Poll: One Third of Americans Favor Tea Party Movement But Most Have No Opinion
As the Tea Party movement holds its first big convention this weekend — amid talk about it consolidating and expanding its constituency, becoming a potent force in American politics, and awaiting a big speech by former Arkansas Gov. Sarah Palin — a new poll finds that to many Americans the movement is still a yet-to-be-completely-defined, kind of blank slate:
So the question becomes: will what those Americans who are yet to make up their minds see and hear coming out of the convention help it expand its constituency and support or will it appeal mostly to already-true believers (mostly conservative Republicans) and turn off some Americans who are in the middle or independent voters? A new CNN poll underscores how the movement’s all-important mass electorate image remains to be shaped:
One-third of Americans have a favorable view of the Tea Party movement, but a plurality has no opinion at all, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates that 26 percent of the public has an unfavorable view of the Tea Party movement and that 4 in 10 have not heard of the movement or don’t know enough to form an opinion. The poll’s Friday-morning release comes as what’s billed as the first national Tea Party convention begins its first full day of meetings in Nashville.
“The Tea Party movement is a blank slate to many Americans, which is not surprising for a political movement that is only about a year old,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Not surprisingly, opinion breaks along partisan and ideological lines.”
According to the survey, Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin have an unfavorable view of the Tea Party movement; Republicans like it by a 3-to-1 margin. Among independents, 35 percent of independents holding a positive view and 24 percent a negative view.
And the appearance of Palin, Fox News’ newest rising star: a masterstroke or a potential mistake? She remains a highly divisive polarizing figure liked or disliked depending on partisanship:
The also poll indicates that Americans are split on the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, with 43 percent seeing her in a positive light and 46 percent holding an unfavorable view.
“Opinion on Sarah Palin also breaks down along party lines, with seven in 10 Democrats disliking her and seven in 10 Republicans with a positive view. She has a net-negative rating among independents: 42 percent favorable and 47 percent unfavorable,” Holland added. “She also continues to rate better among men than women.”
Palin is soaring to new heights as a media superstar. Her speech is bound to get huge publicity, discussion on ideological left and right radio and cable talk shows, be discussed in the increasingly-polarized blogosphere, and be rerun via sound bytes on TV and You Tube. Will it mostly rally the faithful — but also turn off some of those yet to form an opinion? And since the movement has no real de facto leader, if Palin’s speech is a hit will she emerge as a major figure associated with the movement whether she runs for higher office or not (her set up with Fox, book and speaking fees may give her a more potent microphone than higher office)?
The Washington Post says the tea party movement is still taking shape while an uneasy political establishment watches:
The 600 delegates at the National Tea Party Convention feel taxed to death, ignored by their elected representatives and the media, and appalled at the federal government’s spending — and there are millions of Americans just like them. Their anger has helped claim some political scalps, and they vow to “take back America.” What is unclear to them, and to the political establishment watching warily, is how they might do this.
It’s a critical moment for a movement that is unmistakably people-powered, that has been deliberately left leaderless to give voice to all frustrations. And although the mood here has been festive, even giddy, the fluidity of the group has been on full display.
Here was a California woman counseling people on how to register new Republican voters in their communities, but there were others who criticize the Republican Party as fiercely as they do the Democratic Party. Here attendees lashed out against the practices of the Washington establishment, but there a man from Memphis announced the formation of a political action committee. Here a former congressman delivered a fiery defense of America’s “Judeo-Christian values,” but there delegates walked out of a prayer session they thought crossed a line.
The convention, which concludes Saturday night with a keynote address by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (R), in some respects has had the feel of a big blind date. The delegates chatted each other up for a year online, checking out each other’s ideas and grievances, and they thought they might have something in common. Now they are spending a couple of days together, at a very nice resort, nibbling hibachi beef and browsing elegant “tea bag” jewelry, to see whether they like each other enough to be together.
The New York Times reports that the movement’s bigwigs are trying to convert the rage and anger that propelled the movement into real political power:
As they opened their inaugural national convention here, Tea Party advocates from across the country declared that they would turn the grass-roots anger that burst onto the streets a year ago into real political power, wielding money and campaign infrastructure as well as sheer energy.
Organizers of the convention announced on Friday that they were forming a political action committee to raise money and provide political consulting and campaign management for Tea Party-approved candidates. The PAC, an offshoot of a newly incorporated 501c4 called Ensuring Liberty, will seek to raise $10 million this year to spend in races in the 2010 Congressional elections.
To start, it will back conservative challengers in five races in the South. In the most highly visible, organizers want to run a candidate against Senator Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat who has been under fire for her votes on health care legislation. In the coming weeks, organizers said they would identify another 15 or so races for Tea Party-backed challengers.
“Let us not be naïve here,” said Mark Skoda, leader of the Memphis Tea Party and a spokesman for the convention, who said he would be president of the PAC. “The notion of holding up signs does not get people elected.”
In sessions here, organizers also urged fellow advocates to focus on getting like-minded conservatives elected in primaries in the next several months, so that Tea Partiers would not end up in the general election in November with a choice between a Democrat and someone they would define as a Republican in name only.
So the push will truly begin to purge the party’s elected officials who do not adhere to the conservative line.
And they outlined plans to take over the Republican Party from the ground up by having Tea Party conservatives fill local Republican committee slots with the power to decide which candidates to endorse and finance.
Which is how Barry Goldwater’s activists grabbed the GOP away from Northeast “country club Republicans”
Mr. Skoda said the Ensuring Liberty PAC would choose candidates based on their fidelity to what he called the “first principles”: less government, fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, states rights and national security
.
Meanwhile, The Politico reports friction among some tea party members:
Three former allies of the National Tea Party Convention are planning a guerilla press conference near the convention hall Saturday afternoon to highlight what they contend are the organizers’ efforts to hijack the tea party movement.
The three men, Anthony Shreeve, Robert Kilmarx and Mark Herr, are Tennessee tea party activists who were involved in the early stages of planning the convention and say they resigned in protest after disputes with lead convention organizers Judson and Sherry Phillips, who contend that the ex-allies were banned from the group planning the event for incivility or indiscretion.
The disputes have since gone public and turned ugly. At their press conference – which they plan to hold in the same sprawling hotel convention center that is hosting the convention – the three “intend to challenge [the convention] on all levels,” said Shreeve.
They announced the presser in a Friday night email to local and national reporters covering the convention, though Shreve admits he did not seek permission from the hotel to use the facility. “If they run us out, we will have it in the parking lot,” he said.
Since parting ways with the Phillipses, the three have formed a coalition of 34 tea party groups from around Tennessee, and have blasted the convention for its $550 tickets, lavish trappings (including a steak-and-lobster banquet on Saturday where Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote address), for-profit status, and ties to the Republican Party.
“This movement is not about the Republican Party. It is a grassroots movement about we the people,” said Shreeve, who said he resigned from the convention steering committee in protest over the convention’s unusual finances.
So there is a split between those who see it as something that trascends one party and if necessary will not support Republicans and those who see it as strongly linked to the GOP — which is how the GOP leadership would like to see it:
But the wild card remains:
How will Americans not yet inclined to support the tea party movement perceive the movement based on what comes out of the convention — and if Palin’s speech dominates the news? Will what they see move them to support the movement, or will it scare some of them and cause some to vote Democratic?
If the bulk of Americans conclude it’s a non-partisan tea party movement comprised of passionate people it’ll likely gain steam.
If the bulk of Americans conclude its more like a Rush Limbaugh offee break it probably won’t.
Benefit or backlash?
The copyrighted cartoon by Jeff Parker, Florida Today, is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved.
UPDATE: Here’s CNN’s report on the convention, which notes that “constitution” is the operative word and concern of many there.
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33 Responses to “Poll: One Third of Americans Favor Tea Party Movement But Most Have No Opinion”
The story on the poll should be headlined:
“9 Months of Bashing the Tea Party Movement as Evil Incarnate Fails to Land Punch”
The Party of Fear. Fear of terrorists getting soft treatment in the criminal justice system, which by the way has a 100 percent conviction record, and all the convicted terrorists serving time have not managed to escape. Fear of African Americans getting too uppity! Too arrogant! Too presidential! Too intelligent! Fear of African American voters, who just might vote the Fascist Swine Neocons out of office. Fear of teh gays! If we allow them to marry, why, it'll DESTROY conventional heterosexual marriages, 50 percent of which by the way end in divorce. Fear! Fear! Fear that this country is being taken over by Liberals.
Interesting that they don't seem to fear what Bush and Cheney brought. That's because they don't remember! Selective amnesia! But we've gotta do something about the DEFICIT!!! And about those crazy scientists who are lying about climate change! Who promote the wicked “theory” of evolution, rather than the truth that God created the world 6,000 years ago.
Yes, the Tea Party. It's gaining momentum. Sarah will be there today.
Whoopee!!!!!
The selection of Palin as keynote clearly defines this misnamed movement as a far right appendage in 100% opposition to the original Boston Tea Party, which was a protest against corporate/government collusion to bleed the Colonists's wealth into the pockets of the multinationals (the British East India Company). The tea tax act imposed a tax on the Colonists but exempted the fat cats of the Company of which many of the British Lords were owners.
Favored tax treatment for the biggest company, with government ties, while the little guys get screwed. Sound familiar?
I do not consider myself a Tea Partier as I am not as conservative as most of their members, but I fear you are wrong in you assessment of the movement. It is not fear anymore; it is the Tea Party's determination to stop an out of control agenda they see being pushed by the Democrats. There are a lot of former and current Democrats in the Tea Party who feel the Democrats are not listening to their concerns. The problem with liberals they tend to stereotype those with opposing viewpoints, believe their own spin, and alienate former friends (Senior citizens, moderate Democrats, anyone you like to call names, ect.). That is why the Democrats lost the election in Massachusetts, they were not listening, and still aren't listening.
You are wrong about some Tea Partier s not remembering Bush and Cheney's mistakes but that is in the past. The Democrats need to stop blaming Bush for every bad thing the Obama administration is facing. What the people want is the government to fix the problems today not engage in fault finding. Please no more excuses!
The Tea Party has no fear of you but you should fear them.
Seconded ….
It's obvious to me that this is a movement made up of conservatives and libertarians, which the Republicans are trying to hijack. But libertarians don't like Republicans any more than Democrats, and many conservatives have also given up on them as well. As long as it keeps to the fiscal conservative side, it's got a chance. I thought that this “convention” was called a bit early. I'm still not sure who organized it, but Palin was a poor choice of speakers.
I think the biggest thing the tea partiers have in common is their shared confusion about the orgins of their frustration. Long on emotion and short on facts in otherwords.
As for Sarah P, well gosh… she's just great isn't she! She's already this train into the hearts of her adoring fans – and right into the bank btw. And hey, what the heck! What with that shiny new supreme court ruling maybe she can ride that train right into the whitehouse! (if she finds the right corporate backing of course $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) I mean we've already pretty well demostrated our willingness as a nation to accept leaders who are skin deep, hypocritical, lacking in knowledge, and dedicated to party over country. I could easily name a half dozen of those, and we never seem to learn… so why not let the corporations buy us a new president that at least has one new quality we haven't seen yet: She wears a dress! (no, that other dress wearer was a different Hoover
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
The Tea Party Movement needs to put out a statement explaining their political views. Not vague, generic positions such as liberty, personal responsibility, fiscal restraint, and accountability” (which virtually all Americans support in theory) but actual concrete positions.
It seems pretty clear to me regarding where the movement stands on spending, taxes, and health care insurance reform. But there's more to smaller government than just economic issues.
One wonders what the movement's position is on civil liberties. Does it support the Patriot Act? Does it support federal censorship laws? Does it support federal laws against obscenity/vulgar language/pornography? Does it support federal anti-gambling laws? Does it support the War on Drugs?
One wonders what the movement's position is on foreign policy. Does it support the Iraq War? Does it support the war in Afghanistan? Does it support the concept of pre-emptive war? Does it support the concept of imposing democracy on other countries through war? Does it support the concept of the United Nations? Does it support the U.S. having more than 700 military bases in more than 120 countries around the world?
These are all important issues to someone who truly believes in liberty and smaller government. I have no doubt that there are people in the Tea Party movement just genuinely believe in liberty and smaller government. But I also know that there people in the movement who are merely paying lay service to these ideas.
How many people in the Tea Party movement know that there is an actual political party called The Boston Tea Party? I should know. I voted for its presidential candidate, Charles Jay, in 2008. I wonder how many current members of the Tea Party movement can say the same thing.
As a libertarian-leaning voter, I'm actually sympathetic to positions that the Tea Party movement has taken against spending and the current health care insurance legislation. But I can also tell you that a lot of libertarians who supported the Boston Tea Party (back before the Tea Party movement was in vogue) are not too happy about this movement being co-opted by Republicans and pro-war/anti-civil liberty conservatives (the kind who cheered on the Iraq War and the Patriot Act).
Interesting. What “facts” do you have to back your opinion?
“and pro-war/anti-civil liberty conservatives”
What about the pro-war/anti-civil liberty libertarians?
http://www.antiwar.com/stromberg/s041302.html
Liberventionism Rides Again by Joseph R. Stromberg
I think nicrivera just addressed that pretty well. I'd like to see more articulation of positions, better demonstrations of knowledge – something deeper than signs and soundbites. More specifics and less generalized anti-obama stuff.
Technically, a pro-war/anti-civil libertarian is an oxymoron, since being a supporter of war (nondefensive war, that is) and opposing civil liberties precludes one from being a libertarian.
Liberventionist (the term which Stromberg uses to refer to these people) is actually a better descriptor, though many of these pro-war “libertarians” refer to themselves as neolibertarians.
“better demonstrations of knowledge – something deeper than signs and soundbites.”
You're kidding, right? You ask for too much.
My point is that there isn't any way to do that at the moment – the parties aren't political parties. To get specific at this point would probably split them into at least two camps, as the article explained. Your “facts”, most likely, came from the media, not from the parties themselves.
” kind of blank slate “. . . .that is where my mind is with the Tea Party. . .it is one is so odorous i have no desire to give it any space in my mind. . .
But Joe speaking of another Tea. . . . tried the Good Earth Caffeine Free Original tea you suggested, OMG! It is wonderful, after the first cup i gave up all caffeine, it has replaced the one cup of morning coffee and the one evening soft drink. . . It is great tea both hot and cold. I have now ordered a couple of the Superfruit teas from the same company. . .
Thanks never thought i would be able to get off caffeine. . .
It appears that many of the males associated with the toe party movemenr haven't determined who they want to elect,and who they want to bed.I'll bet that there isn't very many black people in attendance!!
Playing the “race card” … classy!
For those who want to learn more
Fox News will have a Special 2-Hour Show tonight starting at 9 p.m. ET that will include Governor Palin’s keynote at the National Tea Party Convention. Andrew Breitbart will introduce Sarah Palin tonight at the convention.
Fox Nation also has a blog: Live at The National Tea Party Convention:
http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/02/05/…
If you want to watch live stream now, be sure to check out the following:
C-SPAN Live Stream Coverage of the Convention:
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx
PJTV Live Streaming Now: 2010 Tea party Convention:
http://www.pjtv.com/ (must register)
ALSO, Governor Palin will be on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace at 6 p.m. ET as a Sunday show first. Be sure to tune in as they discuss the Tea Party movement and the President’s first year in office.
Have a GREAT evening!
Oh please. Budjob is hardly the first to have noticed the paucity of brown faces at tea party events. Not to imply the “movement” or a majority of its adherents are racist, necessarily, but it's hardly a “big tent.”
As with the Republicans, as SD is fond of pointing out, demographics don't favor the viability of anything that has no appeal to blacks, hispanics, asians and the young. I don't think you need a scientific poll to figure out the demographic problem. There are 3.7 million photos you can peruse:
http://images.google.com/images?q=tea+party+crowd
DaMav,
Thanks for the information. This ought to be a great oppportunity for bloggers (both on the left and the right) to see what the Tea Party movement really stands for rather than making blanket generalizations (both for and against) regarding the entire movement.
Since Governor Palin is not the official leader of the movement, it would be unfair to judge the entire movement based upon the comments she makes tonight (and I have no doubt that some of her comments will be controversial). However, I'm expecting some of the organizers to speak as well.
In other words, this will be a great opportunity for the organizers of the Tea Party movement to really define what the movement stands for and to convey its underlying political philosophy. Their views will be out in the open for all to see, and everyone (both inside and outside the movement) will be able to make an honest assessment as to whether the Tea Party movement truly represents their political philosophy.
It will also be an opportunity for the Tea Party movement to put it cards on the table (so to speak) with regards to its claims of being pro-liberty and pro-smaller government. Has it all been just a bunch of rhetoric from a bunch of partisan Republicans whose critique of “big government” has come only after their guy was no longer in the White House? Or is the pro-liberty and pro-smaller government language part of a genuine message meant to challenge both the traditional talking points offered by the Democrats and Republicans?
Hopefully, after tonight, we'll be one step closer to having that question answered.
Nice to see you back here sparrow! I don't think I could ever give up my coffee, but maybe someday…
DaMav's FOX link depicts the tea party folks as pretty much disgruntled republicans who want a party with the following principles:
1. Fiscal Responsibility
2. Lower Taxes
3. Less Government
4. States’ Rights
5. National Security
Look at numbers 1 and 2. They aren't going to work very well in concert since they are pretty much opposites in our current state. Nothing particularly “responsible” about that. 3 and 4 are old axes that have been ground over, and over again. Nothing new there – certainly nothing that offers any solution to the problems we face today. Number 5? We all care about national security, but it means different things to different people. To some it's meant war, torture, fewer civil liberties, etc. Color me unimpressed so far. I can see why this might hold some appeal to libertarians and the same republicans who have always beat those drums, but I don't see anything new there, mostly a celebration of mediocre standards and ideas from what I see. Oh don't worry, I'll keep an eye out and if it turns out they are something more than what we've already seen plenty of (minus the tea party label) then I'll be willing to revise my impression, but until then…
As I've complained before, these are all generic stands made purposely vague in order to garner the most amount of support. I would suspect that a majority of Americans would support each of these “principles” (I mean, c'mon! Who would be against national security). But to the borrow the phrase–the devil's in the details. What does it mean exactly to support fiscal responsibility or national security?
Also, it shouldn't take too much in depth thinking to realize how some of these principles (in practice) conflict with one another. Consider national security (principle #5 on the Tea party's list), for instance. Being strong on national security, for most modern day conservatives means supporting military interventions against nations whose governments our government does not like, supporting sanctions against nations whose governments our government does not like, supporting having hundreds of military bases around the world, and increasing the federal budget for military programs. Clearly, this contradicts the idea of smaller government (principle #3 on the Tea Party movement's list).
Conservatives can rant and rave all they want about smaller government, but the fact of the matter is that when it comes to foreign policy, modern day conservatives (as opposed to the Robert Taft and Russell Kirk conservatives of the past) support bigger government. As Randolph Bourne argued during World War I, “War Is the Health of the State.” And to that end, modern day conservatives are solidly pro-state (i.e. pro big government).
Which is exactly why I'm working with my local tea party. If they get steered toward the conservative agenda of “small government, except when we want it big”, they'll end up right back where we are now.
The five points listed are simply components of basic US views, and the Tea Party, furthermore, is obviously populist. (“Populist” is, unsurprisingly, a term currently used with dripping contempt by more elitist — if not reactionary — liberals.)
“I'd like to see more articulation of positions, better demonstrations of knowledge – something deeper than signs and soundbites. More specifics and less generalized anti-obama stuff.”
This isn't limited to the “Tea Party” crowd! What about — ahem — the GOP and Congre-GOP?
The people at the podium, Judson Phillips, Amy Kremer, Mark Skoda, and David DeGerolamo all have websites you can visit to learn more; or you can just type in their name and gain more information. Mr. Skoda has spoken at several Republican events and Mr. DeGerolamo seems determined to oust a Democratic congressman.
I see very little “a pox on both their houses” sentiment either in the convention speakers or the convention attendees. I expect there is much more of that in those party members that were opposed to the convention.
Hmm…
Did anyone catch any footage of the Tea Party Convention? I checked C-SPAN several times (albeit, not during the 9PM – 10PM hour) and didn't see anything. I've also checked over at FoxNews, but aside from some brief stories that were short on details, I didn't catch any footage.
The Los Angeles Times and the Seattle Times offered a few quotes spoken by Sarah Palin, but there wasn't a whole lot revealed. There were a few lines criticizing Obama's fiscal policies as “wasteful” and his foreign policy as “too conciliatory”, which basically backs up my earlier prediction that conservatives in the Tea Party movement are steering the movement to a smaller government direction in term of fiscal policy and a bigger government position in terms of foreign policy (unless you want to make the argument that the more aggressive foreign policy that Palin is advocating is somehow consistent with smaller government).
Not enough information yet, however, to give a full assessment. Perhaps a transcript of Palin's speech (as well as the speeches made by some of the organizers) will eventually be posted somewhere on the internet.
As much as I like the tea party movement and all that they are doing, they are actually hurting the chances of candidates that are truly independent and willing to do the people's work. All things considered check out this article on the tea party in florida
http://bit.ly/b9Qfc3
If the tea party ends up being competition to the republicans (which is most likely a pipe dream of epic proportions since it's in the GOP's interest to “become” the tea party movement and will likely just absorb them – or try to) then something good could come of the phenomenon.
Rubio now leads the Democrat by more than Crist does — by a whopping 17 points.
http://tinyurl.com/klxv6l
And he leads Crist in the primary by 12 points meaning most Republicans will be happier with Rubio as the candidate, hence more likely to turn out in November.
imo it's a real stretch to turn that into anything but good news for those who want to shake up the Republican Party establishment yet win general elections
I am embarrassed as an American citizen and as a woman that this woman is representative of any group , conservative or liberal. I only hope the American public is wise enough to see her for what she is. I guess if you want the Democrats to win another election we should encourage her to keep up her speaking engagements and writing books. She is really sad.
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