Tea Party Movement Could Backfire
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 1:18PM 
Boston Tea Party event earlier this year(FLP Opinion) - Conservatives are flying high right now. Things are coalescing in a way they haven't sense the Reagan era, and there is rapt anticipation of the 2010 elections.
But there is a potential fly in the ointment that many have not yet identified. For all the good the Tea Party movement has done - and it has done much - it now faces a stark choice. Stay the course or become a legitimate 3rd party.
The former would be welcome, but the latter would spell abosolute disaster for Republicans and Conservatives alike. Why? Because it would it split the conservative vote in the 2010 Congressional elections and lead to Democrats actually gaining, not losing seats.
Want proof? In a three-way generic poll released earlier this month by Rasmussen Reports, Democrats attracted 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picked up 23%, and Republicans finished third at 18%. Another 22% were undecided. Remove the Tea Party candidate from the ballot and Republican support would have likely been two or three points higher than the Democrat.
While I have had my issues with the Republican Party, it is the only hope Conservatives have of taking back the House and Senate in 2010. A Tea Party candidate eliminates those chances altogether and worse, actually creates a scenario where Democrats pick seats up.
These groups have too much in common, too many shared goals to work against one another and inadvertently assist the enemy within.
I'd suggest that the Republican Party field the candidates and the Tea Party keep the movement informed and energized.
The alternative truly spells disaster.
Reader Comments (16)
Had not really thought about this potential outcome. Very well done! This could spell doom.
You should write horror films! This could actually happen. Holy Sh--!
When I read your headline, I was not happy. I thought you were taking a cheap shot at the movement. You weren't. This needs to find its way around conservative circles. This would be an absolute nightmare!
Interesting premise. Wouldn't be surprised if there aren't some Democrat friendlies inside the movement pushing the 3rd Party option. It would absolutely crush any chance of picking up seats.
Gary, very good observation. I'd be willing to bet there are well placed Dems on the inside pushing it as well. My concern is, once the ego's get involved, even those who are legitimate conservatives may make the wrong choice for personal reasons. I just don't see an scenario where this would work for conservatives in the short-term, and we may not have a long-term.
"The alternative truly spells disaster."
This statement is so true. At this point in our nation's history we each have to decide which is more important, 'teaching the GOP a lesson', or taking back our country from those whose only goal is to destroy it and remove America as the last beacon of freedom in the world. What we need to do is make the GOP adopt the principles that the tea party movement stands for. You can do that by supporting Republicans who best represent conservative values ie; Marco Rubio, Sarah Palin, etc. Please, please, please help spread the word that voting for 3rd party candidates - guarantees Democrat wins - and the death of our country as we have known it.
Fedupinflorida, I'll do my part, but I would suggest you send the link to my post to everyone you know. This is something that no one is addressing and it could become a massive problem in the conservative movement if more folks don't become aware of it. As soon as people start digging in and taking sides, it will be too late - the ego's will take over.
I agree.. The Tea Party group and the Republican party better join forces or the democrats will win. A third party would spell disater for the Republican party. Both parties would be losers.
I fully agree with your argument that a third party would only benefit the Democrats in the next election.
The other thing to consider is that while both of the established parties are filled with "POLITICIANS", the Tea Partyites appear to be grass roots "AMERICANS". Politicians have agendas, and usually have their hand out for the political lobby to fill with influence money. Americans want what is best for America in keeping with the Constitution with little or no regard for special intrest groups. Can members of the GOP be swayed to truly embrace Tea Party ideals? It will be a tall order, but if they do, it would be great for America.
I'm in 100% agreement with that Bruce. The GOP needs to be pulled to the right and I think the Tea Party movement has had that effect. The threat of them fielding candidates may have been enough to wake up the GOP.
I think the GOP needs to be more moderate, not less! The extreme right doesn't speak for everyone, but it seems to be running the party. Makes it hard for a moderate conservative to identify with any party.
K Martin, I have to respectfully disagree with that assessment. Republicans need to draw clear lines of distinction between themselves and the left. Less government versus more government, higher taxes versus lower taxes, etc. The more moderate the party is, the more difficult that is to accomplish because the lines of distinction are blurred.
The media has been very successful over the years at painting conservatives as anti-freedom, religious zealots that want to serve as your moral conscience. I simply don't believe that is true. The government that will take your freedom and tell you what to think is not the one that is shrinking, it is the one that is growing ever larger by the day. You need look no further than China, Cuba, Russia and North Korea to see what the Left is capable of when allowed to grow unfettered.
what has happened to the republican party is that in their attempts to use the blanket effect of pulling more of the middle into the "big tent" they have ticked off the far right religious zealots. You can't get into the middle while toting a hard line on abortion. You also can't go into the middle compromising your principles loading earmarks into bills spending like a drunken democrat and expect people to believe you are a fiscal conservative. Too much middle of the road to get greedy and pander to too many voting blocks that don't work. Same thing happened with Reagan when he got into office. He pandered to a bunch, they voted him in under the "big tent" and then he sold out and spent like crazy. The same goes for the Bush legacy. W, in 2000 he campaigned as a small govt. conservative which a TON of people voted for yet.. got into office and never saw a spending bill he didnt like. Most honorable people are tired of being lied to by the establishment to get our vote then turn around and do everything counter to our beliefs. I say DUMP the ESTABLISHED order of idiots and elect new party chairs. Move back to the roots of what the Republic means and pay homage to the name REPUBLICAN, quit acting like democrats to try to woo dems over to our side. It isn't working.
GT, your post is an incoherent mess. Your saying both moderate and conservative policies are moderate, making it hard to discern your own opinions.
Hey GT, did you choke down a bottle of Wild Turkey before you wrote that? I got three lines into it and almost passed out from dizziness.
A moderated Republican is a Democrat. As a former Democrat turned Independent I find that under this administration I am become a Conservative. I live in Nebraska and I seen first hand what a moderate Democrat did, I will not ever vote for a Democrat again. The Tea Party must support candidates to run who will vote for what is important no matter the party, we can not be scared to support our candidate. If the Republican loses then they do not stand on party principles. I don't want Democrat Lite. Support The Republic not European Socialism.