Tea Party protests: Could they rally change in government?
Protests against Washington spending took place in more than 700 US cities Wednesday.
By Patrik Jonsson | Staff writer/ April 16, 2009 edition
Reporter Patrik Jonsson talks with CSMonitor.com's Pat Murphy about the Tea Party event he attended in Atlanta Wednesday evening.
Reporter Patrik Jonsson
Atlanta
Two months ago, 300 people showed up in a cold, pouring rain at Georgia’s State Capitol as part of the first stirrings of a modern-day Tea Party movement, protesting Washington’s expanding reach and a ballooning federal deficit.
Wednesday night, Edward Johnson, in a tricorn hat and Paul Revere coat, watched Act II: The capitol square here filled up with more than 10,000 protesters waving signs that said, among other things, “Welcome to Sweden” and “Don’t tax me, bro!”
The burgeoning Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement is outwardly nonpartisan but has been dominated, at least at the Atlanta event, by Republican stalwarts like former Rep. Dick Armey. When asked whether it could achieve its goal of returning America to small-government roots, Mr. Johnson looked grim under the brim of his hat.
“On the one hand, I feel optimistic to see so many people coming out,” he said, gripping his 4-month-old daughter, Sophie, on the fringe of a rowdy crowd. “But I’m also pessimistic because I think it’s too late. I think both parties in this country are bent on repressing the individual rights the Founders worked so hard to craft into the Constitution.”
With protests in more than 700 US cities Wednesday, and perhaps over 100,000 Americans taking part, it’s clear that a populist counterpoint is expanding to protest what they see as Washington profligacy. They’re zeroing in on corporate bailouts, a historic stimulus package, and a budget that could add trillions of dollars to the already massive US deficit.
Critics call tea partiers an irrational minority, their movement a sign of a conservative power vacuum.
Yet the impressive organizing effort – styled in many ways like the Democratic social-networking playbook that worked so well last fall – does indicate to some experts that the Tea Parties could have an effect on the body politic.
“These grass-roots movements can make a big difference. We saw that with the suffrage movement, where you had to get people picketing the White House in addition to folks who were lobbying state by state for ratification,” says Elizabeth Bennion, a professor who studies voter mobilization at Indiana University at South Bend. At the Tea Parties now, she says, “These are people – liberal, conservative, moderate and unidentified – who are genuinely concerned about the debt that we’re passing onto our children and grandchildren.”
From Hartford, Conn., to San Antonio, from San Francisco to Punta Gorda, Fla., organizers saw the seeds of the protests sprout in a way that few of them could have foreseen. They were sparked in part by CNBC reporter Rick Santelli’s much-publicized antispending rant on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
The vast majority of the protests were orderly and respectful, with very few counterprotests. The only notable incident came in Washington, when someone threw a box of tea bags over the White House fence, forcing police to disperse the crowd and bring out a robotic bomb-sniffer.
The tea-bag incident notwithstanding, the White House pointed out Wednesday that 95 percent of Americans will enjoy a federal tax cut under President Obama’s plan. But protesters say that future tax increases are inevitable, as Mr. Obama looks to expand the government’s role and reach.
Atlanta protester Dwight Alcala says that both his parents are Filipino but he came to the protest because “I’m an American first.” His main concern is that free-for-all government spending leads to a freeloader mind-set that’s antithetical to the Constitution’s guarantees of individual rights. “We’re fed up, and we think there’s a better way,” he says.
Some protests eschewed party politics: One event in Chicago refused an entreaty from GOP head Michael Steele to speak. Others, such as the one here in Atlanta, were high-tech affairs, with huge TV screens, bands, and a recitation by “Paul Revere” (“The taxes are coming!”) – as well as appearances by state politicians like John Oxendine, Mr. Armey, and Fox News TV personality Sean Hannity, who aired his show last night from the scene.
Some have raised questions about how grass-roots the efforts really are, but even critics who attended the events or have talked to protesters say they are sincere.
“These are all average Americans in leadership roles,” insists Michael Patrick Leahy, a Nashville blogger and organizer of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition. “These are people who are mad at the fiscal profligacy of the last years of the Bush administration, and Republicans as well as Democrats.”
The movement has already had an impact on Jeremy Kata, a 20-something grad student at Indiana University at South Bend, who helped organize a protest there. A former plant manager, Mr. Kata is now determined to enter politics, though at what level and where he’s not sure.
Ultimately, the impact of the Tea Party movement at the local level may be what’s most important, he says.
“This idea of what we are willing to pay in taxes and what do we need in terms of services, it’s even more visible at the local level,” he says. “These are issues being debated in almost every town and state in the union.”
Influencing state and congressional races is the movement’s ultimate goal, says Mr. Leahy, but there’s a more immediate priority: the upcoming budget vote.
“Policymakers will be following these protests in the news,” Professor Bennion says. “Republicans might feel emboldened as a protest party, and ‘blue dog’ or moderate Democrats may also feel empowered to speak out against the Democratic leadership, meaning that the majority party will have to look much more carefully at their concerns regarding spending and how they’re going to pay for things.”
Marc Cooper, director of Annenberg Digital News at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California and a Huffington Post contributor, disagrees. For Republicans especially, he says, the Tea Party movement is an unwelcome charge by “the angriest, most rogue, extreme – not in a dangerous way – voices that I think do a lot of damage to Republicans.”
He adds: “These protests are really off the wall because they’re completely out of sync with a historic moment … [where] people are now looking to government, much as they did in the 1930s, for solutions. There’s a minority that’s going to oppose that, but that’s not where the center of the gravity is in the country.”
In fact, a study from the Pew Research Center released Wednesday found that 56 percent of Americans support Obama’s stimulus plan.
Standing back from the crowds at the Atlanta rally, J.C. Greene, an AmeriCorps volunteer, said he expected the crowds to be much larger – and more diverse. “They’re trying to build some momentum,” he says, “but I think it just mostly shows the state of our country right now.”
Comments
2. Tom Martin | 04.17.09
Looking to the government for solutions, that is the Stockholm syndrome on a national scale - Big government is the disease masquerading as the cure.
American has had over 6 decades of mass production and incredible technological advances, prices should have steadily fallen - the common mans dollar should have increased in buying power - yet it has been steady eroding instead. WHY? There is a systemic problem and it is called inflation. Government keeps printing money out of thin air ‘Borrowing’ from its self so politicians don’t have to openly and honestly ask the people to pay for all of the nonsense they are doing - 11+ trillion in debt before the bails outs is not with out consequences.
3. Mark Kiertzner | 04.17.09
Where were these people in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008? Why is it after 8 destructive years of the Bush administration and poor Government management by Republicans these so called protesters are in the streets? Were these people and their families in the streets protesting Jim Crow laws, and supporting the Civil Rights movement? What about the Women’s rights movement - were they just sitting at home? It is a blessing that none of these individuals lost their job, lost their house to foreclosure or disaster, lost their retirement, lost their savings, dropped out of college, or was down-sized by the 8 years of the Bush administration. However, instead of gratitude they express their self centered, self absorbed, and personal greed about Government spending & taxes during a time of an International economic crisis… wow - now that is liberty! That’s not “power to the people”, that power to me, me, me…!
4. Jerry Bettice | 04.17.09
Just how big is the government that the tea party goers are protesting? Nobody seems to be telling us that. Is it some mythical “kazillion”? Most of big government from some perspectives seems to be in the military expenditures that are meant to protect our wasteful way of life. Hopefully, the tax haters will protest the expensive militarization of our country, rather than spreading fear of socialism, that straw effigy some hate along with the taxes that benefit all of us in so many ways. Can our growing militarization and the use of force it implies be separate from the violence that plagues our society, especially the third world corners of our nation? Now there is something to protest.
5. Rob | 04.17.09
Um - no - these Tea Party’s won’t change a thing. These are a bunch of peons who can babble on all they want but the politicians have no reason to listen to them - why?
1) The vast, vast majority of these people don’t contribute to campaigns and those that do don’t contribute very much.
2) Most politicians are in relatively “safe” districts or states so as long as they think they are safe - they don’t care what these peons say or do.
Sorry folks - but unless you have money and give it to the politicians - you can march all day long but it won’t change a thing…
6. Jerry Schechter | 04.17.09
I have been getting blogs for the past few days and hearing news bulletins about these spontaneous tea parties. Let’s clear up one misrepresentation:the original Boston Tea Party had at its motto,”Taxation without representation is tyrrany.” That is a fact. No one at the tea parties of 2009 can claim that he lacks representation in government. Rather, demonstrators are confirming that this government, through their representatives, is exercising its duties in a way which makes the protesters unhappy.
That’s democracy, not tyranny. So let’s set aside any resemblance to the historic event in Boston.
The real question is whether or not thse demonstrations is a bona fide news event? Or perhaps an attempt to engineer one, after the fact. Like an intentional avalanche. Or is it merely orchestrated public relations? The reports about Fox News seems to indicate it is simply a PR ploy to give some semblance of credibility to the nay saying which has become the mantra of The Republicans in the House and Senate by pretending that there is a ground swell of public opinion to back it up. But the presence of distinguished Republican spokesman at these events belie the claims made by participants that it is purely a non-partisan populist tide.
On the other hand, the Internet blogs are claiming that it is, indeed, a news event, one which justifies the coverage by a new wave of Internet journalists who are supplanting the mainstream media. If it is, where is the insight we look for from trained, disciplined investigative reporters? So far, it looks like an orchestrated partisan PR event, but where do we go to get perspective? Where did it begin? Who is funding it? Who is coordinating events? Answers, anyone?
7. 1CatotheElder | 04.17.09
Tom Martin has far better sense on the Tea Parties than you Marxists. Unlike you, he sees the country for what it is: a wreck suffering from a totalitarian/socialist headache! Our list of grievances is a long one, and has been long in the making. Where were we all these years? We were working, suffering the fools ungladly, but acting patriotically. The train of abuses had continued to pile up to the point where we are now, as we petition our government with our complaints. We want back what has been slyly taken from us by scoundrels, usurpers, rapscallions, and traitors! The latter are the “disloyal opposition,” and, in spirit, have seceded from the United States. It is no surprise then, that we cannot trust them to see to the nation’s business!
8. RC | 04.17.09
Many of these comments miss the point. Many people during the last 8 years were fed up with Repubs spending worse than the supposed tax and spend Dems. Now in less than 100 days a Dem Executive and Legislative branch wil have managed to run up more additional debt than even George Bush and the Repubs did if Obama’s budget passes. By the end of the first 4 years of the Obama Administration, the debt service (interest we pay on the national debt) will be $1Trillion. The country can’t sustain that. In a time of deflation, we can’t afford huge increases to existing programs. We also are likely to see huge inflation as a result of the spending. That’s what this is about and it has been brewing for quite a few years.
Wake up. If we continue spending like this, NONE of the government programs will be able to be funded and MUCH worse times than now will be upon us, our kids, and our grandkids. This is NOT anti-Obama or just a bunch of right wing Repubs. This is concerned citizens across the political spectrum who understand we can NOT afford this level of spending no matter how laudable the causes are.
9. Person | 04.17.09
Hey Rosemary. Why didn’t you start protests about the war then? There weren’t any because we support our troops. Obama is destroying this country and people see it and are not going to stand for it. Makes you wonder if Bush was so bad, why people didn’t do this. Obama must be much worse for them to start now, you think? Obama continually lies about everything (pork, lobbyists, bowing and much more) and he’s only here a couple of months. Just wait people. You’ll be sorry how you voted very soon.
10. 1CatotheElder | 04.17.09
RC is right. In fact, I’ll bet you that all this so-called “stimulus” spending is going to be so huge, and so complex, that they won’t even be able to keep track of it! I have already seen reports that money has been “lost,” they “don’t know” where some funds have gone, etc. The looting has already begun, and we are its victims. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! That’s what the Tea Parties are about; people must be made aware of this giant looting scheme and must rise up and defeat the crooks before they turn us into serfs! THE IS THE GREATEST ROBBERY ON RECORD!
11. James Madison | 04.18.09
One thing that I think is strange about these “Tea parties” is the logic behind them. Historians know that when the “orignial” Boston Tea Party happened, it was in response to two key issues affecting the colonists.
1. “Taxation without representation” and
2. “The extent of the British Parliment’s authority in the American colonies”.
Both of those issues were put to rest when the Untied States of America declared its independence from Britain and won the US revolution.
1. All Americans now elect representatives, (President, Congress, Senate, State and Local Governments).
2. The British Parliment has no authoirty in the United States, we won the Revolution over 200 years ago.
Taxes on colonists at that time went to support the British Government who was oppressing the colonists. Taxes paid today are used to benefit the general population of the US by building roads, highways, bridges, hospitals, schools, infrastructure such as power grids and watersheds (dams, aqueducts and H20 filtration plants) and of course, defense such as the Army, Navy and Airforce. If the people who are protesting paying taxes want to pay less, they should earn less and by moving into a lower tax bracket. Let’s not forget that the US has spent itself into a deep hole with Wars that we cannot afford. Finally, the Obama tax proposal will only tax those earning *more* than $250,000 (AFTER TAX WRITEOFFS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT!!!)
Let’s face it folks, the “Tea Party” idea of 2009 died before it was born. They had low attendance due to a lack of valet parking for those people who wanted to participate but didn’t want to leave their Lambougini’s and Ferrari’s parked on the street…
12. PulSamsara | 04.18.09
The question isn’t whether or not people should be able to protest - that goes without saying. The questions is: Do you agree with them ? - the Tea Party - Tea Baggers… what have you.
And although the tea party arguments can’t be backed up by facts and real sources when they argue about taxes… I might still find them a noble rant … if it weren’t for the obvious back story of their argument. This IS a partisan argument. You had eight years to ‘protest’ where your taxes were going - we’ve spent a trillion dollars on our first preemptive made up war - argue all you want - it’s been a disaster for America in the big picture - a disaster. This is a culture war - first and foremost … the response to an inevitable demographic shift compounded by globalization and just what that’s going to mean for the American middle class in the future - that’s where the hate comes from. And blaming -them- - the government - is a **** poor excuse for not looking in the mirror. We live in a republic based on representative democracy. We ARE the government. And WE - the government - decided to switch gears in a big way - not once but twice - in 2006 and 2008 - because those representing US before hand were driving US of the rails - the economy was heading down fast beginning over two years ago… if you’d been paying attention you’d have noticed. I did - and put off buying a house for that reason. Just saved 60k for paying attention. It’s just intellectually dishonest to try to act as if those who controlled congress for 12 years before that and the executive branch for two terms didn’t have a gigantic hand in that… It’s just lying - mostly to yourselves - because not many people are buying your argument. And to blame Obama… oh - that’s rich… lol.
So, although some of the fiscal arguments - though pathetically late in coming do have some merit… if that’s YOU - and you also associate yourselves with placards that read: ” Muslim ! Tax ! Hang-em ! Tax ! No real passport - un-American ! Tax ! Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus !” — How do you expect to be perceived but idiotic, backward and most importantly - just dishonest. ??
No I don’t agree with the “Tea Parties” - I sure as **** would have commandeered a British Merchant Vessel in 1773 and done some tomahawk chopping myself - you could bet on it… but thats not at all what I see here… and it doesn’t deserve the respect of the same historic title.
Just looks like a ‘Sour Grape Party’ to me.
13. james sexton | 04.19.09
Some may not like the american citizens in the streets over the mind-boggling spending and waste of money and lives for the past 40 years.
The Demo. Party has become communists and the Repubs. have become Socailist, leaving the peons (not rich) in the ditch.
The US Govt. is now Of the Major Corps., for the Major Corps., and of the Major Corps, our govt. is now owned, Lock, Stock and Swiss bank Accounts by the International Corps., we the taxpayers are simply useful idiots.
There may very well be a major revolt in our future.
14. bob f | 04.20.09
THE TEA PARTY WAS A BIG JOKE. WE HAD 8 YEARS OF BUSH AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,GETTING OUR COUNTRY IN TROUBLE.
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1. rosemary lyons | 04.17.09
I have watched the citizenry during the 8 years of Bush policies do nothing. A handful of us protested the war and torture and and on and on of the ineptness and illegal activities of this president. I wondered where the People were and why they did not come out and take to the streets and stop these bully policies of Bush and friends. And now I see that they have finally come “out” and it is because of their own pocketbooks! How sad.