The Tea Party Movement

          Many have speculated that the Tea Party has run its course.  The 2012 election cycle was the death knell of the more conservative, fiscally responsible faction of the Republican Party.  I disagree with this simply for the reason that there are still numerous candidates in Congress who have won elections running on the Tea Party platform.  Ted Cruz won in 2012, as did Deb Fischer of Nebraska.  The Tea Party candidates won in several primary elections only to lose to a Democrat in November.  The thing that is important to remember about the Tea Party movement is that it is still relatively new.  It has only been in existence since 2009 and will I believe continue to make inroads using the grassroots efforts that it has been using.  With people like Rand Paul, Justin Amash, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz in Congress, as well as strong leaders like Sarah Palin, Allen West, Herman Cain, Rush Limbaugh, Ben Carson and Glenn Beck continuing to tour the country speaking to voters, I expect that the Tea Party will be here to stay.  Even if they do not eventually take over the Republican Party, their presence will at least be a deterrent to establishment Republicans that may help keep them on track.
         What the Tea Party wants is fiscal responsibility which is evidenced clearly by the fact they were formed after Democrats passed the ACA on a completely partisan vote.  The idea that the Tea Party is racist or sexist is also clearly rebuffed by the number of African American, Latino, and women leaders it has.  For me, the charge of racist or sexist is thrown at the Tea Party simply because it is the easiest way to try and silence the argument the Tea Party is making without actually answering to the charges.