The Nurturing of the Tea Party Movement

[30ashopper]

I forgot to add that if you are anything BUT Christian, you might not be welcome. This local tea party follows the Christian only mindset...if you look at the section titled "What We Believe", you will find the following:

Return of Christianity upon which our country was founded.

Why oh why oh why do we have to be so divisive and make ugly boundaries when we all live in the good ol' USA? When did the Christians start making the rules for being a good patriot?:roll:

Should we continue to break the populace down by income, or are we going to abolish that ugly boundary as well?

 

[Here4Good]

Walton County Tea Party Patriots

This website has a useful feature- a list of the contact info for our Federal representatives. All are listed with first and last names, except the President, who is listed as Obama.

That's appalling.

 

[GoodWitch58]

That's appalling.

And such a poor example to set for young people.

No matter what one's politics, respect for the office of president should be a given.

If all the Tea Party members in Walton County feel the office of president should not be shown respect, then I agree, that's appalling.

 

[idlewind]

And such a poor example to set for young people.

No matter what one's politics, respect for the office of president should be a given.

If all the Tea Party members in Walton County feel the office of president should not be shown respect, then I agree, that's appalling.

Not all tea party advocates feel that way and there is a possibility it could be a typo. And I feel quite sure there are left wing groups who did the same or worse to Bush.

 

[GoodWitch58]

And I answered your question I thought as one deeply involved in the tea party. The tea party has many organizations and participants. Freedomworks is one, Walton County Tea Party Patriots is another. There are hundreds more. Why does their participation mean that the others involved are not "regular,ordinary people?"
I like what Freedomworks stands for and felt that way before the advent of the tea party movement. Lower taxes, less government, more freedom. And I understand their view that you take a page out of the left playbook to make your point of view heard. As a great American once said: ?I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.? Barry Goldwater.

thanks for answering. My understanding of what I have researched about the Tea Party movement is not that Freedom Works is one of the Tea Party groups; but that Freedom Works is underwriting the majority of the movement; not all, but most.,

that is what I am trying to get to--do the people who belong to the local groups know that the direction and game plan for the movement is coming from Freedom Works, a national organization designed to achieve a certain agenda?

Or do members think the group they belong to is a spontaneous group of like minded people who get no money or direction from Freedom Works? and just sprang up because people were fed up with "big government?"

 

[GoodWitch58]

Let me start by saying the Tea Party Movement is a large group of many and diversified organizations and not all have the same goals. What they do have in common is limited government, less spending, fair taxation and a belief in a higher power as basics. I am sure ther are more but that is the essence of their beliefs.
Now, to the local Walton County Tea Party Patriots. I have never met a finer group of people. They are not right wing extremists or zealots. They are ordinary, hard working individuals like you are, trying to find a way to get a government they believe is off the track back on it again. If you really want to know what they do, attend a twice monthly meeting. They aren't held in secret and are open to the public.
Now, to the Freedom Works. I am not familar with this group but someone needs to get the "other side of the story" told to our youth. It has been almost 30 years since I last attended a college teaching setting. Even then, it was obvious that many of my professors were biased in what they presented to the class. One or two of them hated to see me on their class roster, I'm sure, because I would make sure the class got to hear the other side of the story. In fairness, it never affected my grades since I never received anything lower than an A. (Yeah, I know but a little bragging now and then helps one's morale). It is really disingenuous to bash the Tea Party Movement and their efforts and goals until you attend a meeting and know something about what you are bashing.

AndyA, the ironic and funny thing is that they are using Saul Alinsky, perhaps the most left-wing radical ever, and his handbook to teach the members of the Tea Party how to do community organizing.
Not sure if they are teaching them "the other side" or not. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/weekinreview/23alinsky.html?

Freedom Works appears to be underwriting the movement and my question was: do the regular members of all the groups, realize that the direction is coming from this organization and if so, how do they feel about that? That's all I was asking.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Not all tea party advocates feel that way and there is a possibility it could be a typo. And I feel quite sure there are left wing groups who did the same or worse to Bush.

Okay. It could be a typo. I emailed the contact person and shared my opinion of such a "mistake".
As a member of the group are you willing to check it out and if it's a typo have someone fix it?

Anyone who does this to any president needs to be called to task; no matter what another group has done, it does not make it okay for it to be replicated.

 

[idlewind]

thanks for answering. My understanding of what I have researched about the Tea Party movement is not that Freedom Works is one of the Tea Party groups; but that Freedom Works is underwriting the majority of the movement; not all, but most.,

that is what I am trying to get to--do the people who belong to the local groups know that the direction and game plan for the movement is coming from Freedom Works, a national organization designed to achieve a certain agenda?

Or do members think the group they belong to is a spontaneous group of like minded people who get no money or direction from Freedom Works? and just sprang up because people were fed up with "big government?"

To the best of my knowledge the local groups in this area receive no funds from anyone outside and certainly take no direction from any umbrella group. The local groups are homegrown and seek like-minded people to join them.

But if Freedomworks is funding groups and coordinating; SO WHAT? Does that change the validity of the message or the depth of belief in those who belong and support them? Are left-wing groups the only ones who are allowed to organize and promote theri agenda?

Your questions are borderline insulting in that they hint that the people who belong to the tea party and believe in the mesage are mindless robots controled by the evil Dick Armey. I guess it is beyond belief that anyone could decide on their own that they want less government, less taxes and more freedom.

 

[poppy]

It is really disingenuous to bash the Tea Party Movement and their efforts and goals until you attend a meeting and know something about what you are bashing.

But it's ok to champion the Constitution and bash another's religion you don't fully understand while having never attended one of their gatherings.

 

[idlewind]

But it's ok to champion the Constitution and bash another's religion you don't fully understand while having never attended one of their gatherings.

I am not "bashing" anyone's religion but I will oppose a bunch of nuts who fly planes into buildings and kill innocent people.