The Tea Party Does Exist

A year ago, the Tea Party movement didn’t exist. Today, this angry group of right wing activists, with unrivaled popularity, represents the most dynamic force in the North American political scene, though it stays in periphery of establishment and lacks both of a strong leader and a clear political agenda. And it is trying to gain a role in the traditional U.S. two-party system. The representatives of this anti-Obama machinery, named after the Boston Tea Party of 1773, have just ended a long tour in Washington, which has taken them and their gospel to nearly 50 cities around the country.

Minimizing the government, diminishing its interference in the life of the citizens and demanding that elected offical bear fiscal responsibility seem to be the main points of this ideology so far. Whatever the origins of these followers of Sarah Palin, it would be a huge mistake to see them only as a folk movement, since they share, more or less explicitly, a large part of the principles many Americans defend. It would also be a mistake to think of the Tea Party as a mere fringe of the Republican Party, although most people who identify with it are Republicans, and are generally white, middle-aged men. A recent poll from the “New York Times” about Tea Party supporters reveals that their education level is on average higher than that of the general public, they are generally in the higher economic bracket and and are deeply pessimistic about the future of the country. It makes political sense to them that Barack Obama is the perfect target for their anger. Beyond the cliché of accusing Obama of being a Communist and a Muslim, for conservatives whose priorities are the individual rights and little government intereference, Obama is, because of his liberal ideology and focus on reform, the one to bring down.

The Tea Party, which held its very first convention only a couple of months ago, has been showing a unique ability to adapt and grow. It’s still premature to speculate as to whether it will become Sarah Palin’s launch pad for the 2012 presidential elections, but what we can certainly foresee is that its popularity could divide the Republican vote in the November mid-term elections. The GOP is faced with a huge dilemma: Which is more dangerous — allying with the Tea Party supporters or opposing them?