The 112^th Congress has barely finished reading its abridged Constitution and tea party types see behaviour that concerns them. In actual fact much of it started before they were even sworn in.

 It turns out the tone-deaf precedent set by the $2500 a ticket gig with LeAnn Rimes and the K street elite organized by an incoming Republican early this week is just the tip of the iceberg. It wasn’t just tea party types who thought the event was cloth-eared, “consultants” weren’t impressed either according to the Politico.

 “The Rimes event "just doesn't send a good message," said the consultant. Since it "is the first introduction some of these (freshman) are going to have to the PAC community, it's probably not a great idea to go soliciting money to pay for a party when you could be staring down the barrel of a tough reelect" in 2012.”

 Now we find out via the Sunshine Foundation that a couple of newbies from the new Republican intake held “ethically challenged” fundraisers in the last few days. They blew off their swearing in to do it. Someone needs to let these Reps. know that skipping that is not like skipping freshman orientation at college.

 “Two House Republican members, Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick and Pete Sessions, missed their swearing in on Wednesday as they attended a fundraiser in Fitzpatrick's honor at the U.S. Capitol. These two not-quite-yet Congressmen then voted on legislation and introduced bills, adding a Dadaist element to the proceedings. Although astonishingly surreal, there’s a serious House Rules-related concern: lawmakers are barred from using official resources for campaign or fundraising activities.”

 The Hill is reporting that because of their skipping out that important step in their careers they voted “present” on the health care test vote. 

 “Update, 12:06 p.m.: It turns out that the pair to vote present were the two lawmakers who missed their own swearings-in on Wednesday: Reps. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).”

Its possible that the arrogance of DC has infected these Republican Representatives all ready.  They probably believe that they get a few “mulligans” before they have to worry about a challenge in 2012. Tea party types are watching and are already very angry.

 This is another clear example why the tea party movement has to start finding candidates from their own ranks. Republicans who suddenly anointed themselves “tea party aligned” need to avoided. Re-treads, habitual electoral losers and “born-again” conservatives have proven themselves unreliable. Expect to see a whole new crop of true outsiders running in primaries in 2012.

 Come primary season many in the House and a few in the Senate will be cursing the arrogance of their colleagues this week.