Tea Party Caucus Debuts on Capitol Hill With 28 House Republicans
Tea Party caucus leader Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., center, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
/ AP/Alex Brandon"There's probably been, in this last year and a half, no more interest in any group other than the Tea Party because they represent mainstream American people who have decided to get up off their couch because they want to take their country back," Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said at a press conference after the meeting.
Among the featured guests were two immigrants from Latin America, a retired army veteran mother of five, and members of the Tea Party spanning from Potomac, Maryland, to Seattle, Washington. They each expressed a similar wariness of large government and high taxes.
"I came here for liberty, and didn't come here for dependence. I came here for opportunity I didn't come here to receive from the government or be told by the government what I should do or what I shouldn't do," said Tito Munoz, an immigrant from Columbia.
National Coordinator for the Tea Party, Jenny Beth Martin, said the three major principles of the movement include no higher taxes, no deficit spending, and a government that acts within limited constitutional boundaries.
Members scoffed at the assertions of racism or extremism and tried to distance themselves from what they call "fringes" in the party that garnered that reputation.
"The Tea Party movement is all across this country. There's all races involved, all ethnic groups, and they speak for America," said Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
Bachmann filed the paperwork to form the Tea Party Caucus last week and there are currently 28 members. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Iind.) is the only top member from House Republican leadership that's joined the caucus so far. Joining the Tea Party Caucus would put leaders in an awkward position of embracing a platform that they could not necessarily control. But Bachmann says forming the caucus is complimentary to other GOP efforts to interact with regular Americans.
Caucus members asserted that they will not be a mouthpiece for the Tea Party organization, but instead exist solely to listen to the concerns of the people. Bachmann said she hopes the caucus can be bipartisan and has reached out to Democrats in the House.
Members of the Tea Party Caucus:
- Todd Akin (R-Mo.)
- Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)
- Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.)
- Joe Barton (R-Texas)
- Gus Bilirakis (R-Texas)
- Paul Broun (R-Ga.)
- Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
- Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
- John Carter (R-Texas)
- John Culberson (R-Texas)
- John Fleming (R-La.)
- Trent Franks (R-Ariz.)
- Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.)
- Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
- Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
- Walter Jones (R-N.C.)
- Steve King (R-Iowa)
- Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.)
- Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
- Gary Miller (R-Calif.)
- Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
- Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
- Tom Price (R-Ga.)
- Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
- Lamar Smith (R-Texas)
- Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.)
- Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)
- Joe Wilson (R-S.C.)
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Democrats don't get it either. They struggle to comprehend a REAL grass roots organization and demonize as racist or some other silly nonsense because they only see a political movement as something people do in a well organized and funded way (Soros or some other mass funding).
Incumbents, Good luck finding new careers in January!!! If there were an alternative in every race, EVERY one up for election should be gone, Red or Blue!!! God Bless the Constitution!
I am from Georgia and have evaluated the three Georgia Tea Party Caucus members. They all support unconstitutional legislation. Dr. Broun?s web site says, ?Ideally, this component would be part of a large scale education and resource allocation program?? http://broun.house.gov/HealthcareBill/BrounBill.htm . Dr. Gingrey?s web site says, ?That's why this legislation establishes doctor-led quality measures,????http://www.gingrey.com/blog.aspx . Dr Price web site says that, ?In Congress, I have introduced a plan to make health care affordable and accessible for every American.?? http://www.tomprice.com/issues.aspx . I challenge any one to show me how these things are in the enumerated powers of our US Constitution. Hopefully, the Tea Party people will be able to educate these politicians on the intent of the Constitution.
Thanks, Bert Loftman ElectTheRightCandidate. US
lol!
They more than doubled the deficit in 8 short years and left the country in a shambles.
Their supporters have very short memories, are incredibly stupid, or both.
You don't have a clue what you're talking about.
To be so delusional, willfully misinformed and easily led astray actually believing that this corporate sponsored movement is a grass roots organization representing the people... it's just sad
GOP politicians officially organizing to see how they can take advantage of the national movement.
Bachmann all for less government except when it comes to federal grants for her Family Farm which she has taken about $250,000 big ones!
Another Republican phony!! She never mentions this does she?
And Pence another story, read his history of receiving $$ when will the real American people wake up and demand real change not this Phony Tea Party crap
I think we would all like to see how you would describe a "mainstream American"?
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/poll-tea-partiers-make-up-4-percent-of-population/38971/
(for those who haven't figured out CBS' new system yet, when you see the reply 'thank you for your comment it will be posted on our site shortly'... that means it will never be posted)