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Political Greed
April 6, 2009 | 30 comments
In the Colosseum
Tea Party Is the New Reality
Politicians who fail to recognize it are certain to become relics of the past.
THE 2012 REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES are showing early signs of another banner year for the Tea Party. The candidacies of Republican insurgents such as Richard Mourdock, Josh Mandel, Deb Fischer, Ted Cruz, and Mark Neumann follow the spirit of Senators Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Pat Toomey, and Rand Paul—who each defeated establishment forces in their 2010 senatorial races. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who enacted ambitious reforms of public-sector unions in his state, trounced his recall opponent by a seven-point margin.
In just a few short years, the Tea Party has evolved from small, disparate groups scattered all around the country into a full-fledged movement with considerable influence. Tea Party candidates are no passing fad; they are trailblazers of a new, lasting political reality.
For too long, politicians got away with proclaiming the value of fiscal responsibility on the campaign trail without ever acting on it once they were in Washington. But thanks to the Internet, that’s no longer an option. Activists around the country have ready access to politicians’ voting records, speeches, and statements with just a few clicks of a mouse. It’s nearly impossible to mislead voters these days. That’s why it’s no longer acceptable for candidates to simply mouth conservative rhetoric. Their records must back it up. For that reason, many longtime incumbents, whose walk didn’t match their talk, had to go. They couldn’t pass muster in an age of transparency.
The pundit class often laments the lack of bipartisanship in Washington and wistfully recalls the good old days when Republicans and Democrats would work together to bring home the bacon and plunge our nation deeper into debt. Times have changed. Jay Cost made an astute observation in his essay “The Politics of Loss” in National Affairs. He said that the stunning economic growth in the postwar era “liberated policy makers from having to make any hard choices. The people could have guns, butter, and low taxes—all thanks to a private economy that seemed to grow regardless of what government did.”
Today, however, the private economy is pinned under the jackboot of big government. There’s no more room for compromise. When Republicans and Democrats worked together in the past, the result was almost always a bigger, more expensive government. As a result, government now controls our health care, our energy, our education, our transportation, our mortgages, our banks, and countless other things. The debt is now bigger than our gross domestic product.
It’s time for toughness. Merely raising the subject of eliminating a single government program provokes ridicule and anger from any number of constituencies. Those who speak frankly and honestly about the decisions that must be made to save our entitlement programs can expect to be labeled in the crudest terms by the Democrat Party and its assorted special-interest groups.
But anyone who looks at the numbers can see that the real radicals are the ones running Washington right now. The creation of our $15 trillion debt is the single most extreme action ever undertaken by the U.S. government. Thankfully, we know what the answers are. Republicans have offered numerous ways to shrink the budget, empower states, reduce the tax burden on Americans, and provide the certainty needed for the economy to flourish once again.
The Tea Party has provided a much-needed infusion of accountability to ensure that the GOP champions the values that have made our nation prosperous. The genius of the Tea Party is that it is not a single group that may one day be corrupted. Its allegiance lies with the Constitution and our founding principles, not with a person or party.
With the Tea Party’s backing, Republicans should have the temerity to offer voters a clear and bold choice between the Republican and Democrat agendas. It’s not a question of left or right, or red or blue. It’s a matter of whether this country succeeds or fails.
That’s why I’m laser focused on retaking the Senate with Tea Party candidates who are committed to repealing Obamacare, balancing the budget, securing our border, stopping the bailouts, and enacting pro-growth, freedom-based policies that will get Americans back to work.
This is the new reality. Politicians who fail to recognize it are certain to become relics of the past.
Our nation’s survival depends on it.
About the Author
Jim DeMint is a U.S. senator from South Carolina.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
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benny havens| 7.23.12 @ 7:13AM
Your words speak the truth. Every day we hear more and more from the talking heads, the MSM and the leftists in our government about how the Tea Party is holding up the Obama agenda. If that were truly not the case, we would not hear any mention of The Tea Party from them.
JohnLeo| 7.23.12 @ 2:34PM
The Tea Party is indeed "holding up the Obama agenda." For this we should all be thankful!!!
Joellen| 7.23.12 @ 7:46AM
The media, dems & reps are all fearful of the Tea Party. They fear it because they cant control it. We are not going away and we are working deligently to make sure good men & women who respect and adhere to the Constitution are elected. BTW, everyone who reads this, please write/call ABC and demand Georgie Stepanhouslas (however you spell his name) and Brian Ross are fired for their slander, once again, on the Tea Party. They tried to allign the killer from Co within minutes to the Tea Party. Never mind the fact that he has more in common with the Communist over Wall Street occupiers. Just another example of why not to trust ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN.
Anthony| 7.23.12 @ 9:31AM
Spot on Joellen. Ross and George S, showed their true biased, lefty proclivities.
Ross' first instinct was to check the web site for the Tea Party, hoping for a match. Note Ross did not check so see if this guy was a registered D, or member of any left wing organization.
We have a match, it could be the same Holmes. Oops sorry, 5 other Holmes in town.
I hear there is a Brian Ross child molester, I think that's news!! First rate fact checking by a first rate media organization. And these same clowns look down at Brietbart et al!!
Like Dan Rather, the only match Ross found was Andrea Mitchell's lefty butt and Ross' face.
The whores in the MSM have been dying by a thousand small cuts for decades. Ross hit an artery.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.23.12 @ 8:08AM
Great essay!
Syjere| 7.23.12 @ 8:27AM
I think congressman who really care about their constituents, and the people of America as a whole, should publicly speak out and call this president what he is, without dressing it up...a belligerent, TYRANT. Those are the words so many of US are willing to use...why not our congressman? I'd love to know that answer. Our republic won't survive 1 more year of Obama, let alone 4.
Stkman| 7.23.12 @ 10:01AM
Now would be a goodtime for all those elected under the Tea Party tent to formally declare and make the Tea Party the third party in this country. They now have enough numbers to force the GOP to not only listen to them but would be needed by the GOP to pass anything.
Rather than being a party thats trying to reign in Rhino's, it could be the party that takes complete control of a financial consertvative movement in this country. By becoming a third party, RHINO's would become extinct almost immediately.
TLP| 7.23.12 @ 10:37AM
That's the STUPIDEST thing, they could possibly do.
As a third Party, they would Guarantee the Democrats would hold on to every Facet Of Power, in Washington, and condemn us to a life of Bondage, in another Progressive Worker's Paradise, where we will live out our lives in Forced Labour Camps, staring at ARBEIT MACHT FREI over the Camp's Front Gate, all day, until it's our turn to take a Shower.
Who invited this guy?
And, how do we get rid of him?
Stkman| 7.23.12 @ 10:57AM
By not becoming a thrid party all we get is more RHINO's who are in fact liberals themselves. Are you actually going to sit there and say that the current Republican party isn't liberal? Have you not heard both McConnell and Boehnor say that even if they win the Senate and the Presidency that it will be "difficult" to overturn Obama care? When I hear that I hear all I need to hear to know what is really going on. Two parties acting in unison so they both get what they want, not what the public wants. I say lets for the Republicans to choose and choose now. Are Republicans going to continue to support Democrats and liberals, or, are they going to support conservative values and fiscal policy. Make em choose. Take the power away from them and put into the hands of conservatives.
TLP| 7.23.12 @ 11:35AM
Anybody wanna help me out with Third Party Guy, here?
loulou| 7.23.12 @ 2:10PM
The RINOs are free to leave the GOP.
Occam's Tool| 7.23.12 @ 8:37PM
Sure, Tim.
Folks, we have a traitor in the White House. Vote third party and you are, in essence, voting FOR Obama in what promises to be the most influential election in the last, oh, 32 years. CARTER left Reagan a better unemployment rate.
Mitt isn't perfect. He's not as Conservative as me, and he's not endowed with...brains as much as I am. But hey, he's our best chance to get rid of the Kenyan scumbag. And I'm not running. So, vote Mitt to get an ordinary flawed President in the White House as opposed to a Minion of Satan. (I sound like I'm joking, but he really is, like Saul Alinsky, a Minion of Satan.)
CJW| 7.23.12 @ 12:53PM
Ross Perot ran as a third party candidate in 92 and 96 thus splitting the vote against Clinton.
Clinton won. Teddy Roosevelt ran a third party in 1912 splitting the Republican vote, thus giving the win to Woodrow Wilson. Remember WWI, federal income tax?
Stkman| 7.23.12 @ 2:04PM
Yep, Ross ran and had we voted for him we wouldn't have this NAFTA mess. Nor would several million jobs have gone to Asia thanks to Bush and his "New World Order". Who came out ahead there, the RHINO's or the average American?
It's time to quit fearing this crap abput splitting the vote. At this point when you vote Republican your voting for something slightly less liberal than McGovern. Hell, JFK was more to the right than either Bush Sr or Jr and he was more to the right than Romney. Rhino's aren't interested in you, your rights or your welfare. They are content to feed you scraps as they hoard up everything good for themselves. Rhino's are content to share with the Democrats and liberals, or as they say "compromise". Compromi9se what? What is left to compromise? Keeping the gays from promoting their lifestyle in our public school system? Nope. Keeping our border secure? Nope. A military second to none? Nope. Name something the RHINO's are'nt williing to compromise away other than power or greed.
I hear what you guys are saying. But at some point we are going to have to dump the Republicans if they don't come around.
TLP| 7.23.12 @ 4:38PM
He's! obviously, out of his mind.
Occam's Tool| 7.23.12 @ 8:39PM
Look, if the Democratic alternative was JFK, I'd be a Democrat. But he's not. The Democrat is a Communist named Obama.
This is really an easy choice. And Romney's T-shirts can be worn in polite company and around your kids.
fmm| 7.24.12 @ 5:27PM
The whole point is that the GOP has enough inertia to remain in power as the democrat light party if it is to remain as it is. Therefore, Senator DeMint and company, through the actions of the Senate Conservatives Fund, is actively replacing RINOs with truly constitutional candidates for the senate. If successful, this will give you the best of both worlds by changing the GOP into the desired third party while retaining its considerable influence. I give a monthly donation to the SCF in support of their activities. Maybe some of you will consider doing the same.
JP| 7.23.12 @ 11:31AM
The Whigs said about the same in 1858.
Occam's Tool| 7.23.12 @ 8:46PM
Yes, but the Republican Candidate in 1860 was the greatest Republican President of all time. I'd settle for Silent Cal running, now. (He was a very brilliant guy, by the way---much, much smarter than the Kenyan. Translated the Classics for fun.)
TLP| 7.23.12 @ 10:21AM
Ah yes. The Bill Krystols and the Karl Roves, and all of the Liberal Television Show's that nobody watches, have who's Token "Conservatives" long for the Blissfull, do nothing 40 YEARS, when they were the Minority Party, and all they had to do was to make Tee Times at the Local Golf Course.
Ditto the House N*gro Conservatives at The NYT and the WAPO. Just ask Elliott Spitzer's old CNN Squeeze - Kathleen Parker. She'll tell ya that those days were much simpler times. (Not the days that Spitzer had his hand shoved in her Panties, under the table, during their Show. The 40 Years of Cigar Bars, and Nice Parties with their Benevolent Masters, on the other side of the Aisle, and somebody else' hands in her panties.)
These New Guys, these Tea Party Guys, wanna actually get things done. And not the things that you might see the TEA BAGGER at CNN - Diane Von Furstenberg's little Girl - Sissy Boy 360 - doing on a Float in the next Gay Pride Parade.
They wanna rock the boat, which some, in the Republican Establishment fear, may Spill the Champagne, and knock over the Shrimp Cocktails.
We need to make it perfectly clear to these new people, that we are sending them there to GET RID of the Status Quo. That means Johnnie Boner, and Empty Threat McConell.
Anything less, is unacceptable.
Houdini| 7.23.12 @ 11:41AM
AMEN
Petronius| 7.23.12 @ 11:51AM
I turn up at our Afterparty sometimes. There's always at least two old sweat Republican and Democrat trolls reporting back to our lords and masters inside the beltway. They know we aren't very effective at displacing them; yet. If we ever get close, they'll do what they did to the Libertarians and put a looney actor in front of a TV camera at an official event ranting stupidly so the plebes see it on the 6 o'clock, or they'll set up the candidate in public like Gephart's flunky who jumped in front of Bill Federer and claimed he was assaulted. The better Conservatives do at the polls, the nastier campaigning will become. We are dealing with opposition of life long professional parasites who will do anything to get a living but Work in and compete in a free market.
Ian Cognito | 7.23.12 @ 1:59PM
professional parasites = accurate and apt
Who Knows?| 7.23.12 @ 12:10PM
The word that stands out in this outstanding essay is---TOUGH.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Heretofore, liberals have proven to be tougher than their opponents. The takers continue to beat up the makers.
Well, these gluttonous times, wherein there’s myriad chickens in every pot, every day, it seems, “tough” ain’t what it used to be. So, a whole lot more people are going to have to experience “tough going” before they “get going”.
When the average American is less wealthy than the average Canadian, for the first time in history, and stagnation continues to spread in this country, maybe the Tea Party will attract more and more people. Color me a skeptic, though.
In my town of 50,000, in socialistic Oregon, here’s a simple report. I bike a lot. In the past ten years, especially since the recession happened, auto traffic has lessened dramatically.
On weekends, Sunday in particular, the streets are almost deserted, whereas previously there was lots more activity. Also, where have the children gone?
Yes---adjustments are being made.
Me? I just love the empty streets! Safer---and, all for me.
Jeamar| 7.23.12 @ 12:27PM
Whether it would help for the Tea Party to become an official 3d party is unknown. Here in Arizona the Tea Party has seemed very quiet, almost disappearing. That may be because our two largest newspapers are liberal. Whatever, the Tea Party is almost invisible. I have no idea which state candidates they are endorsing in Arizona
Derek Leaberry| 7.23.12 @ 1:05PM
Yet one has to bet that Senator De Mint will endorse Lindsey Graham for the 2014 South Carolina Republican nomination for Senate. That pretty much makes De Mint a phony. As Graham's sweetheart John McCain admitted last month, McCain and Graham already are planning on stabbing conservatives in the back next year on the immigration issue. Graham needs to be eliminated by the Tea Party. So does McCain.
Big Bob| 7.23.12 @ 1:38PM
The Old O'bama trick of using a straw man argument. You have no way of knowing WHOM Senator De Mint will endorse!! And thus everything else you proclaim is actually a waste of time!!! It would appear that Sen De Mint can take care of himself.
Derek Leaberry| 7.23.12 @ 2:38PM
He pretty much escorted Graham at the 2008 South Carolina Republican get-together and De Mint admits the two are friends and that their differences are "exaggerated," according to a New York Times article of November 28, 2009.
Crassus| 7.23.12 @ 3:04PM
J. D. Hayworth tried to send McAmnesty home in 2010 but Sarah Palin and other Tea Partiers came out in support of the incumbent. As for Goober Lindsay Graham, the so-called conservatives sat on their hands in 2008 and nominated no one to run against him in a primary. The Dems nominated a Ron Paulbot who switched parties thus leading many Democrats to either stay home and vote for Goober. The moral--don't count on the Tea Party.
RJ| 7.23.12 @ 1:07PM
God Bless Senator Jim DeMint. One of the lessons of politics is that focusing on a few principles is vital to success. How about these:
1. Tax reform legislation which (1) eliminates virtually all tax deductions and all tax credits; (2) lowers the tax rates; and (3) requires every income earner to at least pay a nominal rate, say 5%.
3. Eliminate all non-essential federal programs, agencies and departments to help get federal spending under control and return separation of powers and freedom to America.
4. Enact monetary reform to establish a sound and stable currency.
In addition, a new administration should enact the following executive actions:
1. The Department of Justice's top priority should be to ensure that the Executive Branch is in compliance with federal law. No more disregard of laws on the books, waivers for supporters and tortured interpretations.
2. Reorganize the executive branch to make it more efficient and effective. This should be Romney's strength.
cicero| 7.23.12 @ 1:49PM
It looks to me like the Tea Party is in the process of taking over the Republican Party. 2010 was a major step. 2012 looks like the second giant step. Look at who is winning the primaries. The old Republican establishment is bleeding all over the floor. If the New Republicans (Tea Party nominees) are as successful in this cycle as they were in 2010, the political landscape will have been changed dramatically. You should see a shift in ligislation moving from left to right. That will reverse a 70 year trend.
irish19| 7.23.12 @ 2:50PM
And that is exactly why they should not form a third party.
Occam's Tool| 7.23.12 @ 8:41PM
Irish--you are the exact opposite of Alexander Cockburn, and an exemplar of the Celtic race. Sir.
Occam's Tool| 7.23.12 @ 8:43PM
You know, everytime I see some stupid leftwing pro-Islamic thing coming out of Ireland, I think of you Irish, and I know there is good and hope yet for the Emerald Isle. Come to think of it, there are a lot of Jewish Lefties, and you've always been pro-Israel. The same problem, in reverse.
Alexander Cockburn died, and you live. A great day for Ireland.
irish19| 7.24.12 @ 11:40AM
The Celts were warriors once upon a time.
And thanks very much for the praise-completely undeserved but much appreciated. BTW, I'm not Jewish if I understand your last line correctly.
Occam's Tool| 7.25.12 @ 7:35PM
No, no. My point is that there are a lot of Lefty Jews, and you hold not that against me; further, you are also pro-Israel.
Given my comments about the screwball characteristics of Eire, it seems that we have similar warm feelings about each other despite the antics of some of our respective brethren.
And yes, you do deserve nice comments. I will tell you why---when I was 36 and having my first negative echo (EKG looked odd and I was a young hypertensive), and the machine was hovering above me, I had time to think. My thoughts were that I should tell good people what I thought about them, and take TIME to do this, because life is uncertain and you never know. I tell my wife I love her every night and morning, and squeeze and kiss my kids ditto. People that I write to and like I try to be equally kind towards. You NEVER know, and one thing I have found in my studies of Western Culture and my work as a psychiatrist is that we do NOT do kindness well as a culture. It may have something to do with varying degrees of personal space---Westerners prefer more distance than Middle Easteners, you know.
Occam's Tool| 7.25.12 @ 7:39PM
To continue: during my 1st Echo at age 36 (my heart is still healthy at age 50, although my exercise tolerance sucks), while sitting in the machine, I resolved to tell people that I liked and cared about that they were liked and cared about, because LIFE IS UNCERTAIN, and KINDNESS matters. I do that with my kids, who are told they are loved and cared for every morning and night, and my wife. I tell my co-workers that they are appreciated. It is important, because you never know. You may note this motif in my writing, as well as the motif of calling a certain cheesehead a prat.
G-d Bless, Irish. You are a good writer, and always kind to me.
soljerblue| 7.25.12 @ 4:47PM
Some in the TP -- including my chapter in central Alabama -- were heard to argue for a third party for a couple of years. That has pretty much died out. I've had discussions, debates, even a couple of arguments over the issue. My position has been and remains that third parties in our American system only get their opponents elected. Any quick glance at the last hundred years will suffice to make the point. Our salvation as a force for limited, constitutional government is to wrench the Republican party back to its roots. That can only be done from inside, and with leaders like Jim DeMint, and affiliation with groups like Americans For Prosperity, it can be done...is being done...WILL be done. We ain't goin' away.
Ian Cognito | 7.23.12 @ 1:52PM
Democrats face a reality that will forever alter their political viability. Democrats confiscated the rights of White Men thru affirmative action and theft of Constitutional liberties. Democrats rightly fear White men. To defeat this group required dumbing down eligibility requirements and placing burdens and restrictions upon them. White Men may not choose their associates. Their Pursuit of Happiness is precluded. Many White men now demand the liberties and protections the Constitution proscribed for all citizens - are equitably enforced. These men were associatively found guilty of racial sins and punished due solely to their birth. The same arguments used to advance civil rights were reversed, then used with prejudice against them. The Constitution was belayed to enable the inequalities that burden White Men and prevent their ascending to whatever heights their sacrifice, effort and intellect allow. No nation can achieve its potential or enforce equality by intentionally burdening one group to enable another’s unearned advance. Targeting one group for punitive sanctions and preventing their forming associations is evidence of FEAR. Fear explains Progressive Democrats purposely enforcing an egalitarian equality that disadvantages White Men; and under color of law compels them to accept a second place status; denies them meritorious competition, then rationalizes the sanctions are appropriate- owed to sins the target group never committed? The TP wants true equality.
Petronius| 7.23.12 @ 8:55PM
I C
Your most eloquent post explains why the RINO's despise Us. But their method for advancement has always been servility, not competence.
Salut
AllantheK| 7.23.12 @ 2:14PM
My take on "How to start a third party".
1. Let all know that for the next two years we will support (R) those who support our values.
2. After the two (2) year mark they will have to label themselves (T) The original (American Party) self governing personnel. Who adhere to moral values and conduct (Including the Ten Commandments).
3. If they continue as (R) they will be ignored.
Buh-Bye, democrat lite.
ReaganConservative| 7.23.12 @ 10:36PM
I cannot stress the importance and admiration of Sen Jim DeMint's staunch Reagan Conservative Tea Party commitment to our constitutional conservative fiscal, financial, and political causes.
If not for Sen Jim DeMint, America would be without a great forefront and behind the scenes leader, and we would not be nearly as far as we are today.
Thank You Sen Jim DeMint !
Joe D.| 7.24.12 @ 11:30AM
One more thing needs to happen. The congress needs to rain in the unelected, unconstitutional Executive branch. Get rid of the EPA, Dept. of Environment, Dept. of Education and Dept. of National Rural Energy. And shrink Dept. of Finance and Dept. of Agriculture. I am sure there are more that have far out lived there usefulness and grown well passed what they were intended when they were first put in place.
We need to right side the ship. Cutting money out when conservatives are in power is not the total answer. We need to remove harmful regulations ASAP and prevent those things from coming back. Congress needs to be back in charge and control. They need a good backbone.
irish19| 7.24.12 @ 11:46AM
I agree with you in principal. EPA needs to be cut back to its original mission of reducing the nastier forms of pollution.
IMHO, federal education funds should be in the form of block grants to the states disbursed on a semester or quarter basis based on the number of K-12 students. The Education Department could be shrunk to less than ten people, eight of whom would just be doing the math to determine the size of the checks. One person to sign the checks, and one more to stuff envelopes and mail them.
The low hanging fruit also needs to be plucked. National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities are niceties we can no longer afford as examples.
RadicalRighty| 7.25.12 @ 10:33AM
Thank you, Senator DeMint.
Sir2You| 7.25.12 @ 12:55PM
Every congressman that is not strongly opposing this illegal alien pretending to be president while he destroys the America he so hates, is guilty of accessory to his many felonies, and is a rank traitor. INCLUDING demint.
soljerblue| 7.25.12 @ 4:41PM
Well said, Senator -- we're here to stay, and the left can kiss my tea bags
Mick41| 7.26.12 @ 6:01PM
I liked this article by Sen. De Mintand pretty much agree with everything he wrote. This whining by liberals and moderates about the lack of bi-partisanship is juvenile. All one needs to do, is to read up on the almost virtual if not literal fist-fights that took place within the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. Personally, with the attitudes of the Liberal Democrats in office and also the Liberal Republicans, I don't want them to get along. I definitely like the phenoma of the Tea-Party
Jimbobogie| 7.26.12 @ 6:06PM
If the "T's" were to, in fact break away from the "R's", if they were, in fact to take a plurality of seats in either house, do you really believe that they could form a majority? I'm speaking as a Canuck who's seen far more "Minority" governments in Ottawa then "Majority". We happen to have a Majority" now, for the first time since the Chretien Liberals. Without a clear majority in all houses (including the White one), it will be even more difficult than it is now to get a budget passed. My view from "North of the Line".
Jimbobogie| 7.26.12 @ 8:06PM
Just to follow up, our Conservative Party went through the same "split" during the Chretien Majority years. The "Reform Party" were a right-wing faction of the "Progressive Conservatives" who decided to go their own way (Google "Preston Manning"). It didn't last long and only worked to the advantage of the Liberals until they got back together. Now the Opposition is the New Democrats-another topic for another time. Folks, maybe it's the Canuck in me, but I (as do most Canadians) have seen political debate in the US reach a level of vitriol that I don't ever recall-and I'm old enough to remember Ike, JFK, LBJ, etc. I wonder what Ben thinks about it...