Tea party brew-haha

bostonherald.com ^ | 04/02/2012 | Chris Cassidy

[massmike]

Several Tea Party groups across Massachusetts are dividing into two camps — those who want to focus on conservative economic issues and others who want to expand into social issues, such as illegal immigration and gay rights.

lllustrating that split is a pair of competing April 15 Tea Party rallies — a Tax Day rally in Worcester with speakers focusing on the budget and taxes, and a Patriot Day rally on Boston Common, which also includes speeches from a voter ID advocate and the Rev. Scott Lively, a fierce public critic of gay rights.

But both sides told the Herald they’ve come down from their 2010 euphoria for Brown and won’t be phone-banking or sign-holding for him. Brown always kept a distance from the Tea Party but benefited heavily from members’ support.

Brown spokesman Colin Reed said: “Scott Brown is an independent voice and while he welcomes support from all people, he is not beholden to any one group. Elizabeth Warren is different. She claims to be the intellectual founder of the radical protest politics of the Occupy movement, which are far outside the mainstream.”

[Bowtie52]

Maybe they ought to focus on why the Tea Party can’t get a candidate in the race at all

[Bowtie52]

Maybe they ought to focus on why the Tea Party can’t get a candidate in the race at all

[rusty schucklefurd]

re: “two camps — those who want to focus on conservative economic issues and others who want to expand into social issues, such as illegal immigration and gay rights.”

So, now “illegal immigration” is a “social issue” and not a matter of enforcing the law?

The media is soooo slimey - they are constantly biasing information and presenting it as just a matter-of-fact thing.

Lord, surely there will be an especially hot place in Hell for certain “journalists”.

[Ron H.]

Several Tea Party groups across Massachusetts are dividing into two camps — those who want to focus on conservative economic issues and others who want to expand into social issues, such as illegal immigration and gay rights.

This is/was bound to happen and will keep happening as one side tries to dominate what issues will or will not be addressed. Social conservatives will surely keep breaking away if they can't get their issues addresses and represented in the typical Tea Party apparatus.

For many of them they see little difference between the current economic version of the Tea Party movement and the establishment Republican Party. Until the 'econs only' agree to take on some of the socials issues then this schism will only get worse, IMHO.

[GeronL]

illegal immigration is bankrupting this country, but now its just a social issue?

Hey, if we are PAYING for it- its not a social issue

[Lorianne]

Immigration IS an economic issue, as well as a legal issue.

However, I agree that the Tea Party cannot spread itself too thin by foccusing on too many issues or they will lose their impact politically. Right now the economy and rule of law should be the major issues. The Tea Party got maximum momentum focussing on issues of such as: smaller federal government, opposition to bailouts (rule of law), reducing deficits and national debt (responsible government spending) and Constitutional issues such as free speech (against the ‘fairness’ doctrine and other limitations on free speech), against NDAA and excessive government power/control.

These issues pull in concerned citizens from all over the political spectrum, as they rightly should. They are foremost in importance at this very dangerous time in our history. The very foundations of our Republic are at stake.

[Maceman]

Illegal immigration is NOT a social issue.

Drugs, gay marriage, abortion — THOSE are social issues.

[jocon307]

Yes, I agree. The libs want to put illegal immigration in there because they think the subject is filled with “hard cases” out of which they can make bad law, or no law which is what we have now.

I’m a strong social conservative, but I do think the Tea Party should stick to the economic stuff. We’ve never had a right wing economic movement and we need one, badly.

We should also focus on stopping corruption in the political process. And, in general, just shaking things up.

Not that there shouldn’t be cooperation, but I feel like the social issues have people that are working on them.

[Nateman]

This article is playing the old divide and conquer strategy and from the looks of the posts so far they hit paydirt.

[Paradox]

I say, that as long as it is called the “Tea Party”, it should remain largely a small government/low tax movement. Keep the social stuff out. That said, illegal immigration could be considered a spending issue, so it could see some representation in there.

[Little Bill]

As much as Scott Brown sucks on some issues Grannie Warren sucks on all issues. Aside from that she is a foreigner, Oklahoma!

[Cinnamontea]

Why the weird spelling of "brew-haha"? Is there a pun on the word "brew" that I missed somewhere? Or is the author just illiterate?

[LomanBill]

>>The very foundations of our Republic are at stake.

That’s what happens when folks discard their moral compass and Worship the Golden Calf.

Fiscal “Conservatism”, ISN’T.

[ExCTCitizen]

Several Tea Party groups across Massachusetts are dividing into two camps — those who want to focus on conservative economic issues and others who want to expand into social issues,

Stay with the economic issues, please tea partiers!! The social issues will kill the GOP. We should FIGHT for LOWER TAXES and JOB CREATION. The Social issues this election year should be off the table as we are fighting a MARXIST.

A normal year, I would say social issues should be on the table, but this year is not normal. That said, I'll vote against ANYONE who is FOR RIGHTS of ILLEGAL IMMEGRANTS.