Who Is The Tea Party?

Written by Russell Cash
Originally submitted  Spring Semester 2013 - EKU.

At first glance, the Tea Party Movement appears reminiscent of an old ideology turned into a new nationalist movement. Importance is placed on a common national heritage, strong national identity, an original interpretation of the constitution, and the belief in a sovereign America. According to the Tea Party website, the party is founded on 15 non-negotiable core values, some of which are, “illegal aliens are here illegally, English as a core language is required, traditional family values are encouraged, and gun ownership is considered sacred.” (Tea Party, 2013) The other unmentioned values, in general, advocate a limited government and a reduction in taxes. While variants of nationalism have spread through parts of the world, the difference in most normally concerned two or more culturally unique bodies of people struggling for autonomy behind the same borders such as Israelis versus Palestinians or French Canadians versus English Canadians. In America this has never been a major issue. Instead, in the case of the Tea Party, it is about a body of citizens wishing to preserve the identity of the common American against an overpowered federal government. However, when ideologies turn political movements, the Tea Party seems as if it is just a re-fashioning of the Republican Party.

While there is much ambiguity as to when and where the party originated, many affiliates claim it started as a simple grassroots effort in the early 2000’s and culminated over time; who are merely benefactors of the original Boston Tea Party participants. Known for their anti-tax policies, others claim the movement emerged as larger US corporations began turning to third parties seeking solutions to eliminate huge corporate taxes. According to the Huffington Post, studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute have traced “the roots of the Tea Party's anti-tax movement back to the early 1980s when tobacco companies began to invest in third party groups to fight excise taxes on cigarettes.” (DeMelle, 2013) The Tea Party website and its domain registration are still owned by some of these groups that fought for the tobacco industries, leading many to question how much of a grassroots effort it really is.
A general consensus agrees that the Tea Party began taking shape during President George W. Bush’s administration. With his expansionist policies, conservative Republicans began pulling away from the major Republican Party protesting his out of control spending. With the aid of the internet, later social networking helped rally groups of likeminded individuals who felt they were being unfairly taxed without representation. Many began sending tea bags to their representatives through the mail. In 2009 the Tea Party image emerged as CNBC reporter, Rick Santelli, openly condemned the Obama administration for its poor behavior and bailing out “losers”. Within 10 days of that broadcast, tea parties were being planned in major US cities. The Tea Party had gone viral. “Should the Tea Party Movement prove a lasting phenomenon, the Santelli rant will go down in history as one of its main birth pangs.” (Pilkington, 2010)

Democrats have yet to provide a formidable Tea Party candidate although a few have run for office and lost. Most estimate the Tea Party is made up of 10%-20% democrat supporters, many maintaining the actual percentage is closer to 10%. When looking at it from a Democrat / Republican perspective, partisanship is hard to avoid. For example, the recent IRS investigation that singled out many Tea Party affiliates has been portrayed as a conspiracy by the Democratic Party, led by President Obama, to sabotage many Republicans. While the party itself has no central leadership and organization, based off the current events, to many, it would seem the Tea Party, if to be considered a Party, is simply a split off of the GOP.
It is rather difficult to determine whether the Tea Party is a social movement, an interest group, or a political party, since it has many characteristics of each, yet does not meet the basic definition of any category. According to the Tea Party website, they are a grassroots populist movement wishing to influence politics. Considering there is no central leadership or organization, this might meet the definition of a somewhat organized social or political movement. However, the Tea Party also advocates characteristics similar to interest groups. In fact, many believe the underlying supporters who fund most of the finances are a ring of big interest groups wishing to lower taxes. By definition, interest groups wish to influence policy irrespective of party affiliation without holding office. However, the vast majority of Tea Party affiliates have proven to be Republican. Likewise, although the Tea Party is not a registered political party, in some ways it acts as one. Noting one of the major differences between interest groups and political parties is that parties wish to influence elections and policy by holding office. Now that many politicians in or running for office are aligned with the Tea Party, this characteristic alone appears similar to a political party. However, considering it cannot be a legitimate party without being registered as one, it makes more sense to think of the Tea Party as a populist movement, that so far has been absorbed primarily by the Republican Party.

Opinion Polls are showing the Tea Party has dropped in popularity and is now ranking near the bottom next to the Christian Coalition. Due to recent controversies such as the IRS investigation and Michelle Bachmann stepping down, the Tea Party is starting to lose its momentum. While I agree with many of the Libertarian values, there simply isn’t enough of a threat for the Tea Party to sweep the nation like a new wave of nationalism. While religious values are respectable in their own right, there are too many Tea Party interests that if employed, would seem as a step backwards to many people. Furthermore, from a Libertarian perspective, a small government would only work optimally if the private sector operated fairly, which it never has. If the accusations are true and the Tea Party is supported by big interest groups wishing to lower taxes for those who provide products that risk the health of people. the environment, and society in general, or it originated in this manner, it would seem the Tea Party is a contradiction to its own values. I don’t see the Tea Party making any historical achievements like its predecessor but by concentrating on its success as a movement wishing to influence politics rather than control it, I believe the party could survive further into the future, potentially having greater influence on the government.