Posted on 03/23/2009 4:45:49 AM PDT by TnGOP
The Hijacking Of A Cause Filed under: BCR, Tea Party — BCR at 11:47 pm on Saturday, March 21, 2009
A few weeks ago, a wonderful grassroots movement began when regular citizens began to band together to form local tea party protests. It was government activism in its truest form, and I for one had great hopes for true reform from the grassroots level. When the call went out for a national tea party in July in Chicago, I was excited and launched a website devoted to the cause locally. I started getting emails from folks excited and wanting to participate, so I organized a meeting so that we could get organized. Shortly after launching this effort, I noted a “national effort” which was beginning to extend its tentacles into the effort. Before long, another individual, identified only as reformpolitix came along and started another “local” effort for a tea party on 4/15 (tax day).
At our first organizational meeting, I informed the group of this effort and we decided not to duplicate effort, but participate in the 4/15 event with an eye towards the July 4th goal. Now I for one have no desire for leadership in such efforts, but those who know me understand that I will work my behind off to make sure a cause (or person) I believe in succeeds. We were in the process of creating a charter/bylaws and it would ultimately be up to the group to select their leadership (not me, because that is simply not my thing).
I established contact with the “national” effort organizer and informed her of our decision. Unfortunately, she was rather evasive about who she was or who the “‘national” group was. However, when I forwarded her an email from a citizen who suggested Senator Lamar Alexander’s Office as a potential site of the protest, she responded:
“It would be a GREAT idea to have his name on some signs, but I am afraid that being too radical too early in this movement will only mean that it takes longer for the moderates “moderate-rights” to join us.”
News flash - The whole idea is to get a little radical! I don’t care if the “moderates” join the cause or not. John McCain “moderates” is NOT what this country needs right now. My suspicion was at the time that Senator Alexander was being “protected” and that could only mean one thing - somewhere along the line the Republican Party was moving in to take over the cause. So, I decided to do a little more research into who was behind this “national” movement.
I found my first clue in the Tennessean headline, “Tennessee GOP’s ‘tea party’ draws hundreds to oppose stimulus“. One of the organizers in Nashville I had contacted early on had informed me that Top Conservatives on Twitter (TCOT) was organizing for 4/15. So I checked up on that group, only to find it too was headed up by a Republican Strategist. However, even with my concerns mounting, I decided to still support the “national” efforts and be a team player. Then came the shocker.
“I will take care of the media coverage and promotion and have already spoken with some media outlets and have things in the works.”
No doubt remained in my mind at this point that someone was hijacking the tea party cause to suit their political agenda. I opted to not attend their organizational meeting this weekend, since the mission statement our local group was creating, along with the charter/bylaws was being pushed completely to the side at the whims of some “unseen” group from outside of Memphis. My participation (and others) was going to simply be one more body in the attendee count to give support to what THEY wanted to pump into the media. In other words, I had just become a pawn in a political game.
I asked one of our group who was going to the meeting to take notes and report back on Facebook. Sure enough, here is who THEY are:
Group is in nationwide group that is affiliated with Michelle Malkin and Newt Gingrich. Mike Fleming at WREC will sponsor event in some fashion that is yet to be determined ******* There are 10 tea party dates set aside from now through election day 2010.
Oh well, it was a great idea while it lasted. Now it is just a show for the Republicans to regain power in 2010. Yep, we gotta get those “moderates” back into office so they can sell us out like they did last time. For those of you wanting to see the Lamar Alexander’s of the world back in office, here is your big chance! Sorry folks, I am not a pawn in any one’s game.
Conservatives need their own party. The GOP is a lost cause.
As a result of this development, I will not participate in the local event or support them in any way. the GOP political machine is not the answer to this problem. They (elected ones) are part of the problem, and the national party, preaching moderation, disgusts me.
Maybe it’s time for the “conservatarian” party. Part conservative, part Libertarian. That would suit most here on F.R. just fine, and me as well.
Conservatives need their own party. The GOP is a lost cause.I would never have agreed with this up until a few months ago.
But I agree with it now.
The Party of John McStupid has nothing to offer our country anymore.
Yes. That's why they took it over.
Agreed.Its a waste of time now.
This article characterizes Michelle Malkin and Newt Gingrich as mainstream Republican functionaries? News to me.
Just bring signs saying RINO/GOP/RNC SUCK TOO!
Anywhere there is a crowd a hack politician will show up, to ‘lead’.
It’s what they do. It’s in the psychological pathology that makes them politicians. Show biz for stupid people.
Ramp it up. Start yelling Dodd SUCKS, etc...make the politicians yell it too, put them in a spot where they will show their yellow bellied, two faced, double dealing nature.
Make them squirm.
Sorry, this is not true in my case, and I fear that you are doing harm to a growing grassroots movement.
I am not affiliated with any organization, other than being a registered Republican, and I have been organizing a TDTP here on Staten Island.
I am working with the national TDTP, as promoted by Malkin, but only to the extent that our little demonstration is listed on their site with contact numbers. They have also helped me with a press release.
When I contacted the local Republican organizations for assistance I was firmly rebuffed. All I really wanted to do was use their mailing lists, anyway; I was not interested in any sort of endorsement or organizational help.
I deliberately did NOT invite the participation of any local elected politicians (City Council, State Senator, etc.) because I wanted to avoid the impression that this was their show. If I am approached, I will tell them they are welcome to participate, but anonymously, NOT in a suit and tie, and not with any special standing - only as a member of the community, holding a sign or banner.
In closing, I’m sorry your efforts were hijacked, and I thank you for helping me sharpen my focus in an attempt to avoid such a thing. But I fear you do a disservice when you paint all demonstrations with the same brush.
Also, I can’t see how you can use “moderate Republican” and Michelle Malkin in the same breath.
Taking back the GOP for conservatives will be difficult. Splitting off from the GOP and then beating both the GOP and the 'Rats would be much more difficult. America does not need two socialist parties.
Sad to see Malkin in cohoots with Dah-Newt
I think you're giving up far too easily. As we organize to retake our country we have to expect and respond to those who would try to undermine us. If there are no RINOs infiltrating the conservative movement all that means is that there is no conservative movement of note.
You should still work towards bringing your people in large numbers to any anti-tax event. Ignore ANY and ALL national guidence, bring signs that say what you group wants to say.
SCREW the moderates.
Now I’m getting angry as I think about it.
I’d also like to know if the author has done any research into the hundreds of TDTPs taking place around the country. He was unable to maintain his own autonomy - and now he is questioning ours?
This could have been written by an Obama-ite looking to dampen enthusiasm. Very damaging if this becomes a meme, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DEMS WILL TRY TO MAKE IT.
His heart may be in the right place - may be - but if so the phrase “useful idiot” comes to mind. I couldn’t imagine the DNCC could be more delighted with this story.
I understand how TnGOP feels (who wants politicos running the thing), but I agree with StatenIsland about not ‘turning away’ in this effort.
Look, it’s better to ‘infiltrate’, be involved, and try and exert some influence than to ‘drop out’ and let them take over completely. I know you don’t want it to be ‘their’ thing, but unfortunately if you let them, they will.
Other choice, is to continue and stay ‘local’ and unaffiliated with the ‘national’ effort, and try to continue organizing under a separate name. Good Luck.
Conservatives withdrawing from or follow their rules is exactly what thrse idiots want. And is exactly what go along to get along, read spineless, conseevatives will do if they dollow this person’s suggestion.
We need to help organize with thwwm, then show up in mass and hi-jack the demostrarions, complete withradical signs, pictures of firearms, pictures of buildings on fire.
Quit being such pansy-asses, fight.
......Quit being such pansy-asses, fight......
The history of Free Republic indicates that while many are willing to actively protest, most are just spouters of disgruntled hot air.
It appears to me that you have your own agenda in wanting people not to partisipate in these protests.
Get out of the way if you are unwilling to fight against the machine.
Make bigger signs, go to the march, ger as many conseevatives as you can to go with bigger signs then the group wants you to bring. Group together in bands of 10-15 and spread out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.