A For-Profit Tea Party

Leading up to the Tea Party Convention taking place now in Nashville, one point started to get some attention—the Tea Party Nation is a for-profit enterprise. We don’t think of the Republican or Democratic parties in that way (though they make loads of money from contributions and pay consultants and advertising gurus millions). We expect politics to be, well, somewhat separated from business.

The creators of the Tea Party Nation (there are several groups laying claim to parts of the Tea Party Movement, this one was responsible for the convention) charged those wanting to take part in the three-day series of speeches and seminars $549 for the privilege. They sold every ticket. And they’re selling a separate ticket to hear Sarah Palin speak on Saturday night. Those, too, are gone.

Mark Skoda, one of the conventions’ leaders offered no apologies today for the “for profit” designation. According to an account by Daniel Stone on Newsweek.com, Skoda shouted to an approving crowd:

“Have we grown so much into socialist culture that people criticize a for-profit event? We put thousands of our dollars into the Gaylord Hotel and the Nashville economy! We didn’t ask for a tax benefit, or tax break, or subsidy! Just because this is grassroots doesn't mean I have to dress in cloth and beg for alms…I shouldn't be punished just because I choose to be successful."

Yes, the Tea Party Movement is a truly capitalist enterprise. As Judd Berger notes on FoxNews.com, there’s a true “tea party market” taking place in Nashville. “They’ve got flags, they’ve got T-shirts, they’ve got DVDs, they’ve got jewelry—all designed with tea party buyers in mind,” Berger writes.