Tea Party

Top Six Established Laws That Tea Partiers Claim Are Unconstitutional

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2010, 8:59AM

Tea Party activists in Washington, D.C.

It seems as if we've heard more about the Constitution this election than we did in 2008, when questions of due process and cruel and unusual punishment were bona fide election issues. Two years in to Barack Obama's presidency, after turning a blind eye throughout the Bush years, a key goal for the Tea Party this election is to "return" to the Constitution. Minus certain parts of it. And only if you read other parts in a very specific way.

We know the Tea Party has a ... unique interpretation of the country's foundational text, but it's hard sometimes to keep track of all the things their favored candidates would like to see abolished or relegated as part of this "return."

Their convenient reading of various amendments -- particularly the 10th -- would radically transform the country as we know it. Here are a few major programs that would change or disappear.

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Minimum Wage

Ca$h Poor: Top 5 Republicans Who Stumbled Over The Minimum Wage (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 11, 2010, 11:30AM

Demonstrators at a labor rally outside City Hall in Los Angeles

Jobs, jobs, jobs. Did we mention jobs? Because everyone else has.

Politicians on both sides are rightfully talking about the thing 14.8 millions Americans don't have but want: a job. But some are maybe doing a better job than others. As several prominent Republicans have shown recently, when it comes to one of the basic foundations of the working class in America -- the federally-mandated minimum wage -- they have no clue what it is. Or want to get rid of it altogether.

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Minimum Wage

Michael Steele Has No Clue What The Minimum Wage Is (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 6, 2010, 9:12AM

RNC Chair Michael Steele

RNC chairman Michael Steele has a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth. But confessing ignorance about the federal minimum wage in the midst of a campaign where Republicans are shouting "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!" from every rooftop may rank among his recent highlights.

In an interview on Lawrence O'Donnell's new MSNBC show last night, Steele first tried to change the subject before admitting he has no idea what minimum wage workers (Republican campaign ads refer to these folks as among the "average Americans") are paid in the country Steele and the rest of his party is so desperate to "take back."

"The reality of it is, that is not the most paramount issue that voters out there are facing," Steele explained to O'Donnell after he was asked what the federal minimum wage is. "When you've lost your job, whether you know what the minimum wage is is not relevant."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Best Boss Ever? Michael Steele & The RNC Interns]

Eventually, Steele -- who many say will likely lose his job as RNC chair when his term ends -- conceded that he is among those who thinks the minimum wage is irrelevant in the current political debate.

"That'll be your headline," Steele tells O'Donnell. "'Steele doesn't know the minimum wage.'"

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CT-SEN

Does Linda McMahon Oppose The Minimum Wage?

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2010, 8:44AM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Connecticut Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon is now being attacked in the Connecticut Senate race for remarks during a Q&A with reporters that have been interpreted as meaning she would be in favor of potentially lowering the minimum wage -- and acknowledging that she doesn't even know what the minimum wage is. And for her part, her campaign is saying she was merely questioning any increases to the wage in the near future.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon's Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]

As The Day reports, McMahon appeared at an event to receive the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Businesses -- an organization that opposes increases to the minimum wage. McMahon was frequently asked by reporters whether she would oppose increases to the wage -- and also whether she thinks it should have ever been passed at all.

"The minimum wage now in our country, I think we've set that and a lot of people have benefited from it in our country, but I think we ought to review how much it ought to be, and whether or not we ought to have increases in the minimum wage," said McMahon.

Then things got messier.

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