The Boston Tea Party - image vastate wordpress
The Tea Party Movement is mainly marginalized in the mainstream press and tied directly to the Republican Party. For example, a recent MSNBC web article entitled “GOP Watch: Role Reversal” spoke about the recent Tea Party Rally in Harry Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, NV, and went on to quote several Newspaper articles (Washington Post and New York Times), on Sarah Palin’s connection to the Tea Party and her trip to Arizona to aid John McCain in his Senate Bid. The estimates of the Tea Party Rally in NV were put at 8,000 (a figure which was generous compared to others), while the company hired for security placed the crowd at 30,000.) Additionally, Palin, who speaks at Rally’s across the country, was pinioned with the usual harping on “punch lines” and “poor man’s teleprompter” (referring to her writing notes on her hand).
In reality the differences between the two entities (GOP and Tea Party) are becoming more defined, as are the similarities. Both groups are conservative, with fiscal responsibility the key word and that is where the similarities end. The Republican’s have a host of more moderate incumbents and candidates, which are attracting independent voters as well as Democrats who are disenfranchised with their Party. The more Progressive the Democrat Party becomes, the rank and file begins to look at options. Many feel that the spending and government control of a growing percent of the economy is anathema to the core principles of the nation. Suggested reading “My Party No More”, by Zell Miller – a book that outlines why a Democrat may become alienated from the Party, and although written over 5 years ago, it is still relevant to today’s’ events. The Tea Party on the other hand, is the disenfranchised from all parties, and specifically attracts individuals who have never registered to vote period.
In the process of the development of any new political party, there are certain compromises that come to bear while the time is taken to shore up organization as well as build a war chest significant to mount a serious challenge. In the interim, the Tea Party is backing Republican’s who most closely fit their ideology of fiscal restraint. Case in point: newly elected Senator, Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Brown’s camping did receive help from Tea Party members in the Bay State and beyond, as well as Democrats who found a new home among the Republican’s who now more closely align with their own political think.
As the Democrats who, in conjunction with the unions are seeking a more Progressive America (note: many union members who were paid to hold sign for the Democrat, Martha Coakley, in Massachusetts, jumped ship and voted for Brown – those are not the only union members who understand that they can vote for whom they please.) Unions, for the most part, are forced upon employees, and a good percentage of the dues collected go to support candidates like Barack Obama. The Massachusetts AFLCIO has a program in place to ensure that union members take positions as Democrats in local races across the Bay State, the program known as Target-5000 offers seminars to members who would run for offices at all levels in the state. How many of those union members are not on board with the Leadership is anyone’s guess, however, one can bet it is not the entire rank and file. Therefore, the party, in conjunction with Unions, has become more Progressive over time (definition and history of the political Progressive and Socialists Party here at US History.com).
Although one can point to the high number of youth associated with the Democrat Party, the numbers are unsustainable when faced with the addition of a Third Party made up of previous non-affiliated voters, as well as the Republican Party, which is attracting older individuals who are no longer enchanted with the Progressive ideals.
Although the media consistently berates the Tea Party Movement and ties them to the Republican Party (as a problem for the Republicans) the reality is that the formation of a new Political Party is in process, and the Party that would be hurt the most is the one that would not identify with the entire electorate, one that is based and whose base is focused on an ideology that runs counter to the political ideology of the majority. A gallop poll taken in 2009 indicates that a mere 20% of respondents considered themselves to be liberals and a Rasmussen Poll directed at the Tea Party noted that 53% of those polled indicate the Tea Party has a better grasp on the issues than the current Congress.
How long does it take for a political party to ascend? Normally the formation of a new party takes years, however, when a party is marginalized due to disenfranchised members, (i.e. Democrats), depending upon the rift in membership, the length of time could be shortened considerably. What to watch for in the next two election cycles: 2010: a continued growth in membership of Tea Party affiliates and the beginning of a viable organizational structure, with some candidates running as a test of the “waters”, and in 2012, should the structure be in place, the election of candidates on both state and national levels. In any event, the targeted candidate would be a Progressive Democrat, and the slot would go to either a Republican and/or Tea Party Candidate. As more Democrats are pushed out of office, the two remaining Parties would, perhaps, better complement the ideals of the Constitution and agree to disagree much the same way as the Democrats and Republican’s circa 1850.
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