# The Tea Party movement's overall effect on the 2010 midterms **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 16, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916 "2010-09-16T00:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/61 "2010-09-19T05:38:16Z")
> [@](#): > > One notable exception to that finding is the Gallup poll, which found that other than gender, income and politics, self-described Tea Partiers were demographically similar to the population as a whole.[96] Couldn’t that also be worded as: “One notable exception to that finding is the Gallup poll, which found that other than being Rich Republican Men, self-described Tea Partiers were demographically similar to the population as a whole.” ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/62 "2010-09-19T06:58:11Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > Getting back to the OP topic, I think the long-term effect of the Tea Party will actually be to the disadvantage of the Right, as Republicans will lose in 2012+ whatever gains they made in 2010. I agree. Mid-terms don’t usually attract casual voters. One thing the Tea Party movement is doing is attracting very conservative candidates, but candidates that couldn’t get elected in any other environment than our current one (and in the case of some candidates, not even now). All for what? So they can spend the money to serve one term in which they can accomplish nothing only to get stomped by the more moderate Presidential voters in 2012? The GOP is going to have to get a muzzle if they want a chance going forward. Are they going to have any chance picking up Florida in 2012 if the Tea Party candidates continue to wax poetically about gutting Social Security and Medicare? Obama could go into 2012 with 150+ already in his pocket (CA, NY, FL, IL, DC, HI, MA, DE, & MD). That’s not even counting traditionally Dem states like WA, OR, ME, VT, etc. The only silver lining for Republicans is the fact that Dems have a HUGE number of Senate seats to defend in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/63 "2010-09-19T23:44:52Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > Quoth **Starving Artist** :Um, outlawing “teh gay” and masturbation would be a huge increase in the scope of government. So what you’re saying is that they don’t care about someone increasing the scope of government, as long as they decrease the scope of government. > > That phrase? I do not think it means what you think it means. > > I implied (or thought I was saying outright) that the Tea Party is not interested in outlawing homosexuality and masturbation. In fact, the whole idea of its trying to do so is silly. People around here act as if O’Donnell gets elected to the senate she’s immediately going to outlaw masturbation. Even the president doesn’t have the power to do that. Nobody thinks she has the power to outlaw masturbation. The problem is she thinks it is a good idea. I don’t think she would make the house into a coven, but someone who is into witchcraft is weird and it is a bad idea. She can not enact her stringent views on abortion. But the fact that she believes in them is telling. She wants to have say so about people personal lives. What qualifies her? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/64 "2010-09-20T01:50:44Z")
Has O’Donnell said that she thinks outlawing masturbation is a good idea? If she has, I haven’t heard of it. All I’ve heard is that she disapproves of it (and who knows, she may have outgrown that in the meantime). There are lots of things I’m against that I wouldn’t dream of trying to outlaw if I were a lawmaker, and there are a lot of things I’m in favor of that I would never try to make into law. I’m sure most of us are the same way, and I imagine O’Donnell is too. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/65 "2010-09-20T05:41:44Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Has O’Donnell said that she thinks outlawing masturbation is a good idea? If she has, I haven’t heard of it. If she’s come out with any concrete legislative ideas, I haven’t heard of them. I’ve read about what she used to be in favor of (or dabble in), her wild times in college, her recent lies, who’s supporting her, the chances of her winning, and what her nomination foretells for the Republican Party. I haven’t heard anything about what she wants to do as a senator. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/66 "2010-09-20T06:00:34Z")
So, you agree then that **gonzomax** is wrong in stating that O’Donnell thinks that outlawing masturbation is a good idea? Glad we got that settled. Now how about **gonzo’s** next bit of wrongeyness, where he says that O’Donnell “_is into witchcraft_”. This is so obviously wrong that I can’t believe even **gonzo** would attempt to pass it off as the truth. O’Donnell said that she “had” dabbled into witchcraft when she was young. Past tense. And not only that, but it was ten years ago when she made _that_ statement. So clearly, it could accurately be said that O’Donnell is not into witchcraft and that anyone who says she is, is either, a.) a person with serious reading/watching comprehension problems; b.) a person of such strong ideological bias that they can’t think straight; c.) or a person of nefarious intent. Would you agree? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/67 "2010-09-20T06:16:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Would you agree? If you have anything to say to me, about what I wrote in my post, I’ll read it. I’m not here to play referee between you and **gonzomax**. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/68 "2010-09-20T06:42:47Z")
Well, you decided to interject your little non sequitur with regard to my question to **gonzomax** , so it seemed likely that you might you have something to say in regard to another question I had about **gonzo’s** post. It appears though, that, having struck out with your first attempt to lodge yourself between us in attempt to make O’Donnell look bad, you’ve decided that your best defense is to pretend not to want to come between **gonzo** and me, even though you, of your own volition, have already done just that. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/69 "2010-09-20T07:04:21Z")
I’ll try to make my point again, then. Christine O’Donnell has gotten a lot of news coverage in the past week. I have probably heard her name more than any other senate candidate in that time. This thread has gone to two pages, and there is another about her that has gone to three pages. I have heard who is supporting her, what talk shows she did not show up for, and what she said ten years ago about something that happened years before that. Does she want to outlaw masturbation? I have no idea. I haven’t heard a thing about her current legislative goals. I don’t know where she stands on the issues, or if she has said anything about them at all. If a post about issues (or lack thereof) in a thread about the 2010 election is a non sequitur, well, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/70 "2010-09-20T08:34:33Z")
Okay, I apologize. It looked to me like you were using my comment to gonzo as a jumping off point to claim that O’Donnell is an empty suit, so to speak. And, as a matter of fact, I don’t much about what O’Donnell believes or what her legislative goals are either. I blame this on the mainstream media, to be honest. Surely this woman has spoken during her various campaigns about what her views are and what she’d hope to accomplish if elected, but all we hear about are financial problems, her belief that masturbation is wrong, and that she at one time dabbled in witchcraft. I don’t watch or listen to Rush Limbaugh but once or twice a month I briefly scan his website just to get a feel for what he’s saying versus what people on the left are saying that he’s saying. As it happens, I looked at his site today and here’s part of what he’s saying about O’Donnell: > [@](#): > > Now, I’m going to tell you what the campaign against her is going to be. I can tell you right now. I’ll get to it in just a second. I know exactly what they’re going to do. I know these people 'cause I know their playbook. Look at me as a defensive coordinator of the conservative movement. I know exactly what these clowns are going to do. I know how to game plan for them. **They’re basically going to go after social issues.** They’re gonna say that Christine O’Donnell represents the new Republican Party, wants to take away your Social Security, you watch. **Republicans want to take away your Social Security and make sure that you can’t have abortions, may even go out there and say that Christine O’Donnell was against masturbation** , who knows. **But it’s gonna focus on social issues**. [bolding mine] And that’s exactly what’s happening. The media and her opponenst are focusing on everything but her legislative goals. They are trying to torpedo her before she ever gets out of the starting gate by harping on her finances, her college degree and when she got it, her stance on masturbation, etc., etc., etc. They’re trying to make her an intellectual laughingstock just like they’ve tried to with GWB, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. It’s pathetic. The left has apparently decided that on the field of ideas, it’s best to do an end around and avoid them altogether, opting instead to play upon one of the baser elements of human nature and try to give people a perch from which to look down upon, and laugh at, someone else. So, I did a little digging. Not much, just took a look at the Wiki article on her, and found the following: > [@](#): > > Political positions > [edit] Fiscal policy > O’Donnell has said that she will never vote to increase taxes.[73] Since the summer of 2010, O’Donnell has contended that “America is now a socialist economy”, defining a “socialist economy” as one in which “50% or more your economy is dependent on the federal government.”[74] O’Donnell emphasized fiscal integrity in her campaign kickoff saying, “Voting to spend money we don’t have has become the appealing option for too many politicians. The men and women of America know this is not sustainable.”[47][75] O’Donnell opposes Congressional earmarks.[18] She supports a simplification of the tax code.[76] > > [edit] Abortion and stem cell research > O’Donnell is pro-life.[77] She opposes abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.[18] She would allow abortion with the family’s consent, if the woman would otherwise die.[71] O’Donnell opposes human embryonic stem cell research,[12] human cloning,[18] and research into cloning of monkey embryos.[32] > > [edit] Health care > O’Donnell has said the first thing she wants to do when elected is to vote to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted by Congress in 2010.[78][79] > > [edit] Environment > Blocking cap and trade legislation will be one of her first priorities.[15][78] > > [edit] Gun rights > The National Rifle Association endorsed O’Donnell,[55] saying she “will be a strong voice in fighting ongoing efforts by anti-gun politicians to dismantle the Second Amendment”[80] > > [edit] Social security > O’Donnell would raise the age for receiving Social Security benefits.[71] And since so much has been made around here of her views on sex and masturbation, I’ve included the following: > [@](#): > > Religious views > O’Donnell has been described as a former Catholic turned evangelical Christian.[1] > > In a 1996 discussion on CNN, O’Donnell advocated the teaching of creationism in public schools. O’Donnell was also critical of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, asserting that it is merely a theory.[81] > > O’Donnell also once took a stance against masturbation accompanied with lust, biblically equating it with adultery.[74] She has since stated her youthful views have “matured” and that sexual behavior is a “private matter”, and that her political actions will be based on a strict Constitutionalist stance, rather than her personal views.[82] There’s lots in this article that people around here can have a heyday with. [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_O%27Donnell) She apparently drank a lot when she was young and was promiscuous to boot. And she’s had a very checkered financial history. But she ultimately came to feel her behavior was wrong and turned firmly away from it. She’s also been an extremely industrious and passionate woman during her adulthood, working hard to make a difference and to attain elective office so as to more effectively toward her political goals. It seems that politics and a strong desire to hold public office are firmly in her blood. Now whether this is all a good thing, and whether she’d ultimately be good for the conservative movement and/or the Republican party, I’m not about to guess at this point. But I do think she’s coming in for a lot of cheap shots and character assassination that she not only doesn’t deserve, but which fails to give people any kind of idea of what she wants to accomplish politically. And I think there’s a very definite reason why the media and her opponents, both political and among the population at large, want to direct attention away from she and other Tea Party politicians want to accomplish. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/71 "2010-09-20T10:29:20Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And, as a matter of fact, I don’t much about what O’Donnell believes or what her legislative goals are either. I blame this on the mainstream media, to be honest. I got the impression you didn’t watch much of the mainstream media. Hardly seems fair to blame them for not getting out her message if you’re not tuned in to hear it. And they have tried. She was scheduled to appear on _Fox News Sunday_ and _Face the Nation_, and cancelled. She doesn’t seem particularly anxious to state her goals either. Her website is a place to donate money to her campaign, and nothing else. Is that the fault of the mainstream media, too? > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Since the summer of 2010, O’Donnell has contended that “America is now a socialist economy”, defining a “socialist economy” as one in which “50% or more your economy is dependent on the federal government.”[74] O’Donnell emphasized fiscal integrity in her campaign kickoff saying, “Voting to spend money we don’t have has become the appealing option for too many politicians. The men and women of America know this is not sustainable.”[47][75] O’Donnell opposes Congressional earmarks.[18] She supports a simplification of the tax code.[76] It would be interesting to compare her views now (should we be lucky enough to discover what they are) with her previous campaign. I question her dedication to fiscal integrity if she has only held this view since the summer of 2010. Also, if her plan to simplify the tax code consists of a flat tax, then she’s an idiot with no idea what she’s talking about. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/72 "2010-09-20T14:43:57Z")
Even if you take the Tea Party candidates at their word that social issues will not be their priority, they’re not the only ones in the Senate. I don’t think O’Donnell will introduce a bill banning masturbation. But how will she vote when some back-bencher introduces an amendment that makes a piece of education funding dependent on abstinence-only sex education? How will she vote on gay rights? Or abortion rights? These are potential first-term Senators and Congressmen we’re talking about. I’m not nearly so interested in their own legislative agendas as I am with how they’ll vote on other people’s agendas. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/73 "2010-09-20T16:21:52Z")
Quoth Rush Limbaugh, via Starving Artist: > [@](#): > > They’re basically going to go after social issues. They’re gonna say that Christine O’Donnell represents the new Republican Party, wants to take away your Social Security, you watch. If we’re lumping Social Security in with “social issues”, then what is there that _isn’t_ a social issue? Of course we’re focusing on those, if that’s all there is. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/74 "2010-09-20T16:53:17Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > > [@Rush Limbaugh](#): > > > > They’re gonna say that Christine O’Donnell represents the new Republican Party, wants to take away your Social Security, you watch. > > > [@Wikipedia](#): > > > > Social security > > O’Donnell would raise the age for receiving Social Security benefits. You don’t see any disconnect there, Starve? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/75 "2010-09-20T17:07:13Z")
I think it’s pretty obvious what is going to happen: the Tea Party candidates will take some “safe Republican” seats from mainstream Republicans via primaries. They will also take some closely contested seats from mainstream Republicans by splitting the vote and handing them to Democrats. What this means for America is anyone’s guess, but I’m wondering if we’re not going to see a post-election backlash _a la_ Nader in '00 if the Tea Party ultimately does more harm to conservatives than good. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/76 "2010-09-20T21:53:38Z")
To be fair, which party wins or loses each race isn’t the whole picture. There have also been Tea Party candidates who won primaries in strongly conservative states/districts like Alaska and Utah, who still have an excellent chance of winning the general election, and whose election would shift the Overton window to the right. I think that the benefit to the left from places like Delaware and Florida are likely to more than balance that, but it’s not a given. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/77 "2010-09-20T22:40:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Wikipedia summary… > > > [@](#): > > > > Many politicians in the 2010 election cycle have benefited from support from the Tea Party movement including: > > > > ``` > > * On January 19, 2010, support from the Tea Party Patriots in Boston helped elect Scott Brown the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, in the special election held after Ted Kennedy's death.[66] > > > > * Dean Murray, a Long Island businessman, won a special election for a New York State Assembly seat. He is believed to be the first tea party activist to be elected into office.[67] > > > > * John Frullo won the nomination for the District 84 seat vacated by the retiring Carl Isett, also a Republican. Frullo defeated businessman Mark Griffin, a former Texas Tech University regent.[68] > > > > * On April 13, 2010, Charles Perry unseated 86-year-old incumbent and fellow Texas Republican Delwin Jones in District 83 and is unopposed in the November 2 general election. > > > > * On May 8, 2010, U.S. Senator Bob Bennett (R – Utah) lost his bid to be renominated by his party for another term in the Senate. His defeat is seen as a victory for the Tea Party Movement whose supporters were against Bennett’s return.[69][70][71] > > > > * Rand Paul from the conservative Tea Party movement, won the Super Tuesday GOP Senate primary in Kentucky. Paul is the son of Republican Congressman, Ron Paul, of Texas. Mr Paul comfortably beat Republican establishment favorite Trey Grayson with 60% of the vote. He was quoted saying, "The Tea Party Movement is about saving our country from a mountain of debt.”[72] > > > > * In the Republican primary in South Dakota for the At Large Congressional seat, Kristi Noem, a Tea Party approved candidate, defeated incumbent Secretary of State Chris Nelson and state representative Blake Curd.[73] > > > > * In the South Carolina First Congressional district Republican primary, Tim Scott, who was specifically endorsed by the Tea Party movement,[74] defeated two "establishment" Republicans with long family histories in the Republican politics, Paul Thurmond (the son of the former South Carolina U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond)[75] and Carroll Campbell, the son of former South Carolina governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.[76] > > > > * Nikki Haley, a 38-year-old Indian-American state representative, beat out three prominent Republican rivals in the South Carolina primary race for Governor capturing 49 percent of the vote. She defeated the second-place finisher, U.S. Representative Gresham Barrett, in a run-off election on June 22.[77] > > > > * In Maine, Paul LePage won the GOP primary for Governor.[78] > > > > * In California, Chuck DeVore, who lost the GOP senate primary to Carly Fiorina who had backing from Sarah Palin.[79] > > > > * At the state convention of the Republican Party of Texas on June 11–12, 2010, Texas tea party activists succeeded in electing insurgent candidate Steve Munisteri, founder of the Young Conservatives of Texas,[citation needed] to the chairmanship, defeating incumbent Chair Cathie Adams.[citation needed] > > > > * In Florida, two different groups sparred in federal court after one registered the name "Florida Tea Party" with the state Division of Elections. At a June 23, 2010 hearing in West Palm Beach, one "tea party" group asked the court to order the other to amend its filing and to use a different party name.[80] > > > > * In New Jersey, Anna C. Little defeated Republican "establishment" candidate Diane Gooch in the Republican congressional primary for the 6th Congressional District on June 8, 2010. Little will face Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone in November.[81] > > > > * Sharron Angle won the Nevada U.S. Senate GOP primary race and will face Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in November. Angle, who has been called an outsider even in the GOP, believes in small-government and lower taxes. She has said, "I am the tea party." Angle beat out the Republican favorite, Sue Lowden, the one-time front runner.[82] > > > > * In Alaska, attorney Joe Miller defeated current U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, in the GOP primary race on August 24, 2010. Murkowski had been appointed to the seat by her father, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski who had held the Senate seat for 30 years prior to becoming governor.[83] > > > > * On September 14, 2010, Christine O'Donnell beat out veteran Delaware Republican Mike Castle in a bid for U.S. Senate. The results lead to cheers from Democrats that believe Tea Party-backed candidates are too extreme to win in the general elections. In this particular case, Republican strategist Karl Rove agreed with the Democrat's assessment, citing that O'Donnell has said some "nutty things" in the past.[84] > > > > ``` > > > > In July 2010, Rep. Michele Bachmann, (R-MN), formed the House Tea Party Caucus. This congressional caucus, which Rep. Bachmann chairs will be devoted to the Tea Party’s stated principles of “fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution, and limited government.”[85] As of August 2, 2010, the Tea Party Caucus consisted of 49 House members.[86] For some reason, due to the lack of editing here with all the little [xx] sprinkled about, I misread this as evidence that America can no longer claim to be a Young Nation. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/78 "2010-09-21T00:46:56Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And that’s exactly what’s happening. The media and her opponenst are focusing on everything but her legislative goals. They are trying to torpedo her before she ever gets out of the starting gate by harping on her finances, her college degree and when she got it, her stance on masturbation, etc., etc., etc. They’re trying to make her an intellectual laughingstock just like they’ve tried to with GWB, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. It’s pathetic. The left has apparently decided that on the field of ideas, it’s best to do an end around and avoid them altogether, opting instead to play upon one of the baser elements of human nature and try to give people a perch from which to look down upon, and laugh at, someone else. > > So, I did a little digging. Not much, just took a look at the Wiki article on her, and found the following: Most of the citations for those stances are years old. Maybe the media isn’t focusing on her legislative goals because she actually hasn’t promoted them and now won’t even talk to the media. The fact that you had to use Wikipedia rather than recent interviews or even her website says a lot about whether she has any substantial legislative goals. When I look at her website, the whole of her content regarding issues is exactly one sentence on each issue apart from “Values,” which she gives two sentences. [http://christine2010.com/why-christine/](http://christine2010.com/why-christine/) I don’t have the energy or patience to view the videos, but I’m guessing they’re similar to the one sentence statements rather than describing actual legislative goals. So how can we debate her legislative agenda when she apparently doesn’t have one? Blame the media, right? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/79 "2010-09-21T01:21:11Z")
And it’s only in the past day or so that even that much showed up on her website. Before, it was nothing but a donation form. ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916/80 "2010-09-21T01:23:35Z")
Exactly. Both Sharron Angle and Christine O’Donnell have no concrete ideas, just psycho babble. And now that the GOP is “cleaning them up” for the election, you won’t be able to even glean anything from the web sites. Angle is a self-proclaimed [Oath Keeper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_Keepers), although she now insists that it just means she keeps her promises. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-movements-overall-effect-on-the-2010-midterms/553916.md?page=5)