After looking at a variety of different Tea Party websites I decided to look at this one in more depth because it was the one that interested me most. From my initial reading of the website's introductory piece "What is the Tea Party?", one thing stood out to me, patriotism. In the first sentence the phrase "beloved nation" is used to try and draw Americans in, it is used repeatedly throughout the introduction after this, as a device to reinforce to American readers what they should feel. Another phrase in the introduction that stood out was "WE THE PEOPLE", it is not only interesting that these particular words have been included but that the website creator has decided these words need to be in capital letters. This choice suggests that they themselves deem this phrase important and that this is the Tea Party's main message. Again it is used as a device to persuade the American public that this is what they want to think. Overall the introduction on this website is used as a tool to entice people in and persuade them that this is the way forward and the way to think and this shown through many persuasive techniques such as repetition "beloved nation", emotive language "brave", "greatest", "courage" and the use of personal pronouns to address the reader "By joining the Tea Party, you are taking for our nation".
The section of this website I found most interesting was the "15 Non-negotiable core beliefs" which I have included below.
1. Illegal aliens are here illegally.
3. A strong military is essential.
4. Special interests must be eliminated.
5. Gun ownership is sacred.
6. Government must be downsized.
7. The national budget must be balanced.
8. Deficit spending must end.
9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal.
10. Reducing personal income taxes is a must.
11. Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.
12. Political offices must be available to average citizens.
13. Intrusive government must be stopped.
14. English as our core language is required.
15. Traditional family values are encouraged.
From these we can see that the Tea Party clearly hold traditional values in order to keep America, American and try to do the best for the American. Out of the fifteen beliefs there is one that stood out for me in particular and that is number fourteen "English as our core language is required". As a nation built on immigrants there are so many different languages that are spoken in the United States and this seems to single out people who have English as a first language as the only people who are truly American. What about the Cajuns who have been living in Southern Louisiana since the 18th Century? English is not their first language but they have been settled in the United States as long as other settlers.
The website also has a variety of options in order for you to join or support the Tea Party. For example there is an image that says "JOIN THE PARTY, click to join" making it sound like with one click you can better your country. They also have a range of fax images down the left hand side of the website and with one click you can fax all 100 Senators, all 435 members of the house and send a hard copy of the image to the White House. These images express the views of the Tea Party and are a way to get these views heard. What surprised me the most is that the tag line that the website uses in order to entice people to send these faxes, "OUCH!- Let them feel your pain!" This again is another persuasive device used by the website creator not only to sell the fax images but to reinforce to the American public that they are being denied quality of life and happiness because of government plans and actions. It is almost trying to tell Americans that they are in pain because of their government but they can do something about it if they send this fax.
In the section "A word from the Tea Party" a lot of what is said is seemingly echoed from The Declaration of Independence. For example in the Declaration "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is mentioned and in this paragraph from TeaParty.org this idea is paralleled in the quote "we believe it is not foolish to pledge our lives, liberty and sacred honor to the greatest nation that ever was or ever will be." Another concept that is found in the two documents is that America is a country for the people. TeaParty.org states "The nation of the people, by the people and for the people" and the declaration states "Right of the people" again the Tea Party reiterating what the first settlers had hoped for from America.
In conclusion I feel that the main purpose of this website is to try and persuade the American public into believing what the Tea Party believes. It is a tool to get people onside and make people aware of the rights and freedoms they are being denied of by their present government. However, I do not think this is how the creators and organisers of this website would describe its main purpose. They would believe that the main purpose of their website is to free the American public of the burdens of their everyday lives caused by the government and make America a better place to live for the American.
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