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The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

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Is Sarah Palin's tea party over?

It will be if nobody turns up

By Sophie Elmhirst Published 26 January 2010 15:33

Reports in the New York Times and on the Think Progress blog suggest that next month's National Tea Party Convention in Nashville is unravelling due to infighting among grass-roots groups. A number of activists are accusing the corporate Tea Party Nation of trying to profit from the convention -- and are particularly exercised over the $549-a-ticket cost of attending. (Check out the Tea Party Nation website: TICKETS TO THE BANQUET WITH GOV PALIN ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!!!! These guys are selling, hard.)

But now groups are actually pulling out. Philip Glass, national director of the National Precinct Alliance, issued a statement as he withdrew from the jamboree:

We are very concerned about the appearance of TPN profiteering and exploitation of the grass-roots movement. We were under the impression that TPN was a non-profit organisation like NPA, interested only in uniting and educating Tea Party activists on how to make a real difference in the political arena.

One of the possible reasons for the exorbitant cost of attending the convention is Sarah Palin's reported speaking fee of $100,000. This is yet to be confirmed, but if it's true it places her not that far off Tony Blair in the unbelievably-overpaid-speakers-who-really-know-the-meaning-of-personal-profit category. (Maybe Blair and Palin should team up -- as a sort of political double act -- where gullible audience members turn up and stuff their pockets with hard cash as they pirouette to the tune of "Money Money Money" on a vast golden stage.)

According to Think Progress, however, the Tea Party rebels are not going to let the so-called exploitation continue without a fight, and demonstrations are being planned outside the convention. It wouldn't exactly be a sign of great unity in the grass-roots movement:

"It would really look bad for tea parties to be out there protesting the Tea Party," said former Tea Party Nation member Anthony Shreeve.

And that's where you get to the beauty of the tea party situation, with official Tea Parties versus independent tea parties and the overriding sense that this is one elaborate tea party spinning wildly out of control. As for a tea party protest -- it sounds so genteel, so very decorous. Of course, it will be anything but . . . Beware the fury of a Tea Party scorned.

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View the discussion thread.

9 comments

Thu, 2010-01-28 20:54 — Alaska_Guy (not verified)

Up North we have known for awhile that Palin is a vindictive, money grubber.
Whatever she touches will turn to drama and disappointment. Her governorship, her family, the McCain staff, and most importantly, she ruined Alaska and made Wasilla the laughing sock of the nation. FOX News even has doubts about that contract now. Listen to Beck.
Thanks Sarah---I will now vote for ANYONE she doesn't supports.

Fri, 2010-01-29 09:20 — ged (not verified)

Did somebody just say "Listen to Beck"

Things like that will make you the laughing sock of the nation

Tue, 2010-01-26 21:26 — Mark (not verified)

Give that the Tea Partiers are all about feisty individualism, independence, and "you can't tell me what to do", it's no big surprise to find that they can't work together collectively to achieve anything. Indeed, the very words "collective action" are equated to socialism, communism, fascism, tyranny, etc. in their public pronouncements.

How can people who reflexively fear influential groups ever create one of their own?

Tue, 2010-01-26 22:21 — Rob (not verified)

Sarah who? She is increasingly irrelevant as a voice of conservatism, except perhaps to the hyper-partisan crowd that gets their news from Fox. I believe more and more people are seeing her for the unabashed opportunist that she is.

While not agreeing with many of their policy prescriptives, I like the spirit of the Tea Party crowd. They seem to have coalesced around this idea that it's not about the blood sport of partisan politics, but about taking back the common sense that used to characterize the best in political discourse.

Tue, 2010-01-26 22:52 — a3strand (not verified)

Until you can confirm that Sarah Palin is being paid a $100,000 speaking fee, maybe you should reserve comment on this subject.

Wed, 2010-01-27 10:50 — carrieoki (not verified)

My, my, my. Seems there are cranky times ahead in The Land of the Teabaggers. And the Caribou Dingbat will manage to get her cut--grifters always do.

Tue, 2010-01-26 19:16 — James (not verified)

Well, I think you are full of it...
did you not see the news release that Judicial Watch is now a sponsor of the Tea Party Convention, coming on board after all this crap about the Convention is being spread like manure by the liberals and what I think are jealous conservatives who wanted to control the Tea Party themselves.
Do you really think Judicial Watch, an organization that digs for corruption in both parties, would be a sponsor if they had not checked it out before they did this?
Sarah Palin will come out of the Tea Party Convention stronger and more influential in national politics than she is now.
Too bad, liberal dolts.

Wed, 2010-01-27 17:33 — Gone Rogue (not verified)

Sarah confirmed on Bill O'Reilly that she is receiving over $100000, but stated that she will use it via her PAC to fund other candidates. Now if you believe that, I have a bridge over the Tigress River that I am selling.

Sarah Palin, as with everything she touches, has divided the Alaskan GOP, the McCain staff, the National GOP and now the Tea Party. I support the movement but will vote democrat or independent if she becomes the "leader" of the conservative movement. There has also been news about a rift between she and her FOX news colleagues. Glen Beck has been dinging her on his radio show.

That's not even counting her trashy family drama. Compared to Scott Brown, the Cheneys, and the Romney's it is clear that Sarah Palin is unfit to lead.