Billy Long was recently asked why he didn't join the Tea Party caucus. Stating he was "more conservative" than the Tea Party Caucus Long simply explained he didn't have the time. However, Long has never missed the opportunity to test his sound bite that he was "Tea Party before Tea Party was cool." I still wonder if Billy Long is so Tea Party, why did he choose the establishment before the Tea Party.
Then I got to thinking. This excuse of not having time. Well, that's an excuse Billy Long has used before. If you remember, during his bid for Congress, Billy Long went out of his way to avoid real debates with his challenger Scott Eckersley.
Long explained to Nick Reed on KSGF that he had been too busy working to work on coming to terms on debates last year as the general election approached. All the while Long had attended the Missouri State Fair, managed get a gambling trip to Las Vegas in, and even was seen by one local getting a manicure. My what pretty hands you have Congressman Long!
Perhaps its manicures and trips to casinos near the DC area that prevents Long from caucusing with the Tea Party, even though he never misses a chance to remind you he is Tea Party--something that is highly debatable.
If Billy Long was truly Tea Party, he would make time. Just like he should have made time to attend the reading of the Constitution on the House floor. Instead, Billy Long met with a lobbyist.