Republican And Tea Party Voters United Means Mr. Obama Defeated

So says Haley Barbour in an Op-Ed in the WSJ yesterday. He’s right, of course, but he walks a fine line in this piece and comes dangerously close to conflating “Tea Party” with “Republican Party” and it’s worth reminding Mr. Barbour that these two things are not one and the same.

Tea party voters are not only motivated by the effect these terrible policies are having on them—they are worried about America’s future. They fear that their children and grandchildren won’t inherit the same country they inherited from their parents and grandparents. What they know with certainty is that future generations will be saddled with paying back the trillions in debt that the Obama administration and Congress are running up with so little positive result.

Replace “tea party” with “Republican” in every instance above, and each description would remain totally accurate. On the issues foremost in voters’ minds—the economy, jobs, spending, taxes, debt and deficits—the overwhelming majority of tea party voters and Republican voters are in strong agreement.

No, Mr. Barbour, NOT in every instance….only in “many” instances sir.

The Tea Party was born in the ashes of a Government that has failed the American people. That Government consists of both Democrats AND Republicans, and the Tea Party has made clear through some of its choices of candidates that they care about the matters at hand, not necessarily the letter after their names.

Smaller Government, less spending, fundamental tax reform, and the return of individual liberties and freedom…these are the things the Tea Party movement fights for. Regardless party affiliation, the base word in “Tea Party” is TEA, not PARTY, and (as with the reason for the original revolt against the King and Parliament of England that gave the movement its inspiration and its name) stands for the principles of the Founding Fathers in demanding accountability from our representatives in Washington. Barbour is right to suggest many of these things are shared by Republicans…but clearly not all Republicans agree.

It is fortunate that Barbour finds himself watching the Tea Party movement from a position of sharing most of its core values, and it’s expedient for him to encourage Republicans to join forces with them. They are not, however, one and the same and each of the men and women hoping for our donation dollars and our vocal support and ultimately our vote would be well reminded that these will only come after proving themselves worthy.

A reminder to all the Politicians out there courting favor with a grassroots movement like no other in recent memory: you have forgotten who works for whom ladies and gentlemen, but we will remember in November.

[Note: This article originates at Liberty.Com]