The Ideology of the Tea Party Movement
Tuinei, Alex
Salt Lake Community College

Abstract
In the last few decades there has been no political movement comparable to the Tea Parties. The Tea Party Movement is unique because it is entirely grassroots and desires to change American politics from the bottom-up. The mainstream media and the Democratic leadership as well as some establishment Republicans all misunderstand and grossly underestimate the movement. They have labeled it a movement of extreme right-wing nuts that are angry at having a black President, or don't want to pay taxes, or cling to guns and religion (Avalon, 2010). They are wrong. In fact, the Tea Party Movement is a mainstream awakening that has been long overdue and will not wither and die within a couple years as some predict. The Tea Party groups are a loose and decentralized coalition of libertarians, conservatives, disenchanted independents and moderate democrats. Tea Partiers are not a concentrated group of ideologues but a diverse collection of regular groups that are alarmed at the direction of the country. Stimulus Package was the start of it all and was further amplified by hidden taxes built into cap'n'trade and healthcare reform. (Murphy, 2008) American history remembers and teaches about that memorable night on December 16, 1773 the British Parliament passed The Tea Act. This turns out to be the final straw in a series of unpopular policies and taxes that where imposed by Britain on her American colonies. This policy was a slap in the face to the colonies and ignited a “powder keg” of opposition and resentment among American colonists and was the catalyst of the Boston Tea Party. In many ways this is like history repeating itself. That brave group of people stood up for what was best for the majority of the colonies and it was a way for them to be heard. This reflects many similarities of the present moment but without violence and destruction of property. Tea Partiers are also upset at the corruption and utter lack of transparency in the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress.

The Ideology of the Tea Party Movement
The main issues for Tea Partiers that are not fairly reported on by the media as well as those both on the left and some on the right are excessive government spending, the economy and the over expansion of government power over the past six years. There are Ten Core Belief of the Tea Partiers share (1) eliminate excessive taxes, (2) eliminate the National Debt; (3) eliminate deficit spending; (4) protect free markets; (5) abide by the Constitution of the United States; (6) promote civic responsibility; (7) reduce the overall size of government; (8) believe in the people; (9) avoid the pitfalls of politics; and (10) maintain local independence (Tea Party Platform, 2011). The Tea Partiers are very adamant about limiting the power of the federal government or any government and are very alarmed at the dramatic increase in government power particularly the federal. Tea Partiers as well as many tax paying citizens are also outraged at the massive budget deficits, the growth of the national debt, and the generational theft taking place. The Movement advocates economic freedom and strongly believes that the present President, “Mr. Obama and the Democratic Congress are dismantling the free market economy in favor of a more centralized, socialist economy” (Oliver, 2009). Another important element of the movement is their attitude toward partisan politics. Tea Partiers have consistently expressed their frustration and discontent with the Republicans as well as Democrats. In general, Tea Partiers are anti-establishment and want wholesale changes in their representatives. They are highly suspicious of career politicians and the influence of the national party leadership in local elections. As a result, they have rejected the traditional or establishment candidates in a number of primaries, preferring more independent or activist candidates. Tea Partiers want change through elections not gunfire. Like any other movement, there are individuals that are unhinged and violent, but the media's focus on this extremely small sect demonstrates their lack of integrity and liberal bias. In reality, the Tea Party Movement is one of the most peaceful large scale political protests in recent memory. The objective of the Tea Party Movement is to change the Republican Party from within (Fox, 2010). The 18 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters tend to be Republican, white, male, married and older than 45, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released in April 2010. They are wealthier and better-educated than the general public. Tea Partiers hold more conservative views on a range of issues than Republicans generally. They are also more likely to describe themselves as "very conservative" and President Obama as "very liberal." However, while most Republicans say they are "dissatisfied" with Washington, Tea Party supporters are more likely to classify themselves as "angry” (Zernike, 2010). Although Tea Party organizers have insisted they created a nonpartisan grass-roots movement, others have argued that tea parties were largely created by the uproar of cable news and fuelled by the financial and political support of current and former Republican leaders. Within the American political establishment, the enormous growth of the Tea Party movement has invoked a series of reactions and emotions. It was first ignored, even as thousands of Tea Party rallies drew large, passionate crowds across the nation. When its size and influence ultimately became too large to neglect, it was wrongly and inaccurately slandered. Then, when the slandering also largely failed, they questioned whether the movement actually had the political skill and influence to tangibly impact major elections (Blumer, 2011). While the Tea Party movement is a decidedly non-partisan one, it has served the very constructive ends of enhancing debate and political competition within the Republican Party (Johns, 2010). Faced with Tea Party opponents, many established Republican incumbents and challengers have been forced to address policy issues with greater specificity, and the result has been a healthier political climate in which primary voters have been afforded broader choices. The Tea Party movement has so far accomplished things that are both extraordinary and necessary. The movement has invigorated a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground army of passionate conservative activists. This is something that the Republican Party, which has been the putative flag-bearer of conservatism, has been utterly incapable of inspiring. The Republican Party has not yet even fully adjusted to the limited-government tsunami that has cascaded out of the Tea Party movement because of its misdirected political inaction. Emotionally, the Tea Party movement has infused conservatives with energy that seemed unimaginable just couple of months ago. It has reintroduced the concept of limited government into mainstream American political conversation. The Tea Party Movement is a positive development in American Politics. A rather unique entity, there seems to still be much confusion as what the exact classification of the Tea Party movement really is. Many ask are they an interest group, political party or a social movement? The ideology of the Tea Party can be looked at in these three ways, and which system would be the more effective system. That of course is a whole different story. In the text book, Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science states and defines a political party as “a group of officials or would be officials who are linked with a sizable group of citizens into an organization. A chief objective of this organization is to ensure that its officials attain power and are maintained in power” (Shively, 2012, p. 251). It is no secret that the Tea Party movement clearly has various officials around the country that they want to place into power. Without a clear and lack of some type centralized leadership and little to no attempt to try to separate from the Republican Party one would be hard-pressed to argue them as a political party. If the Tea Party Movement is successful in the 2014 Midterm elections, it will prove that career politicians can be held accountable and that it is the people that hold the power. It would also prove that a strong anti-establishment and anti-government movement can manifest itself peacefully through a massive grassroots effort and legitimate political activity, not intimidation or violence. It will also strike a blow to cynics who believe that the people cannot change Washington. The Tea Party proved its influence at the polls but at the same time lost Republican seats. The election of New York’s 23rd District, the Tea Partiers mobilized behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, forcing Republican candidate Dierdre Scozzafava to drop from the election. This tactic backfired and the seat went to Democrat Bill Owens. Owens then became the first Democrat to represent the district since the 19th century. The Tea Party had much better luck in Massachusetts in January 2010. The U.S. Senate had a seat open due to the death of Ted Kennedy. Candidate Scott Brown defeated Massachusetts’ attorney general Martha Coakley. This victory for the “Tea Party shifted the balance in the Senate which depriving the Democrats of the 60-vote filibuster-proof majority they had held since July 2009 (Britannica).” In May 2010 the Tea Party proved its influence yet again. Rand Paul, son of former Libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul, won the Republican primary for a Kentucky seat in the U.S. Senate. Paul had defeated Trey Grayson, Kentucky’s secretary of state and Kentuckian Mitch McConnell. The Tea Party is in many ways a typical popular constitutionalist movement. As such, it exemplifies some of the standard strengths and weaknesses of such movements Moreover, the Tea Party's unusual focus on limiting federal power could potentially create some important benefits. Despite its typical weakness which is popular with any type of constitutional movements, there is at least one important virtue the Tea Party strongly possesses. That is like many of its previous predecessors. It can be a potentially useful check that can be put on the power of political elites. The best examples would be those members of government who make and interpret the laws. It is true that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land but if its interpretation is left solely up to political elites in the courts, members of Congress, and the President and his staff representing the executive branch, the practical and obvious result would be elite dominance of a political system unconstrained by public opinion. Given the incentive of elites to use political power for their own benefit at the expense of the public, this would be a dangerous state of affairs. The ultimate impact of the Tea Party on American constitutionalism remains to be seen only in Congress. The movement could fade away, be endorsed by the Republican Party leadership, or it could drift off into a more “Big Government” intolerant direction. The Tea Party movement is no doubt in many ways similar to a typical popular advocate of constitutional government. As such, it exemplifies some of the standards that are typical, both strong and weak of such movements, including widespread political ignorance. Having said this, evidence also suggests that other voters including those who are liberal and the political left are no politically smarter than and just as dumb as the Tea Party supporters. Furthermore, the Tea Party's curious focus on limiting the power of the government, particularly the federal could have some great potential and create some important benefits. The impact that the Tea Party ultimately may have on constitutionalism in America after four years still remains to be seen. Could this just be a phase America is going through, no one really knows? The movement could easily fade away as quickly as it came to be, maybe co-opted by the Republican Party leadership, or just take off and veer in a more socially intolerant direction. For now, the evidence shows only that the Tea Party is very much in the same tradition as previous popular constitutionalist movements. And its focus on limiting federal power could have some major beneficial effects. For the moment evidence shows for now that the Tea Party like many other popular constitutionalist movements is very much in the same tradition. And will remain if not a party or a movement, but an idea in minds and hearts of millions of Americans.
“Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
― Abraham Lincoln

References

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