Tea Party organizers must think beyond Palin and the GOP
By Dana Matas
Allow me to get a few things off my chest about Governor Palin, the GOP, and the future of the Tea Party Movement.
First of all, Governor Sarah Palin was asked to speak at a Tea Party Convention in Nashville on February 6--not the Tea Party Convention. She nor Tea Party Nation, the group that organized the event, speak for the millions of individuals and thousands of groups working to take back our country from a corrupt Washington establishment fostered by both political parties. And while I commend Tea Party Nation for trying to harness the passions of Tea Party-goers so that we can better organize, placing too much importance on any one person, group, or event will only serve to provide a target for our critics to attack in hopes of defusing our momentum. We must remain as we are, much bigger than that.
Secondly, Palin's invitation to the Tea Party Nation event was largely based on the political fortitude she displayed in taking on her own political party when running for Governor of Alaska against Republican incumbent Frank Murkowski. As much as Palin's run for Governor embodied the spirit of the Tea Party Movement, it does not make her its leader or spokes person. Rather, Palin is one of many role models within the Tea Party movement. Whether you are someone who loves Palin or loves to hate her, it must be understood that Palin's individual career ambitions and political views are just that--hers, not ours.
Finally, Tea Party organizers need to recognize the responsibility they bare in orchestrating widely-publicized events that attract national attention. Spotlighting uber-Republicans, like Palin, alienate the growing number of Independent and Democratic voters who've joined our cause. It also feeds into the stereotype that Tea Party-goers are a bunch of "angry, anti-Obama Republicans." With Palin taking jabs at President Obama for relying on a teleprompter and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs jabbing back with more jokes about Palin, Palin's appearance in Nashville fueled the vicious cycle of juvenile attacks between Republicans and Democrats, turning a national debate about issues into a circus. This silly feuding, albeit an unintended consequence, is a divisive distraction that only further empowers those who've taken our country so off course. As Tea Party organizers, we should do whatever we can to avoid these situations, including foregoing the hype a headliner like Palin attracts, to do what is best for the movement as a whole.
Unless Tea Party organizers start thinking beyond Palin and the GOP, we will be our own worst obstacle in taking back our country. Tea Party-goers, while largely Conservative, are specifically concerned with protecting the US Constitution; re-establishing fiscal responsibility in the name of individual liberty and national security; and draining the swamp of corrupt politicians. The GOP does not have a strangle-hold on these issues; in fact, they've been just as reckless as the Democrats in the name of "Progressivism." By blindly towing the Republican party line, we open the door for the GOP to hijack the momentum of a movement based on principles Republicans are suppose to embrace but have abandoned over the years. So let's put down the "Palin 2012" signs and start thinking about how we can influence all three political parties--Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--to ensure our country's founding principles are upheld, not only in the next election cycle, but from this day forward.
If you agree, I will see you from 4pm to 6pm at the Oceanside Amphitheater on April 15, 2010, for North County's next Tax Day Tea Party.
Allow me to get a few things off my chest about Governor Palin, the GOP, and the future of the Tea Party Movement.
First of all, Governor Sarah Palin was asked to speak at a Tea Party Convention in Nashville on February 6--not the Tea Party Convention. She nor Tea Party Nation, the group that organized the event, speak for the millions of individuals and thousands of groups working to take back our country from a corrupt Washington establishment fostered by both political parties. And while I commend Tea Party Nation for trying to harness the passions of Tea Party-goers so that we can better organize, placing too much importance on any one person, group, or event will only serve to provide a target for our critics to attack in hopes of defusing our momentum. We must remain as we are, much bigger than that.
Secondly, Palin's invitation to the Tea Party Nation event was largely based on the political fortitude she displayed in taking on her own political party when running for Governor of Alaska against Republican incumbent Frank Murkowski. As much as Palin's run for Governor embodied the spirit of the Tea Party Movement, it does not make her its leader or spokes person. Rather, Palin is one of many role models within the Tea Party movement. Whether you are someone who loves Palin or loves to hate her, it must be understood that Palin's individual career ambitions and political views are just that--hers, not ours.
Finally, Tea Party organizers need to recognize the responsibility they bare in orchestrating widely-publicized events that attract national attention. Spotlighting uber-Republicans, like Palin, alienate the growing number of Independent and Democratic voters who've joined our cause. It also feeds into the stereotype that Tea Party-goers are a bunch of "angry, anti-Obama Republicans." With Palin taking jabs at President Obama for relying on a teleprompter and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs jabbing back with more jokes about Palin, Palin's appearance in Nashville fueled the vicious cycle of juvenile attacks between Republicans and Democrats, turning a national debate about issues into a circus. This silly feuding, albeit an unintended consequence, is a divisive distraction that only further empowers those who've taken our country so off course. As Tea Party organizers, we should do whatever we can to avoid these situations, including foregoing the hype a headliner like Palin attracts, to do what is best for the movement as a whole.
Unless Tea Party organizers start thinking beyond Palin and the GOP, we will be our own worst obstacle in taking back our country. Tea Party-goers, while largely Conservative, are specifically concerned with protecting the US Constitution; re-establishing fiscal responsibility in the name of individual liberty and national security; and draining the swamp of corrupt politicians. The GOP does not have a strangle-hold on these issues; in fact, they've been just as reckless as the Democrats in the name of "Progressivism." By blindly towing the Republican party line, we open the door for the GOP to hijack the momentum of a movement based on principles Republicans are suppose to embrace but have abandoned over the years. So let's put down the "Palin 2012" signs and start thinking about how we can influence all three political parties--Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--to ensure our country's founding principles are upheld, not only in the next election cycle, but from this day forward.
If you agree, I will see you from 4pm to 6pm at the Oceanside Amphitheater on April 15, 2010, for North County's next Tax Day Tea Party.
Posted by Dr. Gary Gonsalves at 2/12/2010 10:23 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: tea party sarah palin tea party convention
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: tea party sarah palin tea party convention
I have a piece that speaks to this over at the Daily Caller.
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I couldn't agree more with the author. We are in the very midst of an age-old battle of ideas, not personalities. Two simple questions help to set the table: are our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness granted to us by our Creator, or are they granted by the government. It is my belief that these rights are as natural as the tips on the end of our fingers...they don't come from government.
Second, are we to believe these rights are granted to individuals or are they granted to a group as a collective unit? Individualism vs collectivism. It is my belief that we have received our natural rights from our Creator as individuals, not because our skin is a certain color or because of our sexual orientation or because we fall into a certain income bracket.
If I had to pick the true leader of the present Tea Party movement, I'd have to pick Ron Paul based on his values and track record. But Ron would be the first to tell us that it is not about him, it is about each one of us. We are responsible for this revolution! Get out there and get involved!
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I agree, I feel that my views in the letter below are in line with the thoughts above.
Subject: Tea Party Patriots
My Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger,
Governor Schwarzenegger,
Recently I saw you on the Fox News Channel and heard your statements about the Tea Party Patriots.
The TEA PARTY PATRIOTS are not anti-government; but they are for smaller fiscally responsible government.
They are not just angry or disappointed as you say "because of the economy".
They are demanding our leaders stop the additional spending during a crisis. ADDITIONAL means ADDED or EXTRA spending, maybe even cut out wasteful pork barrel spending.
They seek integrity, responsibility and accountability that we can trust in. They know this amount of debt is unsustainable.
They are demanding our leaders be honorable as John Adams once said "we are a nation of laws not men". They know we have elected men who have not even paid their Taxes, and the law does not apply to them.
So what have we become?
They are demanding our leaders and Government stay out of the free market system....do you think GM is better off because they were not allowed to go into bankruptcy protection and renegotiate union contracts? The answer is no.
In order to have any amount of success, people have to be allowed to fail. Do you think all the best ideas or products or businesses were successful because they were too big, or too great to fail or reorganize? The answer is no.
Reagan said "Government can't solve the problem, Government is the problem". Do you think Ronald Reagan was Anti-Government? The answer is no., he knew, as our founders knew Government can't do everything for you.
Thomas Jefferson said "A government big enough to give you everything you want, will be strong enough to take everything you have" was he anti-government? The answer is no.
He also said "When the people fear the government there is Tyranny, but when the government fears the people there is Liberty"
So on the Jefferson scale do you think we have more Tyranny or Liberty?
Do you actually think public servants should earn more income than the average income of the people they serve? The answer should be no.
So please excuse them if the party of “no” is sounding a little better than any other immediate option.
The Tea Party Patriots are American Patriots. Do you really think American Patriots will just go away?
I hope,… no I prey,… you are wrong sir.
An American Patriot
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Dana,
You hit the nail on the head. I salute you. People have to remember what the tea party is about - and it is more than left and right or conservative and liberal. Yes, it has a conservative slant that is sympathetic to Republican, but you are so very right when you say that we can't get sucked into their flawed system. They need to conform to the ideals you laid out and they will find success - not the other way around.
That is the essence of the Tea Party movement and I have never seen it espoused better. I have my own blog that follows along those roots. I think you will find it has the same respectful yet libertarian, self-reliant, and Constitutional tone.
www.gadsdensnake.wordpress.com
- G.S.
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Andrew,
You're dead on. The Founders of this great nation believed that as well AND they said so time and time again. Government gets its power from the people, it works for us.
Ron Paul also is a good representative, but I think you again you speak of a deeper truth when you correctly talk about each of us being our own leader. he would be against demogoguery as well.
-G.S.
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