Why the Tea Parties aren’t for the GOP
I’m on the RNC’s email list and I got an issue of “The Weekly Trunk” ostensibly written by Chairman Michael Steele.
I quote from the heading of the email:
The goal of The Weekly Trunk is to inform and arm you with the facts you need to spread our conservative message and refute the misstatements of the Democrats.
Following this is a list of articles attacking Obama and the Democrats. Do you know what was missing? Any mention of the 600+ tea parties that were held across America today.
The bottom line is that most politicians fear the grassroots taking over. They see us as useful only when we work to benefit them. If the RNC had any brains, they would be doing everything they can to encourage this movement, help drive attendance, and use it as an opportunity to return to their conservative roots. Unfortunately, they only became interested once it reached critical mass and they realized they were starting to look bad. The result was Chairman Steele asking to speak at the Chicago Tea Party and getting rejected. He then compounded the mistake by lying and denying that he sent the original request.
Many of our supporters are traditional Republican voters who feel that the party has traded their conservative values for perceived political gain. They are flushing their party down the drain by doing so. I have a feeling that the Tea Parties will step up to fill the void.
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
You can’t tell me that most people who are in the Tea Party aren’t disillusioned Republicans. The Cincinnati Tea Party was started February of 2009? Funny coincidence in timing that a Democratic president is elected and suddenly people are upset about government spending and overreach? Hmm…. Habeas Corpus was treated like an archaic problem and government spent like drunk sailors from 2000-2008, didn’t see any outrage then.
I am hopeful that there is a grain of truth to what was stated in the article that perhaps the grassroots movement will overshadow the Republican party and come up with something that is fresh and engaging.
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Andrew,
Read our writings. Read our responses to others that have commented. It should be clear that our arguments are reasoned and that our allegience is to our values – not to any politician or political party.