Perspectives: Sullivan on the Tea Party Movement
The Texas Association of Business is proud to present the inaugural Perspectives series, featuring commentary from influential, disparate voices on the important political and policy issues taking place in Texas and across America.
Today influential conservative watchdog Michael Quinn Sullivan shares his perspective on the Tea Party movement and its influence on elections taking place in Texas and across America.
Michael Quinn Sullivan, President and CEO - Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and Empower Texans: Predicting the future, especially of political movements, is a fool’s errand. What’s more interesting, and instructive, is the impact “tea parties” have had on the American political landscape in just the last twelve months.
Few would have suspected an unscripted rant from the Chicago trading floor by a CNBC analyst would turn into a national dialogue on citizen engagement. But it was a rant awakened many whose voices had gone silent.
Tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, took to rallies in the spring and summer. They were driven by many things, but mostly by a sense that America’s spirit was being shackled by bank bailouts, ill-conceived stimulus plans and a European-style collectivist health care proposal.
Dismissed by the left as “tea-baggers,” it was assumed they would go away once the signs waved at rallies got too heavy. Some have, but many continue to seek ways to invest their newfound political and policy interests.
With a super-majority in the Senate, President Obama’s health care reforms seemed a foregone victory. Except these people had other plans, which involved raising the political cost of supporting such a thing. Today, no one expects that legislation to see the light of day, thanks to the energy of so many tea party activists.
These were the people mobilizing turnout in New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere in November. They were door-knocking and sign waving passionately for Massachusetts’ Scott Brown long before any polls reflected the intensity of their effort.
Even here in Texas the tea parties have been instrumental in shaking the status quo. Between new waves of volunteers to race-changing candidates, the 2010 election season has been radically transformed.
It would be tempting to consider the tea party movement as an auxiliary of the Republican Party. But that misses the point; many of these are people driven by principles, not parties.
What’s been shocking is just how spontaneous the activities really have been. It would be comforting for some, perhaps, to believe it was led or coordinated. Certainly no shortage of politicians future, current and former have tried to leap to the front of the parade. In reality, much of what these neophytes have done wouldn’t have been allowed by the “professional” political class.
It is impossible to predict the long term impact of the tea parties.
Frankly, the success of a grassroots movement isn’t measured in months; the tea party will be no different. Its impact will be most visible looking back, not ahead. What can be safely predicted about the remainder of the 2010 election season is that the political game has been changed.
