“Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More 

Educated”

KATE ZERNIKE and MEGAN THEE-BRENAN New York TimesApril 14, 2010

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Times/CBS News poll of Tea Party Supporters Tea Party supporters are wealthier and more well-educated than the general

public, and are no more or less afraid of falling into a lower socioeconomic class…

Tea Party: Not Widely StudiedThe Tea Party movement burst onto the scene a year ago in protest of the economic stimulus package…but the demographics and attitudes of those in the movement have been known largely anecdotally.

Poll: Offers New DetailsThe Times/CBS poll offers a detailed look at the profile and attitudes of those supporters.

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Scope of Tea Party Support18 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters.

They tend to be: Republican White Male Married Older than 45.

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Opinions of Tea Party SupportersTheir responses are like the general public’s in many ways.

Taxes: Most describe the amount they paid in taxes this year as “fair.”Schools: Most send their children to public schools.Politics: A plurality [did] not think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president, Social Security and Medicate: are worth the cost to taxpayers.

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Angry at WashingtonTea Party supporters’ fierce animosity toward Washington, and the president

in particular, is rooted in:

Deep pessimism about the direction of the country and Obama administration 

Critique of Obama Administration: Favors the PoorTea Party supporters object to what they see as the the Obama

administration disproportionately concern with helping the poor rather than the middle class or the rich. 

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Personal Critique of ObamaThe overwhelming majority of supporters say Mr. Obama does not share the 

values most Americans live by and that he does not understand the problems of people like themselves.

50%: administration favor the poor, 25%: think that the administration favors blacks over whites — compared with 11 percent of the general public.

Race Politics of the Tea PartyThey are more likely than the general public, and Republicans, to say that too 

much has been made of the problems facing black people.

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Personal Critique of ObamaNearly 9 in 10 disapprove of the job Mr. Obama is doing over all, and about

the same percentage fault his handling of major issues: health care, the economy and the federal budget deficit

Obama: Socialist?92%: believe Mr. Obama is moving the country toward socialism, an opinion

shared by more than half of the general public.

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Obama: Socialist?

Tea Party Supporter:“I just feel he’s getting away from what America is…He’s a socialist. And to

tell you the truth, I think he’s a Muslim and trying to head us in that direction, I don’t care what he says…”

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Angry at WashingtonAbove all, what angers Tea Party supporters about Washington are three

issues:

1. Health Care Reform2. Government Spending3. A feeling that there not represented in Washington.

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Government Spending: What Would the Founders Think?

Tea Party Supporter:“I’m sick and tired of them wasting money and doing what our founders

never intended to be done with the federal government.”

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Who is to Blame?But while most Americans blame the Bush administration or Wall Street for

the current state of the American economy, the greatest number of Tea Party supporters blame Congress.

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Partisanship?They do not want a third party and say they usually or almost always vote

Republican. A majority (57 %) hold favorable opinion of President Bush.

Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Policy positions?Although more conservative as a group than Republicans, Tea Party

supporters are more concerned with Economic Policy than Social issues.

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Policy positions?The main policy recommendation of Tea Party supporters is: Reduce the Size 

of Government.

Focus of Tea Party Movement: The largest number of respondents said that the movement’s goal should be

reducing the size of government, more than cutting the budget deficit or lowering taxes.

75%: favor smaller government said they would prefer it even if it meant spending on domestic programs would be cut.

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Uncertainty About CutsIn follow-up interviews, Tea Party supporters said they did not want to cut 

Medicare or Social Security — the biggest domestic programs, suggesting instead a focus on “waste.”

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Politics of Tea Party Supporters: Policy UncertaintyOthers could not explain the contradiction.

Tea Party Supporter:“That’s a conundrum, isn’t it…I don’t know what to say. Maybe I don’t want

smaller government. I guess I want smaller government and my Social Security.” She added, “I didn’t look at it from the perspective of losing things I need. I think I’ve changed my mind.”