‘Top Line’ — Tea Parties a ‘Coalition,’ Not Yet a ‘Movement’
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Last weekend’s Tea Party Convention in Nashville came at a critical moment for the burgeoning movement — if it’s right to call it one at all. We talked about it on ABC’s "Top Line" today with Liz Sidoti, the AP’s national political writer, who covered the convention in Nashville. "The takeaway from this convention is that this is libertarian, conservative, angry voters. That’s the most that you can say about these people," she told us. "They don’t pledge allegiance to either political party; they hate the establishment and they’re a powerful voice. But they’re not right-wing nut jobs, the way they’re being portrayed." "You know, we saw limited success with the Netroots during the Bush years, and just how much they were willing to get accomplished or just how much they could get accomplished. So I think the jury really is still out on how powerful the Tea Party — and I’m hesitant to even call it a movement. I don’t think they’ve proven that they’re a movement. This is a loose coalition of groups." Watch our discussion with Liz Sidoti HERE.
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Congresswoman Michele Bachman stated last week that old people needed Medicare and Social Security but that it is about time that younger people start WEANING themselves off Medicare and Social Security.
Question: Is this now the official position of the GOP; that the country start Weaning Itself off/end Social Security and Medicare?
Texas Congresseman Hanserling made it clear to Chris Matthews the other day that he wants to revisit privatizing Social Security. Are these the positions the GOP intends to run on in November?
Posted by: Ira | February 9, 2010, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Abolish the income tax, and we can pay for our own health care needs at a fraction of the cost.
Nah, despite the fact that all it pays is the interest on the national debt and our military budget supporting 700 military bases in 130 countries overseas…
We should just go ahead and spend ourselves into bankruptcy. After all the Depression ONLY lasted 12 yrs (’29 through ’41) It’s certainly a small price to pay to continue the “last throes” of the welfare/warfare state, wouldn’t you say?
Pay your taxes, pay your fees. No matter how much less you recieve from Government, PAY YOUR TAXES! Somebody has to pay the pensions for these Millionaires who represent, (cough!) “us.”
Years and years of corruption and kickbacks only preserves two generations of elitist offspring. Private schools and elite universities tuition doesn’t pay itself, you know.
If Government couldn’t live off the expense of the poor, working poor and middle class, WHO will be there to save our beloved Government?
Posted by: jafo | February 9, 2010, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
LMAO! T.E.A. Party. I find it very amusing that this woman is still not able to call it a “movement”. We may be a “coalition of groups”. Nevertheless, we ALL agree with what our ACRONYM stands for… TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY. I suppose these reporters will have a change of mind come November 2010.
We are Independents, Democrats and Republicans that have come together to prevent a trainwreck from happening. Most of us are average hardworking Americans who are tired of our government VIOLATING the very principles our constitution was written to defend against.
My very own mother who has been a LIBERAL her entire life joined the T.E.A. Party with me early 2009. I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to Independent last year. My mom remains a Democrat.
Posted by: GlobalAwareness101 | February 9, 2010, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
The Tea Party must become its own entity, and not just a faction of the GOP, which has too many of its own problems, and cannot remain viable for returning this country to a good position in the world community.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 10, 2010, 11:51 am 11:51 am
TEA partiers come from both Democratic and Republican perspectives.
Both are tired of failed policies in Washington putting us into a position of overwhelming debt.
What part of ‘balance the budget’ do they not get?
Posted by: Joe White | February 10, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm