The Importance of Social Media for Grassroots Conservatives
August 30, 2012 at 12:25 pm in News by Tea Party Patriots 16 Comments
Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Times had an article discussing the impact of social media on this year’s Republican primary and how it’s allowing the conservative grassroots in the Republican Party to often undercut the establishment, as well as generally influence what the party prioritizes. The article is worth reading in full, and is especially relevant in light of the disenfranchisement of several state delegations by the Republican National Committee (RNC) this week.
Before the days of the Internet and especially social media, the RNC could have gotten away with efforts to control the state delegation process at the national level. A quarter century ago, it would have worked seamlessly. Just 15 years ago, it would have worked with some difficulty. Even 10 years ago, before the days of Twitter, Facebook, and prominent conservative blogging, this could have been snuck by even politically aware Americans who don’t know the ins and outs of conventions and political insider football.
Today, such an effort is nearly impossible. Drudge Report pulled in over 10 billion views in the last year, Hot Air saw 2.6 million unique visitors in the last month, and millions of Americans are part of organizations like Tea Party Patriots on Facebook. Ironically, social media has not just created sources for education; it also turned the RNC’s effort on its head. In looking for a unified Republican Party voice to oppose Obama, it created a massive backlash among grassroots conservatives the very week almost all of the nation’s media, of all kinds and political persuasions, were focused almost exclusively on the GOP. Instead of having a convention based around the Big Tent of Republicanism necessary to overturn the President’s health care law and begin balancing the budget, the RNC had millions of conservatives and undecided voters shaking their heads in despair at its top-down ineptitude.
Fortunately, grassroots conservatives don’t see the Republican Party as central to victory over the liberal policies enacted and continued by this President, the Democratic Party, and too many Republicans. Rather than see the Republican Party as a good in and of itself, which the RNC does, Tea Party Patriots across the country will continue to support the issues and elected officials who are true to our Three Core Principles. As candidates become more conservative and more accountable, the GOP will be forced to follow or be left in the proverbial dust.
I am hoping the Tea Party continues to grow & fast. By 2016, maybe the Tea Party will be a force on it’s own (a new Party).
Eventually we will become our own party. Republican RINOS are no different then liberal parasites. They smile and nod for the camera and have no substance. They are finished. We are on the right path here. We will keep building and growing through education and become the majority.
We deserve a conservative second party. If the RNC refuses to be that group, then it’s time to start another one and send the GOP to join the Me Too Whigs
Thank God for The TEA Party and Glenn Beck prior to 2010! This has allowed those of us that were sure the country was heading off the deep end, to congregate and coalesce around The Constitutional Principles that have made this country great!
Please help me to understand why all the members of the different Tea Parties are not livid over the Republican voter suppression laws. At last count, there were 11 states and 4 pending. Isn’t the Tea Party all about protecting the US constitution? Come on, show some backbone. Live up to your ideals. This is about as anti-US constitution as you can get!!!
Many of the so called Tea Party groups, are just the enforcement arm of the RNC, who’s purpose is to keep conservatives in line and voting for this years empty suit progressive the establishment picked for us.
I would like to see all the various small groups all over the country that identify with the Tea Party, Constitution Party, Libertarians, or whoever, all come together. They all need to focus on what they share in common, rather than the minor points that separate them. It is the only way we will have a prayer of making a difference. If we can’t reform the Republican party from within, then we definitely need to combine and form a new party that is unified rather than fractured as is largely the case right now. Many that identify themselves as Tea Party aren’t necessarily working together. I will vote for Romney only because I believe he is the only candidate that has a prayer of beating Obama at this point, but there will be hell to pay after the election. I hope recent events galvanize people to get things moving. The problems weren’t just at the RNC. Check out what happened at the St. Charles, MO Caucus… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh-1H58dXO8
James, i could not agree with you more! I have been so very frustrated, especially, here in the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley area. There are never any functions, other than monthly meetings, with very little participation or grassroots functions related to elections or candidates! I am a Tea Party Patriot, A FreedomWorks member, a member of several other Tea Party orgs and still never have been notified by any group other than FreedomWorks of events in my area. I use social media as my way of making my voice heard. I was hoping to see door to door campaign events, community election events, poll information for volunteers. But nothing. I have, on my own, volunteered to be a Poll Worker on Nov 6. I get so very frustrated. David Webb told me he would help get me to the person who could point me in the right direction, but he as well, never followed up with me. Help!
Does the Tea Party Patriot have a youtube or google + ?
I agree with Nick. Form your own REAL Party. The Speaker of the House, John Boehner refers to you as “Knuckle Draggers” and most of the mainstream Pubs feel the same way. They are calling you Troglodytes (Cave Dwellers). They only pander to you to add to their base, but they think you are stupid.
So what are your plans to attack the voter suppression laws? Texas, Ohio and part of Florida’s have been shot down by the Federal courts as unconstitutional. There are still 8 more out there. When are you going to join in? I have been speaking out from the beginning. Stand up for the US Constitution! Platitudes don’t make changes.
We need a new, conservative, second party. If the GOP won’t be the conservative alternative, then they need to be sent to join the Me Too Whigs.
Before anyone places a vote this November 6, It is important to get some Facts. What you have been duped into believing is not the TRUTH!
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2012/08/29/mitt-romney-tells-533-lies-in-30-weeks-steve-benen-documents-them/
Educate The Fools, In the long history of establishment progressives we have been expected to hold our noses and vote for, Waffling Willard Romney is the worse. The article you posted is an excellent reason we have to vote None of the Above in Nov.
This post is so encouraging. I think I have found a tea party home.
Other tea party groups I have checked out, have turned out to be nothing but enforcement arms of the RNC, Who are to be pushed into backing the empty suit with a liberal chosen for us in 2008.
Conservatives who place principle before party are treated like that week long haired kid in Mitts prep school. We are ganged up on, attacked, ridiculed, and our values chopped off like that kids and tossed into the trash. If we don’t get on the we love Mitt bandwagon, we are kicked out.
But the internet is too big for the unelected RNC ruling establishment to control. We have a voice. We can gather and stand ferm against the Rockifeller progressives in the RNC leadership.
I know that 3 REP AZ delegates to the convention voted CONTRARY to the will of the people. Arizona has a winner take all rule for our 29 delegates. The new rule very simply reinforces the notion that delegates must vote in accordance with the wishes of the voters of the state.
“Rule 16(a)(2).
For any manner of binding or allocating delegates under these Rules, if a delegate
(i) casts a vote for a presidential candidate at the National Convention inconsistent with the delegate’s obligation under state law or state party rule,
(ii) nominates or demonstrates support under Rule 40 for a presidential candidate other than the one to whom the delegate is bound or allocated under state law or state party rule, or
(iii) fails in some other way to carry out the delegate’s affirmative duty under state law or state party rule to cast a vote at the National Convention for a particular presidential candidate,
the delegate shall be deemed to have concurrently resigned as a delegate and the delegate’s improper vote or nomination shall be null and void. Thereafter the Secretary of the Convention shall record the delegate’s vote or nomination in accordance with the delegate’s obligation under state law or state party rule. This subsection does not apply to delegates who are bound to a candidate who has withdrawn his or her candidacy, suspended or terminated his or her campaign, or publicly released his or her delegates”.
I recently learned of a candidate that seems to be perfect for all the different Tea Parties to unite behind. His name is Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party. Find out more about him. If you like him, write him in this November, because he may not appear on most ballots.