Tea Parties Increasing Stakes
September 29, 2010 8 Comments
Gaining Senate control is looking increasingly possible for Republicans as races once thought safely in the Democratic column now appear in play and in a big way.
—Frank James, NPR (Republicans Improve Chances For Senate Control)
RALEIGH— In spite of the persistent name calling and attempts to marginalize and dismiss the Tea Party, recent polling is show big gains with all but 1 of the Tea Party candidates in the lead.
Many on the liberal left have been quick to make reference to a report by The New Yorker that attempted to show Mr. David Koch of Koch Industries funds the Tea Party movement albeit in a very indirect way. For synopsis, the report found that Mr. Koch contributes to many, many causes, sits on many boards, has many billions, and has started various political and non-political groups with respective agendas. One such group is the Americans for Prosperity Foundation which, among many things, lends support to the Tea Party movement. What the Americans for Prosperity Foundation does not do, nor does Mr. Koch, is specifically fund every and all Tea Parties across the nation. Nor does either sources pay Tea Party rally goers to show up at rallies. Nor does either pay for mass produced signage for rally goers to hoist over their heads. The Tea Party signature is basically poorly worded phrase smeared across marker laden poster board.
Does this supposed “secret funding” have any major implications of the Tea Party? Should it? Is it fair to call the Tea Party, or any political group/rally a scam if said group or rally indirectly, or directly receives money from a wealthy benefactor? If so would it not seem the entirety of the US government is a scam? Is it logical to distrust a group which may or may not have a wealthy benefactor? The truth is, the wealth of the man should not be the point. If we as a nation are to rise up and show how tolerant we are of a Muslim Mosque built on the site of a building ruined by an Islamic Terrorist attack, then we must also be willing to accept the rich man in times of economic peril. Just as we should not seek to pass laws to discriminate against Muslims in America we should not seek to pass laws which discriminate against those who are successful in business.
The Tea Parties are scaring the ruling class. It has been quite fascinating to watch. Accusations that the Tea Party is merely “Republican” is a gross over simplification and a complete denial of what the Tea Party has accomplished. The Tea Party has brought havoc to the Republican establishment. This is a rebuke of the former Republican party as a whole. America as whole rebuked the Republican Party the last two election cycles. This recent election cycle appears to be a continuation of this same rebuke as well as a rebuilding from with in the party. A similar movement occurred recently with in the Democratic party. A group of like minded liberals tired of DINO politicians picked a candidate and pushed him into the Oval Office, officially toppling the Clintonian Establishment.
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Yep – the Tea Partiers are going to be the ones that show up on election day. I think this group has staying power, though I’m not sure the level of animation will stay this high for too many successive election cycles. Still, it’s good to see them make politicians quake in their boots.
The libs are just jealous. They have to deliberately manufacture this kind of agitation- through harrassing phone calls, text messages, pledge cards, etc. They have to “get in people’s faces” about getting out to vote. They are simply floored that there can be a grass roots movement that is completely self animating.
Krauthammer had a good quote the other day. He said the Glenn Beck / Tea Party march on Washington was a revolution – and perhaps the only revolution in recorded history that felt like a Sunday picnic and cleaned up after itself. In short- these are regular, non-extreme folks who are just fed up with being marginalized.
The Left, of course, ignores the massive meddling in the business of the United States by convicted felon (in France) and multi-billionaire George Soros, who makes David Koch look like a piker when it comes to selective political funding.
Great point that the Tea Party attendance is the result of a true grass roots movement and not the product of manufactured (and often paid) demonstrations engineered by professional agitators.
Paul, I like these updates on Tea Party activities. Thanks! Keep it up.
I dislike all of the money campaigns require. When the candidate wins and takes office will there ever be a nod or a wink coming from someone like Mr. Koch that might persuade them? Bribes have likely always had some role in politics, could large campaign contributions be the same thing?
I am sure there are some politicians and benefactors/unions combinations out there that are honest, for them this would never be an issue. However this nodding and winking is a possibility and in many cases a reality. So my answer to one of Paul’s questions is yes, the entirety of the US government is a scam. Okay, maybe not in its entirety, granted there are honest politicians.
Back to the point…Good for the Tea Party stirring things up a bit.
Bribes have likely always had some role in politics, could large campaign contributions be the same thing?
Look no further than public unions… and some private unions. For instance, the CTA is sponsoring a new tax hike in California. The tax is to cover a budget short fall that in large part is a result of the very, very generous benefits the CTA has squeezed out of the government.
On the Federal side, Obama received more money from special interests than any President before him. Part of returning the favor was to pass the “card check law” which abolished secret ballots. (the measure is stalled in the Senate). Another part was to use the power of the government to seize control of a private industry company and give over 50% of it to the public unions while leaving the tax payers with the bill.
I agree financial support by unions is just as bad. The concept of requiring money to win votes is flawed.
All a campaign should require is publicly funded debates, a website, and a pamphlet accessible to every voter.
If it were only this simple those of us who care could digest this information then simply vote. Of course there’s the first amendment allowing us to say what ever the f*&% we want when ever the f*&% we want to. So money gets your voice heard and there is nothing we can do to change that.
What can change is how the people view campaigns. The people need to see that every $ spent beyond the publicly funded campaign is indeed free speech that was at a $ cost. Perhaps it should be called “bought speech” at least in the case of political campaigns.
What the government and the rest of society should promote and teach to people is that “bought speech” is completely legal however totally unacceptable. It can be thought of like one’s right to curse in front of, or even at, one’s 5 year old child but it is totally unacceptable.
I’m not a big fan of public funding for a campaign. I don’t check that box on my tax returns. Why am I not a fan? Because. That’s why.
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