Free Talk Live

WASHINGTON, DC – The Tea Party vote helped Republicans retake the House. So congressional Republicans can count on Tea Party support for their whole agenda, right? Wrong. A letter to presumptive Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urges Republican legislators to concentrate on foundational Tea Party principles--smaller government, lower taxes--and to sidestep divisive social issues like abortion and gay rights. Analysts are pointing out that the letter, signed by gay conservatives and state Tea Party leaders and scheduled for release Monday, points up some of the tensions between different components of the congressional right wing.