The Nurturing of the Tea Party Movement

NYTimes isn't a reliable source imo. Their paper is going down the tubes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/us/politics/26freedom.html?_r=1&hp



For those who continue to say the Tea Party movement is just "regular everyday people who are concerned about their country", how do you feel about the molding being done by Freedom Works?

Sounds like conservative "community organizing" to me. Do you know that Saul Alinsky's book is reccommended reading for all tea party members? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Sounds like conservative "community organizing" to me. Do you know that Saul Alinsky's book is reccommended reading for all tea party members? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Yeah, that is mentioned in the article. I found it quite interesting--just wondered what some of the folks who had been talking about "independence" of the tea party being a definitive issue, thought about the effort to organize, using the "best practices" of organizing and funding by Freedom Works.

Yeah, that is mentioned in the article. I found it quite interesting--just wondered what some of the folks who had been talking about "independence" of the tea party being a definitive issue, thought about the effort to organize, using the "best practices" of organizing and funding by Freedom Works.

How does learning methods to express your views in a politically effective manner compromise the group's independence? The tea party stands for smaller government, less taxes and more freedom. We wish to advance these views. Freedomworks has taken the lead in training anyone who wants the training how to advance their views in the political arena. What is wrong with that?

How does learning methods to express your views in a politically effective manner compromise the group's independence? The tea party stands for smaller government, less taxes and more freedom. We wish to advance these views. Freedomworks has taken the lead in training anyone who wants the training how to advance their views in the political arena. What is wrong with that?

There is nothing wrong with the training; and nothing wrong with Freedom Works footing the bill. As long as this is transparent I'm fine with it.

But, Freedom Works has an agenda that is well known and if it is underwriting the Tea Party, then the Tea Party can hardly call itself
Independent and "just regular folks" giving the impression that they are just individuals who are concerned about something and are on their own iniative showing up to protest, support, whatever. leading many
to believe that there are thousands of people spontaneously rallying around a cause.

I'm just looking for integrity and transparency.

Yeah, that is mentioned in the article. I found it quite interesting--just wondered what some of the folks who had been talking about "independence" of the tea party being a definitive issue, thought about the effort to organize, using the "best practices" of organizing and funding by Freedom Works.

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.

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 of 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.

I was with you until you said it is disingenuous to bash a group until you attend one of their meetings.

The Tea Party is growing exponentially because they represent mainstream America. I don't think the attendees care who puts it on as long as the basic principles of less gov't, less dependence and greater free market principles are encouraged.

So many people are trying to attach a label to Tea Partiers in an attempt to undermine them. The racist tag failed so they need something else. That just speaks volumes about how scared they are.

Dems are already saying they know they're going to lose the House this November. Some Dems are actually bragging that they voted against the healthcare bill. The big question is can the Tea Party folks turn things around when they get voted in?

I was with you until you said it is disingenuous to bash a group until you attend one of their meetings.

Geo, I am talking about a local meeting not the national rallies so fairlycovered by our unbiased mainstream media.

The tea party serves as an excellent distraction. Like Palin.

The tea party serves as an excellent distraction. Like Palin.

No the tea party is ordinary people who want a voice in government that represents them and their values: smaller government, less taxes, less debt and more personal freedom. The Democrat party abandoned these principles long ago and the Republicans abandoned them under Bush. So we are left with a choice between two advocates of big government. The tea party is the logical result of there being no choice for those who believe in liberty and limited government. Dick Armey and Sara Palin are simply the most visible political figures who have signed on and Freedomworks has taken the lead in training individuals on how to make sure their voice is heard. But there is no central leadership or organization, just ordinary people who are fed up with both political parties.

IIt 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. I don't think asking a question about who is underwriting the movement is bashing the group...and, I was talking about the overall group which according to what I have read and heard is, and has been, underwritten by Dick Armey and Freedom Works from the beginning.http://www.freedomworks.org/

I wondered if the local folks knew about it? If so, what they thought?
and if they agreed? If that is bashing, then, I am guilty, but I think questioning is good.

While they may not be a party in the sense of the Rs and the Ds or even the Independents, they can not be "just regular folks who are getting together" if they are underwritten by Freedom Works IMO.

..............
While they may not be a party in the sense of the Rs and the Ds or even the Independents, they can not be "just regular folks who are getting together" if they are underwritten by Freedom Works IMO.

.
Is Freedom Works the same group that funded/created the fake grassroots website angry renters or something like that? in opposition to bailouts of mortgage foreclosures?
I haven't thought about that in a while.
Need some fresh reading on Freedom Works - TY


.

NYTimes isn't a reliable source imo. Their paper is going down the tubes.

what tubes?

The Tea Party is growing exponentially because they represent mainstream America. I don't think the attendees care who puts it on as long as the basic principles of less gov't, less dependence and greater free market principles are encouraged.

So many people are trying to attach a label to Tea Partiers in an attempt to undermine them. The racist tag failed so they need something else. That just speaks volumes about how scared they are.

Dems are already saying they know they're going to lose the House this November. Some Dems are actually bragging that they voted against the healthcare bill. The big question is can the Tea Party folks turn things around when they get voted in?

the tea party is tearing the republican party apart and alienating moderates

AndyA. I don't think asking a question about who is underwriting the movement is bashing the group...and, I was talking about the overall group which according to what I have read and heard is, and has been, underwritten by Dick Armey and Freedom Works from the beginning.FreedomWorks | Lower Taxes, Less Government, More Freedom

I wondered if the local folks knew about it? If so, what they thought?
and if they agreed? If that is bashing, then, I am guilty, but I think questioning is good.

While they may not be a party in the sense of the Rs and the Ds or even the Independents, they can not be "just regular folks who are getting together" if they are underwritten by Freedom Works IMO.

Maybe bashing was too strong a word. I am a local folk. I have been attending Tea Party Patriots meetings for the past 4 months and have been following the movement since the rally last year on the annex lawn. I have never heard Freedom Works mentioned at any of our meetings so all this is new to me. Like I said, if it presents the ideals and goals of the Tea Party Movement to the youth of our country it is all right with me. The Left has been presenting their agenda to our young ones for sometime now.

the tea party is tearing the republican party apart and alienating moderates

Doesn't this make you happy?

Maybe bashing was too strong a word. I am a local folk. I have been attending Tea Party Patriots meetings for the past 4 months and have been following the movement since the rally last year on the annex lawn. I have never heard Freedom Works mentioned at any of our meetings so all this is new to me. Like I said, if it presents the ideals and goals of the Tea Party Movement to the youth of our country it is all right with me. The Left has been presenting their agenda to our young ones for sometime now.

Andy, Andy, Andy, don't you know by now that it is ok for the left to organize, protest and train their people (NAACP, NOW, ACLU, etc) but it is WRONG for anyone who wants smaller government, less taxes and more freedom to do the same things? God forbid anything happens to change the drift towards big government.

the tea party is tearing the republican party apart and alienating moderates

I for one think the Republican party NEEDS tearing up. All they have done in the last 10 years is promote the same big government ideas as the Democrats. We need a voice, not an echo.

I for one think the Republican party NEEDS tearing up. All they have done in the last 10 years is promote the same big government ideas as the Democrats. We need a voice, not an echo.

I agree. I also think the Tea Party is going to surprise a lot of people, starting in 2012.

Andy, Andy, Andy, don't you know by now that it is ok for the left to organize, protest and train their people (NAACP, NOW, ACLU, etc) but it is WRONG for anyone who wants smaller government, less taxes and more freedom to do the same things? God forbid anything happens to change the drift towards big government.

Oh hell! I forgot! My senility is setting in again.

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.

Real classy website.

Wow, that is interesting. Is that similar to our Military NOT saluting Bill Clinton?

Andy, Andy, Andy, don't you know by now that it is ok for the left to organize, protest and train their people (NAACP, NOW, ACLU, etc) but it is WRONG for anyone who wants smaller government, less taxes and more freedom to do the same things? God forbid anything happens to change the drift towards big government.

You are apparently deliberately choosing to misunderstand my post. I posted to ask a question about whether or not the people on this board who align with the Tea Party movement (AndyA and others) are okay with the support and underwriting of Freedom Works when the local groups seem to be identifying themselves as "regular people" with no affiliation. For those who continue to say the Tea Party movement is just "regular everyday people who are concerned about their country", how do you feel about the molding being done by Freedom Works?

The fact that they were doing training was part of the article, but had little to do with my original question. Whether you chose to believe it or not, I was asking a serious question...it would have been nice if someone had bothered to answer it, rather than being sarcastic about something that was incidental to the question I asked. Perhaps I could have phrased it differently, or not posted the quote; I find it interesting that what the regular people around the country in the Tea Party groups/meetings say, and what the national group underwritten by Freedom Works says, are not the same thing--and much of the name calling and inappropriate behavior has come from people who have been bused into meetings by Freedom Works and who have used the Freedom Works talking points. It seems to me that if I were one of those regular people , I would not feel good about that.
I was just trying to find out what some of the regular people in this area thought about it.