historical significance of the | While there have been many earlier movements that recognized the historical significance of the Boston Tea Party, it does not appear that there were organizations, which explicitly called themselves Tea Parties, before 2009. | ||
===Predecessors=== | ===Predecessors=== | ||
The | The Rand Paul political campaign had a 2007 event that celebrated the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, but no separate movement using the Tea Party name appears to have resulted. It did spawn Rand's Campaign for Liberty (CFL) "a significant stand-alone, | ||
membership-based non-profit institution headquartered in Virginia [that has] played a noteworthy | membership-based non-profit institution headquartered in Virginia [that has] played a noteworthy | ||
role in the growth of the Tea Party movement, even if few CFL members have enrolled in any | role in the growth of the Tea Party movement, even if few CFL members have enrolled in any | ||
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| publisher = Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights | | publisher = Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights | ||
| url = http://teapartynationalism.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=29&Itemid=102 | | url = http://teapartynationalism.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=29&Itemid=102 | ||
|year = 2010}}, p. 15</ref> The | |year = 2010}}, p. 15</ref> The Libertarian Party of Illinois picked up some of the CFL momentum, and claims to have inspired the Tea Party call, in February 2009, from Rick Santelli. As with the Paul campaign, this group focuses on the concept rather than the name. Eric Odom had been a member but affiliated directly with Santelli.<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Libertarian Party of Illinois: We gave Rick Santelli the idea for the Tax Day Tea Parties | | title = Libertarian Party of Illinois: We gave Rick Santelli the idea for the Tax Day Tea Parties | ||
| date = 14 April 2009 | | date = 14 April 2009 | ||
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}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
===Tea Party organizations=== | ===Tea Party organizations=== | ||
The Tea Party name, however, came into national view as part of an estimated 750 city-level anti-tax protests<ref name=NYT2009-04-15/> on the U.S. tax day of 15 April 2009. There indeed were several hundred protesters in | The Tea Party name, however, came into national view as part of an estimated 750 city-level anti-tax protests<ref name=NYT2009-04-15/> on the U.S. tax day of 15 April 2009. There indeed were several hundred protesters in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities | | title = Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities | ||
| date = 15 April 2009 | publisher = | | date = 15 April 2009 | publisher = Fox News | ||
| url = http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/thousands-anti-tax-tea-party-protesters-turn-cities/print | | url = http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/thousands-anti-tax-tea-party-protesters-turn-cities/print | ||
}}</ref> It was preceded by small local demonstrations in February, although it is unclear if they used the name "Tea Party" at the time or have subsequently inherited the title from leaders who are now active in the named movement. Many participants say it is a genuine bottom-up movement, whose members learned from the community organizing of groups on the left, especially citing Web-inspired groups such as | }}</ref> It was preceded by small local demonstrations in February, although it is unclear if they used the name "Tea Party" at the time or have subsequently inherited the title from leaders who are now active in the named movement. Many participants say it is a genuine bottom-up movement, whose members learned from the community organizing of groups on the left, especially citing Web-inspired groups such as MoveOn.org. Subsequently, it held national protests on 4 July 2009 and 12 September 2009, and its supporters have been visible at both local and national events. | ||
Some of the national-level groups that have supported local Tea Parties have received large funding from major conservative contributors. For example, | Some of the national-level groups that have supported local Tea Parties have received large funding from major conservative contributors. For example, Freedomworks and its predecessors received in excess of $10 million in funding from groups associated with the owners of Koch Industries.<ref>{{citation | ||
| url = http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/FreedomWorks/funders | | url = http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/FreedomWorks/funders | ||
| title = Freedomworks | | title = Freedomworks | ||
| publisher = Conservative Transparency: | | publisher = Conservative Transparency: MediaMatters | ||
}}</ref> The funding is sometimes even more obscure: The | }}</ref> The funding is sometimes even more obscure: The #Tea Party Patriots|Tea Party Patriots received a $1 million donation from an anonymous source. The donation was reported in the news media in September 2010. The donation would be divided up among other Tea Party groups by Oct. 4, 2010, at the donors request.<ref name=NPR2010-09-21>{{cite web | ||
|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/09/21/130025325/tea-party-gets-1-million-donation-from-unnamed-source | |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/09/21/130025325/tea-party-gets-1-million-donation-from-unnamed-source | ||
|title=Tea Party Group Gets $1 Million From Unnamed Source : It's All Politics : NPR | |title=Tea Party Group Gets $1 Million From Unnamed Source : It's All Politics : NPR | ||
Line 68: | Line 88: | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
It has been characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations, by endorsement of candidates rather than policy papers. Nevertheless, its recurring themes are, most strongly, reducing the power of the Federal government and encouraging | It has been characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations, by endorsement of candidates rather than policy papers. Nevertheless, its recurring themes are, most strongly, reducing the power of the Federal government and encouraging fiscal conservatism. It contains libertarianism|libertarians, paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives and social conservatives, with inherent conflicts among them. | ||
== Demographics == | == Demographics == | ||
Several | Several | ||
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movement.<ref>Burghart & Zeskind, p. 3</ref></blockquote> | movement.<ref>Burghart & Zeskind, p. 3</ref></blockquote> | ||
An October 2010 poll by the | An October 2010 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute reported:<ref name=AVS>{{citation | ||
| url = http://www.publicreligion.org/objects/uploads/fck/file/AVS%202010%20Report%20FINAL.pdf | | url = http://www.publicreligion.org/objects/uploads/fck/file/AVS%202010%20Report%20FINAL.pdf | ||
| title = Religion and the Tea Party in the 2010 election: an analysis of the third American Values Survey | | title = Religion and the Tea Party in the 2010 election: an analysis of the third American Values Survey | ||
| author = Robert Jones and Daniel Cox | | author = Robert Jones and Daniel Cox | ||
| date = October 2010 | | date = October 2010 | ||
| publisher = | | publisher = Public Religion Research Institute | ||
}}</ref><ref name=WaPo2010-10-05>{{citation | }}</ref><ref name=WaPo2010-10-05>{{citation | ||
| title = Tea party, religious right often overlap, poll shows | | title = Tea party, religious right often overlap, poll shows | ||
Line 239: | Line 114: | ||
* 11 percent of those polled say they are part of the Tea Party | * 11 percent of those polled say they are part of the Tea Party | ||
* 55 percent of people identifying with the Tea Party" say they are part of the tea party agree that "America has always been and is currently a Christian nation" - 6 points more than the percentage of self-described Christian conservatives who would say that" | * 55 percent of people identifying with the Tea Party" say they are part of the tea party agree that "America has always been and is currently a Christian nation" - 6 points more than the percentage of self-described Christian conservatives who would say that" | ||
* "Among the differences between Christian conservatives and tea partiers is their source of news, with 39 percent of the former group saying | * "Among the differences between Christian conservatives and tea partiers is their source of news, with 39 percent of the former group saying Fox News is their most trusted source for "accurate information about politics and current events" and 57 percent of the latter group saying that." | ||
*"Nearly two-thirds say | *"Nearly two-thirds say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and 45 percent said there should be no legal recognition for same-sex marriage|same-sex couples." This contravenes the "conventional wisdom" that the group is principally libertarian,<ref name=AVS/> although it should be noted that some of the major national contributors, such as David Koch, are strongly linked to libertarianism. | ||
According to Gallup Polls (Spring 2010)<ref | According to Gallup Polls (Spring 2010)<ref | ||
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*Growth of the US federal government. 85% believe the size and power of the federal government are a very/extremely serious threat to the nation's future well-being. | *Growth of the US federal government. 85% believe the size and power of the federal government are a very/extremely serious threat to the nation's future well-being. | ||
*Congress' ability to take care of business. 83% say most members of Congress don't deserve re-election. | *Congress' ability to take care of business. 83% say most members of Congress don't deserve re-election. | ||
*President | *President Barack Obama should not be re-elected. 83% say President Obama doesn't deserve re-election. | ||
A | A Rasmussen poll in December 2009 indicated there was greater support for Tea Party than Republican congressional candidates, although it was not a formal party. When 1,000 likely voters were asked, without knowing specific candidates, who they were most likely to select | ||
*Tea Party: 23% | *Tea Party: 23% | ||
*Republican: 18% | *Republican: 18% | ||
*Democrat: 36% | *Democrat: 36% | ||
The poll, with a margin of error of 3%, showed that the Tea Party would split the Republican vote. | The poll, with a margin of error of 3%, showed that the Tea Party would split the Republican vote. | ||
The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Dec. 4-5 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. | The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Dec. 4-5 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele recognized the potential threat, saying | ||
<blockquote>"we can all come together...This is the conservative party of the country...We offer that ... political infrastructure, if you will, if you want to run for office or if you want to be involved politically. This is the best place to do it.</blockquote> | <blockquote>"we can all come together...This is the conservative party of the country...We offer that ... political infrastructure, if you will, if you want to run for office or if you want to be involved politically. This is the best place to do it.</blockquote> | ||
==National positioning== | ==National positioning== | ||
While the Tea Party's original focus was on taxes, its scope has broadened, although it continues to be characterized more by protests and anger than an actual platform. Three national figures associated with it are | While the Tea Party's original focus was on taxes, its scope has broadened, although it continues to be characterized more by protests and anger than an actual platform. Three national figures associated with it are Sarah Palin, Fox News host Glenn Beck, and Rep. Michele Bachmann. CNN contributor John Feehery said while it energizes the Republican base, it also presents problems. | ||
<blockquote> The Tea Party combines the best elements of civic activism with some of the worst elements of fringe extremism...While most Tea Party activists are genuinely concerned about the future of the country, some others see conspiracies around every corner and use unacceptable rhetoric to communicate their displeasure with the president."<ref name=CNN2009-12-07>{{citation | <blockquote> The Tea Party combines the best elements of civic activism with some of the worst elements of fringe extremism...While most Tea Party activists are genuinely concerned about the future of the country, some others see conspiracies around every corner and use unacceptable rhetoric to communicate their displeasure with the president."<ref name=CNN2009-12-07>{{citation | ||
| title = Tea Party movement threatened by internal rifts | | title = Tea Party movement threatened by internal rifts | ||
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| url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/07/tea.party/index.html}}</ref></blockquote> | | url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/07/tea.party/index.html}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
Bachmann invoked it against the | Bachmann invoked it against the H.R. 3962 Democratic health care reform legislation. After calling for a protest on Sean Hannity's television show the previous week, saying "she hoped viewers would come to her press conference and then walk through the congressional office buildings, "up and down through the halls, find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, 'Don't take away my health care.'"<ref name=Slate2009-11-05>{{citation | ||
| title = Bachmania: Michele Bachmann invites tea partiers to Washington for another swig. | | title = Bachmania: Michele Bachmann invites tea partiers to Washington for another swig. | ||
| author = Christopher Beam | date = 5 November 2009 | | author = Christopher Beam | date = 5 November 2009 | ||
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| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110502713_pf.html | | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110502713_pf.html | ||
|journal= Associated Press | |journal= Associated Press | ||
| date = 5 November 2009 }}</ref> Appearing with her was House minority leader | | date = 5 November 2009 }}</ref> Appearing with her was House minority leader John Boehner (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio), U.S. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and Republican representatives Todd Akin (Republican Party (United States)|R-Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri), Steve King (Republican Party (United States)|R-Iowa (U.S. state)|Iowa), Paul Broun (Republican Party (United States)|R-Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia), Jean Schmidt (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio) and Bill Cassidy (Republican Party (United States)|R-Louisiana (U.S. state)|Louisiana). | ||
===February 2010 Convention=== | ===February 2010 Convention=== | ||
A National Tea Party Convention was held in February 2010, a production of Tennessee lawyer | A National Tea Party Convention was held in February 2010, a production of Tennessee lawyer Judson Phillips and Tea Party Nation, of which Sherry Phillips is vice president. Phillips has said he expects to make a profit on it, but many activists are complaining about the $550 ticket price and the $100,000 speaker fee to be paid to Sarah Palin. Reps. Michele Bachmann (Republican Party (United States)|R-Michigan (U.S. state)|Michigan) and Marsha Blackburn (Republican Party (United States)|R-Tennessee (U.S. state)|Tennessee), previously listed as speakers, have withdrawn, saying they were concerned how the convention's revenues would be spent.<ref name=AP2010-01-28>{{citation | ||
| url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/01/bachmann-blackburn-say-theyre.html | | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/01/bachmann-blackburn-say-theyre.html | ||
| title = Bachmann, Blackburn say they're out of Tea Party Convention | | title = Bachmann, Blackburn say they're out of Tea Party Convention | ||
| publisher = Associated Press | date = 28 January 2010}}</ref> | | publisher = Associated Press | date = 28 January 2010}}</ref> | ||
Former Rep. | Former Rep. Tom Tancredo verbally attacked both 2008 presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, always referring to the latter as "Barack Hussein Obama," whom he called a "committed socialist".<ref name=ABC2010-02-04>{{citation | ||
| title = Tea Party Fireworks: Speaker Rips McCain, Obama, 'Cult of Multiculturalism' | | title = Tea Party Fireworks: Speaker Rips McCain, Obama, 'Cult of Multiculturalism' | ||
| author = Steven Portnoy and John Berman | | author = Steven Portnoy and John Berman | ||
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| url = http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/12982}}</ref> | | url = http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/12982}}</ref> | ||
The issue of whether the movement should form a new political party, or take over the Republicans, was an open issue. | The issue of whether the movement should form a new political party, or take over the Republicans, was an open issue. Andrew Breitbart told ''Time (magazine)|Time Magazine'' "Form another party? Why would we want to do that? That's exactly what the Daily Kos wants us to do and we'd just be playing into liberal hands," but others disagreed.<ref name=Time2010-02-08>{{citation | ||
| url = http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1960726,00.html?xid=rss-topstories | | url = http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1960726,00.html?xid=rss-topstories | ||
| journal = | | journal = Time (magazine) | ||
| title = Five Lessons from the Tea-Party Convention | | title = Five Lessons from the Tea-Party Convention | ||
| author = Jay Newton-Small| date = 8 February 2010}}</ref> | | author = Jay Newton-Small| date = 8 February 2010}}</ref> | ||
Dick Armey expressed concern about prominent "wedge" issues such as Tancredo's position on immigration, and Joseph Farah speaking on the Birther Movement. He said "That kind of rhetoric is counterproductive. It feeds into the hands of the left and allows [the tea party] to be portrayed as people who are angry and accusatory, inflammatory. That is not what this movement has been about. We have to keep our eye on the ball; we have to work to stop people who believe the government should control vast sections of the economy." Armey suggested that President Obama was using the gays-in-the-military question specifically to divide the tea-party movement. "He's hoping the grass roots would jump on this and turn away from economic issues," Armey said. "And Obama would just love to change the subject, so my own view is, don't take the bait." | |||
===Future positioning=== | ===Future positioning=== | ||
One of the major questions is whether the movement will stay in the Republican Party or form a new party. | One of the major questions is whether the movement will stay in the Republican Party or form a new party. Fox News reports that the Tea Party could well influence the 2010 U.S. Congressional election, with most commenters assuming it will focus on Republican primaries.<ref name=Fox2009-12-15>{{citation | ||
| journal = | | journal = Fox News | ||
| date = 15 December 2009 | | date = 15 December 2009 | ||
| title = Tea Party Movement Evolves Into Political Force With Eye Toward 2010 | | title = Tea Party Movement Evolves Into Political Force With Eye Toward 2010 | ||
| url =http://www.foxnews.com/politics/ci.Tea+Party+Movement+Evolves+Into+Political+Force+With+Eye+Toward+2010.opinionPrint}}</ref> Groups are establishing | | url =http://www.foxnews.com/politics/ci.Tea+Party+Movement+Evolves+Into+Political+Force+With+Eye+Toward+2010.opinionPrint}}</ref> Groups are establishing political action committees for the financial support of candidate. | ||
Phillips said Tea Party Nation opposed a third party, preferring to take over the Republican Party. She was joined by | Phillips said Tea Party Nation opposed a third party, preferring to take over the Republican Party. She was joined by Freedomworks' Matt Kibbe, who said that Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, who drove Republican Dede Scozzafava out of the race but lost to a Democrat, Bill Owens, was an "anomaly". said the special election in upstate New York last month -- in which Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman drove the Republican candidate out of the race with the help of tea party activists -- can be considered an "anomaly." He said "I think a more practical solution is to take over the GOP... explaining that the tea party movement can have the most impact by directing volunteers and money in support of GOP candidates who reflect their small-government values. " Kibbe mentioned candidates Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania (U.S. state)|Pennsylvania and Marco Rubio in Florida (U.S. state)|Florida as examples of conservative challengers within a Republican framework. | ||
Rep. | Rep. Mark Souder (Indiana (U.S. state)|Indiana) is one Republican expecting a primary challenge from a Tea Party activist. "It's hard to tell if this will help the Republican Party win...What it's done is energize people. The question is what will happen with the energized people: Are we going to maintain an effective two-party system or are some of them going to split off?"<ref name=WaPo2009-09-12>{{citation | ||
| title = GOP Sees Protest As an Opportunity: 'Taxpayer March' in D.C. Attracts Party Leaders, but Some Are Wary | | title = GOP Sees Protest As an Opportunity: 'Taxpayer March' in D.C. Attracts Party Leaders, but Some Are Wary | ||
| author = Dan Eggen and Perry Bacon Jr. | | author = Dan Eggen and Perry Bacon Jr. | ||
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| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/11/AR2009091103997_pf.html}}</ref> | | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/11/AR2009091103997_pf.html}}</ref> | ||
===May 2010 Convention=== | ===May 2010 Convention=== | ||
Much more accessible than the February convention was a May convention in | Much more accessible than the February convention was a May convention in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. With a $35 admission fee, this was quite different in cost from the earlier event. "Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who generated considerably less media buzz than Sarah | ||
Sarah Palin|Palin. More than twenty local Tea Party groups in Tennessee sponsored the gathering. The sponsors | |||
claimed to have pre-sold 1,000 tickets to the event, and told the press they expected more | claimed to have pre-sold 1,000 tickets to the event, and told the press they expected more | ||
to attend. To the casual observer, however, there never appeared to be more than 300 people | to attend. To the casual observer, however, there never appeared to be more than 300 people | ||
attending at any one time." <ref>Burghart & Zeskind, pp. 43-44</ref> It was well positioned for the target, however: local Tennessee groups. | attending at any one time."<ref>Burghart & Zeskind, pp. 43-44</ref> It was well positioned for the target, however: local Tennessee groups. | ||
Burghart and Zeskind expressed concern that its workshops had a significant presence of what they considered extremists: | Burghart and Zeskind expressed concern that its workshops had a significant presence of what they considered extremists: | ||
* | *Pamela Geller, "an anti-Islam agitator" | ||
* | *Oath Keepers, "a quasi-militia group that focuses on recruiting law enforcement officers and military personnel, and defending their version of the Constitution". | ||
* | *Spike Constitution Defenders | ||
* | *Samuel Duck, conducted a workshop advocating repeal of both the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendment, which, respectively, authorized a Federal income tax and direct democratic election of the U.S. Senate. Proponents of the latter, including Ron Paul and Tony Blankley, see it as a return to states' rights. | ||
===Contract from America=== | ===Contract from America=== | ||
A number of affiliated groups called upon candidates, in September 2010, to pledge to follow a | A number of affiliated groups called upon candidates, in September 2010, to pledge to follow a Contract with America, whose main points are:<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = The Contract from America (summary) | | title = The Contract from America (summary) | ||
| date = 23 September 2010 | | date = 23 September 2010 | ||
Line 366: | Line 241: | ||
==Conflict on racism== | ==Conflict on racism== | ||
There has been media and blog commentary on racism in the Tea Party, but the issue is not clear in October 2009. One research report, with a foreword by | There has been media and blog commentary on racism in the Tea Party, but the issue is not clear in October 2009. One research report, with a foreword by Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP, and issued by the Kansas City, Mo.-based Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which is funded, in part, by the liberal Firedoll Foundation, with its primary author being specialists in white nationalism.<ref name=WaPo2010-10-20>{{citation | ||
| title = NAACP backs report that ties racist groups to tea party | | title = NAACP backs report that ties racist groups to tea party | ||
| author = Krissah Thompson | | author = Krissah Thompson | ||
| journal = Washington Post | | journal = Washington Post | ||
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102004020_pf.html | | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102004020_pf.html | ||
| date = 20 October 2010}}</ref> The report highlighted individuals and groups in Tea Parties and in | | date = 20 October 2010}}</ref> The report highlighted individuals and groups in Tea Parties and in antisemitism or white nationalism.<ref>Burghart & Zeskind, pp. 7-8</ref> | ||
A different report, also reported by the ''Post'', said that | A different report, also reported by the ''Post'', said that University of California at Los Angeles graduate student Emily Ekins had photographed and counted signs at the 9-12 Project rally, and found few with racial themes.<ref name=WaPo2010-10-14>{{citation | ||
| title = Few signs at tea party rally expressed racially charged anti-Obama themes | | title = Few signs at tea party rally expressed racially charged anti-Obama themes | ||
| author = Amy Gardner | | author = Amy Gardner | ||
Line 379: | Line 254: | ||
The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR) study focused on six organizations it considered at the heart of the national movement: | The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR) study focused on six organizations it considered at the heart of the national movement: | ||
* | *Freedomworks Tea Party | ||
* | *1776 Tea Party | ||
* | *Tea Party Nation | ||
* | *Tea Party Patriots | ||
* | *ResistNet | ||
* | *Tea Party Express | ||
==Campaign criticism on the right== | ==Campaign criticism on the right== | ||
Writing in the conservative '' | Writing in the conservative ''National Review'', Jim Geraghty questioned the possible irony of "The Tea Party movement in all its myriad forms — free-market groups, little old ladies, crusty in flag hats, fans of Glenn Beck|Beck’s 9/12 Project — have done everything one could possibly ask to derail a government takeover of the health-care system. It will be a perverse irony if their high-visibility protests end up persuading Democrats to damn the torpedoes in the face of near-certain electoral doom." He suggested that while some Democrats might lose their seats if they vote for the bill, if they fail to do so, they might enrage the Democratic base, with the Republican base already activated, and lose control of the House in the 2010 elections.<ref name=NRO2009-11-06>{{citation | ||
| date = 6 November 2009 | | date = 6 November 2009 | ||
| title =Inverse Reaction: House Democrats may fear the consequences of not passing a bill more than any other. | | title =Inverse Reaction: House Democrats may fear the consequences of not passing a bill more than any other. | ||
| author = | | author = Jim Geraghty | ||
| url = http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=YzYxNmNmOTA4NWFhODJlMDI3ZTk4NjJlNjNlYWIyOTI= | | url = http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=YzYxNmNmOTA4NWFhODJlMDI3ZTk4NjJlNjNlYWIyOTI= | ||
| journal = | | journal = National Review}}</ref> | ||
It is characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations. | It is characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations. | ||
===Elections=== | ===Elections=== | ||
Line 398: | Line 273: | ||
====Alaska==== | ====Alaska==== | ||
====Delaware==== | ====Delaware==== | ||
Such a Tea Party candidate is | Such a Tea Party candidate is Christine O'Donnell, who won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, seeking the long-Democratic Delaware seat in the U.S. Senate, formerly held by Vice-President Joe Biden. O'Donnell was endorsed by Sarah Palin. Delaware Republican chairman Tom Ross had called an O'Donnell victory a "complete train wreck" for the party.<ref>{{citation | ||
|title= Tea Party-Backed O'Donnell Wins Delaware Senate Republican Race | |title= Tea Party-Backed O'Donnell Wins Delaware Senate Republican Race | ||
| author = Brian Faler and Catherine Dodge | date = 15 September 2010 | | author = Brian Faler and Catherine Dodge | date = 15 September 2010 | ||
Line 405: | Line 280: | ||
====Missouri==== | ====Missouri==== | ||
Out-of-state Tea Party activists have not necessarily fit local agendas. Missouri Tea Party groups issued a joint statement that they were incensed by Rep. | Out-of-state Tea Party activists have not necessarily fit local agendas. Missouri Tea Party groups issued a joint statement that they were incensed by Rep. Michele Bachmann's endorsement of Senatorial candidate Roy Blunt.<ref>{{citation | ||
| url = http://www.franklincountypatriots.org/download/teapartypr.pdf | | url = http://www.franklincountypatriots.org/download/teapartypr.pdf | ||
| publisher = "28 [Tea Party] Groups, Representing over 8,660 Patriots | | publisher = "28 [Tea Party] Groups, Representing over 8,660 Patriots | ||
| date = 28 July 2010 | | date = 28 July 2010 | ||
| title = Missouri Tea Party Groups Have NOT Endorsed Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate}}</ref> Bachmann is a national favorite among Tea Party members, as is Palin and Sen. | | title = Missouri Tea Party Groups Have NOT Endorsed Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate}}</ref> Bachmann is a national favorite among Tea Party members, as is Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint, but the national figures may not be in tune with local issues. | ||
====Nevada==== | ====Nevada==== | ||
===Issues=== | ===Issues=== | ||
From another conservative group that can cross party lines, | From another conservative group that can cross party lines, neoconservatism, there is conflict with some of the libertarianism|libertarians and paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives in the movement. The former, represented in a ''Wall Street Journal'' op-ed, include the heads of the American Enterprise Institute (Arthur C. Brooks), the Heritage Foundation (Edwin Feulner|Ed Feulner) and the Foreign Policy Initiative (Bill Kristol) is directed at Obama Administration military spending cuts, the real message, according to Marc Armbinder, political editor of ''The Atlantic'', is to tell the movement that defense spending is untouchable: "there will not be 'long-term prosperity' if the US military is 'hollowed out and can't defend the country." They are concerned with comments from movement figures such as Ron Paul, and Senate candidates Rand Paul (R-Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky), Mike Lee (R-Utah (U.S. state)|Utah) and Ken Buck (R-Colorado (U.S. state)|Colorado). Buck, for example, has said that as Iraq winds down, | ||
<blockquote>I think the military budget will become a less significant part of the overall budget. We've obviously got a commitment in Afghanistan. We've got to figure out what the goals are there and what we can do there. So there may be less need in two or three years than there is now. I think it's still important that we promote research and development in the military budget, but some of the costs of deploying troops may be significantly reduced in the next few years.<ref>{{citation | <blockquote>I think the military budget will become a less significant part of the overall budget. We've obviously got a commitment in Afghanistan. We've got to figure out what the goals are there and what we can do there. So there may be less need in two or three years than there is now. I think it's still important that we promote research and development in the military budget, but some of the costs of deploying troops may be significantly reduced in the next few years.<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Washington Conservatives Worried About Movement Conservatives on Defense | | title = Washington Conservatives Worried About Movement Conservatives on Defense | ||
Line 421: | Line 296: | ||
| url = http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/washington-conservatives-worried-about-movement-conservatives-on-defense/63951/}}</ref></blockquote> | | url = http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/washington-conservatives-worried-about-movement-conservatives-on-defense/63951/}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
Another conflict potentially comes between | Another conflict potentially comes between social conservatism and libertarianism. While the Tea Party has a general position against enlarged government, the social conservatives want government to enforce their strongly held moral views.<ref name=WaPo2010-10-05/> | ||
==Relationship to moderates== | ==Relationship to moderates== | ||
In April 2010, Senator | In April 2010, Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts (U.S. state)|Massachusetts) declined to join Sarah Palin at a Tea Party movement rally in Boston, Massachusetts. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia said “He wants to mainstream himself before the election.” His office said he would be busy in Washington, but he applauds the “energy and enthusiasm” of Palin and the Tea Party.<ref name=BH>{{citation | ||
| title = Scott Brown snubs Sarah Palin, bags Tea Party rally | | title = Scott Brown snubs Sarah Palin, bags Tea Party rally | ||
| author = Edward Mason | date = 12 April 2010 | | author = Edward Mason | date = 12 April 2010 | ||
Line 430: | Line 305: | ||
| url =http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1246482&format=text}}</ref> | | url =http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1246482&format=text}}</ref> | ||
After O'Donnell's primary victory, national Republicans said they were diverting funds from the Delaware race, which they had hoped to win, to other races where they had a better chance. | After O'Donnell's primary victory, national Republicans said they were diverting funds from the Delaware race, which they had hoped to win, to other races where they had a better chance. Karl Rove said, on Fox News, | ||
<blockquote> There’s just a lot of nutty things she’s been saying that just simply don’t add up. I’m for the Republican, but I’ve got to tell you, we were looking at eight to nine seats in the Senate. We’re now looking at seven to eight. In my opinion, this is not a race we’re going to be able to win.<ref name=NYT2010-09-15>{{citation | <blockquote> There’s just a lot of nutty things she’s been saying that just simply don’t add up. I’m for the Republican, but I’ve got to tell you, we were looking at eight to nine seats in the Senate. We’re now looking at seven to eight. In my opinion, this is not a race we’re going to be able to win.<ref name=NYT2010-09-15>{{citation | ||
| journal = New York Times | | journal = New York Times | ||
Line 440: | Line 315: | ||
==Possibly fraudulent Tea Party candidates== | ==Possibly fraudulent Tea Party candidates== | ||
It has been alleged that | It has been alleged that New Jersey (U.S. state)|New Jersey Democrats, supporting the candidacy of incumbent John Adler against Republican John Runyan, may have worked to nominate a fake Tea Party candidate,<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = South Jersey Tea Party candidate is a Democratic plant, report says | | title = South Jersey Tea Party candidate is a Democratic plant, report says | ||
| date = 8 October 2010 | | date = 8 October 2010 | ||
Line 450: | Line 325: | ||
| url = http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2010/07/did_adler_camp_plant_a_fake_ca.html}}</ref> | | url = http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2010/07/did_adler_camp_plant_a_fake_ca.html}}</ref> | ||
In March 2011, charges were filed against two former Democratic Party officials in Oakland County, Michigan, charging they formed a fake Independent Tea Party to split the opposition to Democratic candidates. Other charges were made relating to fraudulent mailings.<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://detnews.com/article/20110317/METRO02/103170380 | |||
| date = 17 March 2011 | |||
| title = 2 ex-Dem leaders charged in fake tea party scheme | |||
| author = Mike Martindale | journal = Detroit News}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} |
Revision as of 07:56, 13 September 2024
This article may be deleted soon. | ||
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The Tea Party movement was an American political movement within the Republican Party by fiscal conservatives that began in 2009. The movement was a major factor in the 2010 election in which Republicans gained 63 House seats[ and took control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Signs frequently capitalize TEA, as an abbreviation for "Taxed Enough Already". Many describe themselves as constitutional conservatives, such as incoming Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota) in her campaign for a House leadership role.[1] A number of the signs at the Tea Party rallies have compared President Obama with Hitler or with Communism.[2] Either of these explanations, however, is compatible that with the idea that it taps into deep anger. 2010 election effectsA number of candidates supported by the Tea Party won election, although prominent ones lost. Prominent winners included Senators Marco Rubio (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania (U.S. state)|Pennsylvania) and Rand Paul (Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky). Some of the more visible candidates, who had little political experience and made controversial statements that alienated the center, such as Senate candidates Christine O'Donnell (Delaware (U.S. state)|Delaware), Joe Miller (Alaska) and Sharron Angle (Nevada (U.S. state)|Nevada), lost. According to New York Times exit polls, 4 in 10 voters showed support for the movement.[3] Bid for leadershipRep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota), an incumbent who started the Tea Party Caucus, claims a mandate and is a candidate for the chair of the Republican Leadership Conference, the fourth-ranking member of the Republican leadership.[4] Bachmann claims that a constitutional conservative must be in the leadership.[1] She lost her bid, and eventually supported the "establishment" candidate.Hensarling has been introduced by established conservatives such as Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (U.S. state)|Wisconsin, who wrote "Jeb's economic expertise and strong ability to communicate are what we need in our conference chairman to articulate our unified commitment to get our country back on track,.This position requires someone who has a command of these issues and has a history of successfully debating them."[5] On 10 October, she gave up her campaign and endorsed Hensarling.
Candidate identification after electionA relatively small number of U.S. Representatives, 12 freshmen in the total of 30, formally joined the Tea Party Caucus organized by Bachmann. The freshman members at the February 2011 meeting were: Sandy Adams (Fla.), Tim Huelskamp (Kansas), Stephen Fincher (Tennessee (U.S. state)|Tennessee), Vicky Hartzler (Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri), Mick Mulvaney (South Carolina (U.S. state)|South Carolina), Dennis Ross (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Marlin Stutzman (Indiana (U.S. state)|Indiana), Tim Walberg (Michigan (U.S. state)|Michigan), Rich Nugent (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida), Joe Walsh (Illinois (U.S. state)|Illinois) and Allen West (Florida (U.S. state)|Florida). Three members of the founding caucus declined to join in the new Congress: Paul Broun (Georgia), Walter Jones (North Carolina (U.S. state)) and Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming (U.S. state)|Wyoming).[7] According to a political analyst with the Washington Post, some Republicans are hesitant, once in office, to identify too closely with the Tea Party, over concern that they will alienate independents.[8] OriginsWhile there have been many earlier movements that recognized the historical significance of the Boston Tea Party, it does not appear that there were organizations, which explicitly called themselves Tea Parties, before 2009. PredecessorsThe Rand Paul political campaign had a 2007 event that celebrated the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, but no separate movement using the Tea Party name appears to have resulted. It did spawn Rand's Campaign for Liberty (CFL) "a significant stand-alone, membership-based non-profit institution headquartered in Virginia [that has] played a noteworthy role in the growth of the Tea Party movement, even if few CFL members have enrolled in any of the national Tea Party groups."[9] The Libertarian Party of Illinois picked up some of the CFL momentum, and claims to have inspired the Tea Party call, in February 2009, from Rick Santelli. As with the Paul campaign, this group focuses on the concept rather than the name. Eric Odom had been a member but affiliated directly with Santelli.[10] Tea Party organizationsThe Tea Party name, however, came into national view as part of an estimated 750 city-level anti-tax protests[11] on the U.S. tax day of 15 April 2009. There indeed were several hundred protesters in Boston, Massachusetts.[12] It was preceded by small local demonstrations in February, although it is unclear if they used the name "Tea Party" at the time or have subsequently inherited the title from leaders who are now active in the named movement. Many participants say it is a genuine bottom-up movement, whose members learned from the community organizing of groups on the left, especially citing Web-inspired groups such as MoveOn.org. Subsequently, it held national protests on 4 July 2009 and 12 September 2009, and its supporters have been visible at both local and national events. Some of the national-level groups that have supported local Tea Parties have received large funding from major conservative contributors. For example, Freedomworks and its predecessors received in excess of $10 million in funding from groups associated with the owners of Koch Industries.[13] The funding is sometimes even more obscure: The #Tea Party Patriots|Tea Party Patriots received a $1 million donation from an anonymous source. The donation was reported in the news media in September 2010. The donation would be divided up among other Tea Party groups by Oct. 4, 2010, at the donors request.[14] It has been characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations, by endorsement of candidates rather than policy papers. Nevertheless, its recurring themes are, most strongly, reducing the power of the Federal government and encouraging fiscal conservatism. It contains libertarianism|libertarians, paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives and social conservatives, with inherent conflicts among them. DemographicsSeveral national opinion polls, cited in the October 2010 Burghart-Zeskind report, point to support for the Tea Parties running at approximately 16% to 18% of the adult population, which would put the number of sympathizers in the tens of millions. That would be the outermost ring of support. At the next level is a larger less defined group of a couple of million activists who go to meetings, buy the literature and attend the many local and national protests. At the core is the more 250,000 members in all fifty states who have signed up on the websites of the six national organizational networks that form the core of this movement.[15]An October 2010 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute reported:[16][17]
According to Gallup Polls (Spring 2010)[18] among Tea Party supporters there are
and they share the following beliefs:
A Rasmussen poll in December 2009 indicated there was greater support for Tea Party than Republican congressional candidates, although it was not a formal party. When 1,000 likely voters were asked, without knowing specific candidates, who they were most likely to select
The poll, with a margin of error of 3%, showed that the Tea Party would split the Republican vote. The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Dec. 4-5 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele recognized the potential threat, saying
National positioningWhile the Tea Party's original focus was on taxes, its scope has broadened, although it continues to be characterized more by protests and anger than an actual platform. Three national figures associated with it are Sarah Palin, Fox News host Glenn Beck, and Rep. Michele Bachmann. CNN contributor John Feehery said while it energizes the Republican base, it also presents problems.
Bachmann invoked it against the H.R. 3962 Democratic health care reform legislation. After calling for a protest on Sean Hannity's television show the previous week, saying "she hoped viewers would come to her press conference and then walk through the congressional office buildings, "up and down through the halls, find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, 'Don't take away my health care.'"[20] Officially, her 5 November 2009 event, at the U.S. Capitol, was a press conference and not a rally, since there was no demonstration permit; an estimated 5 to 10,000 supporters attended.[21] Appearing with her was House minority leader John Boehner (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio), U.S. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and Republican representatives Todd Akin (Republican Party (United States)|R-Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri), Steve King (Republican Party (United States)|R-Iowa (U.S. state)|Iowa), Paul Broun (Republican Party (United States)|R-Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia), Jean Schmidt (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio) and Bill Cassidy (Republican Party (United States)|R-Louisiana (U.S. state)|Louisiana). February 2010 ConventionA National Tea Party Convention was held in February 2010, a production of Tennessee lawyer Judson Phillips and Tea Party Nation, of which Sherry Phillips is vice president. Phillips has said he expects to make a profit on it, but many activists are complaining about the $550 ticket price and the $100,000 speaker fee to be paid to Sarah Palin. Reps. Michele Bachmann (Republican Party (United States)|R-Michigan (U.S. state)|Michigan) and Marsha Blackburn (Republican Party (United States)|R-Tennessee (U.S. state)|Tennessee), previously listed as speakers, have withdrawn, saying they were concerned how the convention's revenues would be spent.[22] Former Rep. Tom Tancredo verbally attacked both 2008 presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, always referring to the latter as "Barack Hussein Obama," whom he called a "committed socialist".[23] He continued to say that the President was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote...People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House."[24] The issue of whether the movement should form a new political party, or take over the Republicans, was an open issue. Andrew Breitbart told Time (magazine)|Time Magazine "Form another party? Why would we want to do that? That's exactly what the Daily Kos wants us to do and we'd just be playing into liberal hands," but others disagreed.[25] Dick Armey expressed concern about prominent "wedge" issues such as Tancredo's position on immigration, and Joseph Farah speaking on the Birther Movement. He said "That kind of rhetoric is counterproductive. It feeds into the hands of the left and allows [the tea party] to be portrayed as people who are angry and accusatory, inflammatory. That is not what this movement has been about. We have to keep our eye on the ball; we have to work to stop people who believe the government should control vast sections of the economy." Armey suggested that President Obama was using the gays-in-the-military question specifically to divide the tea-party movement. "He's hoping the grass roots would jump on this and turn away from economic issues," Armey said. "And Obama would just love to change the subject, so my own view is, don't take the bait." Future positioningOne of the major questions is whether the movement will stay in the Republican Party or form a new party. Fox News reports that the Tea Party could well influence the 2010 U.S. Congressional election, with most commenters assuming it will focus on Republican primaries.[26] Groups are establishing political action committees for the financial support of candidate. Phillips said Tea Party Nation opposed a third party, preferring to take over the Republican Party. She was joined by Freedomworks' Matt Kibbe, who said that Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, who drove Republican Dede Scozzafava out of the race but lost to a Democrat, Bill Owens, was an "anomaly". said the special election in upstate New York last month -- in which Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman drove the Republican candidate out of the race with the help of tea party activists -- can be considered an "anomaly." He said "I think a more practical solution is to take over the GOP... explaining that the tea party movement can have the most impact by directing volunteers and money in support of GOP candidates who reflect their small-government values. " Kibbe mentioned candidates Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania (U.S. state)|Pennsylvania and Marco Rubio in Florida (U.S. state)|Florida as examples of conservative challengers within a Republican framework. Rep. Mark Souder (Indiana (U.S. state)|Indiana) is one Republican expecting a primary challenge from a Tea Party activist. "It's hard to tell if this will help the Republican Party win...What it's done is energize people. The question is what will happen with the energized people: Are we going to maintain an effective two-party system or are some of them going to split off?"[27] May 2010 ConventionMuch more accessible than the February convention was a May convention in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. With a $35 admission fee, this was quite different in cost from the earlier event. "Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who generated considerably less media buzz than Sarah Sarah Palin|Palin. More than twenty local Tea Party groups in Tennessee sponsored the gathering. The sponsors claimed to have pre-sold 1,000 tickets to the event, and told the press they expected more to attend. To the casual observer, however, there never appeared to be more than 300 people attending at any one time."[28] It was well positioned for the target, however: local Tennessee groups. Burghart and Zeskind expressed concern that its workshops had a significant presence of what they considered extremists:
Contract from AmericaA number of affiliated groups called upon candidates, in September 2010, to pledge to follow a Contract with America, whose main points are:[29]
Conflict on racismThere has been media and blog commentary on racism in the Tea Party, but the issue is not clear in October 2009. One research report, with a foreword by Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP, and issued by the Kansas City, Mo.-based Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which is funded, in part, by the liberal Firedoll Foundation, with its primary author being specialists in white nationalism.[30] The report highlighted individuals and groups in Tea Parties and in antisemitism or white nationalism.[31] A different report, also reported by the Post, said that University of California at Los Angeles graduate student Emily Ekins had photographed and counted signs at the 9-12 Project rally, and found few with racial themes.[32] The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR) study focused on six organizations it considered at the heart of the national movement:
Campaign criticism on the rightWriting in the conservative National Review, Jim Geraghty questioned the possible irony of "The Tea Party movement in all its myriad forms — free-market groups, little old ladies, crusty in flag hats, fans of Glenn Beck|Beck’s 9/12 Project — have done everything one could possibly ask to derail a government takeover of the health-care system. It will be a perverse irony if their high-visibility protests end up persuading Democrats to damn the torpedoes in the face of near-certain electoral doom." He suggested that while some Democrats might lose their seats if they vote for the bill, if they fail to do so, they might enrage the Democratic base, with the Republican base already activated, and lose control of the House in the 2010 elections.[33] It is characterized, however, by opposition and anger more than specific recommendations. ElectionsIn some recent elections, it has been suggested that perceived ultraconservatives it supported to win Republican primaries may not appeal to independents or more moderate Republicans, and actually cost Republican seats by creating unelectable Republican nominees. Another view, however, is the reality that the Tea Party Republicans winning seats against Republican favorites shows organization and appeal to voters. AlaskaDelawareSuch a Tea Party candidate is Christine O'Donnell, who won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, seeking the long-Democratic Delaware seat in the U.S. Senate, formerly held by Vice-President Joe Biden. O'Donnell was endorsed by Sarah Palin. Delaware Republican chairman Tom Ross had called an O'Donnell victory a "complete train wreck" for the party.[34] MissouriOut-of-state Tea Party activists have not necessarily fit local agendas. Missouri Tea Party groups issued a joint statement that they were incensed by Rep. Michele Bachmann's endorsement of Senatorial candidate Roy Blunt.[35] Bachmann is a national favorite among Tea Party members, as is Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint, but the national figures may not be in tune with local issues. NevadaIssuesFrom another conservative group that can cross party lines, neoconservatism, there is conflict with some of the libertarianism|libertarians and paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives in the movement. The former, represented in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, include the heads of the American Enterprise Institute (Arthur C. Brooks), the Heritage Foundation (Edwin Feulner|Ed Feulner) and the Foreign Policy Initiative (Bill Kristol) is directed at Obama Administration military spending cuts, the real message, according to Marc Armbinder, political editor of The Atlantic, is to tell the movement that defense spending is untouchable: "there will not be 'long-term prosperity' if the US military is 'hollowed out and can't defend the country." They are concerned with comments from movement figures such as Ron Paul, and Senate candidates Rand Paul (R-Kentucky (U.S. state)|Kentucky), Mike Lee (R-Utah (U.S. state)|Utah) and Ken Buck (R-Colorado (U.S. state)|Colorado). Buck, for example, has said that as Iraq winds down,
Another conflict potentially comes between social conservatism and libertarianism. While the Tea Party has a general position against enlarged government, the social conservatives want government to enforce their strongly held moral views.[17] Relationship to moderatesIn April 2010, Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts (U.S. state)|Massachusetts) declined to join Sarah Palin at a Tea Party movement rally in Boston, Massachusetts. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia said “He wants to mainstream himself before the election.” His office said he would be busy in Washington, but he applauds the “energy and enthusiasm” of Palin and the Tea Party.[37] After O'Donnell's primary victory, national Republicans said they were diverting funds from the Delaware race, which they had hoped to win, to other races where they had a better chance. Karl Rove said, on Fox News,
Possibly fraudulent Tea Party candidatesIt has been alleged that New Jersey (U.S. state)|New Jersey Democrats, supporting the candidacy of incumbent John Adler against Republican John Runyan, may have worked to nominate a fake Tea Party candidate,[39] Peter DeStefano, to split the Republican vote in the 3rd Congressional District. DeStefano, a political unknown, announced his candidacy in July. According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, no organized Tea Party group claimed to know him.[40] In March 2011, charges were filed against two former Democratic Party officials in Oakland County, Michigan, charging they formed a fake Independent Tea Party to split the opposition to Democratic candidates. Other charges were made relating to fraudulent mailings.[41] References
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