Pouring everything into the ‘Tea Party’

In February 2009, Rick Santelli (CNBC) was reporting from the Chicago Exchange and called the stimulus plan government’s “Bad behavior” and mentioned a “Tea Party” protest (video). At the same time other movements were beginning in places like Seattle, WA. As these blogs got picked up by the Drudge Report and The Huffington Post things were set in motion and the April 15, 2009 tax day protest occurred in most of the 50 states.

The “movement” had identified mostly tax related and federal spending agenda items as it core reason to exist. A balanced budget, simplified tax system, limits on federal spending along with a rejection of health care legislation and “cap and trade” policies were and are at the center of the Tea Party.

However, everybody seems to pour their own beliefs into what they believe the ‘Tea Party’ stands for. If you are a progressive you see it as an “asto-turf” movement on cutting your pet projects in government. If you are a minority rights group you see it as a racist agenda organization that wants to take away the rights of “non-whites”. If only want to help the poor, they are against children and women, if you want to allow the tax cuts to sunset (as they will on Jan. 1^st, 2011) you see the party as being for the rich. Everyone who has an agenda seems to somehow dump that into the Tea Party. This includes Republicans who are spending money to incorporate or hijack the movement for their benefit. This cannot be allowed to happen

The ‘Tea Party’ isn’t even really a party, it is a movement without a center and that is the way it should be. Once it has actual leaders they can be corrupted by the other parties which will lead to its demise. There are parties running candidates but they are in individual states and are not a national organization nor should one be created.

Much like the premise of our constitution and our motto “E pluribus unum” (from many one) the ‘Tea Party’ movement must be grassroots and have a singular focus of limited government and yet be open to any candidate that believes in the same agenda.