Tea Party Leaders To GOP: Reduce Spending Or Get Ready For Primary Challenges

by Matt Schneider | 2:22 pm, January 6th, 2011

» 13 comments

Tea Party leaders are staying true to an earlier promise to remain watchful of Republicans. Today, on the first full day of Republican control in the House of Representatives, Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips wasted no time in issuing a warning to Republicans through on open letter on his website that declared if federal spending is not seriously reduced, then all Republicans can expect primary challenges.

Phillips’ ominous words to new Speaker of the House John Boehner continued:

You did not become speaker because America suddenly fell in love with you or the Republican Party. You became speaker because America, led by the Tea Party, repudiated Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the party of socialism.

Similarly, Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler, told The Hill:

We know that Tea Partiers turn out to vote in greater proportions right now than the rest of the population. So we can have a tremendous influence in the primaries, and that allows local people to make sure that they have candidates running that reflect their values.

It’s unclear how much of a reduction in spending would be necessary for Republicans to get these Tea Party activists off of their back, but the Republicans now have to live with the uncomfortable but appropriate thought that every move they make is being closely monitored.

(h/t The Hill)

GOP, John Boehner, Judson Phillips, Speaker of the House, Tea Party Nation

SmartAlec

Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, Libs and Progs are saying to Democrats – Increase spending and send some free stuff my way or face a primary challenge.
Yoda002

Well, well, well, the chicken lady from Nevada might get another chance to run.
Just4thefax

Yoda002 said:
Well, well, well, the chicken lady from Nevada might get another chance to run.

Fact: My neighbor’s dog can run and beat the crap out of a spend happy democrat! Get with the program that’s going to work moron!
More Liberty3

OMG…people trying to hold their elected officials accountable for their actions.
Dem4Ever

Finally, fiscal responsibility!
jim bronson 990cc

Just4thefax said:
Fact: My neighbor’s dog can run and beat the crap out of a spend happy democrat! Get with the program that’s going to work moron!

Fact: Your neighbor’s dog can’t run for public office. You must not have followed the Seasme Street session in Congress today. CItizens can run and dogs aren’t citizen. So much for your “protect the Constitution” mantra.
Hawk11

Congrats Repub’s!! Your elected leaders didn’t even need 1 day as the majority to recant on their promises.
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Well this should be fun. The far left telling Obama not liberal enough and the far right telling Boehner not conservative enough. Something to remember, though – all of these chattering “activists” are the ones that don’t run for office and won’t run for office. The “activists” on both sides take the easy route and just snipe from the sidelines.

Sad for those of us in the middle who just want decent, non-extremist government.
The_Reasonable_Lib

Keeva said:
Well this should be fun. The far left telling Obama not liberal enough and the far right telling Boehner not conservative enough. Something to remember, though – all of these chattering “activists” are the ones that don’t run for office and won’t run for office. The “activists” on both sides take the easy route and just snipe from the sidelines.

Sad for those of us in the middle who just want decent, non-extremist government.

Very sad.
Moderate

After Obama, no activist will ever be elected again.
dahni

I’ve been watching CSPAN more than usual the past week to see if the new congresspersons had gotten the messages of the 2010 vote. I hear what they are saying, but I also note that two congressment didn’t bother to show up to be sworn in; because……….ta da ta da ta da… they were attending fundraising events!

And I heard Pelosi state loudly that “pay as you go” was always the MANTRA of the Democratic Party! After getting over the inability to comprehend what she had the gon*&ds to say I started giggling and wound up with a hurt stomach. Can I sue her? Can I get insurance to cover the pain?

Then I thought, Pelosi and the Democrats seem to think that ‘pay as you go’ means to pay off one credit card bill with a different credit with a higher spending ceiling.

Then Hoyer takes issue with Boehner’s statement that our problem is’not income, but spending habits’. The Reps were challenged to list those programs they were going to cut, entirely, such as Social Security. Like it’s all or nothing! Stupid! When I started cutting my food budget, I didn’t cut it all out, I just cut out those expensive items that I enjoy but don’t need in order to survive. I ask, is Hoyer’s statements indicative of the level of intelligence we can expect in Congress? Rhetorical question….
CAconservative

Apparently, the Washington cesspool is in store for some more draining in 2012, on both sides of the Washington septic tank!
http://none pyrope

Dem4Ever said:
Finally, fiscal responsibility!

Well, at least a demand for it. It is the spend happy democrats who need to worry more.