How ironic that a movement that argues against wasteful government spending is now wasting the money raised from small donors on political consultants. According to The Washington Post:
A Washington Post analysis found that some of the top national tea party groups engaged in this year’s midterm elections have put just a tiny fraction of their money directly into boosting the candidates they’ve endorsed. . . .
Out of the $37.5 million spent so far by the PACs of six major tea party organizations, less than $7 million has been devoted to directly helping candidates, according to the analysis, which was based on campaign finance data provided by the Sunlight Foundation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
The article in the Post gives examples of groups who are spending only a fraction of the money raised to help candidates. The rest of the money is being spent on other things such as political consultations, retirement funds, and interior decorating. Among the groups mentioned in the article are the Tea Party Express, Tea Party Patriots, the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund, and the Madison Express.
Here is an example:
The Tea Party Express, a PAC run out of Sacramento by longtime Republican consultant Sal Russo, has paid Russo’s firm $2.75 million since the beginning of 2013, while donating just $45,000 to candidates and spending less than $162,000 on ads and bus tours supporting their election.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
More examples and more details are contained the article.
I wonder what will happen when the supporters of the Tea Party (after becoming disillusioned with the Republican establishment) become disillusioned with the Tea Party movement. Hopefully, they will stay home.