[lbo-talk] Demographic composition of the Tea Party

[brad bauerly]

>My guess is that in this poll, "TP support" for many respondents is
>actually just a contentless token of Republican Party loyalty. They know
>there's "something Republican" about the TP, and that they're
>Republicans, so when pressured to call themselves supporters or
>opponents they call themselves supporters.
>SA
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Not so sure, respondents claimed to be independents almost as often as being
Republicans.  I think it is more of what Doug mentioned, and I said when we
discussed the other polls: that those who make up the activist in any
organization will tend to be more elite than those who support it.

Which brings up an interesting point about who is running the thing and who
is supporting it.  Should we be more interested in those supporting it
(which are less elite and less likely to be petty bourg)  or those running
it (who are more elite and could be more petty bourg)? And who determines
the nature and direction of such a thing (reluctant to call it a movement)?
Do its internal contradictions remain stable like the Dem and Rep parties
have for so long?  Or is more unstable, and is this good or bad (for us)?

Brad