What began as an organic, policy-driven grass-roots movement was drained of its vitality and resources by national political action committees that dunned the movement’s true believers endlessly for money to support its candidates and causes. The PACs used that money first to enrich themselves and their vendors and then deployed most of the rest to search for more “prospects.†In Tea Party world, that meant mostly older, technologically unsavvy people willing to divulge personal information through “petitionsâ€â€”which only made them prey to further attempts to lighten their wallets for what they believed was a good cause. While the solicitations continue, the audience has greatly diminished because of a lack of policy results and changing political winds.
This is a lesson gun people could use as well. We’re all going to have to become a lot more politically sophisticated to survive what is coming, and that means being able to recognize charlatans after your money, who have no real organization backing them up, when you see it.
One reason the left wins and the right loses is the left is a lot more politically sophisticated.
“charlatans after your money, who have no real organization backing them up”
Why didn’t you just say NAGR?
There is another reason the Tea Party failed. It started out as a movement to reign in government spending and power. However, it became coopted by social conservatives who started pushing their agenda. This drove away many people, including some of the organizers.
“it became coopted by social conservatives…”
You mean, just like the gun rights movement?
“Social conservative” is of course a synonym for “Christian.” Look closely at the common denominators of the personalities around outfits like GOA and NAGR.
Most of us who have been around for awhile have experience with our “conservative” organizations having been infiltrated by “stealth” Christians, most of whom had not the slightest interest in the organizations’ issues, but saw an opportunity to possibly gain a new political platform for their agenda.
Activists, especially gun rights activists, seem to believe the “Christian Stealth” tactic disappeared at least 25 years ago. Actually, that they don’t realize the extent they are being controlled by it, indicates exactly how sophisticated the stealth has become.
It’s a safe bet the same thing happened to the Tea Party.
The Establishment GOP through John Boehner and Mitch McConnell is what essentially assasinated The Tea Party. Take a look at how Pat Toomey turned out too.