How national tea party groups missed the David Brat boat

Washington Post ^ | June 10, 2014 | BY MATEA GOLD

[Oldeconomybuyer]

David Brat’s surprise victory Tuesday over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was quickly embraced by the tea party movement – especially national tea party groups that have been looking to score a big win in their battle against GOP incumbents this cycle.

Leaders of the Tea Party Patriots quickly chimed in on Twitter.

So how much did their groups spend to help Brat win?

Zero.

Of the measly $4,805 in political expenditures against Cantor reported to the Federal Election Commission, none came from the big national tea party groups, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation. The bulk was spent by a newly formed super PAC called We Deserve Better PAC on an online ad that attacked Cantor as pro-amnesty.

[yldstrk]

yeah the “Tea Party” was unavailable when David Brat called, disgusting, too big for their britches already

[Diogenesis]

There are two “tea parties”.

The first is the original spontaneous militia of Patriots
supporting the US Constitution, Americans and Law.

The second is the group formed parasitically
by Romney and Soros
to maintain the status quo and statism.

[sickoflibs]

RE :The lack of financial firepower on Brat’s behalf may have been in part his fault – the largely unknown candidate, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., failed to show up to two gatherings of national conservative operatives and activists last month, citing finals.
.....But it’s worth noting that many of the national tea party groups that have been the most pugilistic about this year’s intra-party fights have not invested much money into helping the candidates on the ground. As we reported earlier this year, organizations such as Tea Party Patriots and the Madison Project are spending huge sums on fundraising, salaries and consultants, while just putting a tiny fraction of the millions of dollars they have raised into political expenditures.
The fact that Brat took off without the help of those organizations now makes it harder for them to claim his victory as their own.”

Interesting story

[mazda77]

You are 100% correct.

[VanDeKoik]

Why is it so hard to just have ONE official tea party group to coordinate things nationally?

There are simply too many tiny groups that dilute all the money, and don’t have a good media strategy. We also have zero standards for candidates.

[Vermont Lt]

There is no Tea Party per se. There are local, grass roots efforts. Anyone professing a national tea party has no idea how this works.

[Vermont Lt]

Because the is too much infighting and a single center is easy to co opt.

[mazda77]

This will eventually become the bigger story of the whole campaign. Jenny Beth Martin is all about JBM. I remember reading a story earlier this year stating that the paltry amount of funds that went to candidates was stunning compared to the amounts to went to “political professionals” and staff salaries. I view TPP and TPE to be nothing more than the same ass those heart string “charities” all over the tube.

[The Sons of Liberty]

There are two “tea parties”.

Exactly!

[DaveA37]

Don’t be to quick to claim the Tea Party won that primary, remember there are a lot of demodummies who vote in the open primaries and can, and probably did have an impact on that election. Lots of Trojan Horses loose these days.

[cripplecreek]

Lots of Trojan Horses loose these days.

Yeah they usually show up at FR for election season to express their concerns.

[yldstrk]

that’s what I say, it’s not a party, it’s an idea

I recall when David Brat didn’t meet with the Tea Party pols, Eric Cantor proclaiming the death knell of David Brat’s campaign

[yldstrk]

I emailed Jenny Beth Martin, whose existence I was unaware of until last night, demanding to know why she wasn’t available when the guy attempted to call.

[Pharmboy]

The national Tea Party orgs have become fund raising machines. We don’t pick up the phone anymore when they call. This election perfectly illustrates their rudderless leadership.

[SoConPubbie]

Don’t be to quick to claim the Tea Party won that primary, remember there are a lot of demodummies who vote in the open primaries and can, and probably did have an impact on that election. Lots of Trojan Horses loose these days.

Yea, and some of them sound just like you.

[pfony1]

We need to keep that essential difference in mind to avoid being misled by the well-funded parasites.

[RummyChick]

He had tea party support..just not “T”ea “P”arty support.

Congratulation to a man beholden to no one who has shaken the GOP scumbags. I laughed repeatedly last night thinking of the wailing and gnashing of the teeth.

[Balding_Eagle]

That you Eric?

[Mr. Lucky]

The centralization of power is antithetical to the Tea Party movement.