A party divided against itself
Demonstrators shout support of the tea party during a rally about taxes at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge (April 17, 2011). Credit: Photo by STEVE PFOST
51 to 49% -- That's the split between Republicans in a recent poll that asked whether they support the tea party movement, with the nays edging the yeas. That divide is becoming more and more apparent in the politics of the GOP (witness the presidential debates), but also in the operation of the nation. Tea party supporters in Congress are paralyzing government by refusing to go along with the kinds of compromises that make governing this nation possible. Until a majority in the GOP finds a clear direction, there's no moving forward.
