The 'Teen Party' can change Congress like the Tea Party

The 'Teen Party' can change Congress like the Tea Party
BY FORMER REP. STEVE ISRAEL (D-N.Y.), OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 03/26/18 07:00 AM EDT

Election outcomes, particularly midterm congressional elections, are decided by two factors: mechanics and mystery. The mechanics are easily assessed and driven by data, such as the number of canvassers deployed and amount of money raised, voter contacts made, and polling, phone banks and television points reserved.

But it’s the mystery that can be more potent. That intangible energy in the environment, the charge in the air. It makes everything mechanical and methodical almost irrelevant. It’s like an electromagnetic pulse that can render sophisticated technology useless.

We saw that energy gather in Saturday’s “March For Our Lives” in Washington and in 800 sibling marches against gun violence held in 390 of 435 congressional districts, according to organizers at supportive national organizations. And it very well may work at changing the majority in Congress and changing the laws.

The last time we saw it was in 2010, when the Tea Party ignited from conditions at the time: a deep and painful recession, home foreclosures, a radically changing economy and job insecurity. CNBC commentator Rick Santelli famously ranted about the government “promoting bad behavior” and referenced a “Chicago Tea Party.”

http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/380165-the-teen-party-can-change-congress-like-the-tea-party