Not Everyone's Cup of Tea

Image by theqspeaks via FlickrTo most of us, the Tea Party movement came into our living rooms during last year's health care debate, turning town hall meetings into shouting matches and rallies protesting President Barack Obama's policies into something that seemed to set back racial relations by a few decades.

On the front page of the August 13 edition of USA Today lies an article about the Tea Party movement and some of the people behind it.  The newspaper seems to portray them as normal, everyday Americans who are sick of the way their government taxes and spends with little to show for it.  As far as we know, they don't come to rallies dressed as if they're auditioning for "Let's Make a Deal", or as refugees from the nearest theme park.

The Tea Partiers say, according to the article, that they are an unorganized movement seeking to elect conservative (read:  Republican) candidates who will lower taxes and limit government, and are also not interested in social issues such as same-sex marriage or abortion.  They also don't seem to be too impressed with the candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

So how come they're throwing their support to 'fringe' GOP candidates such as Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sharron Angle of Nevada, both of whom are running for U.S. Senate seats?  Considering the way they've been reportedly acting on the campaign trail (such as making outrageous statements and blowing off the mainstream media), they'd be unelectable in any other year.

National politicians have taken notice of the Tea Partiers, and some have even embraced them.  Sarah Palin is stumping for some of their candidates, which is only appropriate since she's kind of an outsider herself.  Minnesota's Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann chairs the House's Tea Party caucus.  But doesn't that go against the movement's efforts to not being controlled by the GOP?

There are other things about the Tea Party that makes one wonder.  According to USA Today, the movement began out of disgust with the GOP during the George W. Bush years, especially when he authorized funds to help bail out Wall Street bankers during the 2008 financial meltdown.

If that's true, then why didn't they take to the streets to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the formation of the Department of Homeland Security?  Those have cost a fortune and a half, coming damn close to bankrupting the country.

Have the Tea Partiers also noticed that everything seems to be falling apart?  Bridges, roads, buildings, schools, you name it.  No one likes to pay taxes.  But it's either that or paying a bigger bill later on.

If the Tea Party movement is to become viable, and not as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Republicans, they have to get serious.  No wacky politicians who only appeal to a minority.  No racism.  Be more sensitive to the needs of mainstream Americans.  Otherwise, they'll just go the way of Ross Perot.