What the Tea Party Movement is and Is Not…

Grassroots Tea Party Movement Out in Force in Chicago

A very interesting story about how the New York Times is finally giving tea party groups media coverage. What is so interesting is they are painting all tea party goers as right wing fanatics, calling for sedition, armed conflict and such.

While the the majority of tea party goers are concerned Americans try to effect representative government. The attempt by the left wing media now to demonize the movement is an affront to every one who is not a radical right wing nut. So being a tea party member I implore all members to stick to the issues and advise all members to do the same. We do not want to be demonized by the left wing media and its supporters (George Soros) who will do everything to discredit the movement.

This is from an earlier post on one of AARP’s Political Blogs by a well-researched, very enlightened blogger…

It is surprising how many political commentators on radio and TV, in newspapers and magazines, talk show hosts and members of both major political parties have a very large misunderstanding of what the Tea Party Movement is all about. They make an invalidate assumption, and then rant and rave believing that their assumption is actual fact.

Let me attempt to clarify.

WHAT THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT IS NOT.

* It is not an attack on Obama. He just happened to be the President in power, when the dam burst.

* It is not an attack against the Democratic Party.

* It is not a movement in support of the Republican party.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT?

* It is a protest against the way government is run, whether the Republicans are in power, or the Democrats are in power. It is a protest against government being run either from the extreme right or the extreme left.

The members of the Tea Party movement did not all come from one Political Party. The members are made up, in equal parts, of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents.

WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ARE OPPOSED TO.

* Against politicians whose main role in life is getting elected and reelected.

* Against politicians ignoring the wishes of their constituents and voting per the instruction of party leaders.

* Against politicians who vote for bills, without reading them

* Against SWEET HEART deals with lobbyists, unions, big business, and major contributors*

* Against politicians who accept “favors”, meals, event tickets, travel, lodging, meals, etc from lobbyists.

* Against politicians who feel that it beneath them to respond to their constituent’s request, meetings, phone calls, etc.

* Against mortgaging the financial future of our children and grandchildren

* Against closed door deals

* Against earmarks (pork)

* Against the lack of transparency on proposed legislation.

* Against politicians who take expensive junkets, at taxpayer expense, for no apparent justifiable reason

* Against politicians who are paid $ 175,000 per year, plus an un taxable $93,000, petty cash fund, to only work 3 days a week when Congress is in session, but who seldom bother to make an appearance during those three days.

* Against political payoffs to politicians in order to “buy their vote"

*· Against politicians who make speeches running down and apologizing for our country

* Against politicians who have a large staff, paid for by tax payer funds, whose jobs are totally dependent upon satisfying the desires of the elected official they work for, rather than their constituents

* Against politicians who feel they they know better than we do regarding how we should run our lives

* Other

WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ARE FOR

* Politicians who believe that our government should be a government of the people, by the people and for the

* Politicians who are concerned with that which is best for the country, rather than what’s best for their political future.

* Politicians who believe and follow the principles laid down in The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.

* Fiscal responsibility – Spending only the money available and not constantly borrowing against the future

* Eliminating high cost “perks” that are only available to elected officials

* Establishing a special fund for FICA contributions and not throwing Social Security money into the general fund, which Congress immediately spends

* Elimination of earmarks – pork

* Transparency of all proposed legislation – require that the complete text of all proposed legislation be posted on the Internet for a minimum of 72 hours prior to allowing that legislation to be voted upon.

* Other, but you get the idea

The New York Times article typical of what the left does best... demonize everyone who opposes them. Alinsky followers every last one, including Hillary Clinton!!

Remember their slogan, the end justifies any means!!

Sarah Palin, American Heroine

If you had a choice (and you may) would you vote for this remarkable person ...

... or would you instead vote for this one, self-avowed American Progressive!?!

TPP Statement on Tea Party Political Party – Movement Says NO on Third Party Ambitions

Dear Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

There is much talk of the formation of a third political party based on the tea party movement.

Tea Party Patriots is issuing this statement in order to make it clear that we are not associated with any attempts to form a third party. Additionally, we believe that such efforts are unproductive and unwise at this time. The history of third party movements in this country is one of division and defeat. We believe that it is instead time for all Americans to rise up and demand appropriate reform within their own parties. The mechanisms exist for
citizens to participate in their parties, and to drive their parties in the right direction.

The Tea Party Patriots encourage all citizens to get involved in the party process, and to reshape their parties into something in which they may once again believe. This country does not belong to any one party, nor does it belong to the career politicians. This country belongs to the citizens. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "We have given you a republic madam, if you can keep it." The founders knew that it would be our sacred obligation as
citizens to get involved, and to work hard to hold on to this great
nation. We have much work to do, and future generations will look back in judgment. We hope you will join us in preserving the republic.

You are the heart and soul of the Tea Party Movement. Thank you for promoting the causes of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets with us!

Your Tea Party Patriots National Coordinator Team,
Debbie Dooley, Mike Gaske, Kellen Giuda, Ryan Hecker, Jenny Beth Martin, Mark Meckler, Sally Oljar, Diana Reimer, Billie Tucker, and Dawn Wildman

Jenny Beth Martin (jennybethm@gmail.com, 770-878-1550)
Dawn Wildman (dmwtpp11@yahoo.com)
Mark Meckler (mark.grassroots@gmail.com)

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

Beck blasts New York Times for implying Tea Party people are violent

Alaskan backs gun rights, small government.

In Begich, Senate is getting a different type of Democrat

By Michael R. Blood

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska's incoming senator is bullish on gun rights, wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, and believes less government is better. And he's a Democrat.

But "definitely different than a New York Democrat," Mark Begich says.

Begich, 46, the two-term mayor of Anchorage, will take office in January after narrowly defeating Ted Stevens, 85, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history. Part of Stevens' undoing in his bid for a seventh term was his conviction last month on federal felony charges.

With Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, 44, and GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, 51, Begich represents the new political landscape in the nation's northernmost state.

Begich says he is part of a generational break with Stevens and others in the state's political old guard, a theme that Palin, the defeated Republican vice presidential candidate, also has expressed often.

Begich says his concerns are in large part bipartisan, in contrast to the rigid orthodoxy often practiced in Washington.

As a Democrat from a state long regarded as a conservative GOP stronghold, Begich hopes to use his party-bridging style to achieve political goals, such as winning over Congress on drilling in the wildlife refuge, an issue that has been stalled for years.

Asked about Palin, Begich singled out one of her signature issues - building a pipeline to tap the vast natural-gas reserves on Alaska's North Slope.

"Right now, I think her issues are very similar to mine. We need to create jobs and opportunity for the state," he said.

Palin, who at one point had called for Stevens to step aside, issued a statement the day after Begich's election victory was confirmed, saying: "This is a new era for Alaska."

Stevens served in the Senate for four decades, earning a reputation for bringing billions in federal aid to his home state. He is of the same generation as former Gov. Frank Murkowski, 75, who was ousted by Palin.

Unlike Stevens' famously cantankerous personality, Begich is known for being affable, approachable and polite.

To some, the changing of the political dynamics in Alaska was inevitable.

"There's not much left of anybody's old guard," said State Rep. Mike Doogan, an Anchorage Democrat.

Part of the change in Alaskan politics is not just new faces in office - it comes from the state's large transient population.

Workers who come from elsewhere in search of jobs don't have much loyalty to long-serving politicians such as Stevens.

Palin was elected after promising to take on Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips Co. and BP P.L.C., the multinational energy companies that long have dominated the state's biggest industry.

"The Alaska Legislature has been essentially subservient to the industry since 1977, when oil production began," University of Alaska Anchorage historian Steve Haycox said. "That's changing."