Module #6

Blog Entry #9:

What was the Tea Party, and what has it become? 

The Tea Party was the incarnation of right-aligned American conservatism that arose in the wake of the November 2008 elections. Due to Obama's candidacy, as well as Democratic majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, The Tea Party rose to prominence in 2010, known for its vocally combative stance on the Affordable Care Act, which the party deemed a "handout" for often marginalized groups that "didn't deserve it" (opposition fueled by racial stereotyping and prejudice) while simultaneously feeling entitled to programs like Medicare. While they initially had little success outside of their incendiary proclamations, they organized to strengthen themselves and expand their influence, most notably through Republican elites and right-aligned news/media outlets. While the Party itself seems to have stemmed from a grassroots-based group (with a particularly disproportionate older, white male majority and no real sense of belonging/identity), it garnered strength through conservative media outlets which created a collective identity through shared beliefs. 

Having just learned the differences between political parties and interest groups, please reflect on how you would categorize the Tea Party both at its origin, as described in the article, and as it has evolved until today.

I suppose I would label the Tea Party as a marker of grassroots conservatism as opposed to a movement with serious political prowess. However, the Tea Party did serve as a vehicle for the rebranding of conservative Republicanism, and so they are unique in the sense that, as an initially grassroots movement, they had enough influence to become this rather enigmatic entity that took on Republican candidates during the 2010 primaries. I suppose I would also label the Tea Party as an interest group that evolved into more of a political entity, as they did attempt to influence the government and were united by the like-minded individuals who were a part of the movement. While the party as a movement may not have much traction as an entity, it certainly ignited a sense of mistrust not only in the government but also in political/social leadership. Its attitudes of anger and unrest still resound today in our current political climate (especially during the Trump administration).