The Common Thread: A Bird’s Eye View of the TEA Party Movement

by: paul a. ibbetson | published: 09 04, 2009

The TEA Party movement, which started for most as a small grassroots effort by disenchanted Americans to voice their disapproval with the government, is now growing to epic proportions. The movement has transcended the bounds of simply being events that people have heard about in faraway places, to events happening in almost every town on any given day. In fact, for TEA Party goers, it’s no longer a case of trying to make a single event, but how many events can you actually make. With that said, even though the growth of the TEA Party movement has expanded to the size that even “Bagdad Bob” (Saddam Hussein’s former information minister) would have to recognize, there is still much confusion as to who the people that comprise the TEA Party movement are, and what brings them together.

To properly answer this question, one must attain the high ground. That is, the best vantage point to observe the totality of the TEA Party environment. For me, this bird’s eye view came from the speaker’s platform at the 2009 Wichita, Kansas, ‘American TEA Party.’ Like a growing number of Americans today, the Wichita Kansas event was not my first “TEA Party.” However, it was my first time to speak in front of hundreds of TEA Party goers, and my first time to announce each and every guest, and meet every vendor and organization.

Coming to terms with the bird’s eye view, and the reality that it brings, is somewhat of a double edged sword. From the optimum vantage point, I can now see that there was much less uniformity among TEA Party goers than I might have initially thought.  For example, there were citizens and groups who have economic concerns that are hardly considered by people who were attending to voice their concern over abortion issues. There is certainly no uniformity of overarching policy agreement among the TEA Party crowd members, which included Blue Dog Democrats (of the “Democratic Blue Dog Coalition,” made up of “moderates” and “fiscally conservative” Democrats), conservatives, independents, and libertarians. There were the obvious cultural differences between the seniors (with their folding chairs) and the teens (that would just as soon stand). Other apparent differences within the crowd were the mothers jostling their newborns and the business men who just never seemed to remember to turn their cell phones off. The TEA Party goers were as different to one another as were their political views. I know; I walked the booths, I pressed the flesh (shook hands), and I gave and received an ear-full of agreements and disagreements on the world of politics until my throat was sore and my ears were ringing.

Yet, with all the differences that can separate the people boldly represented among the TEA Party attendees, this motley crew of contradictions stands side by side united, prepared to oppose the current government, under a common cause. What is the common factor that binds American’s together who think so differently? It is the component of “American exceptionalism” that transcends all other descriptions of why Americans are who they are: freedom. It is freedom at its basic core. Americans of all walks of life demand the freedom to decide their own future. They demand the freedom to disagree with their government - even as they demand the freedom to disagree with each other. In reality, it is the most defining, as well as beautifully stubborn, characteristic of the founding fathers that remains within the bloodlines of the greatest majority of Americans today. When a clear and present danger threatens to cut the chords of freedom from the American people, we are galvanized by an intrinsic commonality to act. This valuable point may have been lost on the European journalists who were present at the event, but it is the obvious cohesive factor that gives the TEA Party movement it’s large attendance numbers, and it’s ultimate power, by unifying a common thread among the myriad of specialized concerns found at each TEA Party - from town to town, and state to state. 

comments

• Reply to this comment

  aggie k,

  YOU SHOULD MOVE TO "EURPE".PERHAPS WITH OBAMA AND
  HIS ENTOURAGE.

  
  

• Reply to this comment

  Glen J

  Enslaved Anna aside, Mr. ibbetson writes;

  “American exceptionalism”.... It is freedom at its basic core. Americans of all walks of life demand the freedom to... disagree with their government - even as they demand the freedom to disagree with each other."

  I would just add that the only thing that true Americans do NOT demand, is to disagree with our very well done founding documents. This is the source of our unity. Too many here DO disagree, irrationally, ignorantly, and sign their personhood over to the next interested tyrant.
  They are the source of our current malaise and severe danger. Ours and theirs.

  
  

• Reply to this comment

  Millie M.

  Anna. H, I just don't think you are talking about the same obama that is suppose to be the president of the United States of America. Another thing I am a Tea Party member and glad to let you know that we are not a joke!! Do you not know that you referring to God with a small (g) is terrible. The God I believe in is God almighty the creater of earth and everything else in it. May God bless America!

  
  

• Reply to this comment

  Joanna J.

  Anna. H said: This is a very scary, outrageous webpage that only fuels the racist prone, god-fanatic, conservative, delusional US. Why can't you see how you embarrass yourself to the rest of the world - your country really is a joke and thank god for someone sane like Obama who understands that you have to look after the poor, not discriminate against different and does not go on war rampage like the former president. The Bush years was the worst 8 years in the history of the US, Palin and the Tea Party movement’ is nothing more than a joke and I sincerely hope that something will change. Look at Eurpe and Australia - some of the worlds best countries to live in. They look after their peers and as a result there's nowhere better to live. You are the joke of the world.

  @Anna H
  Anna, it so happens that I live for almost 30 years in States, and previously lived in Europe for almost as many...from communist Poland through Germany, France and UK...I stress the word "lived" because it was not visiting (I visited all countries in Europe and on a span of the last 30 years I visit fruequently and stay for more than 2 weeks), I also speek fluently 6 languages...every time I come back home to States I want to kiss American soil!!! happy to be back in the Country of Freedom and Liberty as well as opportunity!!!
  AWAY from the nationalistic mutts running Europe!!!
  You have no idea what you are talking about and I suggest keep up the medication handy to deal with your dissolutional state of mind...there is no hope for you otherwise...
  Good Day :)

  
  

• Reply to this comment

  Anna. H

  This is a very scary, outrageous webpage that only fuels the racist prone, god-fanatic, conservative, delusional US. Why can't you see how you embarrass yourself to the rest of the world - your country really is a joke and thank god for someone sane like Obama who understands that you have to look after the poor, not discriminate against different and does not go on war rampage like the former president.

  The Bush years was the worst 8 years in the history of the US, Palin and the Tea Party movement’ is nothing more than a joke and I sincerely hope that something will change. Look at Eurpe and Australia - some of the worlds best countries to live in. They look after their peers and as a result there's nowhere better to live.

  You are the joke of the world.

  
  

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