Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit and member of a Michigan Democratic Party dynasty, believes that The Tea Party is a well timed movement on the American political process scene. The Tea Party is a serious challenge to the "politics as usual" style of governing and campaigning. The Democrats and Republicans are both united against The Tea Party and find the movement to be equally annoying.
The Tea Party is challenging Republicans and Democrats including John McCain and Harry Reid. Many Americans are aggravated by the stalled economy, unemployment and the less than optimistic economic forecast that economists are predicting. Many Americans are also aggravated by a two party system that squelches dissent.
The current political atmosphere has opened a door for new faces and new voices. The Tea Party has an opportunity to expand their reach, influence and overall strategy of policy implementation. Kwame Kilpatrick believes The Tea Party message has a simplicity that is ringing powerfully true for many Americans. The message is: Let’s Take Our Country Back. Exactly, who we are supposed to take our country back from is unclear. But the message is seductive to Americans who feel like they have lost control over their finances and their very lives.
The current economic crisis has paved the way for political growth. In the current political environment a third way is developing – a way that is neither Republican nor Democratic. The Tea Party movement began as a small voice amongst many but it is now growing large enough to be formally attacked. Notably, former President Bill Clinton has attacked The Tea Party movement. The attacks will grow as the movement grows and the attacks won’t only be from the opposition but from inside the movement.
Will The Tea Party movement prove problematic to the Democrats? Or even the Republicans? In many ways, the movement has already created an annoyance for both parties. Kwame Kilpatrick actually sees the movement as a gift to the Democrats. The movement will force the Democrats to clearly define their party, their positions and force them to confront many uncomfortable issues like the economy and continued unemployment.
"The Democrats," says Kwame Kilpatrick, "should not shrink from criticism." Welcoming criticism is welcoming growth, change and a stronger party position. If the Democratic Party can sustain attacks from The Tea Party movement then the movement will become fragmented and will become a distant memory and perhaps a failed trend. But if the movement is ignored it may gain a stronger foothold and become a player in the 2012 presidential elections, which will dismantle the two-party system.
Many people think that our two-party system should be threatened and are welcoming to The Tea Party movement.
Kwame Kilpatrick doesn’t advocate for the two-party system and nor does he deride it. But he recognizes that the Democratic Party will weaken if the movement grows stronger. "The Democrats," says Kwame Kilpatrick, "should accept the challenge the movement poses in order to strengthen the party and ensure their success in the 2012 presidential elections."