The Power of Tea

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A Modern Day Tea Party

During the political maelstrom that gripped the nation in 2009, raging over issues like the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (The Bailout) to the proposed health care legislation, the Tea Party was born. Taking the name in reference to Boston Tea Party of Colonial times and creatively using it as an acronym for the slogan 'Taxed Enough Already,' the Tea party hit the national stage holding local protests and even convening the first National Tea Party Convention, headlined by the 'Conservative Darling' herself, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK). Although more conservatively aligned, the Tea Party covers every spectrum of the Republican Ticket, supporting the anti-military policies of Ron Paul (R-TX) while chanting Sarah Palin's slogan of "Drill Baby, Drill." With new Gallup Polls indicting that 1 in 5 Americans either somewhat or strongly support the Tea Party Movement, one would assume that it would have a large impact on the 2010 Midterm Elections. Let's take a look and see just how powerful this grass roots organization really is.


Mixed Results

So far this election cycle the Tea Party has been met with frustration as well as delight. Republicans pepper it with praise calling it a true American movement, while Democrats, including the President, consider it little more than joke. Regardless of sentiment, the Tea Part electoral track record is extensive both in defeat and victory. Let's view the results and then one can determine for his or her self whether it is a political power or not.

Perhaps the three largest victories for the Tea Party thus far are the GOP Nominations of: Nikki Haley (R-SC) as the South Carolina Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Sharron Angle (R-NV) as the Nevada Republican Senatorial Candidate, and Rand Paul (R-KY) as the Republican US Congressional candidate from Kentucky. Nikki Haley's surprise surge in the polls has been attributed to the endorsement of Sarah Palin and the backing of the Tea Party Movement. Haley, who nearly clenched the candidacy during the Primary was forced into a runoff with Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) when she won 49% of the vote. The runoff saw a trouncing for Barrett who lost by 30% of the vote. Haley has stuck to her advocacy for small government and fiscal responsibility which has resonated with the Tea Party activists.

In Nevada, Sharron Angle will now be tacking on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid because she clinched the Republican nomination while riding a wave of Tea Party support. The Tea Party Express, one of the organizations that make up the Tea Party Movement, has called Angle's nomination "a huge victory for the Tea Parties." In order to beat out her opponents, all 12 of them, she had to maintain her outsider persona and court the Tea Party support.

The Kentucky race saw Rand Paul, son of Texas Republican Ron Paul, capture the Republican nomination with the endorsement from many Tea Party groups and has labeled himself as a Tea Party politician.

However, not all Tea Party candidates have been met with such welcome and enthusiasm. In California, the Tea Party candidate Chuck DeVore (R-CA), was soundly beaten by Carly Fiorina (R-CA), the establishment Republican candidate. In Virginia, the Tea Party also had luck of the similar kind when all of its candidates for the 5th district lost to establishment Republicans. In Texas, the Debra Medina (R-TX), with Tea Party backing, lost to incumbent Governor Rick Perry (R-TX). It seems that even for an organization that reaches 1 in 5 Americans, you win some and you lose some.

The Parties Future

I, as well as others, believe that the true power of the Tea Party will not be tested until November. I believe that if the Tea Party Candidates (Hayley, Angle, and Paul) win election it will demonstrate two things. First, to the Republican party this would mean that the Party's coalition will have been changed and its demographics will most likely follow suit with a 'change of the guard' soon to follow. To the Democrats, this will teach them that grass root organizations are not to be messed with and that the Tea Party should not be taken lightly. This is not to say that I support all three of these candidates. It is a known fact that I support Nikki Haley 100% and I would like to see someone replace Harry Reid, and if that person is Sharron Angle I really can't complain. However, I find Rand Paul to epitomize everything that is wrong with the Republican Party of today. With his ignorant comments about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other uncouth statements, he has again cast the Tea Party, and indeed the Republican Party, as being arrogant, ignorant, bigots. I am tired of this label and I am tired of backwards politicians. It is one thing to support conservative policies, but it is quite another to condemn others to be second class citizens.

I believe that Haley and Angle will triumph in November and that the Tea Party will indeed become an important part of the Republican camp. However, I do have one reservation. The Republican Party needs to once again become a big tent party and appeal to the entire spectrum of political inclinations. If the Tea Party continues its shift to the right and takes the Republican Party with it, attracting moderates and independents may become impossible. The small government, fiscal conservative, and constitutionalists banners are indeed welcoming, but I just feel it all might come with a catch.

Later,
Cody