In the history of the United States, the term “Tea Party” ties back to the 1773 Boston Tea Party, which was one of the defining moments of the Revolutionary War. The raid on British ships by Boston’s Sons of Liberty became an iconic moment, due to their poetic, grassroots method of rebelling against the unfair taxes of the English government. By throwing tea in response to the Tea Act of 1773, colonists expressed their displeasure that the English government was taxing them without providing proper representation in their own colonies1. Throughout the years, the legacy of the Boston Tea Party not only cemented itself as one of the keys of American independence; it also became a symbol for some who believe that the American government is beginning to travel that same path. The modern political movement known as the Tea Party has become an unprecedented and controversial political presence, combining libertarian ideologies with incredibly pervasive grassroots campaigns to restore America to their perception of the tenets of the American Constitution.
The Tea Party movement slowly gained its popularity in American politics in 2009, as a result of protests occurring in the beginning of President Barack Obama’s term. The controversial nature of Obama's Democratic leanings, as well as his status as the first African-American president, led many to take action against what they perceived as a threat to what they cherished about America. Several smear campaigns and rallies resulted, with some voters calling for “tea party” revolts against Obama. Protestors cited several quotes made famous during the American Revolution, including lines from the Declaration of Independence: “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor”. Others called for the “restoration of honor” against a government that they deemed to no longer respect the Constitution. The movement became official in February 19, 2009 through Rick Santelli’s rant in the Chicago Stock Exchange. Santelli, through the urging of the traders around him, called for a “Tea Party” revolt from the taxpayers, stopping them from paying money to the losers in government. He even added that the taxpayers were the ones paying for the mortgages of government officials. The speech Santelli gave stirred the public alongside many similar protests, causing the creation of a political party dubbing themselves the “Tea Party Movement”2.
The demographics of the Tea Party Movement are somewhat diverse, but possess a primarily Republican outlook. Polls show that the movement is still a group unknown to many Americans, and their ideologies are still somewhat of a mystery. According to polls by the CBS News and the New York Times, only a few people who attended Tea Party movements donate money or support their philosophies. Despite the actual number of Tea Party branches around the country, it is suggested that there are only a few who influence the movement both financially and politically. It is also likely that there are only a few participants who joined in the main protest of the movement. Nevertheless, the most common members of the movement are older white Americans over 45 years old, some having higher incomes than the average American. The movement’s majority members are also conservative Republicans who have made a name for themselves in current American politics. Tea Party members often see themselves as supporters of Republicans; however, despite their Republican inclinations, they do not see themselves as a full-fledged Republican group.3.
The impact of the movement in the 2010 American Elections and in American Politics in general made changes in both ways. First, the movement restructured forms of discourse which was adapted by the Republican Party in ensuring that the political party promotes the Movements ideals as noted in their Pledge to America speech in 2010. The movement also gave emphasis to several important issues in the economic and constitutional aspects in the US which is rarely given basis by the government. The movement continued to call for protest against additional “Tax hikes”, health care reform, and even constitutional authority to certain officials. It was also through the Tea Party that enabled the government see how many policy shifts it has taken that deviated from the original standpoint seen in the constitution. The movement also paved the way for new political entrepreneurs to advance themselves in the political arena. Nevertheless, there were still significant constraints that prevent the movement to make a lasting impact due to the fact that most of the participants from the movement were running against solid Democratic states4.
The Tea Party's relationship with the Republican and Democratic parties alike is contentious. The Tea Party Movement purports to critically assess both groups through their agenda, policy plans, and reactions to certain American issues. The Tea Party Movement blames Republicans for their involvement in the Wall Street Crisis, their support of President George W. Bush, and the current economic crisis in America. However, the movement has also been vocal in opposing Democratic legislation and initiatives, as most of its members are Republican or Independent. Despite their ostensible support for Republicans, the movement also serves as a threat to the Republican Party, due to their very vocal advocacy for some subjects (the validity of President Obama's citizenship, libertarian policies) that could be considered on the fringe of American politics. To that end, it could be said that the Tea Party is waging an ideological war against the GOP and the Democrats. Even if there exists frustration between the Tea Party and Republicans, some members believe that there is no need for the Tea Party movement to become a third party to balance the political power in the US. If the Tea Party becomes a third party, it is possible that the votes would be divided in favor of Democrats5.
While they are in favor of gaining the support of the Tea Party Movement, Republicans are still reluctant to directly form an alliance. Some Republicans have already embraced the Tea Party's position against the current state of health care reform, but some distrust remains. Republicans recognize that the Tea Party would not always support Republican policies, despite their common distrust of the Obama Administration. According to the Tea Party, some Republicans no longer adhere to the conservative Republican values they pledged to follow, especially during Bush's tenure; furthermore, they believe the Republicans were only using them to fund their campaigns, capitalizing on the movement’s capacity to make money through its national grassroots network. Liberal observers also see that both groups, while supporting the other’s ideals, have vastly different ideologies; the Republicans favor a more controversial rhetoric and utilizes any group who supports it for their own benefit. The Tea Party Movement, on the other hand, has a much more libertarian ideology that is often deemed unworkable. The Movement also supports more extreme measures to limit the scope of government the Republicans. Nevertheless, the Tea Party Movement enabled the Republican Party to reinvent itself, enabling the GOP to steel itself against the Democratic opposition. Their partnership has benefited both groups: the Republicans provide the image model for the group as a whole, while tea party activists rally for support for their chosen candidate6.
As noted above, the Democrats are not seen in a positive light by the Tea Party Movement. Supporters and members of the Tea Party are opposed to almost all of the federal government’s current policies, opposing health care reforms and even economic policies. In the case of health care reform, the Tea Party members vehemently oppose several key guidelines in the proposal, such as the mandate for all Americans to buy health insurance, and the additional taxes proposed to fund Americans who cannot afford health care. While people have many reasons to oppose the Obama-led healthcare plan, Tea Party members lean to a more libertarian position than the majority, using their dissatisfaction with government oversight of commercial enterprises to support Tea Party principles. Though there are others who believe that the economy would recover without the need to bail out banks and financial institutions, a few of the movement’s supporters blamed the 2008 recession and its contribution to the Wall Street Crash7.
Eventually, the Tea Party Movement’s support to the Republicans was cemented in the 2010 midterm elections, when the GOP candidates were endorsed by the movement. In that election alone, the Tea Party secured 11 US Senate seats, 6 governor positions and 19 House representatives in Congress. Some Republicans, however, had the support of the Tea Party but declined the support, due to skepticism regarding the movement’s true intentions with the Republican Party. Idaho’s Walt Minnick, for example, had backing from the Tea Party; however, he declined the representation and eventually lost his position due to the lack of support from the Republican-Tea Party coalition. Experts believe that the support of the Tea Party made it possible for the Republicans to provide strong opposition to President Obama’s administration, making the Democrats wary of the implications of the Tea Party’s backing. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain as to how long the unity between the two groups, which is fuelled by political convenience, will last8.
The government must be able to understand that the Tea Party Movements are driven by their fear that the government would not be able to secure their future. As noted by critics, the movement often uses their anger and emotion in rallying for what they believe would support their families and their needs. According to some polls, 41% of the Tea Party members only support their movement’s ideologies and rallies in fear that their social class and financial capacity would diminish if the government acted against them.
Tea Party sentiments are fuelled by the idea that the country was more effectively run in the past, expressing extreme dissatisfaction with the current administration9. It is the task of the government to ensure that they can provide results in their efforts to restore the American economy and deliver policies that would be beneficial for all. The Tea Party does not trust the government to follow these goals, as they believe both Washington and Wall Street establish a system to use taxpayer money for initiatives and uses that they ideologically oppose. Tea Party participants also believe that taxpayer money does not go back to the taxpayer in form of development, but goes to the rich. This is done, in theory, in order for the government to benefit from corporate support come election day. Even today, there is a substantial fear that the Tea Party revolts would increase and possible lead to militia-based action against the government10.
Even if the Tea Party Movement is still a fringe political party, it is undeniable that their actions and sentiments have infectious, as they have gained a substantial amount of support in a very short amount of time. According to Tea Partiers, America's focus on foreign policy and international relations has led to an ignorance of local, domestic problems; it is no longer seen as “American’s responsibility” to promote peace. While others could comment on the Tea Party’s somewhat controversial beliefs and methods of advocacy, the movement has proven itself as a key factor in ensuring that political parties are made aware of the current political climate in the US and the issues that concern the public.
Works Cited
Allison, Robert. The American Revolution: A Concise History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
Ashbee, Edward. "Bewitched- The Tea Party Movement: Ideas, Interests and Insitutions." The Political Quarterly 82.2 (2011): 157-164. Print.
Crowley, Michael. "The Tea Party's Triumph." Time 15 August 2011: 34-41. Print.
"Tea Party Movement." Issues and Controversies. Facts on File News Services, 19 April 2010. Web. 15 July 2012
Leverenz, David. Honor Bound: Race and Shame in America. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press, 2012. Print.
Welch, Susan, et al. Understanding American Government. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. Print.
Williamson, Vanessa, Theda Skocpol and John Coggin. "The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism." Perspectives on Politics 9.1 (2011): 25-43. Print.
Winograd, Morley and Michael Hais. Millenial Momentum: How a New Generation is Remaking America. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press, 2011. Print.
