Tea Party has a Birthday

Rick Santelli’s rant from the floor of the Mercantile Mart in Chicago broadcast live on CNBC on February 19, 2009 is commonly credited as the catalytic event that gave birth to a groundswell of citizen activism broadly described as the Tea Party Movement.    This month, the Tea Party celebrated its first birthday.  And, we think that is very Good News.

Over the last year, loosely organized neighborhood groups blossomed by the hundreds across America, many propagated by people with minimal or no previous political involvement.    Some adopted the Tea Party brand; others used 9/12 fashioned by Glenn Beck, or any one of a variety of identifying names that popped up as suddenly and freshly as flowers in spring.  But, all are generally defined as part of the same organic citizen activist movement with synergy to the famous Howard Beale line from Network, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

The mainstream media largely ignored or dismissed the Tea Party demonstrations for a long while.  After all, sporadic citizen demonstrations are nothing new to politics. Most often, the left is given to using large public protests to make their case – i.e. environmental issues, anti-war, abortion and gay rights.  Unique to the Tea Party, however, there was no single issue that defined the Tea Party.  Many were concerned about the rapidly escalating debt, the state of the economy, taxes, government waste, the new Obama administration’ agenda, etc.  Broadly, though, they all were troubled with government infringement on their personal freedom, fearful for the future of our country, and angry that the politicians weren’t listening.

Although the vast majority of Tea Party members self-identified as conservative, they didn’t and still don’t immediately align with Republicans.  Their anger, suspicion, and frustration are often directed at Republicans and Democrats alike.  Many in the Tea Party would prefer that all incumbents are tossed out of office, and we start over with a fresh slate.   Democrats have typically seen the Tea Party as unfriendly territory, and many Republicans were slow to embrace the movement – too many still are.

The unimaginable election of Republican Scott Brown to the United States Senate in Massachusetts proved the power of the Tea Party movement, put an exclamation point on the anger and frustration of the electorate, and shook pundits and politicians to their core.  Brown’s election – “the Scott heard ‘round the World” - validated the Tea Party and sent seismic shocks across the nation. 

Now the left had to take them seriously.  The New York Times slimed the Tea Party as members of a “resurgent militia movement.” News leaked out that the White House had called in Bill Clinton and his hack-in-chief, James Carville to spearhead a plot to discredit the most prominent Tea Party leaders.  This week, Clinton drew parallels betwen Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, and the citizen members of the Tea Party.  With arrogant disdainful aloofness Barack Obama says he is “amused” by the Tea Party.

Following the 2008 election of Barack Obama with expanded Democrat majorities in the Senate and House, commentators were penning obituaries for conservative political philosophy openly speculating when, or if, the Republican Party could ever recover.  In just a year, the eulogies have been replaced by predictions of a sea change in the 2010 elections, perhaps enough for Republican majority takeover of one or both congressional chambers.

The change in the political landscape is due in part to the arrogance and egregious agenda of President Obama and the Democrat Leadership.  Some credit is due the Republicans for a respectable job as the loyal opposition.   But, the dramatic change in public opinion and the seismic shift in political dynamics would not have been possible without the Tea Party.

The Tea Party has been rightfully praised as the “We the People” part of the Constitution.  I agree. The Tea Party movement is the most honest, organic, and healthy thing that has happened in my lifetime.

When Benjamin Franklin was asked, “What kind of government have you given us, Mr. Franklin?”  He answered, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Franklin was referring to the fact that the representative democracy crafted by the Founders would require an informed and engaged citizenry. 

The times we are in are indeed perilous, and there is legitimate reason to be concerned particularly for the financial health of the nation.  If the Republic is to be saved and passed on to our grandchildren, it will likely be a credit to citizens like the Tea Party patriots.

Barack Obama ran on a message of “hope and change,” but the real hope for America is, as it has always been, in the greatness of her people.  The Tea Party has sent a clear message; “Mr. President, you can keep your change, we want our Country back.” They understand that if we have to depend on this bunch of politicians, then there is no hope.