Tea Party Cannibalism Is Hurting the GOP in the 2010 Election

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People are getting the word. The Tea Party is an extremist group. Sure they can win the primaries, but not the generals, they are simply too extreme to get the broad support they need. EVERY VICTORY FOR A TEA PARTY CANDIDATE IS OF BENEFIT TO THE DEMOCRATS! It makes it easier for the democrats to take the center in the general election!
Plus the phony tea party rallies are being revealed thanks to good reporting. “The National Doctors Tea Party” drew several hundred protesters to a park in San Diego this Saturday, where activists clad in white lab coats protested the Affordable Care Act. As was the case at a recent tea party event in Philadelphia, turnout at the California event appeared to be lower than expected.
The protest was meant to showcase physicians’ opposition to “Obamacare,” and many activists present were “wearing white lab coats – implying that they were doctors.” But at least one man was not, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune that he borrowed a white lab coat for the protest, because the event’s website encouraged attendees to do so! More of these facts are sure to come out as reporters interview those at the events...

Thomas Smith of DC 4:05PM September 15, 2010

This is 2010. This year, the elections that matter are at the STATE level. As in State Legislatures. You know, down at the bottom of the ballot.
There was a census this year, and those State Reps will control redistricting based on the data. While that won't affect races in the US Senate as each state gets two anyway, it will have enormous repercussions on the US House.
If the Tea Party has local candidates in races under the radar for USNWR, they can jump up and bite both major parties in 2012.
Congressional elections are a distraction from the battlefields where the war will be won/lost for the next decade.

Rich of CO 3:45PM September 15, 2010

You state in your article, "But O'Donnell has none of Castle's cross-party appeal...". Your own words show that Castle appeals to both parties and will take votes away from both Rep. & Dem. Castle is dangerous because she crosses over party lines and will win because of it. Your logic is weak based on your own words.

Red89433 of NV 3:21PM September 15, 2010

Ms. Milligan -
Gosh, I wonder which direction you cast your votes?
A more accurate headline would be, "Tea Party Cannibalism *MIGHT* Hurt GOP..." Your conclusory headline so far before the elections is very misleading.
Moreover, you completely failed to mention the huge Tea Party success of Marco Rubio in Florida. Mr. Rubio has a large lead over the GOP candidate and a lead double that size over the Democrat candidate. Yet his name does not even appear in your column. I guess he was an inconvenient truth for your column?
Finally, it's worth remembering that in California when Ronald Reagan sought the governorship, pundits said he was far too conservative, yet he went on to win and become a two-term president.
Your blog entry is wishful thinking more than it is accurate commentary.
JAC

JAC of CA 3:04PM September 15, 2010

Tea Party though is about taking back government. A peaceful revolution. Filled with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Even boarder line liberals ?

Bill Hedges of MO 2:51PM September 15, 2010