The Tea Party movement is neither entirely a group of grassroots amateurs, nor is it a case of astroturfing, a University of Michigan professor said Wednesday night.
Lisa Disch, professor of political science and women’s studies at the University of Michigan and author of “Hanna Arendt and the Limits of Philosophy” and “The Tyranny of the Two-Party System,” spoke at a public lecture at 7 p.m. in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.
Disch described the Tea Party as a network and an energy source, whose effects will depend on what taps into it and what it hooks up to.
She emphasized the diversity of the movement, saying it consists both of uneducated, recently unemployed groups as well as 1960s-era conservatives who believe that President Obama does not understand the needs and problems of people like them, and that he is taking the country in a direction they do not agree with for the benefit of people who are not like them.
“The thing that most unites tea partiers is that 62 percent of them say that they rely on Fox News for most of their news,” Disch said.
This is not the only point of unity, as according to a New York Times poll she cited, 39 percent of those who said that they supported the Tea Party Movement would define themselves as “very conservative,” 54 percent and identified as Republican.
Disch also cited a Gallop poll which stated that 28 percent of Americans support the Tea Party movement, demonstrating that it is not a fringe phenomenon.
Disch claimed that the movement is not merely a puppet of the Republican Party.
“The Tea Partiers are generally portrayed as anti-Obama,” she said. “I think it’s very important to understand that they are opposed to the Republican establishment as well.”
Disch said the movement has connections to the political establishment through such organizations as FreedomWorks, Tea Party Express, Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Limited Government. It also demonstrated some connections to Glenn Beck’s 912 Project through the use of logos downloaded through his group’s networks used at some of their protests, she said.
“The Tea Party is an emergent political force that many different players—including themselves—are competing to control,” she said.
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Riemannsum 2 years, 1 month ago
Wait, what? I don't see how the Taxed Enough Already party needs "defending." Has anyone in this country ever heard of free speech? Perhaps OU should educate its students more on the Bill of Rights.
Also, I'm confused how Americans are getting tax cuts while the government is increasing spending on health care and such...less money going in + more money going out != sense.
mythman 2 years, 1 month ago
“I think it’s very important to understand that they are opposed to the Republican establishment as well.”
Except for when they help Scott Brown win an election, or when Palin or Boehner speak at their rallies, or when they get Dick Armey's group to help run chapters. Then they're pretty happy with the Republicans.
gilla 2 years, 1 month ago
I'm still not seeing the 'diversity' of these teabaggers, are there any non-whites in the group?
friend12 2 years, 1 month ago
“I think it’s very important to understand that they are opposed to the Republican establishment as well.”
That is the party line, but, everything they do and promote is hard core Republican. When they actively support candidates from another party then you can make a case they are not a Republican based organization. I don't see them calling for Senator Reid to be removed? He is defineitely "Republican establishment".
bandree 2 years, 1 month ago
If you believe in free speech you should applaud their efforts.
localsooner 2 years, 1 month ago
They weren't opposed to the Republican establishment when they were cutting taxes while starting wars that cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
Deficit spending is fine for arbitrary wars, but it's not okay for health care?
Please. Most of them don't realize they got a tax cut under Obama. They're just ignorant Fox-news foot soldiers.
timprosser 2 years, 1 month ago
Having just won the Florida case that establishes they can lie all the want and have no responsibility to tell the truth, Fox News can and will keep those people ignorant. Fox's blatant emotional appeals and sensationalism will motivate the Tea Partiers to often-misguided action, too. Without Fox in the mix the Tea Partiers could do a lot more good.
FunkUniversity 2 years, 1 month ago
A more definitive description of the Tea party and its historical context is well written in a story at:
http://funks2.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/the-trip-to-no…-party-express