If my political instinct is worth anything, look for Tea Party Groups to be accused more and more of being Partisan as we get closer to actual elections. Most Tea Party Groups profess to be non-partisan, and just for the record, I genuinely believe that to be the case. In our own Tea Party, we’ve made the case loudly and often that if the Democrat running for a particular office walks the walk and talks the talk better than the Republican, we would have no problem supporting the Democrat. The same would be true for a Conservative Independent.
However, most Tea Parties have benefited from the fact that there haven’t been any major elections other than a few isolated special situations such as Scott Brown. But the closer we get to general elections being held all across the country, Tea Parties will have to make local decisions about which candidates they support just like everyone else going into November. By their nature, they will be forced to side more often with the Republican Candidates than the Democratic Candidates due to what Tea Party groups feel are serious conflicts they have with the Democrat Platform.
Across the nation, the basic issues that concern Tea Party groups are as follows:
- Constitutional Fidelity: Republicans usually are more on the side of the Constitution than Democrats
- Fiscal Responsibility: Republicans benefit from the perception of being more committed to fiscal conservatism than Democrats, but Tea Party groups know this is perception only. Therefore the few Democrats supported by Tea Party groups will be strong in this area. Otherwise, the Tea Party groups will seek to influence Republicans to straighten up and fly right on this issue or suffer the consequences of being voted out of office. This is truly where the battles lie.
- Personal Responsibility: Republicans are generally considered stronger on this issue than Democrats. Republicans win this issue.
- Reducing the Size of Government: Republicans talk a good game but like Fiscal Responsibility, Tea Party groups have to assume that they can get better traction convincing Republicans to do the right thing than they can get by working with Democrats.
- First Amendment: Republicans edge out Democrats on this issue.
- Second Amendment: They are not perfect, but Republicans win this race. Period.
- Reducing Taxes: Republican perceptions win the day here.
- State Vs. Federal: In general, neither party lives up to Tea Party expectations on this issue, but again Republicans are closer to Tea Party beliefs than Democrats.
- Tenth Amendment: Toss Up. The U.S. Congress & Senate members by their nature will be more inclined to think of problem resolution by Federal fiat than delegating to States.
Tea Party members are unique in that their general attitude regarding Social Issues is live and let live. They may not like certain behaviors and may actually be actively working on Pro-Life activities, or keeping prayer in schools, or what have you, but they are willing to put those issues on the back burner until we get our financial house in order and in most cases that I’ve heard, prefer to leave Social Issues to States to decide for themselves. Frankly, every Tea Party member I’ve talked to on social issues believes if a State wants to decide social issues for themselves, let them. But if they don’t agree with the decisions, States make, don’t expect Tea Party members to live in those communities.
But the problem that will rear it’s ugly head is that by definition, Tea Party Groups are more likely to support a Republican Candidate than a Democratic Candidate. Assuming that we all agree that a third party is a dead-end street for Tea Party Groups, that’s the only way choice. Tea Parties can encourage truly Conservative Candidates to run as Republicans in Primaries, but if our preferred candidate doesn’t win the Primary, we are left with making a choice between a candidate who actually speaks our language sometimes and one who never does. Given that situation, it’s a no-brainer that a Tea Party Group in that situation will hold their noses and vote for the lesser of two evils and pray that they can make enough of a difference elsewhere to help this border-line candidate do the right thing at the right time.
So is that being Partisan? Is being Partisan a bad thing? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, Partisan means “a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance”. Given the thought process that each Tea Party Group will have to go through when it comes to selecting the candidates they can and will support, it doesn’t appear to me that Tea Party Groups are exhibiting blind, prejudiced or unreasoning allegiance to Republicans. They are however pragmatic enough to realize that trying to influence a Republican to vote their way when it comes to issues they are concerned about is probably going to be easier than changing the core values of a Democrat.
It would be a good thing for Tea Party Groups to prepare a reasoned response for this charge prior to being caught flat-footed with it when it happens.
And it will happen.
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