Tea party activists: Don't confuse them with independents

In an exclusive to the Christian Science Monitor, Jackie Salit documents the history of the independent movement and how it's goals are not just divergent, but diametrically opposed to that of the Tea Party movement. Here is a excerpt:

Sarah Palin, America’s newest conservative movement leader, seems to be aiming for a takeover of the GOP. Don’t walk away from the Republican Party, she counseled the “tea partyers” recently, even if some candidates turn out to be a disappointment (read: moderate). And don’t form a third party, she argued, saying, “The Republican Party would be really smart to start trying to absorb as much of the tea party movement as possible.”

The tea partyers are disgruntled social conservatives aiming to take control of the Republican Party, while independents, the antiparty force, are seeking to restructure the partisan political system. As the percentage of Americans – it’s now 42 – who consider themselves independent grows, understanding the route the independent movement has traveled will be critical to future elections.

Use the above link to read the entire article by Jackie Salit, the president of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters.

Michael H. Drucker
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