Politics, Society

Is The Tea Party Over?

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Recent political events can’t be pleasing for the Tea Party. The rise of  the “moderate ” Mitt Romney coupled with the S.S. Gingrich running aground everywhere but South Carolina has forced many in the ostensibly “grass roots” movement to question their viability. The soul-searching has caused as least one prominent leader to declare the movement kaput. Ohio Liberty Council co-founder Chris Littleton said, “The tea party is dead. It’s gone.”

 This dire observation seems prompted by the lack of any enthusiasm for the Republican slate of Presidential candidates (Perish the thought that this “nonpartisan” group might consider a Democratic candidate). Says Littleton, “I think largely the Tea Party is irrelevant in the primaries. They aren’t passionate about any of the candidates, and if they are passionate, they’re for Ron Paul.” Damning praise indeed from an expert in the field.

 But what about Tea Party darling, Rick Santorum, now that Gingrich has faded? The former Pennsylvania Senator, who during office  resided in Virginia, did make some surprising noise in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. However as they say on that most Republican of boulevards, Wall Street, the “fundamentals” are against him. Santorum trails well behind Romney in fund raising and his infrastructure has the feel of the Afghan highway system.  Santorum promises an aggressive attack in Michigan where Romney’s father was governor, but polls show him dead last in the four horse race.

 That said, what’s a right-wing anti-government type to do? Well look to the future for one thing: “When the (Republican) candidate is selected, I think ‘anybody but Obama’ will have nationwide support from groups like us,” Dayton Tea Party President Don Birdsall said. But that presumes the Tea Party will show up at the polls despite its admitted lack of enthusiasm. The next time they do that will be the first time it’s been done.

 Groups that are agin’ things tend to peter out rather quickly. Think Ross Perot. The Tea Party claimed some headway (though how much is debatable)  in 2010 when it pointed to victories in the mid-term elections of Marc Rubio and Rand Paul and the Republicans took over the House. But has anybody heard from these two since their matriculation to Capitol Hill? How about legislation cutting taxes or cutting government? Lots of talk about it, but most of the meaningful legislation passed is Obama proposed law. Groups with staying power tend to be “for” something and not just agin’ something else.

 The Tea Party suffered from a lack of  a charismatic spokesperson and any real traction in the political middle where staying power is built. Oh, there were pretenders to the throne. Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, and several others had plenty of rhetoric but no real intellectual gravitas to throw the disgruntled right on their back and carry them to the White House. Most are still trying to pick up the standard, but being out of the Presidential Race in 2012 doesn’t help. At best, they are left to cheerlead from the sidelines or offer timid advice like this stuff from Sarah Palin: Romney has work to do to convince GOP voters he’s moved beyond his “pretty moderate past … even in some cases a liberal past. I am not convinced, and I do not think the majority of GOP and independent voters are convinced.” Not exactly “Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead,” is it?

 The Party does claim success in shaping the Republican campaign issues, but are cutting taxes, less government, run-away capitalism, and the Second Amendment really anything new in Republican circles? More importantly will they be front and center in a Romney White House? History says emphatically “no,” and that’s what has the Tea Partiers hopping mad and likely to take their six-packs and stay home this Fall.

 There still a chance the movement could rally around a Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, or Sen. Rand Paul, but none have the national stature to get traction before November. All in all the Tea Party seems fated to be just another passing fancy littering the political landscape.

 Anyone remember the Whigs?

 Source: Daily Beast; Detroit Dailey News; and USA Today.

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

68 thoughts on “Is The Tea Party Over?”

  1. “We have seen throughout the campaign that if you are willing to say really outrageous things that are accusative and attacking of President Obama, that you are going to jump up in the polls,” Romney said. “You know, I am not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support. I am who I am.”

    The foregoing might well be the epitaph of the Tea Party Movement. Popular among some but futile in the last.

    1. But, sadly, this is a typical Romney statement — he has shown he will say anything, reverse any position, to get elected — and, proving him a complete hypocrite, Romney persists in using virtually every Tea Party meme to bash Obama (un-American, dangerous to the nation, etc., etc.). He also has Donald Trump as one of his biggest backers. Come one — you are really taking Romney’s comment seriously?

      I maintain that the Tea Party was not futile — it shifted the nation’s politics to the right, shifted the entire national conversation to the right, and their rhetoric and tactics are now embedded in the GOP, and will be at least through November — quite possibly longer, depending on the outcome of the election.

  4. mespo…..I think there’d be some validity to that….ok….a lot….and no one would still care today who was buried in Grant’s Tomb…..That was funny….

  8. Jim:

    Just so you know, if nationwide unemployement dips below 7.4 % before the election, Obama wins even in the Republicans run Abraham Lincoln. Ooops, they didn’t really like him very much either did they? All that emanicpation talk and all.

  9. Bron:

    “I dont think Jim said that.”

    *****************
    If not to deny care, then why would Jim lament that hospitals don’t have the right to “check citizenship status.”* Words do mean things you know. In this case Jim’s words add up to zenophobia which, when he was called on it, resulted in soem serious backstroking to stiffer border enforcement. Who’s not for that? Any other analysis is intellectually dishonest.

    Jim’s concerned about illegals getting a break over citizens. How come he’s not concerned about them paying taxes for services that cannot legally obtain? Sorry but that zenphobe slip is still showing.

    * Here’s Jim’s exact quote: “Illegal immigrants currently can go to the hospital and federal law prevents the hospital from checking their citizenship status. As a result, they will end up getting free healthcare while Americans will not.”

  10. Bron,

    That is exactly what I hear all the time to. I live in a very heavy Democrat county and many of them are upset with Obama which is not being reflected in the polls.

  11. swarthmore mom:

    the democrats are going to go all out and do as much as possible to re-elect the president. this a must do for them. they are close to having their vision/version of America and they are going to pull out all the stops to make it a reality. I dont believe a thing polls are saying. People I talk to even liberals are disgusted with him. his main support is with the poor and the very far left. even blacks are abandoning him, not in large numbers but enough.

    I could beat Obama just for the simple reason I am not him.

  13. Swarthmore mom
    The race is state by state. Obama’s approval rating is now in the 40s and in some polls at 43. If that trend continues Obama loses. Also, once we get into the general election and Obama begins getting attacked it will hurt him. 18-24 year old will vote less in this election and that too will have a great impact on Obama. Also, The republicans were not that enthused about McCain but are so upset with Obama that they will vote in higher numbers. Just look in the battleground states at the number of new registwered republicans and you will see this fact. Santorum would love to talk about his view on women.

  15. Mespo,

    I never said deny them care. I am simply saying it is not right that non-citizens get a break over those who are. Since you called me a Christian, then God is no respector of persons and we are all treated equally. Where is the equality in giving breaks to illegal immigrants over citizens?

  16. Mespo:

    I dont think Jim said that. I think what he would like to do is close the borders, although I say the more the merrier and give them a foreclosed house if they agree to fix it up, and figure out a way to have the undocumented pay their fair share. I doubt he or other Tea Party members are for wholesale dying in the streets.

    Isnt that what socialized medicine and the federal mandate is all about? Everybody pays their fair share. So why shouldnt illegal immigrants pay for their health care? Right now it probably costs most of us $500 to $1,000 per month and we are carrying those people so they dont die in the streets.

    What is wrong with them paying more than a $50 to $100 emergency room fee? Or making state health insurance available to them for $200 per month with the provisio that if they dont buy it, they will not be admitted to the emergency room? If they cannot pay, then have an uninsured pool from which to pay for health care.

  17. Jim:

    ” Illegal immigrants currently can go to the hospital and federal law prevents the hospital from checking their citizenship status. … So, why don’t you check your facts or do like I do and live on the border for over 40 years and really understand the issue.

    ”

    *******************

    Why of course, Jim, we should let them die in the streets. Also we should have ambulance drivers check the tax rolls before agreeing to pick up citizens, too. If they are in arrears, let them writhe away on the pavement also. That’s the loving “Christian” society you Tea Partiers want and thankfully it’s still just the lunatic fringe. As to your comment about living on the border, I have no doubt about that. The border between reality and delusion is way too easy for you to cross.

  18. Mespo,

    I pay taxes to and will be required to buy health insurance. Illegal immigrants currently can go to the hospital and federal law prevents the hospital from checking their citizenship status. As a result, they will end up getting free healthcare while Americans will not. That is not racism but reality. Also, GE is a big supporter of Obama so that is not a good piece of evidence. Also, most illegals are paid in cash and therefore are paying any federal income, social security, or medicare taxes. They pay sales taxes in the states they reside in but nowhere near what law-abiding citizens pay. So, why don’t you check your facts or do like I do and live on the border for over 40 years and really understand the issue.

  19. Jim:

    “What a tragedy, Americans have to pay and illegals get it for free.”

    ********************

    Actually undocumented workers pay into the system for benefits they cannot access. They paid an estimated $11.2 Billion in taxes last year while GE got a $3.2 Billion in tax credits paid by teh duped Tea Partiers and the rest of us citizens and … guess who else? Those undocumented workers. By the way your zenphobia is showing.

    1. mespo,

      I have learned stupidity knows no bounds……even the so called intellects have varying degrees of bias that correlate to some form of so called racism…. Jim’s is clearly showing….

  20. I wonder since Obama is requiring all of us to purchase health insurance if he will also require Illegal Immigrants to be turned in when they go to the hospital so that they do not get FREE Healthcare. What a tragedy, Americans have to pay and illegals get it for free. This why the Tea Party is not over. Once Americans find out things like this, It won’t matter if you are Republican or Democrat.

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