Rasmussen: Half of Americans Favor Tea Parties

Some very interesting poll numbers coming from Rasmussen regarding last week's Tea Parties. According to a recent survey conducted by the organization, 51 % of Americans have a favorable view of the Tea Party movement, as compared to 33% who hold an unfavorable view.

But if you're a member of the nation’s Political Class, you're likely to agree with Obama adviser David Axelrod, who told a national television audience on Sunday that the Tea Parties were "unhealthy." Just 13% of the nation's political class see the movement as even slightly positive. This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, given that the Tea Party is a political movement designed to protest the actions of the political class, regardless of party affiliation. It is one of the figures regarding political affiliation, in the survey, that I think is going to keep some of the Obama administration's strategists up at night.

Rasmussen reports the following:

While 83% of Republicans and a plurality (49%) of unaffiliated Americans have a favorable view of the tea party protests, only 28% of Democrats say the same.

Sure, 28% of Democrats is relatively small when compared to 83% of Republicans. But think about it for a second. What would happen if 28% of Democrats became so fed up by Obama tax and fiscal policy, that they sign onto a "throw the bums out" movement? Might this effect the 2010 elections for Congress? How about the 2012 elections for President?

The big question is, will Republican politicians just pander to the activists in the Tea Party movement, in the hope that they will garner their support in future elections? Or, will they truly embrace what the activists are trying to tell them, and fundamentally change what they're doing in office?

Pandering isn't going to get it done. A failure to take a strong stance and follow through with actual attempts to shut down the Obama plans for government expansion will result in making GOP elected officials just as big of a target as Obama's supporters.

Let's hope the GOP gets smart and doesn't subcribe to the rest of the Political Classes disdain for the Tea Party protests and the people that attended them.