Changing Image? The influence of the Tea Party on the rebranding of the Republican Party


Term Paper (Advanced seminar), 2013

16 Pages, Grade: 1,7


Excerpt


Content

Current state of research

1. Introduction

2. The Tea Party
2.1 The rise of the Tea Party
2.2 Who is the typical Tea Partier?
2.3 Ideas and Beliefs of the Movement
2.4 Structure of the Movement
2.5 The Midterm Elections in
2.6 Funding of the Tea Party

3. The Tea Party and the Republican Party

4. Conclusion and future prospects

5. Bibliography

Current state of research

As soon as it became clear that the Tea Party Movement is not just a spontaneous and soon-to-end quick uprising of unsatisfied people, scientists all around the world started to take a closer look at the phenomenon. The media attention got higher and the amount of articles written about the tea party movement rose quickly. There are many different essays, articles and books about the tea party movement, its uprising and its core beliefs and aims. Important for my essay were the books and articles of Theda Skcocpol and Vanessa Williamson, who give a broad impression about the tea party and explain very short and easy how the movement evolved and what the movement is all about. Also very well written is the book of Charles Bullock, which I also used for my essay. Scott Rasmussen explained the whole movement very precisely and in detail in his book “Mad as hell” and was therefore also an important source for my essay. Most of the existing essays, articles and books concentrate on the tea party movement itself and how it might affect the government and the government of Barack Obama in particular. It is often asked how the protests might affect the elections and the voter outcome and what this movement means for Medicare and other important political issues and how the Democrats should deal with this uprising. In the last few months many articles also examined the Koch brothers and their involvement in the funding of the tea party. The aim of my work is to look closer on another aspect of the tea party movement. This essay is going to look on the connection between the tea party movement and the Republican Party and in what terms one affects the other.

1. Introduction

A gasp of relief went through the western world in 2008 when Barak Obama was voted as President of the United States. A young, black and democratic President with fresh ideas and an open mind seemed to be exactly what the United States needed after President Bush, the years of war and all the terror. He was celebrated for his ambitious goals and his electrifying speeches alongside with his slogan: “Yes we can !”. He mobilized the youth and politics suddenly were interesting for young and old, almost everyone seemed to be engaging in the process of building up this new and modern America. But times have changed. Even though Barak Obama was voted for a second term in office in 2012, he faced tough times from the beginning of his term. The economic crisis is only one of the many problems Obama has to find solutions for and the disaccord with the Republicans isn`t making it any easier for him.[1] The American people suffer under the economic crisis and most of them fear that things might get even worse for them. Losing their house and everything they have worked for, and the prospect of having no coverage in their retirement frustrates the people. Some of them connect President Obama with those negative developments and criticize his government. The defeat in the midterm elections in 2010 was only the beginning. Out of those unsatisfied and disappointed people a grassroots movement emerged, called “The Tea Party”. They protest all over the country and stand up for their opinion and want things to finally change. They represent the average American and most of them feel more dedicated to the Republican Party and support them; otherwise they are also supported by some Republican politicians. This essay is taking a closer look at this movement. How is this connection with the Republicans affecting the Republican Party? Are the Republicans changing to include more of the Tea Parties interests? Is this a good or even a bad thing for the Republican Party and how are they dealing with this new movement? This thesis is going to give an overview on the Tea Party and their connection to the Republican Party. Looking at those aspects this thesis wants to provide an answer to the question in which ways the image of the Republican Party is being changed by the Tea Party. The thesis also wants to provide some future prospects for the Tea Party Movement with the midterm elections in 2014 in mind. To answer those questions the essay is going to take a closer look on the tea party itself, its uprising, aims and beliefs. The essay is going to have a look at the midterm elections in 2010 and then is going to find the connection between the Republican Party and the tea party movement.

2. The Tea Party

With organizations all over the country and in all different states, the Tea Party is a Movement you can`t ignore anymore in the United States. Before understanding the connection between Tea Party and Republican Party, one must understand the Movement itself. Therefore this chapter is dedicated to the Tea Party. In this chapter the thesis is going to have a closer look on the rise of the Tea Party and their ideas and beliefs. There will be a point about the structure of the Tea Party and the members of the Tea Party. The Midterm Elections in 2010 and their results will be explained and discussed. Last but not least the way the Tea Party is funded will be illuminated, to get a better idea on how the Tea Party is connected to the Republican Party.

2.1 The rise of the Tea Party

“People ask me if I'm the father of the Tea Party movement. I was the spark [...] that started it. If being the lightning rod that started the Tea Party is what's written on my tombstone, I'll be very happy.”[2]Rick Santelli)

The Tea Party Movement is not as new as most people think; only the media coverage got higher in the last few years. The real starting point of the actual Tea Party Movement seems to be the outburst of CNBC financial Reporter Rick Santelli in February 2009 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Santelli started a real tirade against the government and the Obama administration and focused on house buyers that can`t afford to pay their mortgage. In his opinion the government supports the so-called “Losers” instead of the hard working people. This hit a nerve in the American society. He also suggested organizing the first Tea Party himself.[3] Only a few days after Santellis famous outburst, the first local groups got together to launch Tea Parties and the first big protests started all around the country, using social networks like Twitter or Facebook to arrange and connect. Soon enough they had their own slogan “TEA: Taxed enough already”.[4] A cornerstone in the founding progress of the Tea Party Movement was April 15, 2009, “Tax Day”, when protests took place in more than 750 towns and cities. This event was promoted by FOX News, who openly supports the Movement and also do advertisement for protests.[5] But even before Rick Santelli and his famous outburst on TV, people were disappointed and unsatisfied with the government. They connected via chat boards on the internet and decided to send tea bags to their elected representatives in Congress to show their disappointment with the government.[6]

2.2 Who is the typical Tea Partier?

"Challenging leaders is as American as it gets. The unique thing about our country is that we don't get behind politicians, politicians get behind us."[7] (Rick Santelli)

[...]


[1] Die Zeit Online: US-Haushaltsstreit. URL: http://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2013-03/obama-usa-haushaltsstreit [09.07.2013]

[2] Santelli,Rick: Chicago Sun Times, 19.09.2010.

[3] Formisano, P. Ronald: The Tea Party: A brief history, p.26.

[4] Skcocpol, Theda/ Williamson, Vanessa: The Tea Party and the Remaking of the Republican Conservatism, p.7.

[5] Formisano, P. Ronald: The Tea Party: A brief history, p.27 f.

[6] Ed Pilkington: How the tea party movement began. The Guardian. URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/05/us-midterm-elections-2010-tea-party-movement [04.08.2013]

[7] Ed Pilkington: Why Tea Parties are perfect for a disgruntled, and white, middle class. The Guardian. URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/08/us-tea-party-rise [04.08.2013]

Excerpt out of 16 pages

Details

Title
Changing Image? The influence of the Tea Party on the rebranding of the Republican Party
College
Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Grade
1,7
Author
Year
2013
Pages
16
Catalog Number
V273645
ISBN (eBook)
9783656659372
ISBN (Book)
9783656659365
File size
994 KB
Language
English
Keywords
Tea Party
Quote paper
Vanessa König (Author), 2013, Changing Image? The influence of the Tea Party on the rebranding of the Republican Party, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/273645

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