Bucks
Tea Party Nominations
Dear Friends,
Do you wonder what Congressman Patrick Murphy (Democrat) and his challenger Michael Fitzpatrick (Republican) must be thinking after the recent midterm Primaries for congress and governors?
“The prospects for Republicans keep getting better,” the Associated Press predicted (Sept. 16). “The country’s pessimism benefits the out-of-power party, which clearly has enthusiasm on its side.” An AP poll found that more Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction…also, more now disapprove of the job Obama is doing; and more now want to see Republicans in control of Congress.
According
to most pundits who predict a tidal wave win for the GOP, wouldn’t you think
that
Maybe…maybe not.
I think that it comes down to the presence of the Tea Party.
Patrick Murphy is in the cross hairs of the Tea Party. Murphy supports President Obama’s major victories: health care reform, the stimulus and the bailout of the automotive industry. And, Murphy is the point man for Obama’s plan to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislation.
As a former congressman, Fitzpatrick supported President George W. Bush’s administration. Fitzpatrick’s association with “W” may become problematic as the election campaign heats up in October. Still, the Tea Party will obviously lend a strong hand to Fitzpatrick.
So let’s look at the Tea Party. How comfortable are Bucks Countians with what the Tea Party believes and which candidates have benefited from their influence thus far?
Donna Brazile is a commentator on CNN, ABC and NPR and writes columns for major newspapers. Here’s what she wrote about the Tea Party’s influence on the Republican Party (Sept. 20).
“Instead of
being used by the establishment GOP leadership in
“It turns out the tea party movement is a Republican rebellion,” Brazile wrote. “Today, hardcore conservative Republicans are poised to take over the Republican Party, hungering to oust the likes of Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and anyone else not “pure enough” to represent their worldview.
“Prepare yourselves,” Brazile continued. “They [Tea Partiers] plan to create a majority by exploiting our fears of immigration, and Civil Rights advocates, and people of different faiths (not just Muslims). After all, who expected a major party to propose overthrowing a key provision of the 14th Amendment, a basic protection of our liberties?
“Can the GOP survive this internal purging of moderates in its ranks?” Brazile concluded.
The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an editorial (Sept. 16) concerning Christine O’Donnell’s upset victory over Michael Castle, Delaware’s Republican congressman and former governor. O’Donnell will represent the Republicans in the U.S. Senate race.
“O’Donnell’s victory should have Republicans asking who’s in chare of their party,” the Inquirer editorial began. “She is at least the 18th tea party challenger to win this year, mostly against candidates backed by the Republican establishment.
“Moderates such as Castle are an endangered species, and their extinction lessens the chances for both parties to cooperate on solving the country’s challenges,” the editorial concluded.
Airwave pundits on the extreme right…like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and Michael Savage…are doing their best to convince the unwary that their agenda is the new Holy Grail. They are the major voices of the Tea Party and their rhetoric is non-stop, 24/7.
Here’s another view.
The New York Times and CBS issued the results of their poll about voters’ views (Sept. 16). It’s a mixed bag.
Voters are not happy with President Obama (48% favorable to 45% unfavorable). Voters think that the role of government has expanded too much (40% to 35%). By margins of 59% to 38%, voters believe that Obama does not have a clear plan for solving the nation’s problems or creating jobs.
The poll revealed that voters also think that Republicans are more likely to reduce the federal budget deficit (42% to 34%); and are more likely to make the right decisions about terrorists (44% to31%).
Aren’t we voters fickle? The poll shows that voters have forgotten that the “W” administration turned a budget surplus under President Clinton into a staggering deficit during the Bush days.
Does that poll bring comfort to the Republicans? Maybe not. Voters disapprove of the way congressional Republicans are handling their job…by a 73% to 19 % margin. The poll also showed that voters believe Democrats will do better in helping the middle class; solving problems right now; more likely to make the right decisions about immigration; and more likely to help small businesses.
The former Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, wrote a book about one of his favorite sayings. “All politics are local,” he quipped.
When all is said and done and the millions spent in the eighth congressional district, local voters will decide whether Patrick Murphy deserves another two year term or not. And if Michael Fitzpatrick wins, how secure will he be. What happens to Fitzpatrick if he joins the Republican caucus and continues the GOP’s tactics of just saying “No?”
If Fitzpatrick wins, how will he fare in 2012? Will the eighth congressional seat become a revolving door?
It sure doesn’t sound like fun to me.
Putting it another way, how much
influence does the Tea Party have in Bucks and Montgomery Counties? Will voters
equate the Tea Party with
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith