The Tea Party is leaving a lasting impact on America.
A recent Gallup poll conducted by USA Today days before the President’s State of the Union Address, reports that more than 70 percent of adults believe it is important for Republican leaders to consider Tea Party views and ideas when making decisions in Congress.
More than 50 percent of Republicans who participated in the poll think it is very important for Republican leaders to do so.
However, UNC students have mixed responses to the poll results and what they say about the opinion of the American people.
“I think basically if Republicans morph with the Tea Party, it will be pretty destructive for the Republican Party,” said Erin Murphy, a senior journalism and global studies major.
“The Tea Party is a form of radicalism,” she said.
UNC senior linguistics major Kristen Bridgers said she also thinks the Tea Party is too radical for the Republicans to take seriously.
“It will hurt the Republicans if they follow the Tea Party,” said Bridgers. “I lean more towards the Democrats but I still respect Republicans — but the Tea Party, I throw that out the window.”
However, UNC student Scott Kupres gives an alternate perspective.
“They should definitely take into account some of the things the Tea Party stands for,” Kupres said.
“I think they’ve already agreed with making some cuts. If you just look at the midterm results, people are favorable to the Tea Party,” he said.
“I think the presence of the Tea Party is a good thing,” Kupres said. “If people weren’t upset about the way things are, then there wouldn’t be any Tea Party.”
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