Non-Partisanship, Tea Parties, and Independence
With the increasing attacks from reputable new sources like the New York Times and ThinkProgress.org, challenging the non-partisan and grassroots nature of the various Tea Parties, ReTeaParty.com and Free and Equal would like to both stress our commitment to non-partisanship and our independence from organizations under question. The following is a post written last month, following TaxDayTeaParties.com official partnership with Newt Gingriche’s organization:
In 1994, Newt Gingrich, along with several other prominent Republicans introduced their “Contract with America” after taking a majority control of Congress for the first time in 40 years. The Contract called for a renewed faith in Washington D.C., namely in the Republican Party, asking for Americans across the country to put their faith in partisan politicians.
Since 1994, America has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the size, scope, and power of the federal government. By 2000, 95 government programs that the Republicans contracted with America to reduce or eliminate were actually increased in size by 13%.
By 2008, following 8 years of a Republican administration, Americans had lost habeas corpus, deficits had ballooned, representatives continued to hand over authority to bureaucratic bodies not accountable to the American people, and messages from our political leadership had been reduced to partisan talking points.
With a new Democratic administration now at the wheel, Americans hoped for real change, and got it. Instead of a leadership that preaches about limited government, lower taxes, and balanced budgets, we have leaders that are more direct. The new administration openly calls for an expansion of government, increases in taxes, and deficit spending. In other words, the message changed. But the direction remains the same.
Now, Newt Gingrich and the same party liners that broke their promise from 1994 in conjunction with Michael Leahy, author of Rebuilding the Republican Party Despite the Brain Dead Luddites Who Run It: A Blueprint for Success in 2010 and 2012, are running a well planned, funded, and partisan push to build a coalition of grassroots activists behind a veil of non-partisan empty talking points.
{Editor’s Note: Following this post, we spoke with owner and operator of the Tax Day Tea Party website, Eric Odom. According to Mr. Odom, Tax Day Tea Party has not and will not participate in any funding or coordination with partisan efforts.}
Newt Gingrich (who supported the Bush bailouts) is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, along with Irving Krystol, known as the godfather of “neo-conservatism”.
We ask Americans all over this great nation to stop putting their faith in the same old leadership. Stop accepting talking points as truths, and start asking honest questions. Reject those who ask for your faith, and accept the American principle that individuals are the foundation of this country, not partisan power seekers.
It is imperative that this analysis is not construed as a critique of the individuals, even those organizing Tea Parties under the aforementioned puppet masters. It is recognized that the motivations and passions of most participators are true, healthy, and patriotic. Support for Tea Parties at any time and date should be encourage, but the motivations of those at the helm should always be questioned.
SEA said:
I agree that they need to be rejected.
They can't just ask for our faith, our faith and respect has to be earned, and so far, neither parties officials have done anything to earn either from me.
Both parties are great at talking us up, but they just fail to deliver.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Keith said:
I agree, Newt Gingrich is an empty suit, a shill for the republican party and for me the republicans are nothing but heart ache and pain. Gingrich needs to stick with teaching an go away, I'm sick of these ass clowns coming back like herpes.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Broberty said:
Way to go Reteaparty for calling out these poser conservatives. We need a party dedicated to a limited government, not unlimited spending. We need a thrifty foreign policy that recognizes the sovereignty of other nations and barters with them in a competitively compassionate method with honest money, not currency backed by a powder packed barrel. Loaded guns and binded interests with expansionary tactics in an inflated economy will take our plane filled with hot air and send it into a nose dive. The pilots make it seem like they are taking a sacrifice, but they are sacrificing a stake that they have no claim to, the vested interest of the elite hijacking the inalienable constitutional interests of the American base.
We need conservatism fought tooth and nail, not a blimp with a jack ass painted on it flying around in a rainbow colored cloud of bi-partisanship. Newt is a farse, a liar, and an ugly son of a gun that deserves a kick in the arse for pretending to represent anything to do with AMERICA'S tea parties. He voted for the bush bailouts that rat. We need to weed out these neo-conservative clingons, notify the base that they have been hoodwinked and bamboozled by the perverts of conservatism, and send these pansy politicians back to the community organizational clinics they belong in. I want LIBERTY not DEATH. Go back to the gutter Gingrich.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Dave_J said:
If there's one thing the grassroots Tea Party movement needs, it's a nationally recognized leader with solid conservative credentials. I'm not entirely sure Mr. Newt is that guy, but he's certainly a step in the right direction.
I want to float one other idea. In addition to a true conservative leader, we need TEETH in our agenda. I have done the Cincinnati Tea Party, and plan to do another on April 15 (Boston) and July 4 (Columbus OH), but these events are largely symbolic. The only thing they accomplish is for us conservatives to vent our spleens, but the socialist wackos running Washington right now don't give a rip if we're angry. They view us with scorn and contempt because they have forgotten that they work for us. They have an aristocratic mentality. They need to be reminded of their place.
In that vein, I'm suggesting something like a “Million Taxpayer March” on Washington, in which Tea Party-ers descend on D.C. en masse with a list of practical demands: 1. Repeal the porkulus bill. 2. Immediately cease all bailouts of companies and private individuals. If they fail, that's what the bankruptcy code is for. 3. A written and signed promise from every legislator who voted for the porkulus without reading it not to seek re-election. They have breached the public trust and demonstrated their unfitness for public office.
I also propose that between now and then, we Tea Party-ers engage in a massive letter writing campaign to flood the halls of Congress with written evidence of our outrage. Maybe then they'll start to take a hint — although I'm not holding my breath.
Thoughts?
March 19th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Rafi said:
We should never put our faith in a politician. Believe in yourself, they work for you, not the other way around. If I were to judge just based on this information alone, Newt Gingrich seem like another politician trying to ride the populist wave and stay in power. My message to him is, we are trying not to let that happen anymore. We don't want you anymore. We most certainly do NOT *need* you. Go away, we want to be left alone by the government. Our local municipalities and States can take care of themselves!!!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:54 am
SCOOMBS said:
SCREW NEWT AND ALL THE LIARS……… I DO MEAN ALL………….
March 19th, 2009 at 9:01 am
james said:
I agree! Way to have a backbone and not sell out. This movement is done with both parties. We want to retore the Constitution! Very proud of the move. I almost left this movement when I saw the old guard trying to hijack our movement for their own agenda.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Michelle said:
I agree with you Dave. There has to be a massive effort, all at once so they will sit up and take notice. I don't believe letters and phone calls work any more. They will only listen when it is voting time and they believe they are about to be thrown out of office. I don't believe they are taking this effort seriously at all right now. I think they sit up there and laugh about it all.
March 19th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
marilyn said:
Some comments have been made that the tea bags will never get past security measures of the USPS. Does anyone know if this is true?
March 19th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Chad said:
Marilyn,
It is not know in if this is the case or not. However, we will issue a printable letter with a picture of a Tea Bag in the next 10 days that you can send to get the message across without an actual tea bag, just in case.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Dave Brady said:
There needs to be a strong statement separating the tea party movement as far from Newt as possible. He hold No libertarian values.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Frank Inez said:
Now that this seems to have become more about partisanship than the fleecing of America, you have lost me. Screw you and your tea party.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Tricia said:
Wonderful Ideal!! I'm game! The only problem is, how do we get the word out to get 1 million or more people in washinton? They need to see us and hear us. It's to easy for them to dismiss us when they see us on tv or see the teabags coming in the mail. BUT lets see how they react when they have to look at a crowd of angry tax payers!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Dave_J said:
I have been sending out this suggestion to a number of talk radio personalities, including Rush, Hannity and some here in the Cincinnati market. I don't know if any of them will pick up on the idea, but if they do the word will definitely get out. I am also putting this idea out on some other blog sites. I suggest everyone here do the same.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Debra said:
I say if a leader wants to come on board to support the Tea Party, not for the tea party to support him, then he should be welcomed. You should want all the support you can get, and you are not obligated to support them. If you just want to be radical and make noise, then shut out everyone but the common man. But if you want to get somewhere, accept those who sign on with the principles of the group.
And, by the way, Newt Gingrinch can't be voted out of power. He resigned because partisans went after him, and he wanted what was best for the ability of the Congress to govern without distraction. I don't know that he is perfect, but I do know that he has a significant voice in opposition to government growth, and that could be used to your advantage. And anytime he stepped on the principles of the movement, you could call him to task. You don't need to make him your leader, but to reject him as a supporter? Not a very principled stand to me, unless your goal is to remain handicapped in your effort.
And, don't you understand that in rejecting Gingrinch, you are also rejecting those who think he is a leader and enjoy his input? Why do you want to narrow this so much that you defat your own efforts by turning people away?
There are many who want to participate in the Tea Parties, but there are many who simply will not if it becomes a radical, nasty, arrogant group. I haven't decided if I will participate, because I am reading mixed messages. In some discussions, it is just about showing displeasure with the government and gathering in one place to prove that, thereby changing the thought processes of the powers that be to consider more carefully the actions they take and abide by the Constitution. And, then if they don't do that, vote them out of office. Then I come here, and it seems more like forcing government to do what you want and showing you are forceful bad guys with the only answers, and Libertarian is the only way, If that is the case, then I would not participate. I want Liberty, I want a government responsible to the people, but I do not want to align myself with the Libertarian Party, and reject others. The Tea Parties should belong to the people, and not to a party.
This is a reasoned statement. I have not called anyone names or attacked anyone. I expect the same courtesy from those who value personal freedom and are willing to take action in the cause of preserving personal freedom.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:25 am
Debra said:
One other thought: the people who banded together to fight the tyranny of Britain did not all think alike. There were some major disagreements. But they believed the goal was worthy enough to look past these differences in order to join together. And in so doing, they launched the greatest nation ever.
The French fought alongside the colonists in the war. Do you think the colonists wanted to be ruled by France? Do you think they wanted to be like France? NO. They wanted a unique country that combined the noble principles of their own citizens with diverse ideas.
My point is: focus on the goal, make it a noble process, and don't reject people because you don't agree on every point. If you agree that the nation is off course, and the people need to become more involved to solve the problems, then accept people who agree with that. Don't discriminate against supporters.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:56 am
JingleBerry said:
Didn't Newt Gingrich support the Bush bailouts? Didn't he vote for the Patriot Act? Didn't TaxDayTeaParty.com say they were “Partnering” with Newt? Last time I checked they took his picture down that was on the front page of their site. Strange. I wonder if it had something to do with this article. Isn't the Libertarian party that washed up organization that had that empty suit Bob Barr run for president last year? O yea, he kinda reminded me of Newt. I like how this article puts it… “Puppet Masters” sounds right to me. We want CONSERVATISM BACK! not NEO-CONSERVATISM. Give me REAGAN not BUSH. Reagan would of died before he voted for the bailouts
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
George said:
Where do you get the idea that this site has anything to do with the Libertarian Party? I thinks it been pretty clear that the organizers of this site hold no party affiliation and want to keep it completely non-partisan. The article points out that Newt, and Leahy, are partnering with tax day tea party, not throwing stones so people are aware of the people who may (or may not) be trying to take advantage of this enthusiasm for their own gain, rather than staying true to the message.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Debra said:
I was not saying this site was Libertarian. I was responding to the article and posts about the article. Apparently some posters seem to want it to be affiliated with the Libertarian Party or to make this a Libertarian Tea Party.
A lot of people want the spending in Washington to stop. A lot of people want the Congress to stop breaking laws. And if you want to exclude those people because they don't agree with all your political ideas or if there is a need to question everyone's motives, you are going to find yourselves with not enough people to really make an impact. Strength in numbers, remember?
I want to protest. I want responsibility in government. I want to band together with other people to accomplish things. But, I don't want to disrespect people who are Conservative, OR disrespect a neo-conservative coming to his senses! I don't want to disrespect people who think Newt Gingrich is a good man. I don't want to disrespect those who voted for Obama and now regret it. I want mutual respect for every person who wants to protest the current government so that we can have as many participants as possible.
Take this not as an indictment of any individual, the website or the Tea Party organizers, but as an observation about the way the article and comments sound to someone coming here thinking about getting involved. If this was the first site I had been to about the tea party, I would have decided it wasn't for me. And witness the post by Frank Inez who was turned off by the comments here. He may have been a troll, but he may have been a truly interested person who was as discouraged by the article and comments as I was.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
JingleBerry said:
I don't think we need to keep these pied piper neo-con bush supporters, that have led liberals to the seat of power. Their careers are over, and the longer the republican party try and keep those big business incorporated with big government ideals, the more they are going to loose touch with the base. I think these Tea Parties need to protest BUSH, NEWT, OBAMA, MCCAIN and any other liberal that cross dresses as a conservative. I think bringing Newt on board and erecting him as a figurehead turned away a lot of people. The republican party is washed up. Get a grip Debra. Stop trying to attack a good thing. Weeding out liberal republicans is good. You sound like a Troll or whatever u called it to me. A troll from the Obama camp who wants repubs to stay socialists like they have been for the last 8 years. Give me Gold Water and I will pour it on our tree of innovation and production, and weed out the empty suit republicans that parasitize our countries soil and our nations party that is supposed to defend the ideas of a REPUBLIC not a DEMOCRACY.
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Hot News » Tax Day Tea Party said:
[...] Tax Day ‘Tea Parties’ | April 15 | The Blog of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly…Newt Gingrich “Partners” With Tax Day Tea Party « America’s Independence Day Tea Par…Republican Assembly of Kern County » Bakersfield Tax Day TEA Party-No on Prop 1A Rally…NO [...]
March 27th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
EINSTEIN said:
KEEP NEWT , HANNITY AND THE LIARS FROM BOTH PARTYS OUT OF THIS—- IF THEY COULD DO WHAT WE NEEDED —WE WOULD NOT BE HERE
March 31st, 2009 at 11:43 am
EINSTEIN said:
IF NEWT SPEAKS @ A TEA PARTY—SHOUT HIM DOWN–AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS—YELL WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOU BEING—WE DONT NEED MORE LIARS TELLING US WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US………..EVER AGAIN…….THIS IS THE FINAL STAND……
March 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am
EINSTEIN said:
IF NEWT SPEAKS @ A TEA PARTY—SHOUT HIM DOWN–AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS—YELL WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOU BEING—WE DONT NEED MORE LIARS TELLING US WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US………..EVER AGAIN…….THIS IS THE FINAL STAND……
March 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am
EINSTEIN said:
SCREW NEWT—-ANOTHER LIAR
March 31st, 2009 at 11:50 am
EINSTEIN said:
im sorry i joined this TEA PARTY ALSO—-IT LOOKS LIKE FOX NEWS AND NEWT ARE IT NOW—SAME OLD –AND IT WONT CHANGE ANYTHING—LETS SEE HOW LONG THIS COMMENT STAYS UP………
March 31st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
career fed said:
Do I have this right? You are against the IRS in general? Against taxes in general? Does that mean you don't want interstate highways? Airports? A strong Military? Disease monitoring and control within our country? Import safety for food and goods? Drug safety or testing? I understand wanting lower taxes, but I don't understand what you are protesting since the highest taxes I pay are state and local, not federal.
April 4th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Tom said:
TaxDayTeaParty.com has released a free Wordpress theme, if anyone is interested. The address for more information, a demo, and the download is: http://blog.jeremybuff.com/the-conservative-ame.... I already grabbed my copy, and thought others might want to do the same.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Nettlive.com » Blog Archive » Vitter Wants National Tea Party Day said:
[...] Gingrich might be an unwelcome guest at the event in New York if anybody reminds protesters that the former congressman flip-flopped to [...]
April 8th, 2009 at 2:43 am
David Farrar said:
I am all for publicly demonstrating our resolve to empower the grassroots, but holding a Million Taxpayer March on Washington it seems to me would be terribly inefficient in terms of accomplishing our political goals — if that is your objective. Marching from anywhere to anywhere is so retro. We are, after all, in the new age, the age of communication. Anyone willing enough to invest the necessary energy and effort to get themselves to Washington on a given date, at a given time, certainly has enough energy to get ten to twenty other people to join an Internet network designed to further the organization's political goals. The net effect would be instead on a million people marching through the streets of Washington, we could have a ten to twenty-million-member strong Internet force, ready to become locally active in virtually every local, state and national election by 2010 and 2012.
ex animo
davidfarrar
April 13th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
craig said:
mc donell is and always will be not only blind but an idiot .who pays for medicare?-who pays for welfare? -who pays for our wasteful government spending?does mc donell think we have enough nuclear weapons?does mc donell think we have enough welfare recipients ?ask yourself does mc donell think we pay enough taxes?these are simple questions.without our government taxing our companies to death do you think we would be in this situation? do you know what america has that china doesn,t have ?–(-welfare) mc donell has never looked at our problems in the way a business does .when politicions look at our country in this way, we will be a world power again.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
craig said:
global warming–a new tax.–socialized medicine-a new tax.-one world government-a new tax.. a.i.g. bailout a new tax-leaman brothers no new tax-small government no new tax -balanced budget no new tax–10% consumption tax and no capital gains taxes or income taxes now there is a formula for growth, minus all the imflation. do you think you could compete in the global market without all the taxes? would you need a credit card if you didn,t pay income taxes? now we need credit cards the government taxed us into using them .do you think taxes create imflation?do you think our government spends your money wisely? i pay 8500 per year in federal taxes ,do you think i could purchase medical insurance ,or a new car ,or a windmill generator ,or an electric car with that money? do you think that would create jobs ?for all the federal government does for the people i think we should start them out at 5%..consumption tax .
April 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Vote Green said:
Why not call it something else, since the rich enough to be Republican oligarchs have already tarnished the use of “Tea Party” in the patriotic, revolutionary original sense that motivated America.
We don't need another son of a bush, elitist oligarchs, like the last series of ego-maniac presidents going back to Nixon. The Declaration of Independence clearly defines the democracy that was intended. If that's not what Americans want, then fine, let's vote on it and let the people decide. Obviously, what we have today is not what the Declaration of Independence ever intended - capitalism run amok, “greed is good” mentality pervades the culture and government to such a degree, we need a CTRL-ALT-DEL reset. Nothing short of this will be able to extricate the corporate-elitist tentacles from the People's government.
Those in charge have long forgotten that they are civil servants, working FOR the people, and representing the people. Not corporations, not military/Pentagon agencies, not their own hides for next election.
Obama's empty promises are showing his true colors - he's just another piece of Cheney president, continuing the tradition of egomaniacs that have run America into the ground.
It's time to kick all the usual suspects out of office - referundum for a recall of Congress, executive branch and fire all the ivory tower, corporate-sympathizing federal judges all the way up to the treasonous turncoats on the Sup Court.
Why haven't we seen any civil rights lawyers appointed to the federal bench, or the Supreme Court? What are the bi-partisan sellouts afraid of? Maybe they don't trust the people with their fate… Why haven't we seen environmental activists appointed to the EPA? Or someone from the Organic Consumers Association or Environmental Working Group appointed to the FDA? How about someone from the National Lawyers Guild as the AG? Now THAT would be meaningful change, not Obama-washing that is going on right now.
Out with the old,
in with the Green!
By the people, for the people, for real. http://www.GP.org
April 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
JW Fulmer said:
This Republican party is a bad joke. What happened to the party of discourse? This group. MOSTLY because of Gingrich and his lying co horts have stolen the Real Republican and replaced it with this scourge on the American political landscape. It runs on Fear, Hypocracy, Ignorance and Superstition. I fear we are stuck with the “All Inclusive” democratic party for a long time as long as these clowns run our party. Is there no alternative? What can be done to resue our party from these pukes. I also second the “Screw Newt” vote and would add “Before he screws you again!”. Maybe we should start a movement….
April 20th, 2009 at 7:04 pm