With the November Congressional elections approaching, a new political and social movement poses a threat to the campaigns of both the Republicans and Democrats.

Funded by wealthy bigots – like the Koch brothers – Tea Party leaders have misinformed many lower class Republicans with their propaganda.  Through their lies, the Tea Party has become a monster with an opportunity to gain major political power across the country.

Beginning as a minor project, the Tea Party has become a frightening power in American politics. Prominent figures include radical, right-wing advocates Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin – a duo that have held rallies across the country and promoted the Tea Party on Fox News.

Tea Party members will fight for congressional seats in states ranging from Alaska to Colorado to Delaware.

The Tea Party was originally organized in late 2008, on a small scale, in response to the troubled economy and financial bailouts.  However, the movement gained prominence and emerged on the national scene in 2009 in protest towards President Obama’s stimulus package and health care reform bill.

In their political agenda, dubbed the “Contract from America” Tea Party members follow a broad agenda – almost identical to the “Contract with America” introduced by Republicans in 1994  – that includes cutting taxes and federal spending, along with reducing the federal government’s power.

Under their policies, a tax modification bill would require a two-thirds majority, making it virtually impossible to raise taxes.

Throughout their campaign, the Tea Party has claimed to be the “voice of middle-class America”. Supporters are angered by Obama’s policies, which they say are directed towards helping the lower class rather than the middle and upper classes. However, since his election, President Obama has promised that no tax increases would affect any American earning under $250,000 per year.

Furthermore, according to a study done by the New York Times, “many [Tea Party leaders] are wealthier and better educated than the American public.”  If the majority of Tea Party benefactors are wealthier than the middle class, then they cannot act as the voice of “middle class America.”

Tea Party members may receive tax increases under Obama’s policies because they are not middle class Americans. They have misled and misrepresented the American public.

A priority of the Tea Party movement has become the idea of “restoring honor” to America. In their explanation of “restoring honor,” the Tea Party stated that they wanted to move the country back in the direction that President Reagan had lead us.

Supporters believe that President Obama has exploited his constitutional rights as President, and furthermore, that the American people have been deprived of their own rights stated in the U.S. Constitution. Evidence of this accusation, of course, is nonexistent. Under the Obama Administration, every right penned in the U.S. constitution has been upheld.

The Tea Party’s growing power in the country has instigated a social movement as well as a political movement. Dogmatic members of the Tea Party have spread various lies across the country concerning Obama and his policies.

A study by the New York Times stated that 25% of Tea Party members believe President Obama favors black Americans over white Americans. When asked for any examples of Mr. Obama’s favoritism, Tea Party members consistently try to evade the question .

In response to their beliefs and ideals, Americans have begun to wonder: Are Tea Party members racist?” And through multiple surveys, the Tea Party’s racism has shown.

In a Newsweek study, when read the statement, “If blacks would only try harder, they could be just as well off as whites,” 73% of the movement’s supporters agreed compared to 33% of non-Tea Party Americans.

In their rise, the Tea Party has sparked a wave of ultra-conservatism with a political mission to ultimately reshape the Republican party. According to the New York Times, these Tea Party members wish to “purge the Republican Party of officials they consider not sufficiently conservative.”

The Tea Party believes that these moderate politicians have misrepresented their political and social ideals and should not be included in the “new and improved” Republican party.

Their political mission has resulted in mixed responses from the GOP. This fall, Tea Party candidates have won Republican primaries in various elections, such as Carl Paladino’s bid for governor of New York, Rand Paul’s for the Kentucky Senate seat and, of course, Christine O’Donnell’s for the Deleware Senate seat.

However, many Republicans like our own Senator Scott Brown are reluctant to support these radical right-wingers. According to Brown, Tea Party members are not only pushing the GOP away from moderate Republicans, but also from moderate Americans – the key faction of voters in national elections.

The Tea Party may have won over the hearts of the wealthy class and right wing nuts, but they have pushed away many swing voters that depend upon moderate candidates.

Sooner than we think, it may be the Democrats thanking the Tea Party, rather than the GOP. And that brings up the question that many reporters and politicians have asked: can Tea Party candidates win?

Will moderate Americans and swing voters side with politicians as unorthodox as Christine O’Donnell? Although she won the Republican nod, it seems doubtful that many Americans would support a woman that dabbled in witchcraft and believes that scientists are creating mice with human brains.

Lastly, how could we forget Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska?  Since joining the Tea Party Movement she has become a front-runner in the race for the Republican presidential nominee – assuming she decides to run.

Many Republicans and Democrats believe that Palin, despite being ridiculed, could stand a legitimate chance against President Obama in 2012 with the support of the growing Tea Party. It will depend upon whether moderate Americans are willing to endorse an ultra-conservative like Palin.

The Tea Party’s effect on American politics is inevitable. The true question is to what effect and to what extent?  Moderate, swing voters will decide next month whether to side with the extreme right-wing Tea Party or liberal Democrats.

Nevertheless, no matter the outcome of the Congressional elections, the Tea Party’s effect on American culture has been the most obvious and disastrous. Their rise to influence has instigated a wave of racism and radical right-wing ideals across the U.S. Hopefully, their ideals will not carry into the White House in two years.