Posted on 07/17/2010 9:48:50 AM PDT by rhema
Republicans have been wrangling for more than a year over how exactly to handle the tea party movement, but now Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is bringing them under the big tent.
The House Administration committee, which usually takes days to approve something of this nature, approved Bachmann's request to create a House Tea Party Caucus in a day. It will certainly give the national movement a more official voice within the House Republican Conference.
Bachmann, already a hero within the tea party, sent a letter to House Administration Chairman Robert Brady (D-Pa.) Thursday to register the House Tea Party Caucus to serve as an “informal group of members dedicated to promote Americans’ call for fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution and limited government.”
Bachmann, in a statement, said Americans have “had enough of the spending, bureaucracy and the government-knows-best mentality running rampant today throughout the halls of Congress.”
The second-term lawmaker is a fundraising juggernaut — she pulled in $1.7 million last quarter — but still faces stiff competition from State Sen. Tarryl Clark. Clark is getting the help from national Democrats, who have made it their duty to see Bachmann defeated.
The tea party has been generally resistant to a formal organizational structure and generally loathes incumbents. And Republican leaders have flirted with the tea party — often appearing at rallies — but there has been no consensus over exactly how to include the movement within the party.
In the words of a famous American preacher of African ancestry, “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s a-coming!”
Bachmann, already a hero within the tea party, sent a letter to House Administration Chairman Robert Brady (D-Pa.) Thursday to register the House Tea Party Caucus to serve as an “informal group of members dedicated to promote Americans’ call for fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution and limited government.”
I hope there is some strict participation criteria and that it is enforced. If RINOs join, then it becomes a mockery.
Once they find out the caucus members are all white, the committee will pull the rug out from under them in a New York minute.
The problem is, nearly ALL Senior Congress members with an (R) behind their name ARE RINO'S. Conservatives are NOT supported by the RNC, nor are they often even on the ballot as a result. The Conservative candidates have always appeared ONLY on the Primary Ballots, but never get the funding and support to make it to the General Election ballot, unless they run as Independents.
It is a good move.
It’s a good start to taking our party back.
What do you consider a RINO? Please define
If it’s handled well, the money will flow to the TEA party instead of the RNC.
I'm hopeful that Representative Michele Bachmann can keep the RNC/RINOs at bay and help guide the congressional Tea Party caucus into common-sense, conservative positions. We'll see.
I've always hoped Republicans would at least subscribe to the GOP Platform.
Bachmann-Palin 2012.
Those who abandon the Constitution and vote with the Democrats in exchange for some perk/earmark to placate their voterbase on BOTH sides. Claiming to be "bi-partisan", such as McCain, Voinovich, Snowe, Collins, Graham, etc. do in the Senate. RINO's have no principles, but merely take the easy way out to placate the Democrats, and to mistakenly think they can then get minority votes, etc.
If it ain't in the Constitution; VOTE NO. To hell with the earmarks, as look around and see what this supposed 2-party system has gotten us into. Big Money runs the vote, and special interests are placated where there is NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION to do so. Those with the (R) by their name should not only be ashamed to vote that way, but should be run right out of office.
“What do you consider a RINO? Please define”
George W Bush and John S McCain are a RINO’s RINO.
Good for her.
I like Bachmann, and I think she was trying to do something good here. None the less I see this as a mistake. People were free to join the Tea Party because of it’s non-affiliated nature.
The last thing I want to see, is either the RINO infested Republican party or the Fascist Democrat party get their meat hooks into the concern.
Can anyone guess why this caucus was approved in minutes? It’s because now the Democrats can point to the affiliation, and claim they were right all along, this was a Republican effort. The media will run with that, and now the Tea Party will forever be seen as a Republican entity.
Republican affiliation will work like garlic or silver does to a vampire. It will be the death knell of the effort.
There are Democrats in the Tea Party. What are they supposed to think now? Will they remain? Will others avoid the Tea Party now?
“The House Administration committee, which usually takes days to approve something of this nature, approved Bachmann’s request to create a House Tea Party Caucus in a day. It will certainly give the national movement a more official voice within the House Republican Conference.”
It doesn’t need an official voice within the House Republican Conference. It’s not a Republican entity you idiots.
There are times when I wish our brighter minds would use them better.
hopefully it will not be a move used by weepublicans to infiltrate and water down a real grass roots movement. I trust Michele, but not her colleagues.
I agree,I think the tea-partiers should handle this as a notification of what is expected. Not a consultation of what they will allow.
Psst.... I don't think she does either.
The Tea Party Movement is still unaffiliated with any party.
The last thing I want to see, is either the RINO infested Republican party or the Fascist Democrat party get their meat hooks into the concern.
The first thing I want to see are law makers such as Bachmann legislating like they are in the tea party movement.
Can anyone guess why this caucus was approved in minutes? It’s because now the Democrats can point to the affiliation, and claim they were right all along, this was a Republican effort. The media will run with that, and now the Tea Party will forever be seen as a Republican entity.
Who cares what the media thinks. We should NEVER do anything based on what the media thinks.
This is a great move by Bachmann.
” The last thing I want to see, is either the RINO infested Republican party or the Fascist Democrat party get their meat hooks into the concern.”
This mirrors my fears about this as well.
This will put pressure on the so called “conservative” blue dog rats. It will be interesting to see if any try to join the Tea Party Caucus to preserve their seat in Congress.
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When I heard about this I had the same reaction as you.
I see this as something that benefits the republicans in office more than the TEA party movement, and that’s what bothers me.
To me, being associated solely with the dems or the republicans is not in the spirit of the TEA party.
Maybe I misunderstand what the intentions of the movement are.
Bachman - Cheney or Cheney - Bachman
Dick or Liz?
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