The Rand Paul Victory is an Object Lesson For Tea Party Involvement in the Political System
Rand Paul, the son of the rogue Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, defeated the Republican establishment candidate Trey Grayson, to capture the Republican nomination for US Senate in Kentucky.
Dr.
Paul credited the Tea Party movement with playing a large part in his overwhelming victory.
A comparison of their efforts in Kentucky coupled with lessons from the original Boston Tea Party can be instructive for Tea Party organizers seeking victory for Republican outsider candidates around the country.
The modern movement, like its counterpart in 1773, is a mixture of diverse individuals from all walks of life.
The Boston Tea Party was the event that brought 13 diverse colonies together against the tyranny of King George, and his English parliament.
The several port towns in the colonies rallied around Massachusetts in her efforts to stand up against England's attempt to thrust parliament's authority on the American colonies.
In the tax on tea, the colonists found a common enemy to unite against.
Before the Boston Tea Party, England had been able to run roughshod over the colonies because of disunity.
For years the English Parliament had usurped its authority in relationship to the colonies, but until the attempt to land tea in 1773 no issue had served to unite the disparate colonies against parliament's intrusions.
It could be said that the Boston Tea Party was the beginning of the end of English tyranny in America.
In many areas around the country today the Tea Parties are still in the mode of disunity.
Rather than uniting behind one candidate who has an opportunity to defeat the establishment Republican candidate, the leadership of many of these local movements are simply introducing all candidates to their membership and leaving it up to each individual to get behind the candidate of their choice.
This sounds noble, especially when there are several good candidates in a race.
Of course no leader can force any of their members to back any candidate, and no matter what leadership does there will always be some who do not follow their lead.
Regardless, leadership must lead.
If this movement wants to effect some substantive victories leadership is going to have to unite behind one good candidate, and guide their membership in the efforts to elect that candidate.
That is exactly what happened in the case of Rand Paul in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Tea Party leadership recognized the ability of Dr.
Paul to defeat the Republican establishment in the race for US Senate.
They rallied behind Dr.
Paul in a five man field, and Rand Paul won the nomination going away.
There is a glimmer of hope for the future of America in this movement.
As long as these diverse individuals remain disjointed they will continue to receive press as a voice of opposition against the tyranny of the Federal government of the United States.
This movement is large enough to effect some real change that we can all live with should they unite.
Dr.
Paul credited the Tea Party movement with playing a large part in his overwhelming victory.
A comparison of their efforts in Kentucky coupled with lessons from the original Boston Tea Party can be instructive for Tea Party organizers seeking victory for Republican outsider candidates around the country.
The modern movement, like its counterpart in 1773, is a mixture of diverse individuals from all walks of life.
The Boston Tea Party was the event that brought 13 diverse colonies together against the tyranny of King George, and his English parliament.
The several port towns in the colonies rallied around Massachusetts in her efforts to stand up against England's attempt to thrust parliament's authority on the American colonies.
In the tax on tea, the colonists found a common enemy to unite against.
Before the Boston Tea Party, England had been able to run roughshod over the colonies because of disunity.
For years the English Parliament had usurped its authority in relationship to the colonies, but until the attempt to land tea in 1773 no issue had served to unite the disparate colonies against parliament's intrusions.
It could be said that the Boston Tea Party was the beginning of the end of English tyranny in America.
In many areas around the country today the Tea Parties are still in the mode of disunity.
Rather than uniting behind one candidate who has an opportunity to defeat the establishment Republican candidate, the leadership of many of these local movements are simply introducing all candidates to their membership and leaving it up to each individual to get behind the candidate of their choice.
This sounds noble, especially when there are several good candidates in a race.
Of course no leader can force any of their members to back any candidate, and no matter what leadership does there will always be some who do not follow their lead.
Regardless, leadership must lead.
If this movement wants to effect some substantive victories leadership is going to have to unite behind one good candidate, and guide their membership in the efforts to elect that candidate.
That is exactly what happened in the case of Rand Paul in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Tea Party leadership recognized the ability of Dr.
Paul to defeat the Republican establishment in the race for US Senate.
They rallied behind Dr.
Paul in a five man field, and Rand Paul won the nomination going away.
There is a glimmer of hope for the future of America in this movement.
As long as these diverse individuals remain disjointed they will continue to receive press as a voice of opposition against the tyranny of the Federal government of the United States.
This movement is large enough to effect some real change that we can all live with should they unite.
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