Suprise! Another Member of Tea Party Splinter Group Actually Working for the Establishment...Against the Tea Party

As was previously noted, the St. Louis Tea Party split because of infighting between supporters of tea party candidate Ed Martin and those of establishment candidate Ann Wagner in the GOP primary for Missouri's Second District. Unsurprisingly, Adam Sharp of Sharp Elbows is in the "completely without actual principles" camp and sided with the new splinter group GIGLI. But what I didn't realize is that Sharp was already working on behalf of the establishment even before this whole kerfuffle started.

I've previously noted that there's a strong tea party challenger to GOP establishment Senator Dick Lugar. Lugar has repeatedly insulted the tea party during his campaign. Ann Wagner, unsurprisingly, is supporting Lugar and even hosted a fundraiser for him. And, coincidence of coincidences, it just so happens that Adam Sharp was sent to do a hit piece on Lugar's tea party challenger Richard Mourdock.

The video is the usual whining and declarations of being the world's biggest victim from Sharp, but what's hilarious is that he's using these tactics to attack fellow tea partiers. He goes to the event in a different state specifically for the purpose of harassing the candidate, interrupts their program, and then acts offended when people don't want to talk to him. It's great comedy.

Here's the video:


Sharp, by the way, is close friends with Chip Gerdes, whom the St. Louis Tea Party accused of writing a hit piece on Ed Martin for Breitbart's site.

Related: A RINO's Guide to Wooing Cranky Breitbart Editors

Ann Wagner Defends Dick Lugar From Tea Party Attacks

Jo Mannies at the Beacon reported that Ann Wagner will be co-hosting a fundraiser for Dick Lugar, who's trying to fend off a likely primary challenge from tea party favorite Richard Mourdock:

Some of the region's most prominent Republican activists -- including Sam Fox, Roy Pfautch and possible U.S. Senate candidate Ann Wagner -- are co-hosting a fundraising event later this month to aid veteran U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who's facing a stiff primary challenge in 2012.

It continues:

Fox's letter goes on to warn that Lugar is expected "to face a formidable competitor" in 2012. What it doesn't mention is that the rival, for the moment, is a prominent fellow Republican: Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who is apparently close to the Tea Party movement in his state.

In fact, the Washington publication The Hill reports this week that some Indiana GOP members of Congress, including Mike Pence, are declining to endorse Lugar's re-election, choosing instead to remain neutral.

Earlier in the year, Lugar told the tea party to "get real" because of their opposition to the START treaty.