Tea Party Polling Data: They Oppose Immigration Reform And Discredit Global Warming

Mad as a hatter.

Yes, there are substantive policy differences between the 'establishment' and tea party, at least among voters. "The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found distinct differences in opinion — on immigration, the environment and the role of the tea party itself — between Republicans who identify with the tea-party movement and those who don't. In the poll, 43% of self-identified Republicans considered themselves tea-party supporters and 43% didn't. Those Republicans aligned with the tea party were more inclined to believe immigration hurts the country and far more skeptical of the need to address global warming." Patrick O'Connor and Janet Hook in The Wall Street Journal.

Background reading: The two sides are converging in many instances. "The Tea Party may not be racking up many primary wins this year, but primary wins may no longer be the best metric of success. 'The goal of the Tea Party is not to elect Tea Party candidates but to change America, to affect public policy,' Richard Viguerie, the conservative activist who pioneered political direct mail and the chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, tells Newsweek....And that is exactly what he sees happening. 'The Republican Party is moving to the right,' he says. 'Comprehensive immigration reform is not on the horizon. The list goes on and on and on of the issues that the Tea Party is influencing the Congress on.' Establishment candidates, meanwhile, are now 'running on Tea Party–type issues.'" Pema Levy in Newsweek.