Senate Majority leader Harry Reid told ‘Meet the Press’ host David Gregory that the Tea Party will “disappear” as soon as the economy improves. Considering America’s economic picture, however, that’s not as short-lived as the Democrat would like to believe.
“The Tea Party was born because of the economy,” says Reid after being asked whether the populist movement can be considered a “lasting force.”
Though he admitted the economy’s still struggling, Reid insists things will get better, telling Gregory in an interview that will air tomorrow, “The Tea Party will disappear as soon as the economy gets better, and the economy is getting better all the time.” Well, that’s not exactly true.
Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, told the Senate Budget Committee yesterday that while 2011′s economy will be “moderately stronger” than last year, the dismal job market is still holding us back, and normalization likely won’t come for another four or five years.
“Persistently high unemployment, by dampening household income and confidence, could threaten the strength and sustainability of the recovery,” he said.
If Bernanke’s to be believed, then perpetual Tea Party target Reid’s theory doesn’t quite hold up, for the Tea Party would still thrive through at least 2015, a time period that includes two major election cycles, including a presidential bout. If the five-year estimation’s more accurate, that brings us to 2016, another presidential election, thus guaranteeing the Tea Party more political sway. In the world of politics, that’s hardly ephemeral.
Reid’s proclamation, however, overlooks the cultural and social elements of the Tea Party. It’s not the anti-tax protest it was back in 2009, when CNBC host Rick Santelli first called for a mass movement. Timely fiscal conservatism has now been blended with the right-wing’s more familiar social concerns.
Tea Partiers, 57 percent of whom consider themselves part of the Christian right, aren’t simply interested in economics. They’re now touting the same “traditional values” that have divided America for decades.
Many of them believe Republican Rep. Mike Pence, a potential 2012 contender, when he declares, “As we seek to build national wealth, we must renew our commitment to the institutions that nurture the character of our people — traditional family and religion.”
Timely fiscal conservatism has now been merged with the right-wing’s more traditional social concerns, ones that likely won’t be resolved anytime soon.
The Tea Party may be a flash in the pan — and perhaps even self-defeating — but the political straws at which its adherents grasp will continue to influence policies and elections for years to come, and Reid’s comments may turn out to be wishful thinking
January 08, 2011 at 9:39 pm, Thomas G said:
Anyone who is involved highly involved in global macro economics realize that that the best the Federal Reserve can do is to hide the decline. The sheer size of the problem is just too large to realistically resolve at its own, and the public momentum for austerity will only quicken the pace of the decline. Meaning, the only realistic longterm outcome is a reset of of global finance system and anyone involved realizes how an extremely painful process this will be.
The biggest “unknown” at this point is the Tea Party movement. If their goals of balancing the budget are successful (or even partially successful), things will very ugly very quickly…
January 10, 2011 at 2:30 pm, Abe said:
No one seems interested in doing this, or they would not have insisted on the insane percent of “tax cut” for the wealthy. Their would be more tiers for taxation FOR the wealthy. It's not fair that Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs dentist are probably paying the same tax rate.
January 08, 2011 at 11:38 pm, Ken Reilly said:
Harry Reid and all the Liberal/Progressive cronies have no clue as to why the Tea Party movement started. They will soon find out come 2012. The Tea Party is here to stay.
January 10, 2011 at 2:27 pm, Don said:
it's not actually a party. It's a conservative offshoot of the Republicans. It relies on uneducated easy to dupe followers. That is the VERY reason it is going to to be around for a long time. People believe just about anything if it follows their base fears and prejudice. Reality and fact hold no weight. That is what liberals need to understand.