Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) drew comparisons between his “One Side, One Country” Alliance and the US “Tea Party” movement yesterday, saying that they both “insist on the most basic principles” and defend fundamental ideas.
In a statement that will be released by the Neo Formosa Magazine on Wednesday, he says the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failed to stand against the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and suggests his alliance is a growing political movement.
Chen said that since the US Republican Party lost the 2008 -presidential election, it had “returned to its roots” by stressing basic party ideas and principles. This initiative, he said, was the reason behind the latest polls showing the Republicans leading the Democrats in the run up to the US Senate elections next month.
“This was different from the DPP,” he said. “After losing the 2008 presidential election, the DPP has compromised and walked the so-called middle road. It hasn’t emphasized its basic principles and the changes in ideology have left supporters concerned.”
It was the reason why he founded the “One Side, One Country” Alliance, he said. The group, which includes about 40 DPP city -councilor candidates and another five independents, has been criticized in some opposition party circles for its more radical ideas, saying it could widen fissures in the DPP.
Relating it to the alliance, he calls the Tea Party movement a group that supports lower taxes, smaller government and a free market economy. The movement has received the good wishes of many in the Republican Party and has toppled some politicians that were involved in “compromises,” he said.
“There are many similarities between Taiwan’s One Side, One Country Alliance and the US Tea Party movement. Both support the most basic ideas and will remain loyal to the most fundamental -principles,” Chen said.
The ideas include a belief that Taiwan and China are two separate countries, Chen wrote, adding that the group also opposed a common market with China and the ECFA.
The piece, the latest in a series titled “A-Bian’s Notes” is titled “Don’t ever underestimate the power of we the people” and is based on comments by Tea Party Senate candidate Christie O’Donnell.
The biweekly magazine, published by an organization with close links to Chen, publishes some of his writings from the Taipei Detention Center, where he is detained as he appeals a guilty verdict on charges of embezzling state funds, forgery and money laundering.
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