‘Vote no on everything!’: How U.S. Democrats are undergoing a Tea Party moment
WASHINGTON — Angry crowds vow to block the president at every turn. Partisans threaten the elected politicians of their own party: fight always, or face a primary. Tension over impending health reform sloshes extra fuel onto this partisan brushfire.
Sound familiar?
Just like 2009, a spirit of militancy is rippling through the ranks of America’s opposition. Unlike 2009, this time it’s Democrats having a Tea Party moment — their grassroots determined to resist everywhere, settle nowhere and purge internal pockets of compromise.
Snapshots of this are on display this week during a congressional recess. Furious constituents are cramming town-hall meetings to fill lawmakers’ ears as Republicans prepare to repeal the health law by former president Barack Obama.