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The Tea Party Movement: Leftist Attacks Fail to Stop Its Growing Infl Uence

The Tea Party Movement: Leftist Attacks Fail to Stop Its Growing Infl Uence

The : Leftist Attacks Fail to Stop its Growing Infl uence

By Elizabeth Klimp

Summary: In February 2009, a new force emerged in American politics. Alarmed at the rapid expansion of the federal government and frustrated by the Obama administration’s fi scal policies, Americans took to the streets in protests they called “Tea Parties.” This was a reference to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, which was the American colonists’ protest against excessive taxes imposed on them by an unrepresentative government. Since the fi rst attracted widespread public attention, liberal advo- cacy groups and media commentators have tried to deny that it is a genuine grassroots movement. They charge that it is under the control of big money corporate donors and say it is motivated by race hatred rather than dedicated to . Tea Party opponents are trying to discredit the move- ment and have disparaged Americans who are troubled by skyrocketing public spending. But their attacks are failing.

Costumed Tea Party activists in an undated photograph. (photo: Huffi ngton Post)

n Feb. 19, 2009, CNBC correspon- Santelli denounced continual rounds of fed- broadcast, a ChicagoTeaParty.com website dent was boiling mad. eral bailout aid and, as traders on the exchange began coordinating “tea party” rallies. Within OStanding on the fl oor of the Chicago fl oor began applauding him, he wondered weeks, there were more protests against out- Board of Trade, Santelli was asked about a aloud, “How many of you people want to of-control federal spending, the growing na- proposed $75 billion government bailout pro- pay for your neighbor’s mortgage who has tional debt, and the Obama administration’s gram for home mortgages. Santelli charged an extra bathroom and can’t pay their bills?” spendthrift policies. On “Tax Day,” April 15, that “the government was supporting bad Addressing the CNBC studio news anchors, behavior” and he proposed that the Obama Santelli announced “We’re thinking about a September 2010 administration create an online “referendum Chicago tea party in July. All of you capital- to see if we really want to subsidize the los- ists that want to show up to Lake Michigan, CONTENTS ers’ mortgages or would we like to at least I’m going to start organizing it.” buy cars and buy houses in foreclosure and The Tea Party Movement give them to people who have a chance to Santelli’s outburst struck a nerve. Videos of Page 1 actually prosper down the road and reward Santelli’s “rant” were posted on YouTube Briefl y Noted people that could carry the water instead of almost immediately and quickly spread across Page 6 drink the water.” the Internet. Within 12 hours of the CNBC OrganizationTrends thousands gathered in Chicago and across the ment, but the uprising is a truly national with Items in the platform include: United States to protest Obama policies and supporters in all 50 states. The majority are * Require that bills submitted to Congress warn against tax increases and infringements white and Anglo-Saxon. However, about identify the specifi c provision of the Consti- on property rights and civil liberties. Sparked one quarter are Hispanic, Asian or African- tution that gives Congress the power to do by Rick Santelli’s impromptu op-ed on cable American. A poll conducted in April by the what the bill proposes; TV—dubbed the “Rant Heard ’Round and CBS News found that * Pass a balanced budget amendment to the World”—thousands of citizens demanded a compared to the electorate overall, self-iden- Constitution that requires a 2/3 majority for return to fi scal sanity. The modern Tea Party tifi ed Tea Party activists are more likely to be any tax hike; movement was born. male, slightly older, married, better-educated * Enact a fl at tax system, abolish the Internal and have a higher than average household Revenue Code and replace it with one that Tea Party Basics income. They also are more likely to attend does not exceed the length of the original What’s called the Tea Party movement be- religious services weekly. Constitution (4,543 words); gan as isolated groups of local citizens who * Create a taskforce to audit all federal agen- wanted to fi nd ways to protest the growth of Like other grassroots movements, the over- cies and programs to assess their constitution- government and public spending. But during whelming majority of Tea Party activists ality and identify waste and duplication; the past year and a half these small groups are volunteers who are organizing activities * Enact a statutory cap that limits the an- have become a nationwide grassroots move- around issues and candidates in their local nual growth of federal spending to the sum ment. Surveys show that those who identify communities. A typical Tea Party organiza- of infl ation plus the percentage of popula- with the movement are a heterogeneous mix tion has a small organizing nucleus, or board tion growth; of people committed to objectives. of trustees, that oversees a larger number of * Repeal and replace “Obamacare” with According to a CBS News poll conducted in volunteers. The board handles the group’s free-market health insurance reforms unre- April 2010, approximately 18% of Americans communications, fund-raising and logistics, stricted by state controls; identify themselves as Tea Party supporters. usually without any direction from a larger * Reduce regulatory barriers to increased Approximately one half were never involved state, regional or national organization. In- energy exploration and reject cap and trade in politics before 2009. Almost all cite a dividual groups develop their own platform, legislation; “boiling point” moment when their frustra- objectives, and plans of action, generally * Impose a moratorium on earmarks until tion, anxiety and anger at the government’s without input or assistance from larger state the budget is balanced and then require a 2/3 policies pushed them into action. or national coordinating bodies. The typical majority to pass any earmark; group is independent, but shares with other * Permanently repeal all tax hikes currently Americans living in the South and West are Tea Party groups a common platform of scheduled to begin in 2011. more likely to endorse the Tea Party move- reverence for the Founding Fathers and the U.S. Constitution and support for fi s- While Tea Party members espouse free mar- cal responsibility, limited government, and Editor: Matthew Vadum ket economic views, they do not all identify personal liberty. with the Republican Party. According to an Publisher: Terrence Scanlon April CBS News Poll, 54% of Tea Party There are state and national Tea Party Organization Trends members describe themselves as Republi- organizations, but typically they facilitate cans while 41% identify as Independents, is published by Capital Research communication among Tea Party groups Center, a non- education and and 5% as Democrats. Tea Party members and serve as networking agents rather than research organization, classifi ed by consider their movement a forum for any try to stage or direct local grassroots activi- the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. reform-minded individual without regard to ties. These larger organizations also try to party affi liation. The majority of Tea Party Address: attract national attention to the movement. 1513 16th Street, N.W. activists have no desire to form a national They organize its larger rallies or series of Washington, DC 20036-1480 third party. rallies, train activists on practical aspects of Phone: (202) 483-6900 organizing, and propose themes or platforms As accountant and Tea Party supporter Jason Long-Distance: (800) 459-3950 that can galvanize Tea Party support. Hoyt told : “The Tea Party E-mail Address: movement is not about a party … it’s about For instance, Ryan Hecker, leader of the [email protected] fi nding candidates who are constitutionally -based , issued an minded and fi scally responsible … and help- Web Site: online “” on April 12, http://www.capitalresearch.org 2010 that urges Americans to come up with ing them win.” policy ideas that can guide the movement Organization Trends welcomes let- Tea Party Leadership ters to the editor. and be used to evaluate political candidates. Hecker described the project to the New The Tea Party movement has no central lead- Reprints are available for $2.50 pre- ership or headquarters organization. Activists paid to Capital Research Center. York Times as “an open-sourced platform” for the movement. sometimes cite a 2006 book, The Starfi sh 2 September 2010 OrganizationTrends and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power * [www.teapartyexpress. Republican primary for U.S. Senate and of Leaderless Organizations, to explain the org]. Last spring it sponsored a national bus will challenge the Democratic incumbent, strengths of their movement. Still a number tour punctuated by rallies across America. Harry Reid. She is endorsed by the Tea of organizations have taken on leadership spoke at the March 27 kickoff Party Express. roles and prominent individuals endorse or rally in Searchlight, Nevada, hometown of espouse Tea Party principles. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as well * . The former Republican as at a Boston rally on April 14. The Tea House Majority Leader (1995-2003), now Organizations Party Express message: “You, the politicians co-chairman of FreedomWorks, says this on in Washington, have failed We the People the group’s website: “This is now the biggest * Tea Party Patriots [www.teapartypatriots. with your bailouts, out-of-control spending, swing movement on the fi eld of American org]. Based in Houston, Tea Party Patriots government takeovers of sectors of the politics. It is also the only movement that has is dedicated to providing “logistical, economy, Cap and Trade, government-run any energy or sense of purpose. Liberals are educational, networking and other types healthcare and higher taxes! If you thought confused … [and] conservative Republicans of support to over 1,000 community based we were just going to quietly go away, or have gone through another identity crisis and tea party groups around the country.” The that this tea party movement would be just they are trying to fi nd themselves. These [tea organization promotes public policy ideas a passing fad, you were mistaken. We’re party] folks have a cohesive understanding based on the core values of constitutionally taking our country back!” of who we are and what do we want for our limited government, fi scal responsibility country.” and free markets. It helps coordinate multi- * FreedomWorks [teaparty.. state Tea Party events and assists grassroots org]. A membership organization with state * . Bachmann represents protesters to connect with their local tea affiliates, FreedomWorks was founded Minnesota’s 6th district in the House of party organizations. In conjunction with in 1984 and is chaired by former House Representatives and created the Congressional ’s “Restoring Honor” event at majority leader Dick Armey. It “recruits, , which intends to spread the the in Washington, D.C. educates, trains and mobilizes hundreds Tea Party message to members of Congress on August 28, Tea Party Patriots hosted a of thousands of volunteer activists to fi ght and defend the movement against critics. Recycle Government rally on August 29. for less government, lower taxes and more freedom.” In early 2009 it began helping to * Glenn Beck. The conservative *. [www.teapartynation. organize tea party groups. Its 25-city “Tea Channel host has been very supportive of com] Nashville attorney Judson Phillips Party Tour” trains activists and helps organize the Tea Party movement since its inception. organized the first national tea party citizen rallies. His “Restoring Honor” rally at the Lincoln convention on Feb. 4-6, 2010 at which Sarah Memorial on August 28, featuring Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker. Some Tea * [www. Palin and Dr. Alveda , niece of Dr. Party activists criticized the group’s $549 americansforprosperity.org]. President Martin Luther King Jr. will be followed the registration fee. A second conference planned for October 14-16 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Tim Phillips heads this low tax, libertarian next day by a rally sponsored by Tea Party Vegas will be co-sponsored by the Leadership advocacy group based in Washington but Patriots. Institute and World Net Daily, among others, sponsoring state affi liates and a national with a registration fee of $399. membership. Along with FreedomWorks, * Jim DeMint. The South Carolina’s junior it has helped nurture the Tea Party Republican senator told Fox News that the * National Tea Party Federation [www. movement. Tea Party movement is “just the tip of the thenationalteapartyfederation.com]. The iceberg of an American awakening.” He has Federation was created on April 8, 2010 to “act * Congressional Tea Party Caucus. An attended several Tea Party rallies. as a clearinghouse and prepare leadership to informal House of Representatives group promote the Tea Party movement’s objectives that debuted on July 21, it is championed by *Judge Andrew Napolitano. A former New of , Constitutionally Limited Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). It has Jersey Superior Court judge, Napolitano is Government and Fiscal Responsibility.” about 50 House members, all Republicans, a legal and political analyst for Fox News It has about 85 member organizations including: Mike Pence and Dan Burton Channel and hosts the show “Freedom and affi liates and claims over one million (Indiana), Paul Broun (), Pete Watch.” The fi rst episode, airing on June individual activists, but has no controlling Hoekstra (Michigan), John Carter (Texas), 12, 2010, was called a “Tea Party Summit” leadership. The Federation was in the news in Todd Tiahrt (Kansas), and Cliff Stearns because the featured guests were , July after it expelled Mark Williams, leader (Florida). It serves as a forum and does not , Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, of the Tea Party Express, for publishing a claim to speak for local Tea Party groups. and Dick Armey. letter that mocked the initials of the NAACP and characterized slavery as “a great gig.” Individuals * . As president of Williams subsequently resigned from the , a board member Tea Party Express. * Sharron Angle. She won the Nevada of the American Conservative Union, and a September 2010 3 OrganizationTrends preeminent Republican strategist, Norquist is undermine the legitimacy of the Tea Party express themselves like this. The question is very supportive of the Tea Party movement, movement, ridiculing activists as “knuckle- how much attention is paid to those people.” telling Jim Meyers of that: “The dragging hillbillies” and “neo-Klansmen,” Said Tea Party strategist Sal Russo, ”They Tea Party movement is best understood as and describing them a racist and uneducated. went out and found almost every crackpot that millions of Americans who have not been However, three accusations have domi- attended the rally and used them as a symbol involved in politics for most of their adult nated mainstream media headlines: 1) Tea for the entire Tea Party movement.” lives but in the last two years got scared Party members encourage violence; 2) the straight by Obama’s debt — trillions in Tea Party movement is a front for wealthy A Corporate Front. Then there are the higher taxes, higher debt, higher spending, corporate interests and not a true grassroots accusations that the Tea Party movement and trillions more being threatened. And movement; and 3) the Tea Party movement is a corporate front. An August 19, 2009 because they’re involved in politics, if the is racist. Washington Post article on FreedomWorks Republicans come back into power they attacks on Obamacare and cap and trade will be a different party than they were in Violent. Some critics assert that Tea Party legislation implied that the group was a front the past, because there are these new troops rhetoric about Democratic healthcare pro- for Philip Morris, MetLife, and the Scaife that have arrived with one thing on their posals has created a “climate of violence.” family foundations. Other news stories try mind— spend less.” They cite emails sent to Congress and the to link the Tea Party to the Koch family and White House, false allegations that protesters its foundations. , author of Toxic *Eric Odom. The executive director spit on a member of Congress, and point to Talk: How the Radical Right Has Poisoned of American Liberty Alliance, Odom is signs carried at Tea Party rallies: “I Came America’s Airwaves, claims the Tea Party credited with building much of the online Unarmed [This Time],” “If You Want A Civil movement is a creation of Fox News. infrastructure that allows hundreds of War Just Keep Assaulting Our American,” grassroots Tea Party activists to network and and “Ram It Down Our Throat in ’09, We’ll Tea Party activists acknowledge that communicate. He helped organize the fi rst Shove It Up You’re A** in ’10.” FreedomWorks and other organizations have Chicago Tax Day Tea Party. provided technical assistance and training, Former President Bill Clinton appeared to but they insist that their movement is a true * Sarah Palin. She was keynote speaker equate the Tea Party’s rhetoric with the hatred grassroots movement. In “It’s My Party and for the inaugural Tea Party convention in that inspired the Oklahoma City bombing. In I’ll Cry If I Want To,” blogger Dan Riehl Nashville, Tenn., as well as the speaker at an April 18 New York Times op-ed published writes, “Tea Party protestors aren’t being the Searchlight, Nevada kickoff rally for a on the fi fteenth anniversary of bombing, bused in by the likes of ACORN. They’re Tea Party Express bus campaign. Clinton warned against “crossing the line” showing up because they care about their that separates anti-government protest from country and they’ve seen enough over recent * Ron Paul. Paul represents Texas’ 14th advocacy of violence. Clinton wrote, “In years to start doing something about it.” district in the House of Representatives and the current climate, with so many threats has been a staunch Tea Party supporter. His against the president, members of Congress Racist. Perhaps the most damaging and successful online fundraising during his and other public servants, we owe it to the headline-grabbing allegation is the claim 2008 presidential campaign inspired the victims of Oklahoma City, and those who that Tea Party protests against the Obama movement. In one day, Dec. 16, 2007, the survived and responded so bravely, not to administration are motivated by . 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, cross it again.” News stories that Tea Party supporters Paul raised $6 million, an event called Ron used racial slurs and spit at members of the Paul’s “Tea Party.” Some leftist activists have even engaged in Congressional Black Caucus during a rally “tea party crashing” to incite disruptions against the Democrats’ massive healthcare * Rand Paul. The son of Ron Paul, he was at Tea Party events. For instance, Oregon takeover have fueled charges that the Tea founder and chairman of Kentucky Taxpayers teacher Jason Levin urged left-wing activists Party is a refuge for bigots. The NAACP United before winning his state’s Republican to sneak into Tea Party rallies holding signs passed a resolution to “repudiate the racism nomination for U.S. Senate. with violent, abusive messages. He hoped the of the Tea Parties” and condemned the move- mainstream media would focus on the signs ment’s effort to “push our country back to * Mark Williams. The former chairman to tarnish the Tea Party reputation. the pre-civil rights era.” NAACP President has left the Tea Party Express, which was Benjamin Todd Jealous declared: “What we expelled from the Tea Party Federation. While some Tea Party supporters undoubted- take issue with is the Tea Party’s continued He has started a new organization called ly have made infl ammatory statements, they tolerance for bigotry and bigoted statements the Citizens Reclaiming Constitutional are hardly representative of the movement. … The time has come for them to accept the Liberties PAC. Peter Hart, activism director for Fairness and responsibility that comes with infl uence and Accuracy in Reporting, told Fox News in make clear there is no place for racism and Criticisms of the Tea Party Movement April: “I think there are always going to be anti-Semitism, homophobia and other forms Left-wing commentators have tried to people at the fringes of any movement that of bigotry in their movement.” 4 September 2010 OrganizationTrends

Countering these charges, Tea Party lead- its strenuous efforts belie its assertions. If Tea and Nikki Haley, GOP nominee for South ers adamantly deny that the movement is Party supporters really were violent and rac- Carolina governor. racist. Mark Williams and the Tea Party ist extremists, the reality would be obvious. Express were rebuked and removed from Instead, leftist politicians and commentators Insulting the Tea Party movement by charg- positions of responsibility after the widely work overtime attempting to demonstrate ing it with racism, violence and corporate reported racially charged incident. And even what they want to believe. control will not help those who want to defend Vice President Joe Biden cautioned against the policy agenda of the Obama administra- resorting to allegations of racism. He said Writes blogger Dan Riehl: “If serious people tion and the Democratic Congress. Instead of that although the Tea Party movement has on the Left weren’t concerned over the Tea listening to the Tea Parties, leftist advocates “very different views on government and Party movement, their new media appa- discredit their own claims to represent the a whole lot of things … it is not a racist ratchicks wouldn’t be trying to dismiss, or American grassroots. organization.” marginalize it by falsely claiming it’s being sponsored by Fox News, or some dangerous Elizabeth Klimp was a Haller summer fel- What’s behind the charge of racism against Right Wing fringe.” Conservative journalist low at Capital Research Center in summer the Tea Party movement? Many believe it is Andrea Billups agrees: “The hurling of vitriol 2010. She received her J.D. in 2010 from a disguise for the Left’s frustration with its from opposition groups shows the intensity St. John’s University School of Law and is a own failures. Despite the election of Barack many are investing in taking Tea Partiers graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Obama to the presidency and the passage down … It is the runaway vilifi cation that where she majored in History and minored of many big spending bills by Congress, speaks loudest to the Tea Party movement’s in Classical Studies. the so-called “progressive” Left has failed amassing power.” to create a mass movement to transform OT American politics. Instead, appears By rejecting the Tea Party movement, Demo- poised to swing back to conservative ideas cratic Party candidates and offi ceholders risk and to reward Republicans with increased alienating moderates and independents. An political power. July ABC News/ Washington Post voter opin- ion poll found that 6 in 10 registered voters do That’s the view of Mary Frances Berry, not have faith in the president’s handling of former chairman of the U.S. Commission the economy and decision-making capabili- on Civil Rights and a real leftwing fi rebrand. ties. Similarly, 7 in 10 voters lack confi dence Berry told the newspaper that allega- in Democratic lawmakers. Two-thirds say tions of racism were an attempt to smear the they are angry or dissatisfi ed with recent Tea Party movement for strategic reasons. actions of the federal government and 62% Said Berry, “Tainting the tea party movement are not inclined to support their incumbent with the charge of racism is proving to be U.S. House member. Since January 2009, the an effective strategy for Democrats. There Left has seen its once strong support crumble. is no evidence that tea party adherents are All indications are that it is about to lose its Please consider contributing any more racist than other Republicans, and stranglehold on legislative power. early in this calendar year to indeed many other Americans.” the Capital Research Center. By contrast, the Tea Party movement has Deneen Borelli, an African-American who considerable public support. A Rasmussen We need your help in the is a fellow at Project 21, a black leadership poll this summer found 41% of those polled group sponsored by the conservative Na- had a favorable impression of the movement; current diffi economic tional Center for Public Policy Research, 46% believed it was benefi cial for the United climate to continue our im- agrees with Berry’s assessment: “Race States, while only 31% believed it was portant research. card politics is the last-ditch effort to shift harmful. Tea Party-backed candidates have the debate away from President Obama’s done well in recent GOP primaries. Winners Your contribution to advance harmful policies such as the government’s include Paul LePage, Maine GOP nominee our watchdog work is deeply takeover of health care and his failure to for governor; Rand Paul, Kentucky’s GOP create jobs – both of which are having an Senate candidate; Anna Little, GOP nominee appreciated. impact on his popularity.” in New Jersey 6th congressional district; Kristi Noem, GOP nominee for South Da- Many thanks. Backfire kota’s at-large congressional seat; Tim Scott, While the Left is expending time and energy Republican nominee in South Carolina’s Terrence Scanlon trying to discredit the Tea Party Movement, fi rst congressional district; Sharron Angle, President GOP nominee for the Nevada Senate seat; September 2010 5 OrganizationTrends Briefl yNoted

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has reinstated a congressional ban on federal fund- ing of ACORN. ACORN had argued that the suspension of taxpayer funding amounted to a “corporate death sentence.” The circuit court disagreed, citing a study indicating only a tenth of the group’s budget came from federal sources. “We doubt that the direct consequences of the appropriations laws tempo- rarily precluding ACORN from federal funds were so disproportionately severe or so inappropriate as to constitute punishment,” the three-judge panel found. The decision came months after the U.S. Depart- ment of Justice fi led an appeal of U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon’s ruling that cutting off funding of ACORN was an unconstitutional bill of attainder.

Meanwhile, Nevada’s Democratic attorney general, Catherine Cortez Masto, is moving forward with a criminal prosecution of ACORN even though the fi nancially anemic group has dissolved its national structure and reportedly slashed its workforce from 250 to four employees. Trial has been scheduled for Nov. 29. The charges relate to ACORN’s crime of choice: election fraud. Conrad Hafen, chief deputy state attorney general, was quoted in a news report saying neither bankruptcy nor dissolution would “necessarily protect (ACORN) from prosecution” in Nevada. If ACORN is convicted it would send shock waves through leftist organizing circles across the nation and might embolden more prosecutors to take on ACORN and similar groups.

A federal grand jury indicted California businessman Samuel “Mouli” Cohen in a $30 million invest- ment scam whose victims reportedly included leftist actor and Hugo Chavez collaborator Danny Glover and the far-left Vanguard Public Foundation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The victims were allegedly lured by Cohen into buying shares in his technology company, Ecast, which he claimed was on the verge of being purchased by Microsoft Corp. Glover and Vanguard president Hari Dillon fi led a lawsuit against Cohen in 2009 claiming Vanguard “has been effectively destroyed” by Cohen’s activities.

Nonprofi t groups and charities that rely on states for funding are facing hard times because two-thirds of states are projecting budgetary shortfalls in 2012 that may exceed their collective $84 billion shortfall for 2011. The biggest funding gaps in 2011 belong to Nevada (45%), New Jersey (28%), Arizona (27.2%), and Maine (26%). In California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed zeroing-out funding for CalWorks, which gives cash and employment assistance to low-income families. In Arizona voters will be asked in November to vote on Proposition 302 which would kill First, which was cre- ated in a statewide referendum in 2006 and is supported through a tax on tobacco. Critics say the group hoards money and isn’t spending enough on programs for children.

In Portland, Ore., state health inspectors forced seven year old Julie Murphy to shut down her lemon- ade stand or face a $500 fi ne because she had not paid the $120 fee to have her stand inspected. The county later apologized. The Nature Conservancy in Oregon also sponsors child lemonade stands. No word on its reaction to the crackdown.

Former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) president Andy Stern, a longtime practitioner of Saul Alinsky’s in-your-face style of advocacy, accepted a plum post as “senior research fellow” at Georgetown University’s Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

6 September 2010

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