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Hi friends. On the Florida FR Forum I was accused of being “disrespectful” because I questioned the actions of two FL district 8 “Tea Party” groups and also questioned the process of the “I-caucus” group in their “I-caucus Endorsement” of candidates. Just sharing my reply here:
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I meant no disrespect towards anyone with my questions concerning Icaucus endorsements of candidates. I just wonder if the “Icaucus” group invited all Primary candidates to apply for their “endorsement”. I ask questions in my continual quest for the truth.

I do have questions when I notice a “Tea Party” group advertise a “Tea Party” event in a particular district and only invite one candidate from that particular district to speak or take part in the event. Most “Tea Party” and other grassroots groups hold events and forums and invite all the Primary candidates to have booths and speak at the events. They do this so voters in the particular districts will have a chance to get information about all the candidates in order to make their decision on whom they wish to support in the up-coming Primary elections.

I am a member of a local 9/12 group that did endorse a candidate running for Mayor of St. Petersburg, when that election came up. The process was made known to the entire membership, and was followed. Candidate forums were held which were open to the public. Polls were taken of the folks present, and the list of candidates were narrowed. The top three candidates for Mayor were then asked to answer a questionnaire that was carefully composed by the membership leadership and approved. The candidate answers were shared with the membership and the candidate was chosen by the membership. That is the way an endorsement by a group should be done.

I will continue to question what I consider to be “endorsements through actions” of any “Tea Party” group, when that particular group has not “publicly endorsed” a candidate. Inviting only one particular district Primary candidate to speak at a “Tea Party” event is clearly an action to question the agenda of that particular “Tea Party” group. Is it really a “Tea Party” group open to all the district candidates or a particular candidate PAC?

I do know that Patricia Sullivan was a co-founder of the “North Lake Tea Party”. She certainly did a wonderful job in helping to get that group up and running in the District 8 area. Once she entered the Republican Primary race in District 8, it is certainly understandable that many members of the “North Lake Tea Party” group would want to support Patricia. Certainly their choice. The event on June 12th hosted by the “North Lake Tea Party” has invited other area groups to attend which is great. Since the event is a “Support Arizona Rally”, folks will be sure to show up in great numbers. Perhaps the folks who attend from District 8 will expect to see and hear from Republican Primary candidates who are running in District 8. However the only district 8 candidate allowed to speak will be Patricia Sullivan. The other candidates were turned down. And of course, the hosting group, “North Lake Tea Party” has the right to make that decision. But wouldn’t it be more honest for them to state it is a “North Lake Tea Party Patricia Sullivan” hosted event? I did find out today that the leadership of the “North Lake Tea Party” decided to allow other candidates to have a booth at the “Support Arizona Rally” event even though they will not be allowed to speak. That action is to be commended as it at least allows the folks attending to have the chance to get information about more candidates who are running in the Primary elections.

As for my mention of “Tea Party Patriots Live”, here are the facts:
Phil Russo and Jason Hoyt are members of the Todd Long campaign. It is therefore expected that they would be “pushing” Todd Long on their radio show. However, when they ask for donations to the “Tea Party Patriots” group for the “Tea Party Patriots” tour to Arizona, folks need to be aware that the tour is a Todd Long Event. It is fine for Todd Long to step up to pay for this tour in support of Arizona, but it would certainly be more honest to let the public know it is really a “Tea Party Patriots Live Todd Long Tour” event since no other candidates from district 8 are invited to join the tour or allowed to speak at any of the events along the way. Are the donation checks for this tour being made out to “Tea Party Patriots Live” or to “Todd Long For Congress”? I would like the answer to that question.
And I certainly mean no disrespect in my questioning.