I call it good news for Democratic political fortune that Newt Gingrich is enjoying a resurgence of popularity on the right. His leadership did wonders for Bill Clinton.

On the other hand, I think it’s smart politics — and thus bad news for Democratic interests — if the Tea Party crowd really does stick with tax and spending issues and avoids the Religious Right pet social issues.

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The Contract From America, which is being created Wiki-style by Internet contributors as a manifesto of what “the people” want government to do, also mentions little in the way of social issues, beyond a declaration that parents should be given choice in how to educate their children. By contrast, the document it aims to improve upon — the Contract With America, which Republicans used to market their successful campaign to win a majority in Congress in 1994 — was prefaced with the promise that the party would lead a Congress that “respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.”

Tea Party leaders argue that the country can ill afford the discussion about social issues when it is passing on enormous debts to future generations. But the focus is also strategic: leaders think they can attract independent voters if they stay away from divisive issues.

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