Talk:Tea Party movement/Archive 1

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This is a copy of an the article titled "Tea Party" that was merged with this article "Tea Party movement". Its talk page is archive 2, a talk page started after the move was performed is archive 4.


While there are many facets of the Tea Party, overall this non-partisan group seems to stand for smaller government, fiscal responsibility and the return toU.S. Constitutional values. Founders of the Tea Party also mention support of the Federalist Papers, 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. The book was compiled between October 1787 and May 1788.[1] The group seems to represent a mixture of social and political change with libertarian leanings.[2]

Tea Party Origins

Seattle resident Keli Carender is credited for starting the Tea Party Movement in 2009. Carender tired of politics as usual and decided to call a few conservative friends to set up a rally. The rally was attended by 120 people. Later rallies spread throughout the United States making Carender a celebrity. [3] [4] Rick Santeli is also credited with creation of the Tea Party movement. Santeli, a CNBC cable-news reporter, offered to form a Chicago based Tea Party. Within hours the OfficialChicagoTeaParty.com web site was brought online. Within weeks Tea Party protests throughout New England took hold leading to the growth of the Tea Party.[5] [6] The Tea Party held a convention in February 2010 where former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was paid $100,000 as the keynote speaker for the event. Criticisms were offered too as the convention charged a $549 attendance fee. Two featured speakers, Republican representatives Michele Bachmann of Minnestoa and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee withdrew from the event citing ethical concerns.[7] A planned follow-up convention in Las Vegas and scheduled for fall 2010 was canceled.[8]

Tea Party Patriots

The Tea Party Patriots political and social action group is an out growth of Carrender's first political efforts. The Tea Party Patriots web site claims to be the national organization for the Tea Party movement.

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. ("TPP") is a non-partisan, non-profit social welfare organization dedicated to furthering the common good and general welfare of the people of the United States. TPP furthers this goal by educating the public and promoting the principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free markets. Tea Party Patriots has not endorsed candidates for public office."[9]
Motto: "Ordinary citizens reclaiming America's founding principles."

The Tea Party Patriots received a $1 million donation from an anonymous source. The donation was reported in the news media in September 2010. The donation would be dived up among other Tea Party groups by Oct. 4, 2010, at the donors request. [10]

Chicago Tea Party

The Chicago Tea Party web site claims to welcome both liberals and conservatives to join the Tea Party movement. "Tea Party Patriots Chicago is made up of individuals who believe in liberty, constitutional principles and fiscal responsibility. We are a non-partisan, grassroots group of people committed to freedom and united by the core values and principles found in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Tea Party Patriots Chicago welcomes all conservatives, libertarians, centrists, Republicans, Democrats and Independents who stand for freedom and individual rights."[11]

Tea Party Express

The Tea Party Express offers no group information at their web site other than requests to support their selected political candidates. Members of the media can contact them for information as an email address is listed at the web site. [12] Controversy seems to surround the Tea Party Express as several media outlets have reported the Tea Party Express did not refute potentially racist remarks made during a rally.[13] [14] The Tea Party Express is best known for supporting rallies throughout the US when supporters would travel by bus known as the Tea Party Express. [15]

Demographics

According to Gallup Polls (Spring 2010)[16] among Tea Party supporters there are

  • 78% are Republicans or independents who lean Republican
  • 77% are non-Hispanic whites
  • 69% are conservatives
  • 62% are married
  • 56% are men
  • 47% are 55 or older
  • 23% are under 35

and they share the following beliefs:

  • Concern about the US federal debt. 92% believe the federal government debt is a very serious/extremely serious threat to the nation's future well-being.
  • Safety. 90% believe terrorism is a very/extremely serious threat to the nation's future well-being.
  • General unhappiness over how things are going in the US. 90% are dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country.
  • Disapproval of congressional Democrats. 87% disapprove of the job congressional Democrats are doing.
  • Growth of the US federal government. 85% believe the size and power of the federal government are a very/extremely serious threat to the nation's future well-being.
  • Congress' ability to take care of business. 83% say most members of Congress don't deserve re-election.
  • President Barack Obama should not be re-elected. 83% say President Obama doesn't deserve re-election.

References

  1. The Federalist Papers - THOMAS (Library of Congress). Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  2. Tea Party Tug Of War; Is Focus Fiscal Or Social? : It's All Politics : NPR. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  3. Unlikely Activist Who Got to the Tea Party Early - NYTimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  4. 'Boiling Mad': A Tea Party Origin Story : NPR. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  5. The rise of the Tea Party movement : The New Yorker. Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  6. Chicago Tea Party | Tea Party Patriots Chicago. Liberty, Constitutional Principles, Fiscal Responsibility. Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  7. 'Tea party' movement faces uncertain future - Politics - More politics - msnbc.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  8. 'National Tea Party Unity Convention' canceled. Is the movement slipping? - CSMonitor.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  9. Tea Party Patriots | About Tea Party Patriots. Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  10. Tea Party Group Gets $1 Million From Unnamed Source : It's All Politics : NPR. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  11. About | Chicago Tea Party. Retrieved on 2010-09-26.
  12. The Tea Party Express. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  13. National Tea Party Federation Bags Tea Party Express Following Racist Satire | VF Daily | Vanity Fair, VF Daily. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  14. Tea Party federation expels Tea Party Express - Politics - msnbc.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  15. 'Tea Party Express' Takes Protests Cross-Country : NPR. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
  16. USA TODAY/Gallup polls taken May 24-25 and June 11-13 of 697 Tea Party supporters. Margin of error +/-5 percentage points. Analysis by Jim Norman.
    What is the Tea Party? A growing state of mind - USATODAY.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.