No, the Tea Party Should NOT Avoid Social Issues

Frontpage Mag ^ | 03/08/2014 | Daniel Greenfield

[SeekAndFind]

The theme of Michael Tanner at the National Review is that the Tea Party has become unpopular because it’s against gay marriage and illegal alien amnesty.

Yet it’s also true that the Tea Party’s clout is waning. According to the most recent Gallup poll, just 30 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the movement, the lowest level in its history.

While this may technically be the lowest level, the Tea Party spent most of its time with a favorable rating in the 30s.

In 2011, the Tea Party had a favorability rating of 33 percent. So the notion that this is some sort of recent development in response to social issues has no basis in reality.

Sparked by outrage over the Wall Street bailouts, the original Tea Party was motivated by an opposition to Big Government. The motto of the Tea Party Patriots, one of the largest and most influential groups, was “fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets.” The Tea Party’s core issues were the skyrocketing national debt and opposition to Obamacare…

But the Tea Party has drifted away from its strict economic-conservative origins. Yes, opposition to Obamacare and government spending remain priorities. But increasingly issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and immigration have become the tail that wags the dog.

Tanner doesn’t provide any evidence that the Tea Party is now more focused on abortion than ObamaCare. He can’t provide that evidence because it doesn’t exist.

But the Tea Party also recognizes that economic issues can’t be divorced from social issues in many cases.

Tanner complains that Tea Party Patriots were “organizing not against Obamacare or raising the debt ceiling, but against immigration reform.” But Tanner doesn’t seem to understand that illegal alien amnesty will make it that much easier for the left to get through nationalized health care and even higher spending and taxation.

Importing large numbers of illegal Democrats who are the opposite of fiscal conservatives make fiscal conservatism unsustainable. Libertarians who refuse to accept the fact that open borders are incompatible with small government are committing suicide and asking everyone else to join them for the ride.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

The Democrats have taken the bait if they want to talk about race or gays during the midterms.

[sasportas]

Okay, you are not a “sir,” and you say you are religious (I notice you said “religious” and not “Christian”). And I do agree - partly - with what you said. I am no enemy of the Tea Party. But your equating the days of King George with today hardly fits, I think it is a false premise.

America was very Christian in the days of the revolution. So, yes, I agree with you, Christianity wasn’t the issue then, It was not in the crosshairs as it is today. The fact that IT IS IN the crosshairs is the very reason Tea Partyers should NOT just be focusing only on taxation and financial issues!

I think, were the Pilgrim and Puritan types of that day to attend most Tax Party meetings today, they would be aghast at their libertarian type of rhetoric, I think they would side with me, not you, on this issue.

[shoff]

So the Tea Party after all the attacks from the media and Hollywood drops from 33 to 30%. It could be worse, just look at Obama’s numbers despite the aggressive work to make sure nothing he does is criticized by the media or Hollywood. From a high of 69% to today’s 42% with only 23% strongly approve.

[sasportas]

Great post, heye2mom. To comment on your statement here:

Libertarians are too lazy to traipse through snow to political caucuses in freezing cold Iowa like Christian Coalition volunteers.

I am an Alaskan, I don't know about the Christian Coalition in Iowa, but the hopped up on dope, long haired hippy libertarian types are the last I see traipsing through the snow in freezing cold to come to church.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Scott Brown is a relatively popular RINO because he voted against amnesty.

[heye2monn]

Thank you. Libertarians can be smart, but smart is nothing without God.

[Yaelle]

I am religious but I am not Christian, true. I happen to be Jewish.

While the Founders would agree with you about moral issues and the moral fibre of the country, they wouldn’t be in a vacuum. 2014 is very different from their day. If they were versed in society today, and how secular it is, they would have to encompass those Americans as well,if they truly believed in the Constitution.

Gd has made it possible for people to not believe in Him. He has given us choice, and some have turned from Him. And according to our law, that is perfectly fine - to worship Him in their own way, or not to worship.

They would have a hard time with an openly gay Wiccan. But the a Constitution is based on principles that don’t necessarily have to stick only to what you believe.

Also, do note that Jefferson and others were also judeophiles and did base some of their writings on Judaic scholarship as well. It wasn’t strictly Christian.

[sasportas]

Since you are not Christian, I see now why you have no problem with the anti-christianism I mentioned (my comment about Christians being in the crosshairs), nor any problem with the Tea Party’s exclusion of social conservative issues.

[Yaelle]

I’m sorry you feel that way. I despise anti Christian bias and I notice it where even Christians sometimes miss it. I am very supportive of Christianity and love it - for Christians.

But no, I don’t think it helps any conservatism including social to not unify towards bringing back constitutional government. This will raise all boats.