Tea Party Movement Shakes Up American Politics

As president, Barack Obama has faced many challenges. The ongoing Tea Party Movement has proven to be a viable challenge. The Tea Party Movement is a grassroots movement that developed early on in Obama’s Presidency.

The movement has gained strength as politicians have struggled to reach a consensus on issues relating to the stimulus package and health care.

Generally, the majority of those involved in the movement are white, upper class males from rural areas. They have rallied around issues concerning the federal deficit and taxation, comparing themselves to the activists in the infamous Boston Tea Party who helped spark the American Revolution. Tea Party activists tend to be conservatives, but they express support for third party candidates. According to a CNN and Opinion Research Corp. survey, however, 87 percent of activists said they would vote for a Republican if no third party candidate option was available. Candidates such as Ron Paul, a Libertarian, are popular among Tea Party participants.

As the movement has gained momentum, many have begun comparing it to other recent political movements. For instance, the tactics used by Tea Party activists to gain support for the movement mirror those used by Democrats to gain support in the 2008 elections.

Others have compared it to Ross Perot’s support in the 1990s. Overall, the comparison between the events stems from the fact that each of the movements has inspired involvement from citizens who were previously inactive in political affairs.

Mike Huckabee, after finishing sixth in a recent Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll, denounced CPAC and expressed support for the Tea Party. “Where CPAC was historically the event,” he said, “The Tea Parties now are having their own events all over the country and a lot more truly grassroots people are getting involved because of the Tea Parties.”

Although the Tea Party movement continues to gain support, it does face some significant challenges.

One of the greatest challenges surrounding the movement is that it lacks a clear, central organization and is a loose coalition formed at local levels. While the Tea Party movement does gain support from leaders such as Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Sarah Palin, it also faces heavy opposition from Democrats as well as other Republican leaders. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, recently denounced the Tea Party movement. “The Tea Party is not going to go anywhere,” he said. “I think the Tea Party is all about just an expression of anger and dissatisfaction.”

Regardless of the Tea Party movement’s organization and lack of full support, it has posed challenges to both Democrats and Republicans. Politicians facing reelection must also deal with a potential backlash from Tea Party activists. John McCain, the 2008 GOP Presidential candidate, has been challenged by J.D. Hayworth, a far right candidate supported by Tea Party activists, in the Arizona Republican Senate primary election. Democrats such as Harry Reid also face significant Tea Party candidate challenges.

The movement has also attracted attention among Nebraska Wesleyan University students. Sam Ausdemore, President of Young Democrats, made the following
statement: “While many would understandably consider the Tea Party movement something of concern only for the Republican Party, I would think that it has connotations for Democrats as well. Both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have Identified themselves
as “New Democrats” and both have seen a massive populist movement around the burgeoning federal deficit, whether it be the presidential candidacy of Ross Perot or the Tea Partiers…It is my hope, and the hope of many, that President Obama [in comparison to former President Bill Clinton] will do as [well] or better in furthering the Democratic Agenda in a sensible and budget-conscious manner, for the good of every American.”

Denny Vaggalis, President of College Republicans, expressed support for the Tea Party movement. “I see the Tea Party Movement as a refreshing example of the ability of Americans to stand up for the values they feel are important…The current tax and spend trend that the government has been displaying is unsettling to me. On that level I support the Tea Party Movement. I think that the awareness that they are bringing up about the way the government is over-taxing some Americans and running up our national debt is an important discussion that must be had in Washington,” said Vaggalis.

Overall, it appears that the Tea Party movement is becoming a very vocal voice in American politics. Upcoming elections may determine just how strong that voice is.