Tea Party Envy

Tea Party Envy
October 14, 2011
John Daly

The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement has found a good friend in the national media. By creatively corralling the unsavory protestors’ hodgepodge of left-wing grievances into a momentary narrative, they’ve lent them attention and credibility they wouldn’t have otherwise had. Rather than fizzling out under its own shallowness, the increased exposure has inspired similar, smaller protests around the country and the liberal media is pretty happy about that. Why? The answer is simple: Tea Party envy.

The media witnessed the rise of a legitimate grassroots movement in the Tea Party, and watched in awe and disdain as it dramatically changed the political landscape in this country. Though they’ve actively worked to discredit and demean the movement at every opportunity, they gained an undeclared respect for their results.

They want their own Tea Party that they can use to influence public opinion, and though not ideal, the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ people gave them the foothold they’ve been looking for. The Wall Street backdrop was a perfect component for liberal activism, especially with class warfare being Obama’s latest weapon of choice in hopes of preserving his presidency.

The problem is that most of the protestors don’t seem to have a clue what they, themselves stand for. Merely wanting what you don’t have isn’t a focused message, and it doesn’t bide well for longevity. The Tea-Party movement has been successful over the past two and a half years because their message is simple, they genuinely believe in it, and it resonates with most people.

There’s also the issue of demeanor. Even when the media scoured Tea Party rallies to find the worst elements of the bunch, the people watching on television saw a composed crowd who brought lawn-chairs, coolers, and American Flags. They were civil when spoken to and picked up after themselves when they left. Finding an Occupier that meets any of that criteria has been a difficult task. Far too many come across as dirty, angry, and lazy.

The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement has already outlasted its organic components. Like flies drawn to slop, labor unions, paid activists, and most recently celebrities have latched onto the cause to prop it up. Kanye West, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins have all wandered their way through the pond of objectors, applauding their determination and stance against the evil capitalistic practices from which they’ve all made their own fortunes. Apparently not content with clinging to only one fledgling liberal movement, Al Gore has even signed on.

The ride’s about over. I give it a couple more weeks before the movement’s true believers sense the commercialization that has surrounded them, become weary of the incoming Fall temperatures, and drift back to their hiding places until they feel their next great calling.

What the liberal elite can’t quite grasp is that they’ll never have a Tea Party of their own because their leftist principals don’t resonate with a significant portion of the center-right country we live in. The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement is particularly a tough sell. For most people who have lived out their adolescence and have become productive members of society, envy is just not a priority in their lives. Family is. Prosperity is. When those fundamentals are threatened, only then do successful grassroots movements begin.