2. The Question: Examine the relationship between the media and the Tea Party movement in America within the past three months. Is the media using the parties, or is it the other way around? How do the two affect the American public and politics as a whole? Does this movement hold sway in elections (at the local and federal levels)? Will the movement continue to influence the media, or is it a fad?
3. Elections? “If the Tea Party has succeeded in anything, it is in securing Obama's victory in the 2012 presidential election.” Nat Eliason
4. Using the Press? “Considering it was catapulted to success by constant media attention, it seems unlikely that the party could maintain such momentum without the aid of the press.” Catherine Wall
5. Opposing Views:Staying or Leaving? FOX covered a story as if no one else had seen it, when in fact each station mentioned had reported on the Tea Party. “With their recent victories in the elections this fall their use of media outlets has only seemed to boost their numbers and morale.” Elisabeth Roberts
6. Leaving? “…beneath the frenzied surface, the organization's core principles are stagnant. Like Beck, they are always ‘telling that same story’, and this repetition is bound to lead them into obscurity.” Robbie Pelletier
7. Staying? “…it seems very likely that the tea party is here to stay.” Buck Goggin
8. Leaving? “The tea partiers who people do manage to elect are young, untested, and angry. They don't have legitimate solutions to any of the problems facing the country … Consequently, the Tea Party - as a political party - is doomed.” SarthakAgrawal
9. Leaving? “The article discusses the tea party's slowing momentum on the national political stage in the United States.” Joe Rausch
Nat – no article but essayLiberal media has made the Tea Party a ‘hypter-conservative joke’“It is unlikely that Tea Party nominees will succeed past the state and local level, and the Republican party will eventually reassemble itself as one entity.”Do you agree??
Catherine – article from Huffington postUsessarahpalin and christineo’donnell as examples of them withdrawing from the mediaMedia is annoyed but keeps them center stage – WHY?
Elisabeth – Huffington Post and Media ShiftFox news said to have covered something that other stations missed – why would they say this when it is blatantly untrue?
Robbie - Seattle Times - outlined Glen Becks resignation from Fox Newsthe Tea Party has had it’s time in the media, and while they did use the media as an instrument to gain attention, they did not keep it welljust like Glen Beck. Erratic behavior and racist/anti-Semitic comments made him and the Tea Party gain the name crazy.
Buck’s story – different – New York TimesDescribes Pau Ryan’s budget cuts – the President doesn’t want to give such concessionsRyan will continue fighting until he get everything that the Tea Party has required – Republicans need the support
Sarthak – no article, but a very good essayArgues that great the tea party doesn’t have any good candidates and no main-stream support, but they are good at stirring the pot.They refuse to do anything ‘average’, something not done in DC often
Joe – “The DailyAtheneum” student written paper from West Virginia UniversityClearly biased writing – wants more tax cuts and more action from the tea party“The tea partiers need to get back to action and not relent until real fiscal responsibility has been reached.”
