Tea party tidbit

“We just want the government out of our lives,” quotes an article I read recently about the Tea Party.  

Hmmm, not much to question there.

Surprisingly enough, I support the Tea Party movement on the matter of principle.

I’m thankful that I live in a country where people are free to express their views and question authority.

When I see a gaggle of 50-somethings on CNN toting silly hats and large, colorful posters, I chuckle and then appreciate that such a thing is allowed in the United States.

My main problem with the Tea Party is its lack of a solid plan detailing how they want to shrink the government. Because there is not an all-encompassing entity that represents everyone who identifies with this movement, it is difficult to summarize their general views.

Heck, one of the independent Tea Party organizations (Tea Party Nation) is a for-profit company.  Nothing like a little capitalism to propel a political movement, eh?

I wish that Tea Partiers could be a little more cordial about changing Washington. Yes, I understand you’re upset about health reform, but is it necessary for you to call Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a “faggot?”  

Obviously the views of a few don’t necessarily represent the majority, but these outliers certainly aren’t doing the movement any favors.

Also, many Tea Party candidates are a complete joke. There, I said it. Christine O’Donnell and Sharon Angle are the laughingstock of the political arena. I don’t care if they might win in November; they are not qualified to be senators.

For those who are confused, the Tea “Party” doesn’t really exist. All Tea Party-supported candidates fall under the umbrella of the GOP.

You could compare most mainstream Republicans’ view of the Tea Party to the way you feel about your redneck uncle from West Virginia — you have to love him because he’s in your family, but you don’t exactly brag about sharing his DNA.

Another problem with the Tea Party is that it might end up hurting the GOP, which is kind of antithetical to its cause in the first place.

In at least two races around the country (Alaska and Delaware), Democrats have been handed the chance to claim seats for which they wouldn’t have otherwise been in the running. It’s one thing to win a primary, but it’s another thing entirely to win a general election.

With that in mind, some Republicans have cast a bitter gaze on Tea Party candidates. Realizing that her views are a little extreme for Delaware, the National Republican Senatorial Committee tried their darnedest to make O’Donnell lose the GOP primary there. The committee instead supported her (much) more moderate opponent, Mike
Castle.

After O’Donnell won, they issued a terse statement “congratulating” her and promised to support her financially.

The GOP should be thankful for at least one thing about the Tea Party; it’s helping to keep Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele out of the news (you almost forgot about him, didn’t you?).

It’s been quite a while since I last heard about one of his high-profile gaffes.
Although it has received less media attention, there is also a leftist version of the Tea Party called the Coffee Party U.S.A.

On the party’s website, it states its purpose as to “... [give a] voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government.”  

Apparently, two can play the game of attempting to change the way Washington does business.

The reason why the Coffee Party hasn’t gotten as much of the spotlight is because those who would be inclined to support the group are pretty happy with the way the government is operating right now.

Sure, they’re upset about the deficit and worried what health reform might entail, but overall, they support the changes that are happening
in Washington.

If the GOP does end up regaining control of the House of Representatives this fall, I would imagine that we’ll see the tables turn. It will again be the liberals’ chance to raise hell and tote obnoxious signs while Republicans
actually get work done.

When it comes down to it, I’m glad people are waking up and getting
involved in politics.

For far too long, Americans have sat idly by as the federal government has amassed debt and enacted programs that waste our taxpayer dollars. I obviously have some qualms with the way things are going in this
country.

Instead of embarrassing myself on national television, though, I plan to do the most effective thing I can this fall: vote.


E-mail: biglehar@indiana.edu