Tea Party: Grassroots or Big Money?

According to the Washington Post conservative groups spend $4 for every $1 a liberal group spends on congressional election, so it makes sense that the groups that align with Tea Party (who are not exactly conservative- they are more libertarian) ideas do contribute money to congressmen. Interestingly, this trend seems to be reversing itself. (See graph below)

Freedom Works for America, one of the major super pacs aligned with the Tea Party, spent $19, 391, 402 in the 2012 congressional elections making it the 6th largest spender of super pacs in that election. A look at their spending reveals remarkable large contributions to some candidates including roughly $1.9 million to U.S. Representative Connie Mack's Senate campaign, $1.6 million to Richard Mourdock's Senate campaign, and $1.5 to Josh Mandel's Senate campaign, and $1.1 to Jeff Flake's Senate campaign. Interestingly, these are all physical conservatives, mainly interested in lowering taxes (a goal of the tea party). Mack, Mourdock, and Mandel all lost to their incumbent opponent and Flake who was also a newcomer defeated his opponent. These large levels of spending on new prospective new Senator's suggests that the Tea Party is more interested in getting those that align with them into office than getting those one the edge to side with them. Freedom Works also spent $8.3 million opposing candidates.

Of course, there are many other groups similar to Freedom Works for America the Tea Party Patriots. However, do not be mislead, money is not the Tea Party's primary mode of influence on government. Similar to the larger political parities, the tea party has members who support it's policies without money contributions to influence them. Considering the party's emphasis on grassroots' movement, the amount of money spent seems ironic alongside the party's grassroots rhetoric. The tea party's favorite form of influence on congress is still outside lobbying in the form of mass protests.

Media Sources

"Campaign Spending On 2014 Midterm Elections Shows Democrats Are Huge Hypocrites." PolicyMic. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

"Amazing Things | FreedomWorks for America." FreedomWorks for America. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

"The Frame." : Tax Day Tea Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.