The Tea Party is a Force to be Reckon With

The federal government under Barack Obama aka “Dr. Catastrophe” had become too big and too nasty — like King Kong on steroids! Thus, the Tea party was born. Never have we seen anything like it in politics. Never have the voters been so angry about government-run-amuck. This citizens group took a kicking, screaming and sometimes unwilling Republican Party to historic heights on November 2.

The Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party was launched on February 19, 2009 (when CNBC contributor Rick Santelli first suggested throwing a “Tea Party” in response to the unprecedented expansion of government by President Barack Obama and congressional liberals who were promising a massive increase in spending that would create economy-crushing fiscal burdens for future generations. The organization grew into a phenomenon that has progressed from a ragtag protest movement to a political juggernaut that has shaken American politics to the core.

In that relatively brief period, the Tea Party has demonstrated it is a formidable political force. The pressure the movement brought to bear at the grassroots level put liberals on the defensive for much of the health care debate, and nearly succeeded in torpedoing the entire scheme in spite of Democrats’ overwhelming congressional majorities. Tea Party activists proved decisive in a string of electoral defeats for liberals, beginning with Republican Scott Brown’s victory in the special election to succeed Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Tea Party-backed candidates from coast to coast were swept into office in November by a frustrated electorate demanding more limited government and delivering a resounding repudiation of President Barack Obama’s agenda.

“The Tea Party is the force (in politics)” said Howard Fineman, senior editor at the Huffington Post. Fineman, in the wildest stretches of our imaginations, could never be thought of as a moderate or conservative.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “has blinders on” regarding the wishes of most Americans. He called the tea party movement the “conscience” of congressional Republicans and said it will disappear when the economy improves. This, from a man who nearly lost his senate seat to a tea party-backed political neophyte. In fact, many observers maintain the union workers who operated the Nevada voting machines helped “nudge” Reid to victory.

Now the tea party must find a way to translate electoral success into effective governance. That may mean some form of accommodation must be reached with traditional Republicans, but Tea Party candidates must stand by their beliefs and not forget who voted them into office. The Democrats are in hot water. Let’s keep the heat on them!

“The rise of the Tea Party movement shows “democracy works,” former President George W. Bush says in an interview on Fox News. Here’s what I see.

“I see democracy working. People are expressing a level of frustration or concern and they’re getting involved in the process,” Bush told Sean Hannity in advance of the release of his memoir, “Decision Points. And the truth of the matter is, democracy works in America,” Bush said.

Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential nominee backed 43 candidates for the House. Thirty of them won. That scorecard leaves pundits wondering whether she will now train her sights directly on the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. We think not in 2012. Her influence and presence supporting conservative candidates and the Republican Party is far too important for her to be bogged down in a presidential campaign. She is a young woman and her time will come in a future election.

In less than two years, the Tea Party movement has wielded incredible influence on American politics. It succeeded in putting runaway government spending at the center of our national political discussion. In April 2009, the Tea Party rallied in the streets against the policies of a popular new President; by April 2010, more Americans disapproved than approved of President Obama’s job performance.

Yet, amazingly, the networks paid only slight attention to this movement, as it was gathering momentum in 2009. As polls showed the public rallied to the Tea Party’s views on the issues, the networks amplified the liberal establishment that deplored the crowds in the street. Party members were called extremists, racists and bigots.

While the broadcast networks seldom devolved into the juvenile name-calling and open hostility evident at the liberal cable news networks, their coverage of the Tea Party’s first years reflected a similar mindset of elitist condescension and dismissiveness. Given how the networks have provided fawning coverage and helpful publicity to far-less consequential liberal protest movements, their negative treatment of the Tea Party is a glaring example of a media double standard.

Michelle Bachmann brought that double standard to the forefront during her 2010 Minnesota campaign for reelection to the U.S. House. Bachmann, Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina were kingmakers in the Tea Party court, supporting winning candidates such as Rand Paul for Senate in Kentucky. Bachmann used her notoriety to confront the liberal elite for using a double standard when it came to conservative issues and the Tea Party.

Bachmann went out front and took a lot of the slings and arrows from the critics. She expected to. When women or minorities get involved in politics as conservatives, they take many hits from the press. “Hardball” host Chris Matthews obsessively has taken Bachmann to task for her limited knowledge of history. Some websites and bloggers even have labeled Matthews’ relentless attacks as misogynistic. Despite such efforts, Bachmann won reelection. She has done a lot of good for the Republican Party, and for the country.

The battle to tear America away from the clutches of the Progressives ultras-leftists that now hold sway in Washington and Springfield has only just begun. If you are interested in getting involved in the grassroots efforts for the 2012 election in your state, join the Tea Party.

The Illinois Tea Party is an independent coalition of conservative groups who have unified in order to bring about change in Illinois and the country. Their core values are fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, free market system and national security.  In order to increase the recognition and effectiveness of a state organization, they have joined forces in man efforts.  This includes other national and state tea party organizations across the country who share their core values.  They continue to maintain a bottoms up, grassroots organizations.  Each group in ITP is autonomous, and makes their own decisions on what they want their primary focus to be.

For media, or assistance in starting a Taxed Enough Already (T.E.A.) Group, please contact any of the Regional Coordinators listed below.

Chicago

Southern IL -    Rhonda Linders – 618.786.3338           

Northern Suburbs – Carrie Miller – 847.843.9080
                                   
Central IL -   Diane Benjamin – 309.724.8520
                              Chris Arndt – 815.370.5599
                             Art Havenhill – 815.685.1905