Was it really a 'Tea Party tidal wave'?
High-profile Tea Partiers scored big wins, but dozens of others went down in flames. Did Tea Partiers blow the GOP's chance of an even greater victory?
Voters converted the Tea Party's energy into real political power on Tuesday, electing a host of Tea Party-supported candidates to take the grassroots movement's demand for fiscal restraint to Washington. Rand Paul, Kentucky's senator-elect, called his decisive win — along with other Tea Party victories around the country — evidence of a "Tea Party tidal wave." But only 13 of the 38 Tea Party candidates endorsed by Sarah Palin won, and several protester favorites — including Ken Buck in Colorado, Sharron Angle in Nevada, Christine O'Donnell in Delaware — lost Senate races that pollsters say moderate Republicans would have won. Is Paul overplaying the Tea Party's success story? (Watch a CBS discussion about the Tea Party wins)
The Tea Party swept the doubters — and Democrats — aside: Critics tried to dismiss Tea Partiers as "violent, angry" nutjobs, says J.P. Freire at the Washington Examiner, but this vote should bury those stereotypes forever. Tea Partiers won, and "won extravagantly." This proves their movement wasn't "whipped up by radio personalities," but inspired by the widespread belief that our government is "spinning out of control" and it's time to rein it in.
"'Violent,' 'angry,' 'fear-mongering' Tea Party narrative debunked in one night"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Tea Party did the GOP more harm than good: Tea Party candidates had their successes, says Justin Wolfers at The New York Times' Freakonomics blog, but "just about any Republican" could have won Rand Paul's seat in Kentucky or Marco Rubio's in Florida. And "weak" Tea Party candidates almost certainly cost the GOP Senate seats they should have won in Delaware, Colorado, and Nevada. Those losses cost Republicans control of the Senate.
"Did the Tea Party help or hurt the Republicans?"
This wave goes beyond putting Tea Partiers into office: Sure, some Tea Partiers lost, says Dave Weigel at Slate, but there's no telling how many GOP House candidates they saved by firing up the base. And the Tea Party also furthered the cause of fiscal conservatives by pushing "Republicans in Name Only" further to the right, and putting them on notice that they're finished if they ever back a tax hike. "This ripples far beyond the races the Tea Party wins."
"Bennet wins, Murkowski leads, and the flaw of the 'Tea Party cost GOP the Senate' meme"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published