The Tea Party After the Election

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

A demonstrator carries a sign calling people to 'resist' US President Barack Obama perceived socialist policies during a march of supporters of the conservative Tea Party movement in Washington. (NICHOLAS KAMM/Getty)

In the wake of a sharp defeat by the Democrats and President Obama, Republicans are left struggling to refocus the party's direction. Meanwhile, Tea Party advocates have grown increasingly resentful of Republican strategy.

Disappointment lies not only at the prospect of another four years with President Obama, but in the failures of the GOP. The Tea Party sees this as the time to re-energize their forces as the conservative root in America.

Ryan Rhodes is the chairman of the Iowa Tea Party.

"David Frum and those folks can continue attempting to blame conservatives and other people for the fact that they've put up Bob Dole, John McCain and now Mitt Romney," Rhodes says in response. He cites the case in Wisconsin, where Scott Walker ran as a Conservative and won, but Mitt Romney lost, arguing that it was the flip-flopping, not Conservatism, that cost Romney the election.  

Rhodes thinks the losses in this election should reinvigorate the Tea Party movement, rather than defeating it. 

Guests:

Ryan Rhodes

Produced by:

Ellen Frankman

Comments [3]

Larry Fisher from Brooklyn, N.Y.

I think a different beverage other than Tea would become more successful...The Latte Party?

Nov. 07 2012 02:06 PM
Angel from Miami, FL

The tea party groups are almost entirely made up of baby-boomers. They have about 12 more years before they're too old to march or hold up signs, right? Those congressmen they're voting for will have to switch once their constituency is replaced by Gen-X and Gen-Y citizens.

The Koch brothers are in their seventies, right? So they have a decade max! The future of American politics is looking bright already.

Nov. 07 2012 01:32 PM
ron from west palm

It is telling that the tea party contributor is upset that his guys "can't keep their mouths shut" perhaps they should actually not believe things that offend so many.

Nov. 07 2012 09:59 AM

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