Intraparty fighting will threaten Republicans

in Columns, Opinion / by / on September 26, 2010 at 11:04 PM /

The whole idea of the Tea Party movement seems a bit confusing. If taken alone the overwhelming frustration with status quo politics is easily understandable and completely rational.

However, the approach that the Tea Party takes to accomplish its goals is highly counterproductive.

They have opted to wield pitchforks and torches in a populist frenzy while backing insurgent candidates who promise to fight the evil establishment and bring new ideas to Washington.

Let’s take a step back for a second and look at the party’s positions to see what these awe-inspiring new ideas are. They support balancing the federal budget, repealing the health care legislation, reducing earmarks and stopping cap and trade energy legislation.

Oddly enough, these positions are identical to those of staunch conservatives. If the ideas between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party are largely the same, then what is the gain in challenging a Republican establishment candidate?

Essentially, they believe that many current Republicans have failed them by supporting big government and not completely adhering to this party line.

Unfortunately, the Tea Party’s strict devotion to right wing policies has created a rift within the Republican Party between establishment moderates who would rather have a big tent and insurgents who demand party purity.

In a year that many political analysts see Republicans taking back the House, this division has created a vicious pattern that threatens to turn this election season from great to simply good.

The pattern starts off with a Republican establishment moderate who is largely expected to win their race by an extremely large margin.  The Tea Party candidate, who often carries a lot of baggage with him or her, enters the race.  The next step in this story is that the Tea Party candidate proceeds to pull an upset win in the republican primary by presenting themselves as being more conservative and receiving massive cash infusions from out of state sponsors. Unfortunately, these extremely conservative views, frequently combined with personal problems, make this candidate unpopular in the general election and the Democratic nominee then becomes very competitive.

The real danger to the conservative movement is seen in the Senate, where the GOP is predicted to have a small chance of securing a majority if they win most of their competitive races. Unfortunately for them, the Tea Party has swooped in and thrown a monkey wrench into the entire process, which is potentially lethal when every Senate seat counts.

 In Delaware for example, Republican establishment favored moderate Mike Castle was expected to easily win Joe Biden’s old senate seat. His moderate positions appealed to the liberal leaning state and as a result, he had been a successful politician there for forty years. Enter Tea Party-backed candidate Christine O’Donnell who unsuccessfully ran for the seat twice, possesses mountains of unpaid personal and campaign debts, lied about her college degree, has been lampooned by her former campaign staffers who said that she was “idiotic,” “paranoid,” and “self-absorbed,” and was called by the state GOP chairman a person who “could not be elected dog catcher.”

Despite all of this, she was able to win the Republican primary because she tacked so far right of Castle. Unfortunately, a solid Republican does not do so well in the general election in a blue state. Current polling has her trailing Democratic nominee Chris Coons by sixteen points.

This is not a lone story of a baggage-laden, fringe candidate beating a candidate who more accurately represents the population. Across the country, Tea Party-backed candidate Sharron Angle won her primary in Nevada, but her suggestions that both Social Security and the Department of Education be abolished have given fresh life to the campaign of Democrat Harry Reid, who was thought to be a goner in the election. The same story is seen in Kentucky, with insurgent Rand Paul suggesting that the Civil Rights Act is unconstitutional, and in Alaska, with candidate Joe Miller supporting the elimination of unemployment benefits.

At the end of the day, the Tea Party has to ask itself: is the control of the Senate worth risking in order to get candidates who will vote entirely along the party line instead of ones who might flirt with bipartisanship? After all, Mike Castle’s defeat of Christine O’Donnell isn’t really a victory for the Tea Party if she goes on to be crushed in the general election to a person who would rarely side with the Tea Party on important issues. Unfortunately, the Tea Party does not seem to realize this reality. The emotional populist frenzy that drives them appears to have impaired both their sense of judgment and basic math skills.

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  • Mark Montgomery

    The tea party has no answers to our problems, the tea party IS our problem. The tea party is just a sad group of old, white, racist bigots who are all going to die naturally very soon so they have NOTHING to say about our future. They can’t stand the fact that we have a black president and when they howl “TAKE BACK AMERICA!!!” they mean to take it back from the minorities. They represent only the top 3% richest Americans so they are our cultural enemies. Barrack, don’t dignify those low lifes by asking them for suggestions. Mark Montgomery boboberg@nyc.rr.com

  • Jeb

    I just love it when liberals feel the need to give conservatives advice on how to run the Republican party. I love it even more when you try to highlight the infighting in Republican ranks and completely ignore the fact that your party is in a tailspin. Consider the fact that your party is in control of the House, Senate, and White House and that they still can’t get anything passed! All the time they blame it on Republicans who ironically don’t even have the numbers to stop legislation even if they wanted to! Democrats are the ones blocking the Democrats agenda!

    “If the ideas between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party are largely the same, then what is the gain in challenging a Republican establishment candidate?”

    Common mistake for those that prefer to get their knowledge of the Tea Party from the drive-by media. While the Tea Party’s position on financial issues is similar to that of the Republican party, they largely avoid social issues. The unofficial leaders of the Tea Party have distanced themselves from groups that take on the common Republican social issues. They want to focus on reducing the size of government and reducing government spending. Now I’ll admit that is a view shared by a majority of conservatives so the odds are that a candidate would likely also support some of the Republican social issues (much to my disappointment). It is disingenuous to say that the Tea Party is the same thing as the Republican Party, however. Furthermore, the reason the Tea Party is ousting certain Republican establishment candidates is because those candidates are RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). These are the kind of candidates that, when they lose their primary, they simply switch parties and run as Democrats. Thanks, but you can keep them. We don’t need Republicans like that. The opinion of the Tea Party is that it is better to lose an election than elect a liberal running with a ‘R’ behind their name simply because their vote cannot be counted on and it gives people the wrong impression of what it is the Republican party stands for. It becomes a watered-down version of the Democrats and people begin to think there is no difference between the parties. The Tea Party seeks to highlight those differences and give voters a clear choice; smaller government in which citizens keep more of what they earn and are responsible for their own choices, or larger, more intrusive government that caters to the needs of every man, woman, and child.

    “The Tea Party candidate, who often carries a lot of baggage with him or her, enters the race.” …. “frequently combined with personal problems”

    Wow. Way to hide your bias! I hope you aren’t going into journalism, but if so, I’m sure one of the far-left media outlets can find a place for you. You just painted the entire party with an awfully broad brush (which ironically you complain that conservatives do the same thing and then call us bigots). First of all, what political candidate have you ever known to be squeaky clean? Seriously, I’d like to know because the stereotype of corrupt politician exists for a reason (oh, sorry… I know you guys hate stereotypes too! Makes us seem racist! Love your double-standard though). Secondly, you are making that comment based on Christine O’Donnell’s past comments that were admittedly, a little out there. You then say that Tea Party candidates “often” carry baggage. Riiiight…..

    Do me a favor and focus on your own party. If the Tea Party ends up causing massive losses in the general election, then so be it. At least conservatives won’t have to deal with RINOs. Lets wait and see though. Your comments are a little presumptuous. You assume that the anger against the Democratic agenda is limited to the Tea Party fringe and is no more widespread. Well, polls would suggest otherwise so I’d hold your tongue until some election results start rolling in. I’d love to remind you of this article on November 3.

  • conservative

    “Oddly enough, these positions are identical to those of staunch conservatives. If the ideas between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party are largely the same, then what is the gain in challenging a Republican establishment candidate?”

    How uninformed you are. We dont want any more ruling class snobs in Washington. These guys are liberals who just happen to have a R next to their name. They cannot be trusted to vote in favor of Constitutional small government politics.

    “The pattern starts off with a Republican establishment moderate who is largely expected to win their race by an extremely large margin. The Tea Party candidate, who often carries a lot of baggage with him or her, enters the race. ”
    Its funny that you like to conveniently leave out the baggage democrat candidates have. Coons, O’Donnell’s opponent in Delaware has a history of radicalism. He referred to himself as a Marxist in college and spent time in Africa dabbling in Black Liberation Theology. Obama’s shady past certainly didnt seem to hamper him as it was constantly swept under the rug by ruling class media types.

    Lets take a step back and examine your intentions for writing this article. You certainly would be happy as all get out if democrats won all these seats. Is your real intention to give “advice” to republicans or slightly twist the truth in regards to the Tea Party movement because you are afraid that they will get elected and that *gasp* their policies may in fact work. I think it is pretty clear.

  • Anna

    *JOHN IS A REPUBLICAN, YOU IDIOTS. HE IS CONCERNED FOR HIS OWN PARTY, NOT STICKING HIS NOSE IN YOUR BUSINESS. Jesus…
    First of all, @conservative, you are the reason people like Mark Montgomery think what they do of Tea Partiers.
    “We dont want any more ruling class snobs in Washington. These guys are liberals who just happen to have a R next to their name. They cannot be trusted to vote in favor of Constitutional small government politics.”
    Is it so difficult to learn grammar and punctuation in school? And what sort of communist mentality is “ruling class snobs?” Because people who actually go to school, get degrees in political science, and have careers in the field make more money than you, doesn’t make them snobby. It just means they have the ambition you obviously do not. And exactly what about “these guys” makes them liberal? Read up, moron. You apparently have no idea what you’re talking about. The same thing can be said of congressman Bobby Bright. I personally interviewed Bright last spring to learn that his policies are extremely conservative, and the only reason he has a ‘D’ next to his name is because the Democratic Party of Alabama paid him a hell of a lot of money to wear it. So suck on THAT.
    Next, @Jeb, you seriously have a few resentments toward the Democratic party, no?
    “Wow. Way to hide your bias! I hope you aren’t going into journalism, but if so, I’m sure one of the far-left media outlets can find a place for you.”
    This is an OPINION column. He can be as biased as he likes. And it’s your kind of “our-party-can-have-personal-problems-but-yours-can’t” attitude that really irks me about Republicans (no offense, John). No politician has a perfect past, true. However, it’s the Tea Partiers’ personal problems that are so detrimental to their own candidacy. Get your shit together before you run for office. Duh.
    And last, but not least, @Mark Montgomery, John never mentioned ANY of this in his article. Your hate for Tea Partiers is actually unfounded in its context.
    “The tea party is just a sad group of old, white, racist bigots who are all going to die naturally very soon so they have NOTHING to say about our future. They can’t stand the fact that we have a black president and when they howl “TAKE BACK AMERICA!!!” they mean to take it back from the minorities. They represent only the top 3% richest Americans so they are our cultural enemies. Barrack, don’t dignify those low lifes by asking them for suggestions.”
    Because they are wealthy, doesn’t mean they are our “cultural enemies.” See above comment on communist mentality.
    All of you people make me want to vomit (except you, John).

  • conservative

    “And what sort of communist mentality is “ruling class snobs?” Because people who actually go to school, get degrees in political science, and have careers in the field make more money than you, doesn’t make them snobby. It just means they have the ambition you obviously do not.”

    I will say that these guys do make more money than I probably ever will make but I had to laugh at your comment about ambition. These guys live off the people. They dont produce anything. The real ambitious people in this country are the ones who make it in the private sector where their paycheck is not always guaranteed by tax money taken from the people. They work hard and make sacrifices to do the things they love. The only sacrifices ruling class, career politicians make are the ones they make on my behalf that I must pay for.

    As for “snobby”, I guess elitist would be a better word to describe them. They feel like they know better about how I should spend my money and how I should live my life than I do. Most people in Washington(including the President) have never actually produced a drop of anything in their lives, yet they sit on their ivory tower criticizing the American people who actually have jobs and pay the majority of taxes in this country. They obviously have no regard for the Constitution and consider it only a stumbling block to the things they want to do. Ill leave yall with a youtube clip and a must read article that nicely sums up how I feel about the ruling class.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APUhVXImUhc

    http://spectator.org/archives/2010/07/16/americas-ruling-class-and-the

    “And exactly what about “these guys” makes them liberal? Read up, moron. You apparently have no idea what you’re talking about.”

    Its you who should do some reading.

    Mike Castle a ruling class RINO who was just ousted by Christine O’Donnell:

    http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Republicans-who-helped-pass-cap-and-trade-benefitted-from-environmental-donations-49385812.html

    http://www.redstate.com/dhorowitz3/2010/09/13/the-truth-about-mike-castles-extreme-liberal-voting-record/

  • Jeb

    Wait… are you saying that the majority of politicians majored in political science in college? I’d like to see the numbers on that because I’ve never met a politician that actually DID major in political science.

    Before you start saying that they make more money than me (or others) maybe you should know who you are talking to. I assure you, a political science major will probably never make an annual salary equal to my starting salary out of college. And don’t bother attributing that to daddy’s money or family ties because I earned that all on my own with a high-level engineering degree. Now if you really want to talk about politicians that DO make more money than me, maybe we should look at HOW they make that money (i.e. corruption).

    “This is an OPINION column. He can be as biased as he likes. ”

    Yes, I agree. I never said he couldn’t. I just pointed out that his article is an attempt to tell the Republicans how to run their party but he is obviously not a huge fan. What makes you think he is a Repub anyway?

    “it’s the Tea Partiers’ personal problems that are so detrimental to their own candidacy.”

    I say again, point to some politicians that don’t have personal problems. Why is your condemnation solely for the Tea Party candidate? I assume you are only referring to O’Donnell since she is the only one with “high-profile” (or should I say widely publicized) personal problems. Way to join your buddy John though, and lump the entire party together in your attack.

    And in regards to your defense of Tea Party supporters…
    “Because they are wealthy, doesn’t mean they are our “cultural enemies.””

    You really think that most Tea Party supporters are wealthy? Have you ever been to a rally? Side-note: I haven’t. I have a job so I don’t attend stupid political rallys. But the quickest bit of research will show you that these are ordinary people, often middle or lower-middle class. Yes, there are some wealthy people too but again, why paint with such a broad brush?