The "Tea Party" Is Now Official in Florida

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans

(AP Photo/George Ruhe)

The "Tea Party" is now an official political party in Florida.

An Orlando lawyer named Frederic O'Neal has registered the Tea Party with the office of the Florida Secretary of State, Politico reports, and intends to run candidates against both Republicans and Democrats in state and national races.

"The current system has become mired in the sludge of special interest money that seeks to control the leadership of both parties. It's time for real change," O'Neal reportedly said in a press release.

One of Florida's most prominent Republicans, Gov. Charlie Crist, already faces a conservative challenger in his bid to become the GOP's 2010 Senate nominee. Conservative Marco Rubio is gaining credibility among the state's conservatives, and has won the endorsement of the anti-tax, pro-limited government Club For Growth.

The split among conservatives and moderates in the Florida GOP is part of a larger debate within the party about the future of its identity.

O'Neal, the new chair of the Tea Party in Florida, reportedly compared his party to the Conservative Party in New York's 23rd District -- another example of the GOP's moderate-conservative fissure. In a special election to represent New York's 23rd congressional district, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman drove out the local Republican Party candidate, Dede Scozzafava. The district is Republican-leaning, but the Democratic candidate ultimately prevailed over the Conservative in last Tuesday's election.

Even though the conservative lost in that race, "tea partiers" and other conservatives "remain convinced they're on the right side of history," CBSNews.com's Charles Cooper wrote. "And in writing down their morning-after election analyses... they also delivered a hard-edged message to the Republican establishment: Get behind us or get out of the way."

The Tea Party has been registered with the state since August and is one of 32 minor political parties certified in Florida, Politico reported.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by darkelf January 6, 2010 1:50 PM EST: The Tea Party represents people from all three parties who come together with the goal of restoring America. Most of you assume this is a Republican movement. It is not. George Bush was a horrible President. He cheated, and started an illegal war. Bill Clinton in Joint efforts with George Bush Senior started "free Trade" in efforts to make a Global Currency and Government. Which they admit to. Both parties are working together not in your best interest. With each "disaster" or attack we loose more and more of our rights. This movement (not party) is the only real hope and destroying this paradigm, which allows them to, destroy our freedoms, economy, rights, and Constitution.

In fact Frederic O'Neal is a former DEMOCRAT. The Real Tea Party denies being affiliated with him. CBS has this story all wrong. (on purpose?)

http://teapartypatriots.org/

In conclusion, he ISN'T one of us. We do not support a new party, however instead wish to work through existing ones and hold each person accountable. We judge a candidate on what he does, not which party he represents.; Reply to this comment

by Rucy1 November 12, 2009 12:10 PM EST

Glad they started their own political party here in FL - so all the right wing nut-cases can join and continue to alienate themselves from the "real world".

These right-wing-nut Tea-gaggers think Obama is a Socialist, - which proves they don't know much about Socialism! Nor do they have a clue as to what is really happening in this country, - nor even the possible alternatives to making it better. This country is rotting from within, due to George W. Bush, Republican narcissistic loud-mouth stupidity and Capitalistic Greed. All 3 things the "Tea-Gaggers" love.

The Rethug party is being lead by the truly brain dead: Sarah Palin, Glen Beck & Rush. AND - they are even proud of this! Embarrassing.

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by darkelf January 6, 2010 1:33 PM EST: Your wrong and ignorant. The Tea Party isn't Republican or Democrat. They don't support Bush Or Obama. They believe in the constitution and INDIVIDUAL rights, as opposed to State rights. Your hate and Ignorance sets you up to blindly follow a leader or party which why this is so important.
Obama is both Socialist in his health care, and Fascist in his economic planning. Please educate yourself, and set aside your hate.


by watervliet November 10, 2009 9:40 AM EST: KKK IS BACK!!!! FOR SURE!!!!; Reply to this comment


by watervliet November 10, 2009 9:39 AM EST: KKK IS BACK!!!! FOR SURE!!!!; Reply to this comment


by watervliet November 10, 2009 9:39 AM EST: KKK IS BACK!!!! FOR SURE!!!!; Reply to this comment


by hakori November 10, 2009 8:10 AM EST: I fear for the future of America. One of our two major political parties has become the party of far right extremism and is not at all willing to participate in promoting the national well being. The right has replaced any congressman or senator who was reasonable and rational with extremisits whose only objective is pushing a far right social agenda. Our government has become disfunctional and is in danger of total failure. The faster the tea partiers are relegated to the finges the better.; Reply to this comment


by proudmilvet November 10, 2009 6:18 AM EST: Silly *****!; Reply to this comment


by BBDenver November 10, 2009 1:40 AM EST: What a bunch of Losers? (McCain, Palin, and the whole Republican Parties).; Reply to this comment


by bradkt1 November 9, 2009 10:47 PM EST: Another chance for the wingnuts to split the GOP vote and give the election to the Democrats.

Be my guest!; Reply to this comment


by babooph November 9, 2009 10:04 PM EST: Are they going to be like the founding fathers -the most radical leftist ,agnostics on the planet,spreading their revolution to S am & Europe & bravely putting their own lives on the line?; Reply to this comment