With a number of Tea Party candidates appearing on Tuesday’s midterm election ballot, conservatives at Syracuse University are supporting the movement that aims to restore traditional values and fiscally conservative policies in America.

‘The overall movement is gaining popularity,’ said Patrick Mocete, a junior political science major and chairman of College Republicans at SU. ‘If more college students take a look at the Tea Party, I think they’ll find that they agree with it.’

As a reaction to the Democratic majority in Congress and administration in Washington, D.C., the Tea Party movement has gained national and local attention from Republicans. Some at SU said they plan to vote for candidates that have followed the Tea Party platform, including gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and congressional candidate Ann Marie Buerkle.

The Tea Party is a reactionary movement to excessive government spending, taxation and federal control, according to its website at teapartypatriots.org. The group has three main principles: fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and a free market economy. The movement is concerned Americans’ fiscal freedom is at risk when high levels of taxation impose restrictions on where the money an individual earns must go.

The Tea Party also believes the U.S. Constitution has only one original interpretation and that states have the right to determine those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. Proponents of the movement are also against government interference in private business.

Mocete said he plans to support Joe DioGuardi, Republican and conservative nominee for the U.S. Senate; Rick Guy, the Republican, Independent and conservative candidate for the 120th New York State Assembly District; and Buerkle, the Republican candidate for Congress representing the 25th district, which covers Syracuse.

New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who received the Tea Party’s endorsement, is not the perfect candidate, Mocete said, but he would still support him.

‘He can definitely do some good things,’ Mocete said. ‘I like his stances on cutting spending and taxes. I think that will bring more jobs back to New York.’

A self-proclaimed conservative, Mocete said he agrees with the Tea Party’s promotion of fiscal responsibility to ‘get the country back on track.’

Mocete does not consider himself to be a member of the Tea Party movement but has participated in some local Tea Party meetings and went to a rally held in Syracuse on April 15, where he saw many young people turn out, he said. Mocete said he thinks the movement might appeal to younger Americans because they would be interested in more personal freedom.

Daniel Fitzpatrick, former chair of SU College Republicans, said no matter what age group, if someone is concerned about the way the government is run, he or she may agree with Tea Party ideas. He said he sees the movement as a group of everyday people concerned with issues of national importance.

Unlike Mocete, Fitzpatrick said he dislikes Paladino as a candidate. Fitzpatrick said he was indifferent to the Tea Party endorsement. Paladino is ‘more than welcome to be backed by whoever the hell he wants to be backed by,’ Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick plans to support Don Miller, Republican, conservative and Independent candidate, for the 121st State Assembly District; Buerkle; and DioGuardi in upcoming midterm elections.

Fitzpatrick became involved with the Tea Party after attending its rallies and has followed Buerkle’s campaign.

The movement’s popularity is due to its use of skillful supporters and speakers, as well as its clever way of thinking that catches the imagination of people who are discontent, said Ralph Ketcham, professor emeritus of political science at SU.

While the movement is gaining momentum at the present, Ketcham said he believes the Republican Party will likely absorb the Tea Party movement. Since the movement is without a specific outlined policy, the Tea Party will probably die out on its own, Ketcham said.

But at the moment, the movement continues to have a strong following.

It is especially important for college students to consider where the government is taking them, said Joanne Wilder, organizer of the Tea Party group Central New York Patriots. The group focuses on researching bills and educating and enlightening citizens on the possible consequences of certain legislation.

‘College students should be wondering what their life will be like in a few years,’ she said. ‘We want to be watchdogs.’

Wilder said she believes that government has become too intrusive and fiscally irresponsible over time, not just during recent years under President Barack Obama’s administration.

Those who will see the most negative effects of current government policy are the younger generations, she said. The success of Tea Party candidates in the midterm elections will largely depend on how Independents will vote, she said, encouraging college students to vote.

‘As a college student you have to budget yourself, you can’t overspend,’ Wilder said. ‘What right does the government have to overspend?’

bquaglia@syr.edu

Published on November 1, 2010 at 12:00 pm