http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080912RacineTEA.pdf
CONFUSION IN WI US SENATE RACE?
Racine, WI – There seems to be quite a bit of confusion happening in Wisconsin regarding the recent endorsement from a national TEA Party organization for a US Senate candidate. Although we respect the work that TEA Party Express has done in and around the country, every TEA group both nationally and in the state of WI, are not always all aligned with their complete platform or candidate choices.
In light of this fact, TPE may endorse Mark Neumann while the TEA movement of WI is split on their support of the three other candidates for a variety of reasons. All four fiscal conservative candidates running for office against Tammy Baldwin are much better suited to make the tough economic decisions we need versus the liberal alternative.
In a recent press release several members of the Racine TEA Party and a variety of state-wide leaders and activists supported Eric Hovde as individuals; being very clear not to claim they represent their respective groups in their personal endorsement.
While Racine TEA Party does not, and will not not speak for our leaderless movement, we would like to make it clear that neither does a national group out of California. If there are any undecided grassroots voters left in the state, they are able to look to their local TEA groups for information and guidance on the candidates.
Many Wisconsin based groups who have worked and fought tirelessly in our state over the years, know and understand the candidates running for our Wisconsin US Senate seat better than anyone. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we are confident whomever of the four wins the primary election will have combined support from us all.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151003341287562&id=145168652561
Sheboygan Liberty Coalition
For Immediate Release
August 9, 2012
Contact: Oriannah Paul
info@sheboyganlibertycoalition.com
TEA Party Express does not represent
the TEA movement in Wisconsin
Issues are rising due to Tea Party Express’ decision to endorse Mark Neumann. They are promoting Mark Neumann as the TEA party candidate creating confusion for voters who are not familiar with this organization. Tea Party Express is an outside group with no representation in our state. They do not represent the views of Sheboygan Liberty or many other TEA groups in Wisconsin, nor did they consult with any of the local groups.
Oriannah Paul said, “Tea Party Express may endorse whoever they wish, but it should not be confused as an endorsement by the network of Wisconsin TEA groups. Many TEA Party groups in Wisconsin are structured under 501(c)4’s and by law cannot endorse candidates.”
Tea Party Express is spending thousands in ads and using their bus tour to wrongly promote Mark Neumann as the ‘TEA Party candidate’, essentially undermining the TEA movement in Wisconsin.
Many attempts to contact Tea Party Express were made by Sheboygan Liberty and other groups with no response by the organization or its leader, Amy Krammer. Their lack of response and their actions seems to indicate a disregard for the TEA Party groups and voters in Wisconsin.
http://files.meetup.com/1596798/WTPOTR%20Press%20Release%20-%208.10.12.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We the People of the Republic Responds to “Tea Party Endorsement” in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate Primary Race
Media Contact: Ross Brown (President)
wethepeopleoftherepublic@gmail.com
August 10, 2012
Following the Tea Party Express’ endorsement of candidate Mark Neumann in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate primary race, We the People of the Republic (WTPOTR) wishes to clarify that the Tea Party Express speaks only for itself as an organization and not for the Tea Party movement as a whole.
While the Tea Party Express has not claimed to speak for the movement as a whole, such an assumption could easily –
and incorrectly – be made by those not familiar with the nature of the movement.
Broadly labeling an endorsement for a candidate from any Tea Party organization as the “Tea Party Endorsement” is to misunderstand the grassroots nature of the Tea Party movement itself. No structure exists within the Tea Party movement to allow for such a sweeping inference. Depending on the culture and legal structure of each sovereign group, individual Tea Party organizations may or may not choose
to endorse candidates running for political office, and any endorsements that are made may differ from group to group.
As a 501(c)4 organization, WTPOTR does not endorse candidates, but WTPOTR members (as individuals)
certainly possess opinions about candidates running for political office. No scientific polling has been completed among WTPOTR members, yet (based on anecdotal evidence)
it seems that WTPOTR members are split when it comes to their preferred choice for the Wisconsin U.S.
Senate primary. WTPOTR members have shared their individual opinions in support of Fitzgerald, Hovde, Neumann, and Thompson, meaning that all four GOP candidates could showcase examples of support they’ve received from individual Tea Partiers in Dane County.
While individual organizations like the Tea Party Express are free to endorse candidates of their choosing, no single candidate can accurately claim to possess the “Tea Party Endorsement” because the very concept itself is a false premise. WTPOTR issues this press release in order to clarify this point to the media and to our fellow Wisconsinites.