Posted on 11/16/2010 11:00:18 AM PST by Bokababe
Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, an icon to many members of the Tea Party movement, has decided not to join the House Tea Party Caucus.
Jeff Deist, chief of staff for Paul, confirmed the congressman’s decision in a statement to The Daily Caller.
“Congressman Paul decided not to join the Tea Party Caucus,” Deist wrote in an e-mail. “He strongly believes the Tea Party movement should remain a grassroots phenomenon, rather than being co-opted by Washington or any political party.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/16/thedc-exclusive-ron-paul-will-not-join-the-tea-party-caucus/#ixzz15TMXXmfX
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Dr Ron Paul cannot stomach life w/out his Earmarks. THAT is why he is not joining.
“He strongly believes the Tea Party movement should remain a grassroots phenomenon, rather than being co-opted by Washington or any political party.”
Good point.
Very interesting.
I do agree as it should remain a grassroots organization and not be co-opted by any political parties or politicians.
His reasons sound like what all the Tea Party people been saying on here for the past 2 years or so. Makes sense to me
Waiting for the Liberal Statist Globalist attacks on Paul in three...two...one.....
WGAS? Ron Paul and his foreign policy stance is insane.
I can only hope his son has not inherited his father’s insanity. Only time will tell but I am not confident.
That’s true, it should remain grassroots. But if it doesn’t have any power in holding congressmen to their platform, it’ll be of limited value.
I’m really not sure how I feel about this, I think I like better Bachmann’s constitutional caucus as an educational vehicle for congress. That seems to directly fit with the tea party movement without the co-opting fears.
There's always the ballot box.
Actually, it sounds a little cynical to me. All those “grassroots” TEA party people we just elected better stay true to their principles and not get sucked in to the establishment elite. The best way to do that is to continue to remind each other why their there, who put them there and support each other fighting the status quo. The air there is so corrupt and the powers that be so entrenched sticking together and with those already there who believe the same way (like Bachman and DeMint)sounds like common sense to me.
Cindie
I will not join any caucus that would have me as a member.
Actually, it strengthens the power of the Tea Party so that if the Good Old Boys try to co-opt it, it always keeps one foot outside Congress.
It's just unusual to see a politician pass up on grabbing power for himself, when the opportunity arises -- because he & Rand could have been the Dynamic Duo for the Tea Party in Congress.
RON Paul! Booyah......RP needs to get his little azz busy busting up the FRS!
Hell, I wouldn’t let him join. He has not be part of the Tea Party. I think he is a little flakey myself. Maybe the Tea Party can oust him in a couple of years, that would be the best thing, IMHO.
If Ron Paul wants to make a decent run at the 2012 Presidential race he probably needs to remain near the center in order to maximize the number of votes. Perhaps his ideals are with the Tea Party but his wisdom on how to accomplish his goals lies with the main stream...for now?
Well put. I've been around here long enough to remember that when Congressman Paul's writings were posted they were nearly universally cheered. Now there's a large contingent who have an irrational hatred of the man.
While I may not agree with him all the time I'd take another 50 of him in Congress any day of the week.
I don’t know that the TEA Party has a ‘platform’ since they are not a party in the conventional sense of the word.
It is more of a ‘get together’ or meeting. Like a meeting of the minds, so to speak.
Therefore I think it is more principles being expressed and held by a majority of voting Americans.
Possibly signing contracts for endorsements. What ever way it is done a MAJOR effort will have to be sustained by TEA Partiers (possibly at the State level) to constantly keep the general public alert to back sliders or deceptions on the part of our Congress Critters.
Good. Glad to hear it.
I agree with Paul on this one. The Tea Party is and should remain a grassroots movement. Once the professional pols take over, it’d done.
Over the last year-plus I’ve attended a few TP events. Not once was I asked to make subscribe to, join or make a contribution to any entity with the Tea Party name, nor asked who I would endorse. No one I know who has attended these events has ever been asked his/her opinion.
Naturally, I’m curious about who IS making endorsements on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of plain ole folk who go to these events?
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