The Tea Party Movement in 2012:
Taking it to the Next Level
By Stephen Flanagan, Conservative Society for Action
Below is a transcript of the comments made in the video above.
We all made history in the last three years as millions of hard-working Americans got up off the couch and demanded to be heard. At Conservative Society for Action, the messages were loud and clear, "Throw the Bums Out" and "Silent No More".
It worked. In November 2010, the loud voices of the People were heard and by January of 2011, the House of Representatives included a Tea Party Caucus. That was one of my personal goals in 2010.
No political expert in the country can talk about American politics without mentioning the Tea Party. Liberal candidates all over the country (both Democrat and Republican) are fearful about our intentions and will be very happy to see us go home. We all know that won't happen.
I do, however, have concerns about HOW the movement will proceed and be successful in 2012 -- the year we all agree will be a turning point in American history. I see many suggested paths and I see groups here and there that seem to have lost their way. I see groups that have been absorbed by the open hand of the Republican Party and I see groups that have no tolerance for even the slightest hint of compromise by recently elected Tea Party candidates. I also see groups more interested in being noticed than in being effective.
None of these inclinations are good for our movement.
The Next Level
One thing is clear, the tactics that launched the Tea Party movement will not take us to the next level. Expanding issues beyond those that launched our movement will distract and divide us. Taunting those that disagree with us and debating amongst ourselves simply results in a circular fire squad and creates personal divides.
If we are to continue the march to save America, we need to become more focused. We need to become more involved in politics. We need to think long and hard about what is important in the long run. We need to focus on fewer issues so that all our power is brought to bare on those issues that count.
I am suggesting that those in our movement take a step back and consider the methods of our movement as well as the message. By all accounts, we have reached millions of Americans who "get it". They know what is at stake and they know our country is in grave peril. But that is not enough. If we are to prevail short of anarchy and violence, then we must continue to win at the polls. Elections have consequences and we need to maximize those consequences. The one inescapable fact about elections today is that they are being decided by moderates and independents. We have already reached as many conservative voters as we can. We start every election with roughly 40% of the vote. Virtually all our people already know what to do at the polls.
I have said from Day 1 at CSA that our mission is simple in concept though hard to carry out. That mission is this: We need to change the minds of 4% of the population that have an open mind about politics and policy. These people are not always paying attention to our movement or to the Left. Most can be swayed by facts and policies that make sense. Note that if 4% out of 100 people vote differently in 2012 than how they voted in 2008, we can stop the bleeding here in America. Four out of 100 means an 8% swing at the polls.
Delivering the Message
How do we reach these people? That's the million dollar question. I think we all are confident that our message of fiscal responsibility and expansion of individual freedom is reasonable and persuasive. Our problem is delivery of the message. The press will not carry our message. We know that. The Left has more money than we do. This is also a fact. The Press and Leftwing candidates also have no problem lying to the people. In a recent Count Executive election in New York State, the liberal Democrat winner ran on a platform of smaller government, lower taxes, and doing more with less. His track record as a Town Supervisor, however, showed that he doubled taxes, illegally collected garbage district fees and was cited for illegally collecting taxes in excess of the legal limit. He won because he had $3.5 million dollars to spread lies about his record. This will be happening everywhere in 2012.
Our movement needs to recognize that we face huge disadvantages in the electoral marketplace. We will be outspent almost everywhere. This not only means we need to work harder, but we need to work smarter.
By smarter, I mean we need to figure out ways to deliver our message to key segments of the voting population. We need to craft carefully designed materials that grab the attention of the casual independent voter. We have many ideas for how to do so. Some of our methods have been tested and many will be tested in the near future.
In order to prevail, we must think about spending promotional dollars that will expand our horizons. We will design alternative media platforms that will carry our message way beyond our own followers and sympathizers. We will be very careful in picking where we will be involved. Limited recourses will be aimed at issues and races where we can win and must win.
Many of these plans will be coming to light in the next few weeks and months. Until then, please stay the course. Please understand that victory will not be easy. The other side knows what we are capable of and will not underestimate us again. Get ready for the battle of your life in 2012.
Sincerely,
Stephen Flanagan, Director
Conservative Society for Action
csa.flanagan@gmail.com
