Tea Party Makes a Comeback

The defeat of the Republican Party’s number two in the U.S. Congress, Eric Cantor, at the hands of an unknown candidate from the radical tea party in the local primary is an earthquake in the American political world, and provides a new perspective into the 2016 presidential electoral race. Cantor has represented Virginia’s 7th district since 2001 and is the majority leader for the Republican Party in the House of Representatives. Without a doubt situated on the right side of the political spectrum, looked well upon even by the tea party in the past, these credentials — and a budget 25 times higher than that of his opponent — did not help him avoid defeat by David Brat.

Until a few days ago an unknown economics professor with a degree in theology, Brat emphasized the extremes that Cantor had smoothed over: head-on rejection of the legislation for undocumented people; no regulations; the smaller the government, the better. He was the perfect candidate for a movement that some had hastily said was exhausted and that now is returning to the center of analysis.

Cantor — and the establishment he represents — is the first victim of primaries that are recovering the spectrum of a radical passion in conservative bases. The second victim is the immigration reform that President Obama wants to pass. Already in Republican hands, the House may be even more hostile toward reform after the legislative election in November.

However, the consequences may be even worse for the Republican Party. Without a moderate candidate, its opportunities in 2016, which depend in good measure on the Hispanic vote, will be greatly reduced if it holds onto the idea that its objective is to block pressing immigration reform. For this reason, the Democratic shore is attentively following the tea party’s comeback. It’s not the same fighting against a conservative candidate with extended backup as against one being pushed by the extreme momentum of libertarian populism.

Without creating parallels between the U.S. and Europe, in the space of two weeks, there have been coinciding facts regarding the radicalization of certain conservative methods. The tea party has little to do with France’s National Front or the British UK Independence Party. However, it is worthwhile noting that these and other forces share a will to eliminate a way of understanding politics that they consider inoperative and belonging to the past.