Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Libertarians and the Tea Party
American Thinker ^ | 3/13/2013 | Ann Kane & M. Catherine Evans

Posted on 03/13/2013 5:30:16 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross

As we pondered this question, we also wanted to know when and where the two groups intersected. We started with an informal survey. We asked several people the following question: when do you think the Tea Party movement began? They answered: when Rick Santelli ranted on the floor of the Merc in Chicago in February, 2009.

But our research into the history of the Tea Party took us back to 2004, to its first inklings as an organized force for rousing ordinary citizens to fight back against big government. In that year, Libertarian David Koch founded Americans for Prosperity, a nonprofit political advocacy group set up to educate the public on the principles of free markets.

Even though the term "Tea Party" was not used then, Koch's vision of "a mass movement, a state-based one, but national in scope, of hundreds of thousands of American citizens from all walks of life standing up and fighting for the economic freedoms" pretty much describes the movement we see today.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: libertarians; santelli; teaparty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
The "Tea 'Party'" is a movement, not a party. And it will not have the necessary power needed to throw the liberals out unless it comprises both libertarians and the more traditional conservatives. We need each other. And at the core of each philosophy is personal FREEDOM within a united nation. For at least the next four years, the focus and priority of any agenda will need to be on the fiscal issues that threaten the very survival of the country. We should ignore any attempts by the dems to raise non-essential issues like 'gay' marriage to divide us. It is irrelevant to discuss at a national level for at least the next four years.

Regardless, of whether the 'Tea Party' roots are libertarian or not (they are), we need to merge this into a unified 'One'. [can't we all get along?]

If the Marxist DemocRATS can unite over their vices, why can't we unite around our virtues?

1 posted on 03/13/2013 5:30:16 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: C. Edmund Wright

‘Tea Party’ movement history ping article from the Thinker.


2 posted on 03/13/2013 5:30:54 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

Libertarians are amoral, treacherous crypto Dems who must be purged from the Conservative movement.


3 posted on 03/13/2013 5:33:20 AM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
And it will not have the necessary power needed to throw the liberals out unless it comprises both libertarians and the more traditional conservatives. We need each other.

Agreed 100%.

4 posted on 03/13/2013 5:34:32 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
If the Marxist DemocRATS can unite over their vices, why can't we unite around our virtues?

You'll have to ask the posters who will by shortly foaming at the mouth about 'liberaltarians', 'libtardians' and assorted other fabricated words.

I never understood the animosity myself.

5 posted on 03/13/2013 5:35:50 AM PDT by MamaTexan (To follow Original Constitutional Intent, one MUST acknowledge the Right of Secession)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabumpo

That’s a bit harsh, but your premise of amoralism is mostly true.

You can’t separate Godliness and Freedom, especially under our constitution.

The hardcore libertarians not only see no value in traditional Western Judeo-Christian culture, but in many instances are openly hostile to it,
not seeing the necessity of this cultural underpinning in order to have the liberty they seek.


6 posted on 03/13/2013 5:37:30 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

In answer to your question, it always comes back to

“what is the ultimate conflict?”.

And that conflict is God’s truth (reality) versus Satan’s “alternate truth”.


7 posted on 03/13/2013 5:38:48 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
“We need each other”

Disagree. Conservatives are not libertarians as much as libertarians may wish they were.

They may be able to take over a weak GOP by pretending to be conservative but I cant see them winning over many Conservatives.

8 posted on 03/13/2013 5:46:48 AM PDT by montanajoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabumpo
Libertarians are amoral, treacherous crypto Dems who must be purged from the Conservative movement.

Hey nice - you are the poster child for the divisiveness needed to keep us from being an effective force to counter the totalitarian left. You personafy perfectly the totalitarian right intolerant of those who favor the original premise of the Founding Fathers. Good job there.

9 posted on 03/13/2013 5:47:04 AM PDT by corkoman (Release the Palin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: kabumpo

>>Libertarians are amoral, treacherous crypto Dems who must be purged from the Conservative movement.<<

I think “leave me alone and my personal morals are none of your business so long as they do not harm another” is exactly what the framers had in mind when they crafted the Constitution.

Or is imposing your personal morals (outside of societal definitions) on others your definition of “liberty?”


10 posted on 03/13/2013 5:49:34 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (I learned everything I needed to know about racism from Colin Powell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MrB
The enemy of my enemy is my friend? FDR and Churchill united with Stalin to defeat Hitler.

The fledgling Colonialists united with France to win the Revolutionary War.

These are the times that try men's souls.

I think our current battle is in the 'secular' realm. The eternal realm comes later.

11 posted on 03/13/2013 5:51:25 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: kabumpo

>> Libertarians are amoral, treacherous crypto Dems who must be purged from the Conservative movement.

An incorrect generality.

A large number of establishment players consider themselves to be part of the “Conservative movement”.

The Libertarian Party is a haven for liberals that want to use the force of law to establish their goals. This is NOT libertarianism.

The Tea Party movement is rooted in libertarian principles which has nothing to do with liberal values.

Statism and libertarianism reflect enforcement. Conservatism and Liberalism define morality and values.


12 posted on 03/13/2013 5:56:12 AM PDT by Gene Eric (The Palin Doctrine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

The conflicts come from moral issues. As long as my morality or pocketbook aren’t compromised, I have no problems.


13 posted on 03/13/2013 6:01:00 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabumpo

The task of reducing government is a huge undertaking. If Libertarians support candidates who want to chop federal spending, I’m not going to “purge” them from anything. If they then want to advocate some amoral legislation, I’ll oppose them. But we have to build a coalition to cut government. I don’t know many people who are 100% conservative or anyone who even knows that that is. There are a lot of Christians out there who are way too comfortable with government spending as long as government supports traditional values — Christian Socialists like Mike Huckabee.


14 posted on 03/13/2013 6:14:23 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

I understand that we probably do need to work together, but I came out of the libertarian movement precisely because they had no issues with abortion, gay marriage, etc. I was upset because they saw no problem with it being taught (forced down students’ throats) in school. The MAIN issue is only PERSONAL freedom. I’m sorry, but the Constitution is a moral code. It is more than about personal freedoms, a important as that is. What I began to feel after about 4 years, is that there was not a lot of difference between libertarians and the left, in some areas. It made me quite uncomfortable. It used to really bother me that Ron Paul stated he was a christian, but refused to support any attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade. His excuse was that only the states should have the right to determine abortion issues. My complaint was: how do we get it back to the states if we do not first overturn it? DUH! Anyway, I’ve been upset to see Rand following in his father’s footsteps.


15 posted on 03/13/2013 6:16:25 AM PDT by Shery (in APO Land)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

There are a lot of Christians out there who are way too comfortable with government spending as long as government supports traditional values


Repeat LOUD and OFTEN................................


16 posted on 03/13/2013 6:17:55 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MrB

The age old L vs C arguement:
Does the virtuous man become free or is only the free man able to become virtuous.

Will a man abide the Constitution in the mannor of our founders — that is my only concern at this point.


17 posted on 03/13/2013 6:19:46 AM PDT by KC Burke (Plain Conservative opinions and common sense correction for thirteen years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Gene Eric
The Libertarian Party is a haven for liberals that want to use the force of law to establish their goals. This is NOT libertarianism

Bravo - as not all conservatives are Republicans not all libertarians are Libertarian Partiers. We gotta find a better name for those of us who feel passionately about the original liberals who founded this Republic and loathed government coersion.

So these establishment Republicans who kinda like that totalitarian thing as long as the government is pushing their agenda are just as bad as the rest of the Gimmiedats.

18 posted on 03/13/2013 6:20:12 AM PDT by corkoman (Release the Palin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
If you are for legalizing heroin like Ron Paul you are not someone I want to be associated with.
19 posted on 03/13/2013 6:22:02 AM PDT by McGruff (You are either with us or you are with the RINOs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC Burke

There is something to be said for reality “forcing” virtue,
because without some sort of “safety net”,
those practicing unvirtuous lives will suffer for it.

However, I have a biblical worldview, and within that worldview, only the righteous can truly be free.


20 posted on 03/13/2013 6:27:16 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson