The Tea Party's greatest hits
April 20, 2012 12:21 PM Subscribe
What are the Tea Party's greatest hits?
I’m introducing a group of young, mostly left-leaning Canadian students (17-18ish) to the Tea Party movement. I would like to show them short clips to illustrate different directions in the movement. Wading through the thousands of Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and “man in the demonstration” clips is killing me so please help me out. What should I show? I have about two hours and will be linking the lecture to earlier work we’ve done on the Progressive Era and FDR and the New Deal. I don’t mind showing some crazy but would also like to show some more reasonable and thoughtful Tea Party activists. I will also happily take your suggestions for well-written articles on the movement.
I’m introducing a group of young, mostly left-leaning Canadian students (17-18ish) to the Tea Party movement. I would like to show them short clips to illustrate different directions in the movement. Wading through the thousands of Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and “man in the demonstration” clips is killing me so please help me out. What should I show? I have about two hours and will be linking the lecture to earlier work we’ve done on the Progressive Era and FDR and the New Deal. I don’t mind showing some crazy but would also like to show some more reasonable and thoughtful Tea Party activists. I will also happily take your suggestions for well-written articles on the movement.
The Movement
The rise of Tea Party activism.
by Ben McGrath February 1, 2010
posted by MonkeyToes at 12:54 PM on April 20, 2012
The rise of Tea Party activism.
by Ben McGrath February 1, 2010
posted by MonkeyToes at 12:54 PM on April 20, 2012
I think a serious Tea Party supporter would point you to people like Sen Marco Rubio (speech at CPAC 2012) and Rep Paul Ryan (GOP response to 2011 SOTU).
posted by mullacc at 12:57 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by mullacc at 12:57 PM on April 20, 2012
The Tea Party has successfully challenged several "RINO" candidates in the primaries and defeated them with candidates the Tea Party considers more ideologically acceptable.
Right now, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar is being challenged by Richard Mourdock, who is backed by the Tea Party and looks to have an excellent chance of winning.
The Tea Party doesn't gauge success based on headline count, or how many demonstrations they hold and how many people show up. That was important early in the movement in order to gain strength and credibility. Now they are working at the grass roots in the Republican Party to try to change its direction.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:05 PM on April 20, 2012
Right now, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar is being challenged by Richard Mourdock, who is backed by the Tea Party and looks to have an excellent chance of winning.
The Tea Party doesn't gauge success based on headline count, or how many demonstrations they hold and how many people show up. That was important early in the movement in order to gain strength and credibility. Now they are working at the grass roots in the Republican Party to try to change its direction.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:05 PM on April 20, 2012
This article from the New York Times is helpful. My earlier attempt to provide more information in response to your question was deleted by a moderator, so this will have to do.
posted by moammargaret at 1:17 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by moammargaret at 1:17 PM on April 20, 2012
I think the September 12th CNN/Tea Party Express debate where members of the audience cheered on the idea of society just letting an uninsured man die because he can't pay for healthcare is definitely one of their "greatest hits".
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:35 PM on April 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:35 PM on April 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Keep your government hands off my Medicare is one of my favorite Tea Party hits.
posted by usonian at 1:41 PM on April 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by usonian at 1:41 PM on April 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
There was an analysis I read in either the Washington Post or the New York Times about the voting records of the Tea Party-backed first-timers voted into Congress, and I can't find it, but this one from USA Today seems pretty similar.
posted by rtha at 2:12 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by rtha at 2:12 PM on April 20, 2012
You definitely need Rick Santelli's original CNBC rant that basically brought the movement to life.
posted by SisterHavana at 3:24 PM on April 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by SisterHavana at 3:24 PM on April 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, these are helpful. I hadn't been paying attention to the town halls and I'm looking forward to watching Ryan and Rubio. The Santelli rant is a great idea as well. Much appreciated, and I will check everything out. More ideas are welcome.
posted by Cuke at 6:04 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by Cuke at 6:04 PM on April 20, 2012
Definitely look at their electoral successes. Whereas the victories of the Occupy movement seem largely to be getting kicked out of the parks a few months later than they expected, the Tea Party has representatives in Congress. And even a number of congresscritters who were incumbent when the Tea Party got started have associated themselves with it.
posted by valkyryn at 4:35 AM on April 21, 2012
posted by valkyryn at 4:35 AM on April 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Edogy at 12:30 PM on April 20, 2012