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Protecting the Tea Party Image
February 7, 2010
It’s not exactly news that I had disagreements with the organizers of the recent tea party convention in Nashville. So I’ll bring up another point of disagreement with them and hope to clarify what the movement is really about. Let me start by saying what it’s not about. By giving a prominent birther the microphone in Nashville, who Fox News reports got a very warm reception in Nashville, the organizers implicitly endorsed the idea that somehow the birther movement is a legitimate part of the tea party movement. It’s not, and those who think it is are not serious about making the real change this country needs: they’re tilting at the proverbial windmills.
I’ve said it to friends, but now I’ll say it publically: if you think that Obama’s birth certificate is a priority and a galvanizing issue, it’s not and those that are serious about it are not serious about real change. No doubt I’ll get angry emails or comments for saying that, but it’s the truth. I hate to point out the obvious here, but even if for some really strange reason Obama’s not a natural born citizen, what does that really change? That we get Biden for President? Or if the ticket were disqualified, Pelosi? I’m not sure what the end game of the birthers is except to whip up emotion without focusing on those things that bring about real change. It’s called demagoguery. So go ahead and waste your time, birthers, but leave the tea party movement alone. And for those who promote birthers at conventions, you’re guilty by association. I will also echo my friend Erick Erickson’s comments at RedState by saying that the speakers at the convention were mostly unknowns, or fringe, or as I would like to say, the usual angry white man suspects. The tea party movement as a whole does not reflect many of the sentiments of those speaking in Nashville. Those speaking represent a very small minority of the movement.
Now that I’ve talked about what the movement is not about, let me say a few words as to what it is about: restoring the government of “We the People” to the people. It’s about the honest taxpayers who believe in self-governance wresting back control of their government from the statist political class. Within that struggle are the the issues of the role of government and its size, scope and amount of spending. It also means accountability to the people, with new leadership arising that puts the interests of the people first, not the interests of the political class and its crony capitalist friends on Wall Street.
I believe the majority of Americans share the exact same sentiments of the majority of those involved in the tea party movement when it comes to the role of government, spending, and the anger at the political class that has ignored the will and interests of the people for too long. That’s why I call the tea party a mainstream movement, and the tea party movement will only be successful if the majority of Americans realize there is a great deal of common ground with tea partiers. It’s also why I resent it when people promote and try to attach their fringe ideas to the movement.
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Thank you for speaking the truth! The birther movement does NOT represent the bulk of the tea party movement. I’ve had problems with Tea Party Nation from the beginnings – starting with “who are they”? I’ve been a tea party organizer since March 1, 2009 and very involved in the movement and never heard of them. We support free markets and fair profits, but TPN was profiteering.
Can anyone get this to the national media???
I was actually pretty excited when I first heard about the convention. Then I started thinking and reading more about it.
I decided that the TEA Party movement is not something “national”. It’s totally local and empowered by citizens, not special interests or financial backers. In fact, I would guess that most of the TEA Party organizations are “running in the red” or close to it.
I’m not speaking for the entirety of my local organization, but the convention was a mistake, by my standards.
Thank you Ned for your comments. Tea Partiers must begin to realize that all of the politcal power and influence in America lies within it’s citizens. We haven’t lost that power we have given it away! If the Tea Party movement is going to survive it cannot follow the old paths. I already have seen Tea Partiers out source their authority and influence to organizations who do not have the citizens best interests in mind but rather their own self interests. Orginizations have been built almost exclusivly on the backs of tea partiers and if we are not careful we will simply be a D or an R party with instructions coming from the top down. We must look for organizations like AM who choose to empower the Tea Party movement rather than drain it. Please stay on track and continue to speak against those who would rather use the movement as a megaphone for fringe and radical ideas.
God Bless America
Glenn Gallas
NEH 2:18
I have to agree that I have strong reservations about the ‘Tea Party Convention’ this past weekend. I heard the idea that the GOP should adsorb the Tea Party and 9/12 movements. This is completely crazy as many of the Tea Party movements are concerned about the actions of the RNC as much as the DNC. I believe a more likely scenario is for Tea Party supporter to help elect individuals who share our beliefs and thereby redefine both political parties. Both parties are currently led by individuals who believe that government is the solution to all problems instead of a mechanism to achieve certain roles defined in the Constitution. It is very clear to me that the leadership of both parties are out of touch with members of the Tea Party and 9/12 movements.
I will, however, say that I would like to know what is behind the birth certificate issue. I have found it hard to believe that there is any validity to the story but at the same time I find it hard to believe that someone would spend reportedly more than $2-million fighting the release of the original birth certificate. That said, the Birth Certificate issue is more of a curiosity to me than an issue to charge forward on right now.
The Tea Party and 9/12 movements need move into the political process with the following principles:
1. I will support you when you do the right thing.
2. I will oppose you when you do the wrong thing.
3. If you do the wrong thing too many times, then I will work to replace you.
Once we establish these principles then we can work toward electing and maintaining quality leadership at the local, state and national levels. It is doubtful that we will be able to push forward an agenda right now but it is likely that we can stop any bills that further erode our freedom from advancing in Congress. We need to stress that it is principles over party instead of party over principles.
Kevin,
I’m thankful that there are people like you!
Who’s to say what is a legitimate discussion in the “Tea Party Movement?” The TPM is made up of INDIVIDUALS who do not think monolithically! If the “birthers” want Obama’s citizenship to be at issue, then let them speak! Who in the TPM is going to censor which issues are at play and which are not? Do you agree 100% with anybody. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Either you respect the grass roots aspect of the movement, or you want to “control” it. The idea here is to get America back to its basic principles, and deconstruct the system. We are battling LIBERALISM first. Then we can tackle those who are soft on Liberalism, i.e. RINOs. At that point, the people rule…the individuals rule.
I am not a “birther” and I am not a “guilter” (one who voted for Obama because he is black!). I am a Conservative, who happens to be black. I am an individual who supports ALL grass roots movements, because I am not beholden to anybody but God. I believe in America. And I say let everybody be heard, as that is their right!
Great article and comments. Of all the developments of the past year, this is one of the most interesting. It seems to be so difficult, even for those who claim to be in the Tea Party movement or even spokespersons for it, to understand what it is really about. There is something however that keeps encouraging us. Every time you hear some of the nonsense by those who don’t seem to get it, there is a surge of affirmation that the vast majority do understand and embrace the principles that bind us together. We posted a similar article on the subject, “Whose Side Are They On” (https://www.franklincountypatriots.org/2010/02/whose-side-are-we-on/). Keep up the good work Patriots.
Kevin, I get your point on some levels, but disagree, and here’s why: I believe the tea party movement is maybe the best chance we have had since the founding to make the political difference this nation needs; to shift control back to the people, away from the political class and its allies. I believe the majority of Americans identify with the tea party on the role of government, government spending, realizing that the current government spending is unsustainable. They also resent the idea that government is trying to impose on them a monstrosity of a health care bill, which is nothing but a crass grab for power by the political class. But the only way that the ideals of the tea party movement will win is when the majority of Americans identify with them and work together on them. If the tea party movement is marginalized by fringe ideas like the birthers’, then it loses its chance for real success because most Americans won’t identify with those issues. I’m not interested in making a lot of noise about random issues, or wasting time on little rabbit trails. I’m interested in the tea party movement being successful and winning. And on another note, I do believe in the market place of ideas. The birthers have had their chance to chat and make their arguments. Nobody who wants to really win thinks that it is a winning issue, so let’s move on.
I completely agree with all here who say the Tea Party movement origins are local rather than national.
I was dismayed to see articles proclaiming that Palin will be the voice of the “National Tea Party”. This is not what this movement is about. This is about engaging ordinary citizens in the political process and effecting change on a local level, which will rapidly percolate through to the national level.
This cannot be about creating another monolithic entity that will sooner than later morph into what our two major political parties have become. This must be kept at the local level to remain effective and true to this nations’ original constitutional goals.
I’m going to keep on saying this: local leaders should organize locally, network nationally. Those tea party/912 leaders who have 1,000, 5,000 people at their protests or in their groups should become community organizers for freedom. Hardwire their precincts. Identify leaders to run for local school boards, city councils, county commissions. Make their coalitions robust enough to get that leadership in to office. If a 1,000 or more communities were to do that across the country, you not only have a massive change at the local and state level, you then have a national network that brings about the national level change. 1,000 Communities of Freedom all aimed at limited government, accountability and transparency. We do that, we cause generational change.
I agree that the movement is pretty well defined and we don’t need broad outside issues. It’s implementing the Constitution in a way that our government returns to its original definition of power. Fiscal Responsibility does fall under that. If they were doing the Federally appointed duties, then the debt shouldn’t be there.
I have one warning. Sarah Palin IS A REPUBLICAN. However, she comes off as a Tea Party Movement leader. My experience has been (at a local book signing) that those who were enamered with her were Republican Faithful.
That’s not to say she doesn’t have a voice. I’m just throwing out a caution. For Example: She supports McCain. Not only is a liberally minded person on some issues, he’s definately not for the Constitution. I and other Precinct committeemen had our power stripped from us by McCain in a State Convention in 1997. Another: Rep. Boozman is running against Blanche Lincoln. He’s a 10 year FOLLOWER (not leader) and has a low grade for tax conservatism. However, the R’s are going to try to push him through the primaries.
Trust no-one. Keep your enemies close. Keep your enemies enemies even closer.
Another great example of what happens when well intentioned but misguided individuals assume a leadership position. The birther phenomena is troubling, but the folks who let them in strikes a familiar chord: the blind leading the blind.
I suppose I could offer a rambling dissertation of the finer points of strategy, but this really goes a step higher by illuminating their moral values and ethics, something that is all too familiar amongst America’s political class. Naturally, they have learned this by following the status quo, so it doesn’t at all surprise me when these things happen.
Ned, I would partially agree with you in your comments, but I have to respond also to a bigger problem that needs to be dealt with, that I am attempting to address with the formation of Liberty Strategists, which is searchable on facebook and Ning.
I think your points on “organize locally, network nationally” are accurate, but very few people know how to execute on strategy. In essence, the best that they can do is organize rallies and protests, and that’s the end of it. Organizing has it’s limits.
Secondly, and as I mentioned in my earlier comment, there is a moral and ethical dilemma that I see repeating itself over and over again: organizers assume leadership positions, but do not know how to lead. And what I mean by that goes back to on-strategy execution, which is not something that is easily taught, because it requires analytical, strategic and conceptual prowess.
“Make their coalitions robust enough to get that leadership in to office” is indeed a relevant example, but my sense is that when we talk of these things, it is easier said than done.
What I see missing from this equation also relates to a failure of leadership by the RNC, which should be engaging in a broad PR campaign to help educate voters, so that when elections do come along, the job of an organizer is half solved by creating a captive audience.
I agree that we do need organizing, but there is a failure of leadership at the local and national level that needs to be addressed as well.
In case you missed it, Rasmussen released a new poll on the TPM this morning. It seems that all have a lot of work to do in order to be successful.
“Tea Party Candidate Now Comes In Last On Three-Way Generic Ballot,” February 9, 2010
“A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters finds that in a three-way congressional contest with a Tea Party candidate on the ballot, the Democrat earns 36% support. The GOP candidate comes in second with 25% of the vote, while the Tea Party candidate picks up 17%. Twenty-three percent (23%) are undecided.
Unchanged between the two surveys is the 41% of voters who have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement. But now 28% view the movement unfavorably, up six points from December. Thirty-one percent (31%) are not sure what they think of the movement.
Shifts in voting by Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party are key to the Tea Party’s new third-place showing. In December, 39% of GOP voters went for their party’s candidate, but 33% opted for the Tea Party. Now, 48% of Republicans are sticking with the GOP, and just 23% favor the Tea Party candidate.
Among unaffiliateds, 33% supported the Tea Party congressional candidate in December. Now, only 23% are voting that way. Interestingly, however, most of that shift seems to go into the undecided category rather than into support for the Republican.
The Tea Party candidate continues to earn just single-digit support from Democratic voters.”
Link to full article:
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2010/tea_party_candidate_now_comes_in_last_on_three_way_generic_ballot
Keeping the Tea Party Movement independent will be a hard fight. Must stay vigilant and whenever you hear birthers, truthers, or birchers trying to jump on the bandwagon, we need to let them know with a firm “You are NOT welcome here!”
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