It’s Time to Dispel These Myths
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010Chuck Raasch’s op-ed in today’s USA Today contains a myth that the Agenda Media frequently peddle. It’s time to dispel that myth once and for all. Here’s the myth I’m referring to:
The anti-tax, anti-big government Tea Party movement is the most active and most dynamic force in politics now, and both political parties risk a backlash if they do not take it seriously. Where the Tea Party movement ends up in 2010, inside the Republican Party or in a more independent or detached mode by November, is the biggest and most important unknown right now.
Mr. Raasch shouldn’t assume that he knows what they’re about when it comes to the TEA Party movement. While it’s true that the TEA Party movement started as a ‘Throw-The-Bums-Out’ movement that Obama’s bailoutmania agenda ignited, that isn’t where it’s at today.
Glenn Beck often goes into his ‘there-isn’t-a-dime’s-worth-of-difference’ mode. He couldn’t be more wrong. Regardless, people living in the heartland have noticed that elections have consequences. Right now, I can’t afford to take Mr. Beck’s long view approach because the Democrats have control of the levers of power. The vast majority of my TEA Party activist allies feel the same way.
The only logical place for them is within the GOP. The third party option isn’t an option. As currently configured, the Democratic Party isn’t an option, either. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.
Here in Minnesota, people who worry about the Democrats’ fiscal insanity identify with Republicans, especially Michele Bachmann. (That isn’t a slight on John Kline or Erik Paulsen. It’s just recognition that Michele is the one most identified with the TEA Party movement.) (more…)