The Tea Party: "Establishment" Republicans Need Not Apply

“RINOs,” NOT DEMOCRATS GET BEAT UP AT SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION

What was the main theme at this week’s S.C. Tea Party Coalition convention in Myrtle Beach,S.C.? Surprisingly, it didn’t involve anyone chanting “END THE FED;” “9/11 Truth Now; “chemtrails are real, y’all;” or “return to the gold standard,” as I had previously suspected.

Nor was anyone wearing a tin foil hat with their “Ron Paul Revolution” t-shirt … at least not that I could see.

Rather, the rallying cry was a constant, caustic refrain against “Republicans in Name Only” coming from both the Tea Party attendees and the speakers eager to win their votes. Every prospective presidential hopeful had something negative to say about these moderate Republicans—some with a more gusto than others.

The targets? Former GOP nominee Mitt Romney, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey governor Chris Christie – all of whom are eying 2016 bids of their own.

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum – ever the “clean fighter” – danced around the topic and dodged pointed questions.

“Do you think wealthy people care whether their president cares about them? No,” he said, referencing an exit poll question about which 2012 candidate cared more about the voters.

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