What they fail to accept is that their rhetoric about President Obama being a socialist and Sarah Palin being a savior isn't the driving force behind recent election results. Tea Party rallies and talk show hosts might have something to do with getting certain candidates elected, but that's just part of the story.
I believe middle clas
s Americans are fed up with incumbents in both political parties. Why? Well, it's not so much about health-care reform or the rising deficit. It's more about an underlying feeling that the system does not work for the average American anymore -- the guy who wants a fair crack at a decent job or the woman who has to tighten the family budget while empty suits from bailed-out businesses continue to collect hefty bonuses.I don't think Obama is a socialist but I do think he wants to level the playing field -- a horrible notion to those who are rolling in cash. I believe some of the Tea Party messages are skewed by silly tactics and transparent slogans. Those messages are further manipulated and distorted by those with not-so-hidden or honorable agendas. This is why I separate myself from movements like this.
I am not sure why Tea Party people, who oppose corporate bailouts, are so supportive of certain politicians who would surely be more prone to give greater perks to big businesses. We've tried tax cuts for corporations and we've deregulated ourselves right into a massive oil spill and housing crisis. Those policies did nothing but drive us into the ground and widened the gap between what the guy in the corner office earns versus what people on the production line make. How is that liberty? Fact is, we need certain regulations to prevent abuses of power so that the average Joe doesn't get trampled by the suits from BP or the guys on Wall Street. Here's another fact: We should tax the rich more. In my mind, these aren't socialist concepts.
It appears that things are so bad in this country that voters want to strike out against anyone who is part of the system. Change for the sake of change. Maybe that's not a bad idea, but I would still like to give Obama a bit more time to fix things. Time and support. He's made mistakes, like dedicating nearly his entire first year in office to health care and foreign relations. But he's a smart man. We elected him for four years and hopefully he will correct his missteps and stop getting derailed by issues that aren't of much concern to average Americans.
As I have said in previous posts, if Obama and other incumbents don't focus on restoring hope, jobs and the economy, they will be voted out in future elections. Party affiliation will become less important to voters. I believe that's a good thing, as I have never understood why anyone would be anything other than independent.
Americans want to feel they have a fair shot and that this isn't just a country for those in the most powerful positions. The backlash from the middle class will continue until people have opportunities and reasons -- not just labor department statistics -- for sustained optimism again.
I don't think the Tea Party represents the entire middle class, but it is tapping into something that Americans are feeling. A rebellion against a broken system. Politicians need to pay attention to that underlying vibe and begin to fix things, not just because it will help them get elected, but because it's the right thing to do for the country.
Read more about yesterday's primaries and the movement against incumbents here.
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