The GOP/Tea Party Catch 22?

GOP Chairman Michael Steele is courting Tea Party activists and the Tea Party would take a prominent place at CPAC this week. I was mulling this over and asked myself about the implications of this. It struck me that co-opting the Tea Party might damage the GOP brand just as cooperating with the GOP will force the Tea Party to moderate.

Courting so-called values voters along side more traditional conservatives radicalized the GOP but it also moderated radical conservatives. Focus on the Family did not see its agenda immediately realized. Nor did the Club for Growth. And, it eventually drove more independent-minded voters out of the party.

Courting the Tea Party continues this pattern. The GOP needs Tea Party energy but can't give all the radicalism Tea Partiers are looking for. And the Tea Party doesn't have much of a choice but to consent to this without risking Dem wins, ala NY-23. Adopting the whole shebang Tea Party agenda, even if one were able to distill it from the anger and racism, would be Christmas come early for Democrats.

Independents won't break for rabidly conservative messages unless Democrats somehow condescend to them or stay aloof. The winning attitude is this: respect the voter. Scott Brown won precisely because he was handsome, neat, and didn't come off as a total whack job. He was unknown, got portrayed as an average joe, spoke to people's feelings and was there at the right moment in time. Many Tea Party activists operated in Massachusetts, but their radicalism and aggressive and intimidating activities gained too little attention too late to make any difference there. Their involvement didn't paint him in the slightest.

None of these factors apply in the same way for the 2010 elections. Another fall out between the hard right and the GOP establishment could mean more NY-23's. So, it seems, the GOP and the Tea Party need each other. And now we get to see if they're both ready to play at realpolitik. Can't wait to see what happens!