Washington County Tea Party Faces Early Opposition
The Tea Party movement has been very vocal in its opposition of the Healthcare Reform Bill.
Some people in Washington County are trying to organize their own chapter, but are running into some opposition of their own.
But the group is refusing to let it stop them from pursuing its goal.
St. Theresa's Catholic Church was supposed to be the location for Washington County's first Tea Party meeting on March 18th.
But it never happened.
"It was pretty shocking to me to get a call from the Monseigneur that we had to cancel the meeting."
Diane Vitale claims someone called the Church Diocese in Pensacola, saying the group was using the church to host a political movement.
"They were threatening to destroy the status of tax exemption for the church."
Vitale and her friend, Karen Schoen, say the Tea Party is not politically motivated.
Both are members of Bay County's group and believe Washington County needs its own Tea Party.
"We were pleasantly surprised to find out that people in the county were very interested in the way their county was being run and the lack of information that was being disseminated from meetings," says Schoen.
Both Vitale and Schoen allege the county is misappropriating funds and failing to promote the possible economic development opportunities of the new Bay County Airport.
"So if we have limited means, they should be spent on things that will benefit the entire county, not just a few, not just for the whim of a few."
County officials would not comment on the subject pending a lawsuit over misappropriated funds.
Nor could we find anyone who is opposed to the Tea Party group meeting at the church.
"These people are not going to stop us from having a Tea Party that the community wants."
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So apparently they aren't politically motivated, but only discuss politics and politicians. Just a local sampling.
Replies
92SWGBAuthor
What I'm most curious about is why all the attacks on the tea partiers seem to revolve around superficial issues. Maybe this is all backlash from some of the more superficial attacks on Obama? I would think if people disagreed with tea partiers, they would criticize their policy stances - limited government, individual rights, balanced budgets, respect for the Constitution, and fair taxation. But I've really not heard much if anything from the progressives related to why these policies are bad for the country. It's all about protest signs, supposed racial attacks and "the spitting incident". I have to wonder, are progressives avoiding the policy discussion?
Those aren't policies, they're sound bites. Sure every teabagger can name them, but can they explain them or even come close to forming an idea of how to carry them out?
Progressives know their ideas are unfavorable with the majority. They always have been. Prohibition is another great Progressive piece of legislation. The think they know what's best for other people and the ends justify the means no matter how they get there. In order to get unfavorable legislation passed they have to keep everyone's attention focused on something else.
Obama's right hand man Rahm Emmanuel has said don't ever let a good crisis go to waste. They just have to keep finding ways to make them happen.
Look up Saul Alinsky. This is an old playbook.
Prohibition is a progressive idea? I could have sworn that was backed by religious nuts.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States"]Prohibition in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
Temperance movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Because of the correlation between drinking and domestic violence—many drunken husbands abused family members—the temperance movement existed alongside various women's rights and other movements, including the Progressive movement, and often the same activists were involved in all of the above.Of course they were also against domestic/spousal abuse, is that a good old family value you hold dear?
Beach Fanatic
I never ever liked or condoned those types of anti-Bush posters although I never saw one as extreme as the one you mentioned (I'm certain they were out there though)
Wasn't the tea party movement started by Ron Paul supporters? Seems it has unfortunately gotten to be more in line with the Sarah Palin/Limbaugh/Beck types now. Ron Paul followers are usually a lot less extreme and more toward the middle. (most, certainly not all) Too bad they didn't stay "in charge" of the movement or "revolution". I know they hate seeing it go this crazy.
This is about race with many - not all - as is evident from the emails I've received from LA and AR family and friends. We can never say that it isn't about race with some but of course no one would claim to say that it is about race with the entire GOP. But no doubt it is there with many.
Let's hope the middle will prevail somehow through all this and we can get to work to make things better for all.
G
Its about race with some, but many Republicans would have been very pleased to have Colin Powell for President.
SWGBAuthor
Its about race with some, but many Republicans would have been very pleased to have Colin Powell for President.
A lot of Democrats too.
Banned
Its about race with some, but many Republicans would have been very pleased to have Colin Powell for President.
A lot of Democrats too.
True, but the Republican leadership attacked him at every turn so there was never a chance he could win the nomination and he was wise enough to know this.
Beach Fanatic
Its about race with some, but many Republicans would have been very pleased to have Colin Powell for President.
Oh of course that is true. I 100% agree. Same with Condoleezza Rice.

Rrace is an issue for many - not all and I'd add that not the majority. And for many they can't get past Barack Hussein Obama, so it isn't just about being "black" but not being "American." (which is silly we know)
Edited
Beach Lover
By that logic, no one should be supporting the progressive movement either. One bad eggs makes a bad bunch, throw them all out?
Don't be intentionally dense. My point, once again, is to show the tea party racism deniers that it does exist, not whether extremists exist on both sides.
"What I'm most curious about is why all the attacks on the tea partiers seem to revolve around superficial issues."
Racism and hate go to character. These issues are not superficial and I have to question the ethics of anyone who believes that. For that matter, as far as policies, I don't support much of anything the teabaggers stand for.
I am for smaller, limited government, but also in favor of oversight and regulation where it's needed. The tea party's "platform" is based on hypocrisy and ginned up fear and alarm from Faux news, Limbaugh and Beck.
Below are some tea partiers from the Fifties.

SoWal Insider
Below are some tea partiers from the Fifties.
No, those are southern democrats.
Beach Comber
Anymore tea parties planned?
Hey there, a group of us here on 30A are interested in joining the tea party. We would like some more info.
Hey there, a group of us here on 30A are interested in joining the tea party. We would like some more info.
Beach Fanatic
By that logic, no one should be supporting the progressive movement either. One bad eggs makes a bad bunch, throw them all out?
I believe those who seek political power, for the most part, are not worthy of it. Give the job to the man or woman best able to complete it, not the person who makes the most noise or raises the most campaign contributions.
Perhaps I am being naive, but this continued extreme polarization can not be healthy for our government or the people.

Edited
SoWal Expert
Hey there, a group of us here on 30A are interested in joining the tea party. We would like some more info.
Think they meet once a month on thursday nights at the library - Andy A. posted an invite for the last meeting.
Beach Lover
No, those are southern democrats.
I don't know what party they are from (although it was Dems who brought us civil rights legislation), but they would feel right at home at a teabagger rally today. Tomorrow's Tim McVeighs can be found at today's tea parties. Mark my words.
Suspect's mom blames Fox News in Pelosi threat - Glenn Thrush - POLITICO.com
Beach Fanatic
I just listened to a speech and q&a before the Commonwealth Club by Jim Baker, former Secy of Treasury and former Secy of State under the Bush (both father and son) administrations; I would like to see how the members of the Tea Party would react to his ideas of how things are going in our country; his perspective of how things went before; and how he agrees and disagrees with the present administration.
their reactions to his perspective would disclose a lot about what they are really about IMO.
their reactions to his perspective would disclose a lot about what they are really about IMO.
Beach Fanatic
Think they meet once a month on thursday nights at the library - Andy A. posted an invite for the last meeting.
Andy A would be a good person to lead those interested.
I don't always agree with him on all issues but then again who do I always agree with on all issues?
;-)G
Beach Lover
I just listened to a speech and q&a before the Commonwealth Club by Jim Baker, former Secy of Treasury and former Secy of State under the Bush (both father and son) administrations; I would like to see how the members of the Tea Party would react to his ideas of how things are going in our country; his perspective of how things went before; and how he agrees and disagrees with the present administration.
their reactions to his perspective would disclose a lot about what they are really about IMO.
I caught some of that, too, while I was in the car today. I wish I'd have gotten to hear more of it. The part that I heard, Baker was saying he agreed with much of Obama's platform. The usual modus operandi of the GOP is to disown, disavow, disembowel and generally butcher the reputation and destroy any of their own who dare to get out of lock step. But, this is Ronald Reagan's former chief of staff and right hand man...a major architect of the Republican party as it exists today. He halted the Florida recount and saved the 2000 election for the dunce Bush. What will the teabaggers do to Baker now, one of the Grand Poobahs of their party, now that he had the temerity to say something positive about Obama? Should be fun to watch, like so many of their twisted antics.
Edited
Banned
Its about race with some, but many Republicans would have been very pleased to have Colin Powell for President.
That was before he supported Obama in 2008. According to a conversation I overheard at the time, Powell is now a "liberal socialist".
Edited
Beach Fanatic
I caught some of that, too, while I was in the car today. I wish I'd have gotten to hear more of it. The part that I heard, Baker was saying he agreed with much of Obama's platform. The usual modus operandi of the GOP is to disown, disavow, disembowel and generally butcher the reputation and destroy any of their own who dare to get out of lock step. But, this is Ronald Reagan's former chief of staff and right hand man...a major architect of the Republican party as it exists today. He halted the Florida recount and saved the 2000 election for the dunce Bush. What will the teabaggers do to Baker now, one of the Grand Poobahs of their party, now that he had the temerity to say something positive about Obama? Should be fun to watch, like so many of their twisted antics.
It was a real pleasure to listen to Jim Baker, a republican with immense credibility, be courteous and professional and pragmatic. What amazes me is that the present leadership of the Republican party, Mitch McConnell in particular, seems to remain either completely silent or is encouraging so much of this out of bounds rhetoric often seen with the Tea Party group.
If, they are as Andy A. posts on here, simply interested in a different way: small government, fiscal responsibility...etc., then why does not some leader in that group, decry the inappropriate behavior in others under the Tea Party label?
Under normal codes of behavior, if a group has an agenda, and some in the group are taking away from that agenda with inappropriate behavior, then the group leader usually reins the out of control members back in line.
Now, the Republican Party is the best I know at keeping their members "on message", so if anyone in the Republican Party really wanted the Tea Party group to stop the death threats and the Nazi signs, and the derogatory language, it would be done.
Edited
SWGBAuthor
Hey there, a group of us here on 30A are interested in joining the tea party. We would like some more info.
Mary Brown is your best bet, she sits on the Board of the largest taxing authority south of the bay.

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