The Tea Party movement is looking as vibrant and influential as ever with the recent naming of Paul Ryan to the GOP presidential ticket, and the Tea Party inspired Ted Cruz victory in Texas. So how exactly did the movement evolve from one initially best known for holding eventsand rallies into one which is now generating upset victories and motivatingestablishment candidates reach out to it?
For the answer to this question, as well as what is in store for the Tea Party’s future, I sought out Sal Russo, the co-founder of Tea Party Express, perhaps best recognized for their iconic cross-country bus tours. Russo has played adirect role in contributing to impressive victories this year inWisconsin, Indiana and Texas. His answers may surprise you.
Q: Congratulations on your role in the TedCruz victory [in the Texas primary for U.S. Senate]. What, if anything, have we learned about the Tea Partyas a result of this win?
Russo: We sent a message. Itmade the press realize what we have been saying all along that the Tea Party is not dead but instead it has matured.
Instead of demonstrating at rallies all the time now they’re (Tea Party members) engaged in the political process. They’re are
We (Tea Party Express) had been to Texas several times in the lasttwo years and spent the final week campaigning with Ted. On electionnight as the results came in it was exhilarating. An astoundinggrass-roots victory. Remember Ted Cruz was outspent 4- or 5-to-1.
Q: All year long you have been telling methat you are focused on Senate races and not the White House. How doyou think the Senate will look after November’s election?
Russo: Our goal all along has been the House andSenate seats. In 2010 we knew we had a shot at taking the gavel fromaway from Nancy Pelosi…But it was going to be a long haul for theSenate. We said all along that the Tea Party can’t be a two yearwonder…that we have to stick around probably for six years (2008-2014). We need 2012 to take back the White House and I believe we will getmajority in the Senate. But the Senate has some quirky rules and somethings are difficult unless you can shut off a filibuster. So thatmeans you need 60 conservative votes in the Senate. I think we’ll be at54 or 55 votes (after 2012 election) but that we’re going to be short ofthat 60. So that’s where 2014 comes in. We can’t give up even if wewin the White House and take control of the Senate, because you reallyneed those 60 votes…So the Tea Party is three years in. We’re halfwaythere.
Q: Wow. Wait a minute. Did I understand you correctly? Did you say the Tea Party probably won’t be around after 2014?
Russo: The reality is Americans are involved in alot of things. Involved with their kids, their communities, charitiesand so forth…but politics everyday is not an American thing. Whathappens is people get fed up and frustrated and roll up their sleeves tochange things and then drift away. Then when it gets bad again theyget back in…So I don’t see the Tea Party being a permanent fixture. I mean I wishit would be but being a realist once we get our country back I thinkpeople will probably drift further away.
Q: So you are saying that the Tea Party started out as a lot ofrallies and sign waving, then matured into one which gets involvedin the political process and ultimately will likely fade away due to its own success?
Russo: [That’s right.] The rallies wereimportant as a building tool for the Tea Party. It allowed people tosee they weren’t alone in their frustration [at government]. When wepolled members in 2009, 90% of the people said they had never beenengaged in politics before. By October of 2010, 90% said they hadparticipated in a TEA Party rally before. That’s an amazingtransformation. That transformation caused the historic electionresults of 2010. Consider this; in 2010 we elected more Republicans tothe state legislatures around the country than any time since 1928. Itwas historic.
This interview was conducted just prior to the announcement of Paul Ryan. You can hear my entire interview with Sal Russo of Tea Party Express HERE.
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