Defining Tea Party Movement

Adnan Mousharbash

Professor Jacquelyn Edmiston-Dobyns

English 102, section 19z9

06 March 2012

The Tea Party Movement since 2009, has been a driving force behind many state and federal election victories for the Republican Party. In the 2010 midterm election, it has helped the Republican Party take control of the U.S. House of the Representatives and diminish Democratic control in the U.S. Senate. The Tea Party is a grass root movement that expresses a discontent with the Federal Government’s out of control spending, high unemployment rate, budget deficit, and a national debt that is growing astronomically in high proportion. The support of the Tea Party Movement has helped many politicians to rise to the top, and caused the downfall of many candidates and elected officials. It has affected the outcome of many laws across State and Federal Governments. The Tea Party Movement is a powerful political force because of its effect on politicians and on elections.

Historically, it was CNBC's Rick Santelli, which helped launch the grassroots movement. It was “over a plan by the Obama Administration to tackle the foreclosure crisis. Multibillion-dollar proposals were flying like snowflakes in Washington, and Santelli's rant struck a chord with people who wondered where all the money would come from. "We're thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party," Santelli declared” (Von Drehle). In response, thousands of people and activist of the Tea Party Movement have marched to Washington, DC. to protest the Federal Government’s bailout of the financial institutions. As a result, the Tea Party activists have held hundreds of rallies across the country to protest the discontent with the Obama’s Administration policies.

In addition, on the local level Frank G. Simon started the Tea Party of Kentucky, “on the steps of the capitol in Frankfort, KY. On July 4, 2009,” teapartypatriots.org . Since the Tea Party, organizers have had freedom rallies across...