Tea Party Unhappy to Be Shut Out of Budget Deal, Forced to Compromise

COMMENTARY | Politicians, pundits and citizens aligning themselves with the Tea Party label are fairly uniform in their dissatisfaction with the last-minute budget deal made in the waning hours of April 8. The deal calls for almost $38 billion in cuts to the budget for the rest of 2011.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) made a compromise with President Obama and the Democrats which will give him political capital, but the tea-scented albatross around his neck may prove to be more than just a headache. There are even bigger battles coming up, and Boehner may find himself between a rock and a teabag.

It was easy for Boehner and the Republicans to be the party of no when they were the minority. They could paint themselves as trying to stop the claimed overreach of the majority. Now that he is in the position of having to actually govern, he may wish the Tea Party would just be quiet and play along.

Reactions so far by people calling themselves the Tea Party have been fairly consistent.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was quick to attack the agreement and the continuing resolution needed to fund the government until all details are worked out. The likely 2012 presidential candidate issued a statement on her website that may validate the sentiment that the fight was more over social issues than budget cuts.

"The deal that was reached tonight is a disappointment for me and for millions of Americans who expected $100 billion in cuts, who wanted to make sure their tax dollars stopped flowing to the nation's largest abortion provider, and who wanted us to defund ObamaCare. Instead, we've been asked to settle for $39 billion in cuts, even as we continue to fund Planned Parenthood and the implementation of ObamaCare. Sadly, we're missing the mandate given us by voters last November, and for that reason I voted against the Continuing Resolution."

Sen. Rand Paul

Tea Party favorite Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wasn't happy either, Politico reports. Paul voted against the continuing resolution because it doesn't go far enough. Paul, unlike many fellow members of the Tea Party caucus, stayed away from the social issues.

"I voted against this short-term continuing resolution for the same reason I voted against the last one and the one before that - because it does not set us on a path to fixing the spending and debt problems our country is facing," Paul said.

Sarah Palin

The former half-term governor of Alaska was quick to attack the deal. But what may have happened to her response has angered Tea Party adherents even more.

Jason Easley, writing on PoliticsUSA.com, is angry at Fox News for allegedly censoring Palin when she made remarks about the deal. Palin was appearing on the Fox show Justice With Judge Jeanine. Despite what Easley posts, the entire interview is available at the website for the show. Whether the segment showed in its entirety or not, the allegation was enough to incense readers commenting.

Easley also points to the social issues driving the Tea Party, writing "Fox News is using you, just as much as all of those Republicans who made promises to you like repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood."

Tea Party Americans

Looking around the blogosphere, it's hard to find anyone saying they are Tea Party and support the deal. Here are a few comments from the web:

"The Rinos in the GOP WANT to be the minority party dealing with the socialists. They are socialists, too. They want the democrat liberals to drive the car and they want to be involved in plotting the map."

"Beginning to look like a 3rd party might be our only choice short of armed revolution."

"Bachmann walked the walk and voted against this garbage. Boehner, of course, looks the fool."