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We are starting to see a groundswell of liberal enthusiasm and vitalization of liberal groups following Trumps election. In fact, I am reading more stories such as record donations to the ACLU now, after the election, than I was during the campaign when a democratic victory was perceived as all but certain. It mirrors in a number of ways the emergence of the Tea Party in 2008 following Obamas election.

What I see is that the concerns mirror each other, but differ deeply in substance.

In 2008 the republican party nominated a war hero with a long history of public service. The democratic party nominated an inspiring freshman senator with a history of public service and an inspiring message.

In 2016 the democratic party nominated a lifelong public servant with the strongest resume of any presidential nominee in living memory. The republican party nominated a mediocre vulture capitalist who made racist and sexist comments on the campaign trail and whose staff had to confiscate his twitter account to avoid disaster.

In 2008 the tea party movement in large part embraced the concern that the election lacked legitimacy because one of the two candidates was not a natural born citizen. Some of these believed that he was born in Kenya, others used it as a code word for black.

In 2016, the intelligence communityaccuses a Nation State of interfering in US elections. There are numerous reports of hacking and leaks that selectively target one side that come out during the primaries and threats briefed at all levels regarding the election. Leaks traced to foreign governments appear in various places such as wikileaks with a clear bias in one direction. After the election the serving head of the NSA makes statements that call into question whether a foreign government meddled in our election.

In 2008 the republican party loses the election by a landslide. The incoming president has an unambiguous mandate and received more votes than any candidate in US electoral history.

In 2016 the republican party loses the national popular vote, and wins a narrow electoral victory with the balance of victory states having small margins.

In 2008 the tea party movement invents numerous conspiracy theories such as death panels and gun confiscation; policies that the incoming administration never advocated. The tea party riles up their base

In 2016 the emerging opposition stands united against promises made by the republican candidate on the campaign trail.

The biggest difference between the Tea Party movement and the emerging Democratic opposition to Trump is this: Teabaggers were motivated by opposition to the person of Barack Obama. They voted against anything that could be perceived as a victory for that democrat in the white house, even if the law was proposed by the heritage foundation. Democrats are running in opposition to thepoliciesproposed by the republican president-elect. One thing to give credit to the tea party, though is that the freedom caucus that materialized out of it was intense, unrelenting, and principled, even if their guiding principal was opposition to the person of Barack Obama. If this turns into an ascendancy for the progressive caucus, this could lead to democrats with some serious backbone in 2018 and 2020.

The media will continue to try to draw false equivalencies between the astroturfing of 2008 and what is happening now. It will range from untrue to intellectually dishonest and be par for the course. I for one like the fighting spirit I am starting to see.

Originally posted here:
The Difference Between the Tea Party and the Emerging ...