The Tea Party Should Not Kick a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Conservatives must make peace with the "establishment"

By Lara Brown

, Author of 'Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants'

February 8, 2013

About Lara Brown:

Lara M. Brown, Ph.D., is a political analyst based in Washington, D.C. and the author of Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants. She also served in President William J. Clinton’s administration at the U.S. Department of Education.

A Pew Research Center survey found that a majority of Americans (53 percent) views the federal government as a threat to their personal rights and freedoms. Yet only a third of Americans (33 percent) holds a favorable opinion of the Republican Party.

In short, Republicans have a 20 percent opportunity. But they need all the help they can get.

[See a collection of political cartoons on the Republican Party.]

And if the Conservative Victory Project is going to pony up millions to help good candidates prevail in the 2014 primary elections, then the "anti-establishment" conservatives should stop kicking this gift horse in the mouth. They should realize that this effort isn't about conservative ideology, but electoral credibility. It's about polishing the party's brand and making it more welcoming for Americans who already lean towards the party's philosophy.

For as Woodrow Wilson once explained, "If you want to win in party action, I take it for granted you want to lure the majority to your side. I never heard of any man in his senses who was fishing for a minority."

[See a collection of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]

The Club for Growth, the Tea Party Express, and FreedomWorks activists are responsible for energizing conservatives and helping Republicans revitalize conservative principles. Devoted conservatives fill the ranks of those Republicans in elective office. What the GOP needs now are more people to align with these new party leaders. They need to realize that the only Republican "civil war" brewing is the one the media are making.

Simply put, it's time for conservative activists to put down the bayonets (the revolution has been won), make peace with the "establishment," and get on with the party's business of winning elections.