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.
too early to lament... yes,real conservatives have been thrown under the bus... but our cause can overcome... your work is necessary and important...we must NOT let any enemy of ours deter this cause...we must stay focused and communicate with each other.. keep the Faith.. America is worth it...
You make a valid point. I’d suggest that everyone here that are saying they now won’t support this movement are RINO’S or democrat moles here to disrupt this movement.
It’s my experience that even with long time posters here on FR if they have nothing on their homa page they are suspect.
Those people would be RINO’s or democrat trolls.
Well, I’m glad I posted this now. Your comments have me thinking about this again. Whether or not the GOP is involved won’t affect MY protest, really. It WILL change the event. I guess if a RINO shows up to speak, we can boo them as well as anyone. I have a nice oak poster board frame that’s just itching for a couple of cutting rebukes of the one and his minions of socialists and RINO socialist lites.
Dick's response - he rolled his eyes and gave me a dismissive gesture with his hand.
I continued to press my case, “I thought this was a tax revolt. We need to appeal to the Ron Paul independent. We should use the FED to raise operating money for the Government, and do away with the IRS.”
The crowd applauded, but Dick would have none of it.
“It WILL change the event. “
We will change their event and make it our event.
Keep in mind many who will show up will be supporting you if you stand up.
Everyone has their own agenda. Mine was to go to a non-partisan, grassroots inspired protest of the stimulus and out-of-control spending. That is not gonna happen now. It'll be a GOP event, which will taint it and reduce the positive news coverage.
The purpose of this post is simply to make everyone aware of what has happened to the local effort in Memphis. I would encourage others to follow their conscience and do what they think is right.
Suggestions that I have a hidden agenda to torpedo this or other tea parties are about as true as Obama's budget numbers. Stockpirate, you may have just pissed me off enough to get me back on the bandwagon (Playing my own tune, of course). Thanks, I needed that.
Ping everyone to this thread, this is a very important issue.
That would fit nicely on half a poster board on the back side! That's a keeper!
” Support the war on taxes effort..SCRAP Steele!!”
I don’t know the original post origin (ie, John Farmer). Or anyone who has here agreed with him. However...sounds to me more like someone trying to snuff out a movement that is doing just what a movement like this should: spreading!
So what if moderates and anyone else gets on the bandwagon? This issue has broad appeal and there will always be differing motives. Does that matter? In the first American Revolution, did they weed out people who helped the colonists merely because they wanted to spite some British cousin, or because the revolutionary down the street was cute and single, or for some other silly reason?
Then why should we weed out RINOs? Maybe this will help turn them around, radicalize them.
Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good, eh?
“I have a nice oak poster board frame that’s just itching for a couple of cutting rebukes of the one and his minions of socialists and RINO socialist lites.”
Please show us what you decide to put on your sign. I’m always interested in good slogans...
...and do your thing, man! Screw the national party!
Yep, it didn’t take me long to figure out that #tcot is a big freaking joke, and nothing but an extension of the McCain wing of the GOP. No thanks.
Hey, no problem, pissing people off is what I do best. :-)
To bad the Rino’s are taking over, surely are using this cause to gain support for themselves. BOTH parties are messed up and forehead deep in the muck of DC.
Thta was great, and exactly what needs to happen, confront them in front of other voters. continue with emails, phone calls etc., but confront them in front of other voters. MAKE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
These “tea party” protests should be directed like a laser on those who are responsible which ALSO includes present RNC/GOP leadership and moderate RINOS along with their Democratic party brethren!!!!!!
A general protest is just ‘amusement’ for the media.
Start calling out elected officials of both parties by staging these events in front of their offices and homes-—the left did the same thing to AIG, so should we.
I believe John Farmer was organizing the Memphis event. He had a web site for it, and 2 planning meetings had taken place - then the GOP steps in and takes over. He’s not the enemy. He’s just a guy, like me, that didn’t like the GOP taking over a grassroots effort.
Grassroots means : COME ONE COME ALL.
Everyone is GRASS no one is an outstanding tree.
I love the April 15th date.
JUST A NOTE:In New York State we are lucky to have CONSERVATIVE PARTY on the registration form.
I am a registered Republican but I vote on the Conservative line for crossed endorsed candidates.
I do not give to the Republican Congressional Committee anymore ,BUT I DO GIVE MONTHLY TO SARAHPAC.com.
I am GRASS. Are you?
The signs of the Tea Party movement being effective and breaking through are what you are lamenting. This is nuts. Grow up.
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.