Drawing on WEB Du Bois' notion of the "Preacher," as defined in The Souls of Black Folk, this thesis explores the intersection of this traditionally black community figure with the leadership of the Tea Party. Du Bois's "Preacher," a figure characterized by a multiplicity of powerful leadership roles within the black church community, has been largely absent from rhetorical scholarship. I argue that the ethos of the "Preacher" has lately been appropriated by white, middle class political leaders, including Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and Michele Bachmann in an effort to form spiritual, charismatic relationships with their audiences. Through close textual analysis of a representative artifact--namely, Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial--this thesis illuminates these connections and suggests important implications for future criticism.