The Tea Party is over. Mitch McConnell is telling his new members not to worry about primaries from the right. He says the establishment beat Tea Party opponents in 2014 and they’ll beat them again in 2016. John Boehner was re-elected speaker despite challenges from wing-nuts like Louie Gomert. Once he won, Boehner punished the rebellious house members by stripping them of plum committee assignments.
Because gerrymandered districts assure their continued presence, Tea Partiers will still make a lot of noise. It’s what they do best, but they will have limited impact on policies and politics moving forward. John Boehner doesn’t need them to pass legislation anymore. As one Republican aide told Politico, “We don’t need these fringe guys as much as we did anymore.”
As for McConnell, he should have been Majority Leader two cycles ago except that Senate nominees like Tea Partiers Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock and Christine O’Donnell kept the Senate in Democratic hands until now. McConnell has little patience for the Ted Cruz crowd and, after beating back Tea Party challenges in 2014 primaries, he’s not going to give them much breathing space. He wants a Senate with the type of accomplishments that can keep him Majority Leader for years to come instead of a Senate marked by ideological grandstanding.
So why are Democrats bashing them as a bunch of Tea Partiers? Because, as the saying goes, the generals are always fighting the last war. As the Tea Party’s influence has waned, so has its popularity. Tying the GOP to their fringe element, the theory goes, makes them less palatable to the middle and keeps the Democrats’ own fringe frothing at the mouth.
But that’s so last election. The new Republican leadership may be a lot of things, but they are not wing-nuts and the mainstream media, the most reliable third party validator, is not going to portray them that way. The most effective criticisms are based in reality, supported by news reports and broadly believable.
Instead of wrapping the GOP around the Tea Party, Democrats should define Republicans for what they are now: the party of big oil, big banks, and big business. The U. S. Chamber of Commerce and Wall Street bankers have seats at the head of the table. They will be writing legislation that benefits them, not working Americans.
The portrayal also sets up a nice contrast. Democrats need a populist economic message that defines them as the party of people who make their money from working, not investing. Boehner, McConnell and company are shills for the rich and corporate America. As the economy recovers but wages don’t, it could be a potent, and believable, contrast heading into 2016.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
I think alot of you are missing the point. Whether or not the tea party is dead and buried shouldn’t be our concern. We are going to win by trying to parcel out the republicans. Thomas is right we need a compelling message and articulate an economic future that helps the many rather than the select few. That will inspire people from all walks of life.
The “Tea Party” is not over. It is just called the Republican Party. They won.
I suppose the Tea Party has taken a hit, but it isn’t over and likely will continue its powerful influence in this state, North Carolina. People don’t focus on the serious issues facing us: fracking, public education, Medicaid expansion, a living wage, etc. The Tea Party goes right to marriage and early termination of pregnancy to reach people who would otherwise benefit greatly from Democratic ideals. If we don’t do a better job appealing to the heart wrenching issues of what to when children get here – food, education, the environment – than the Tea Party will continue to win control of NC politics. We can do better! We can serve the people better!
Except that Obama favors raising the minimum wage, has created more new jobs than Bush, has not proposed cutting SS or Medicaid (in fact ACA expanded Medicaid), has not urged pension plan terminations, has begged corporations to reinvest in the workers and facilities, and does not support tax breaks for the wealthy or outsourcing of jobs (see his current position on Keystone).
Gee Mick, I just didn’t realize what a wonderful President Obama is (must be the white privilege). But I still have this crazy feeling that he’s ruining our country. Must be racism (and 18 trillion in debt) that’s making me crazy. By the way, where’s MY share of this $18 trillion? I haven’t seen a nickel AND I’M A WHITE GUY! I’m supposed to get mine FIRST!
The Tea Party is over is it? I remember you leftys talking this way about the whole Republican Party back in ’08.
Don’t count on it. The “country club” Republicans hold sway right now because they have the deep pockets (Chamber of Commerce etc.) but they still depend on folks like me for votes. Tillis beat Hagan because he was able to turn about 20% of the African-American vote to his side, 20 lousy percent! Otherwise he would have lost and Kay would still be complaining about Chick Schumer swimming naked in the Senate pool.
If our establishment Republicans feel the sting of conservative voters staying home (see Mitt Romney) then NO amount of money or intimidation will keep them on the Boehner/McConnell farm.
Not to digress too far off topic but I’ve read that Tillis only got 3% of the black vote..what hurt Hagan was that she only got 33% of the white vote…and of course this being a midterm the electorate was much older and whiter than in presidential years…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/06/the-gop-moved-the-ball-forward-with-black-voters-but-progress-is-slow/
You’re right Mike, I was mistaken but I think it was a lot more than 3%. Here’s an article you might find interesting… and thanks for bringing the error to my attention.
http://www.redstate.com/diary/vernon/2014/11/09/tillis/
He did not even get 50% of the lowest voter turnout since WWII. Don’t crow yet.
And what does the right (and its corporate supporters) have to offer the lower/middle economic classes?? Not a damn thing—except, of course, minimum wages, poor jobs, attempts to cut Social Security/Medicare, no credible plan for affordable health insurance, pension plan terminations, corporate profit-hoarding without any “trickle-down,” outsourcing of jobs to other countries, and tax breaks for the wealthy.
“…minimum wages, poor jobs, attempts to cut Social Security/Medicare, no credible plan for affordable health insurance, pension plan terminations, corporate profit-hoarding without any “trickle-down,” outsourcing of jobs to other countries, and tax breaks for the wealthy.”
Sounds like Obama’s agenda.
http://www.progressivestoday.com/under-obamanomics-the-rich-get-richer-while-the-poor-get-poorer/
At its core the Tea Party was and is a populist movement that was hijacked by other forces in its infancy. In addition its outward political aggression was misplaced as well.
‘believeable’ yes, because its inline with the left wing narrative, but ‘potent’ no, because the middle class realizes that the left has nothing to offer them.
Any one who thinks the ‘tea party’ is over doesn’t know how ‘intentionally’ uninformed Americans truly are, how ruthless the republican party is going to be once in control – even more so once in total control – as they will be in 2016 with Jeb in the WH., or how nefarious the mainstream media has become. The US. can no longer be saved from itself and this is how it goes when ‘profit’ is worshipped above all else.
“like”
like”