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Fad or Movement? March Tests Sway of Tea Parties

Vocal minority could hurt Republicans, critics say

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2009 11:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – The “Tea Party Express” bus has rolled into Washington today for a “Taxpayer March” to the Capitol, and if you listen to organizers, it’s the start of a real political movement. “You can’t manufacture this kind of thing,” says a conservative radio host. A FreedomWorks Foundation spokesman, meanwhile, says it will be the biggest gathering of fiscal conservatives ever. But some believe the partiers represent a loud minority that could actually hurt Republicans. Today's march may help begin to determine who's right.

Though tea-partiers are united in their disdain for President Obama and government, their complaints are a hodgepodge, ranging from taxation to bailouts to health care. It “can’t sustain itself just as an anti-liberal movement,” says one GOP strategist. “It’s got to evolve. And it will.” But one historian doubts that, likening the tea partiers to the John Birch Society, a '60s-era conservative group as suspicious of Kennedy as the partiers are of Obama.

A crowd of people rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington Saturday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher speaks to the assembled crowd at a tea party rally in Brighton, Mich. on Tuesday Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, David Guralnick)

Bonnie Goldstein, second from left, demonstrates with several hundred "Tea Party Express" protesters Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

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Fad or Movement? March Tests Sway of Tea Parties

Vocal minority could hurt Republicans, critics say

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Wall Street March Prompts Police Brawl

15 arrested in showdown

'Non-Political' Glenn Beck Rally Looks Pretty Political

...despite foundation's 501(c)3 status

Watch Out: Glenn Beck Making Sense ...Kinda

He agrees with the left at times—but for different reasons

Tea Partiers' Common Thread: Glenn Beck

Talking head, Fox News provide the movement's 'water cooler'

Stewart Does Another Glenn Beck Takedown

Gawker: 'One of his greatest segments ever'

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Fad or Movement? March Tests Sway of Tea Parties

Vocal minority could hurt Republicans, critics say

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

conservative • protests • Glenn Beck • march • tea parties • FreedomWorks Foundation

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Wall Street March Prompts Police Brawl

15 arrested in showdown

'Non-Political' Glenn Beck Rally Looks Pretty Political

...despite foundation's 501(c)3 status

Watch Out: Glenn Beck Making Sense ...Kinda

He agrees with the left at times—but for different reasons

Tea Partiers' Common Thread: Glenn Beck

Talking head, Fox News provide the movement's 'water cooler'

Stewart Does Another Glenn Beck Takedown

Gawker: 'One of his greatest segments ever'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?