Tea Party

Whereas I have been critical of Thaddeus McCotter (and Republicans in general) in the past, I do believe now that he has found religion. The Tea Party movement has developed into a serious political force in our nation. Its reach extends across state lines; it is not dependent on campaign cash, and even seems immune to the unrelenting ridicule and attacks orchestrated by the White House and its lackeys in the state-run media.

Tea Party dogma does not revolve around single issues like comparable movements on the Left that seems to be able to generate sizable rent-a-mobs in support of gender, race, immigration, environmental and foreign policy issues. Tea Parties appear to have a comprehensive view re all of those, including some of their own. Examples: spending, taxes, schools and unwarranted government intrusion into American’s private lives. Though Tea Party supporters are not primarily focused on foreign affairs, they tend to support of Israel and other traditional American allies.

Tea partiers pose a threat not only to the ruling elites, but also to what is seen as its adjuncts: corporate, academe, media, unions and the like. Money, traditionally generated by such deep pocket interests seemingly has no effect on the unprecedented growth of the movement. Politically, it is expedient for politicians with aspirations to higher office to align themselves with the movement or, at the very least, to make certain not to end up in its crosshairs.

No doubt, the movement developed in response to the blind ideological stance the Obama administration has adopted. It acknowledges that career politicians of both major parties have been complicit in causing the general downturn in America’s fortunes. Even more important, Tea partiers are determined that they will no longer be the victims of a political process that has managed to upend the slave/master paradigm.

The Tea Party, thus far, is has been a grassroots movement without a face. All attempts at painting it as racist, stupid, seditious, have failed. In fact, every attempt to portray Tea partiers as dangerous, Timothy McVey or supremacist militia types has only served to make them stronger. Where the ruling class and most of the pundits make their mistake is by casting the Tea Party as a political entity - a third party alternative to Republicans and Democrats. The Tea Party is not political. It is a popular uprising. Its aim is not to win elections. (Sorry, Lou Dobbs.) Its aim is to be king maker; to elect people to political office - regardless of political affiliation - who they feel most closely approximate a return to reasonable and effective governance.

The next test for the movement will be crucial to its ultimate impact. No doubt, a leader will emerge. Perhaps he or she already has. As long as this leader is not tempted to overtly pursue political office, the party remains relatively safe. Ideas, thus far, have been immune to the proverbial sticks and stones. It is the human face of a party that is most exposed to smear. As long as no leader emerges, the idea of America returning to its former self will continue to grow. And the Tea Party will have served its purpose.