Ever since last years tax-day tea party revolt, there have been countless Tea Party groups springing up all over the nation. Each group is a grassroots movement unto itself, with its own loosely based leadership, values, motives and purpose. In the beginning the platform was simple – anti-tax and anti-big government. The tea flavor was strong and vibrant. However, the movement and flavor has taken a turn into a different direction over the last year. Things are a bit more sour now as each of these groups wants to drive the “big ship” into a different direction; too many hands on the wheel. All this has done is cause division and confusion between the groups; especially those groups located within the same state. Each group is fighting to be the dominate group it seems, in the process tearing down the initial grassroots framework and losing sight of the reason for the movement.
Many “tea party leaders” state that these groups should not be supporting local, state or national candidates and that they should instead focus on educating the public on the issues and the “Tea Party message”. The question should be asked then; what is the Tea Parties unified message? What is the platform with which to educate the masses on if all the groups have not decided on a common message to send and have not united under one organizational “umbrella”? Who within these groups gets to decide what information is “educated” to their respective groups?, etc.
Contrary to the left media, many of these groups have been started by average folks that just wanted to get involved and help this country. Others, however, have used it as a platform or jumping board for their own political campaigns. Which brings up another issue; if a Tea Party organizer is also running for public office…is that a conflict of interest? One would think that this kind of activity for a so called 501(c)4 organization would be dancing on the line of having its non-profit status being revoked. But aside from the tax exempt issue; is it morally right to have a group that isn’t supposed to publicly support a candidate, be run by someone running for a public office? That would be much like a powerful Washington D.C lobbyist running for office…which would surely be frowned upon by the public and politically conscious.
When a Tea Party group states that they only support legislation and do not publically endorse a political candidate, but then lists phrases like “recruit and help candidates”…and…”we will be doing everything possible to remove them from office” in their mission statements, it is hard to understand exactly what they stand for and how they anticipate making any major changes or improvement. Do they endorse candidates or don’t they?
Do you think Tea Party groups and other grassroots organization should or should not be endorsing political candidates? Please participate in the polls below and feel free to discuss the issue in the comment section.
Note: Recently an article appeared on a Politico network website that described how four major Tea Party organizations within Arizona rallied together to oppose the endorsement by one Tea Party group for a state Candidate that is running for the US Senate.
I think it is important for every day people to get involved in politics. I will vote only for tea party candidates, and if an organizer is in the race, all the better. It shows they have the initiative and leadership skills to take on the daunting task of cleaning up the dirty game of politics.
More power to ‘em!!
Vote Tea!
They should support candidates, how else do they plan on changing things if they do not? and candidates that are using the tea party movement to propell themselves into office should be called out and blasted for hyprocracy!! It’s a conflict of interest people…wake up!!
So tell me, what exactly are you asking for? No tea party candidates can be tea party leaders? You need to understand the difference between a PAC leader being a candidate, and a grass roots candidate being a grassroots leader. I is kinda a no-brainer but we get all upset and want to blame people. These are the ones we NEED in office, it is simple.
Tea Party leaders shouldn’t be candidates at the same time that they are “leaders” for the tea party groups. It sends a message that they can influence their own elections.
If they are such good candidates, they should be at arms length..not “Chairing” the tea party.
First of all it’s same old same old politics. Let’s start over from scratch, Let’s “Bootstrap America” our goverment is a bottom feeder. Let’s stop that, no taxing anyone who make’s under 250,00k.
The rich pay the bulk of the tax’s right? So the little bit the poor are paying can easily be offset. This would really encourage people to work! I can keep my pay, I can really improve my life “Quickly”!
Why do we allow a stale old system invented before the dawn of time to control our government?
Let’s think outside the box please.
Now that would be a tea party!