Are we beginning to discover our Tea Party Chamberlains?

By John Sykes

Some of our politicians appear to be trying to avoid showing support for the Tea Parties that worked long and hard to get them elected. One specific example of that is the failure to join a Tea Party Caucus in their respective Congressional venues.

Matt Towery In Wrong Moves by GOP Could Re-elect Obama warns the GOP:

There are lessons from the past that Republican leaders must in some instances embrace and in other cases avoid like the plague.

First, it's my opinion that were it not for the enthusiasm of the tea party movement, Republicans would not have seen anywhere near as big of a landslide victory in the U.S. House or in state legislatures that they enjoyed in last November's elections. I believe that because of the missteps of President Obama and the Democratic Congress, we would likely have seen the House go Republican anyway. But it was the tea party rallies that started to give Republicans the momentum that prompted a massive turnout of Republican voters. It would serve the Republican establishment to keep that in mind.

This is not the first time that a powerful group has emerged within the GOP. By 1988, the Christian Coalition had become a power to reckon with. And in many instances, the coalition's local leaders stripped establishment Republicans from their positions in elected office, and within the GOP.

At first, leaders like George H.W. Bush had great difficulty connecting with these evangelical voters, mostly due to his more reserved Episcopalian upbringing. There was disorder in the party. The only way to end it was by bringing members of the coalition into positions of leadership.

It was somewhat disconcerting that Rep. Michele Bachmann felt compelled to deliver a separate "tea party" response to the State of the Union Address this past week. But it is my guess that the real source of her desire to do so is that the GOP House leaders are not viewed by members like Bachmann as being serious players. She is.

Republicans must avoid pitfalls. It's fine to talk about compromise as long as the compromise doesn't fly in the face of conservative voters' views. In his first term, after having said, "Read my lips, no new taxes," as a candidate, President Bush 41, believing it to be a necessary move, compromised with Democrats to raise taxes. It was a politically fatal error.

We must remember that President Obama comes across as likeable, whatever his politics may be. And if the economy starts to percolate, Republican leaders force tea party candidates to feel like second-class citizens, and the GOP compromises with the Democrats too much, the Republican voting base will not be enthused in 2012. That could leave the key swing voters -- independents -- to put the White House in President Obama's hands for another four years.

Are we beginning to discover our Tea Party Chamberlains? Should we waste Tea Party movement time, talent and treasure on them? Why am I surprised?