Liberty and Freedom
Major Announcement
History
The Southwest Michigan Tea Party Patriots (SWMIPATS) was formed in Kalamazoo in April of 2009 after our first rally brought us together. At that time several of us met as committees and then as 'committee of the whole' to agree upon our principles, mission and organization. Almost no one had any experience in the political world. As I was to learn over the next few months, this same thing was happening all across our state and the nation.
We grew to chapters in Berrien, Cass and Allegan counties. As I was to discover over the next year, all politics is local and hence although almost every single Tea Party that sprung up had the exact same principles and mission (arrived at independently), the organizations were different. We decided to organize as a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization; others chose for-profit or political action committees, etc. We were all neophytes, processed many conflicting opinions and made our choices.
The choice we made meant that we could not 'endorse' political candidates; we could recruit them, train people, educate people, but not endorse or campaign for candidates. We decided that we would work within this restriction and encourage our members to work for the candidates of their choice. Our voter guides would make it clear who the preferred candidates were. All legal.
When the vast majority of you joined the organization, we had presented ourselves to you as just that, whether you noticed, cared or paid attention. We want to make a change. We want your input. Here is why:
The Local Situation
It has become clear that the Tea Party is a powerful political brand and movement. It has made political history in many elections since last winter. Witness the results in New Jersey and Massachusetts among several. However the old line, "Rockefeller", progressive GOP has also taken notice and is aligned against the Tea Party movement and views us as a threat due to our stance on insistence of protection of and adherence to the Constitution.
We (the Michigan Tea Party Alliance) have found and fought instances in Michigan where the GOP has started up a "Tea Party" as a front for Republican campaigns. Also, they have a policy of always supporting the incumbent, whether their record shows that they honor and protect the constitution, or not.
In Southwest Michigan (the 6th congressional district) we have encouraged our members to run for office with the plan that Tea Party members would be encouraged and available to support them. We have many that have stepped up and are running for office in the Republican primary. However, even though they are running as Republicans, they not only do not get support from the GOP if they are challengers, but they get active resistance. Clearly, the GOP does not want voters to have choice. The Tea Party clearly does want the choice.
As people of integrity and strength, we Tea Party members cannot let this stand without challenge. We cannot bring our strength to bear if our hands are tied. We need to be able to support our members when they challenge the powers that have brought us to this sad state of affairs in our state and nation. We must overturn all corruption that resists us, whether in the GOP, which many of our members also are members of, or ACORN, or any other organization that opposes us. We will have the full strength of those in charge of the corrupt centers of power in the federal government against us. We must insure that we are not easy targets for them.
Proposed Change
We need to be able to fight for our candidates, legally. We need to organize so as to provide us the best platform from which to do battle. I am recommending that we change our current corporate designation and immediately move to engage the battle to protect our constitutional republic. When we win our battles in August and November, we will look to the future again and my vision includes a watchdog Tea Party which would then move to a educational organization to watch and report on 'our' elected representatives. At that time, our needs will change, but not our mission of taking back our nation and putting it back on course. We will not let it drift again.
One last piece of information: it was our understanding our IRS application was in process, but upon further investigation it has come to our attention that it was not. The application has never been processed so we can re-register as a different type of non-profit or as a for profit organization.
Please take time and respond to me with your comments at kzoo.teaparty@yahoo.com.
Regards,
Gene Clem
The Southwest Michigan Tea Party Patriots (SWMIPATS) was formed in Kalamazoo in April of 2009 after our first rally brought us together. At that time several of us met as committees and then as 'committee of the whole' to agree upon our principles, mission and organization. Almost no one had any experience in the political world. As I was to learn over the next few months, this same thing was happening all across our state and the nation.
We grew to chapters in Berrien, Cass and Allegan counties. As I was to discover over the next year, all politics is local and hence although almost every single Tea Party that sprung up had the exact same principles and mission (arrived at independently), the organizations were different. We decided to organize as a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization; others chose for-profit or political action committees, etc. We were all neophytes, processed many conflicting opinions and made our choices.
The choice we made meant that we could not 'endorse' political candidates; we could recruit them, train people, educate people, but not endorse or campaign for candidates. We decided that we would work within this restriction and encourage our members to work for the candidates of their choice. Our voter guides would make it clear who the preferred candidates were. All legal.
When the vast majority of you joined the organization, we had presented ourselves to you as just that, whether you noticed, cared or paid attention. We want to make a change. We want your input. Here is why:
The Local Situation
It has become clear that the Tea Party is a powerful political brand and movement. It has made political history in many elections since last winter. Witness the results in New Jersey and Massachusetts among several. However the old line, "Rockefeller", progressive GOP has also taken notice and is aligned against the Tea Party movement and views us as a threat due to our stance on insistence of protection of and adherence to the Constitution.
We (the Michigan Tea Party Alliance) have found and fought instances in Michigan where the GOP has started up a "Tea Party" as a front for Republican campaigns. Also, they have a policy of always supporting the incumbent, whether their record shows that they honor and protect the constitution, or not.
In Southwest Michigan (the 6th congressional district) we have encouraged our members to run for office with the plan that Tea Party members would be encouraged and available to support them. We have many that have stepped up and are running for office in the Republican primary. However, even though they are running as Republicans, they not only do not get support from the GOP if they are challengers, but they get active resistance. Clearly, the GOP does not want voters to have choice. The Tea Party clearly does want the choice.
As people of integrity and strength, we Tea Party members cannot let this stand without challenge. We cannot bring our strength to bear if our hands are tied. We need to be able to support our members when they challenge the powers that have brought us to this sad state of affairs in our state and nation. We must overturn all corruption that resists us, whether in the GOP, which many of our members also are members of, or ACORN, or any other organization that opposes us. We will have the full strength of those in charge of the corrupt centers of power in the federal government against us. We must insure that we are not easy targets for them.
Proposed Change
We need to be able to fight for our candidates, legally. We need to organize so as to provide us the best platform from which to do battle. I am recommending that we change our current corporate designation and immediately move to engage the battle to protect our constitutional republic. When we win our battles in August and November, we will look to the future again and my vision includes a watchdog Tea Party which would then move to a educational organization to watch and report on 'our' elected representatives. At that time, our needs will change, but not our mission of taking back our nation and putting it back on course. We will not let it drift again.
One last piece of information: it was our understanding our IRS application was in process, but upon further investigation it has come to our attention that it was not. The application has never been processed so we can re-register as a different type of non-profit or as a for profit organization.
Please take time and respond to me with your comments at kzoo.teaparty@yahoo.com.
Regards,
Gene Clem
Tags: candidates, party, primary, tea
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by john prange on -
I agree with you. You have my continued support.
John Prange
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Permalink Reply by Dave Smith on -
Seems a reasonable consideration Gene. So, since you didn't specify a specific recommended change, can I take it you want to enter into a discussion of the best ways to proceed?
I believe the Tea Party Candidates will generally be most effective running in the Primaries of the 2 major parties and only very rarely as an independent party candidate. Otherwise, we will often find ourselves being relegated to becoming the righteous "stalking-horse" candidates that both parties like to use to siphon off votes from the next best candidates who would probably be our Next choice. Result: electing the worst possible -usually "Progressive" - candidates. Remember that Progressives are masters of masking their true intentions since Truth is just a word they use to mean whatever they want.
Thanks for all your selfless service.
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Permalink Reply by Larry L. Peterson on -
Maybe it is time we looked at other venues and entities. However your message was vague as to what type entity you are referring to, Gene. Are you advocating a PAC or some other type organization? Please be a little more specific.
Larry
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Coning on
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Just be careful NOT to form a third party.... All this will do is dilute the power of the GOP (anyone remember Ross Perot??) No, we do not agree with the "Progressives" in the GOP. But, do NOT turn your back on the GOP and try to usurp them with a third party.
Train and encourage those with TEA PARTY VALUES to run with the GOP. We can (and must) bring this party back to the values that we believe in and want for our country.
If this group tries to form a Third Party, all they will accomplish is NOTHING, and the Democratic (Progressive) Party will keep control of our country. PLEASE, don''t let this happen!!!
Thanks,
Debbie Coning
Portage
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Permalink Reply by Gene Clem on -
It will be either a PAC or even just an LLC. We will have presentations by attorney and CPA in a week or so and then re write our bylaws and get back to everyone.
Larry L. Peterson said:Maybe it is time we looked at other venues and entities. However your message was vague as to what type entity you are referring to, Gene. Are you advocating a PAC or some other type organization? Please be a little more specific.
Larry
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Permalink Reply by Gene Clem on
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NO Third Party. We have been fighting this since December of last year. We do intend on fixing the GOP, but can't do much until our folks are elected in as precinct delegates in August primary. We must get our guys selected in the primary to be on the November ballet. This is why we need the change.
Debbie Coning said:Just be careful NOT to form a third party.... All this will do is dilute the power of the GOP (anyone remember Ross Perot??) No, we do not agree with the "Progressives" in the GOP. But, do NOT turn your back on the GOP and try to usurp them with a third party.
Train and encourage those with TEA PARTY VALUES to run with the GOP. We can (and must) bring this party back to the values that we believe in and want for our country.
If this group tries to form a Third Party, all they will accomplish is NOTHING, and the Democratic (Progressive) Party will keep control of our country. PLEASE, don''t let this happen!!!
Thanks,
Debbie Coning
Portage
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Permalink Reply by Mike Freriks on -
My concern is that we not become to close to nor to closely identified with the Republican party. In listening to radio and television, reading articles and speaking with fellow citizens there is widespread miss-understanding of our movement. We must be certain we are not perceived as another political party nor as an arm of the Republicans. Our strength must come from our political diversity and strict adherence to the Constitution of the United States and our Bill of Rights. What you are saying seems to make sense, however I am concerned with the apparent Republican leaning of the course described.
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Permalink Reply by Steven L. Mobley on -
It appears to me that what is being suggested is not a third party, but moving into the political arena as an active, formidable player. As one who tried to fight from the outside last year, as Gene and many of you know, it is imperative that we take back from the inside. We need the candidates, the precinct delegates, the money, and the ability to fight head on. If this means being a PAC or 527 of whatever, I agree 100%. Just educating people will not be enough, we must press into the battle.
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Permalink Reply by Mr. Curtis Johnson on
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I have a couple of thoughts. If we organize a "Tea Party" party, such as the "Libertarian" party, we have the problem of taking votes away from a Republican who has a better chance of winning the general election. Remember, Ross Perot is the reason we got Bill Clinton. I am in favor of tea party candidates, (that is, Constitutionalists) running as Republicans. The Republicans are far from perfect, but they have a much better voting record than the Democrats. If we work within the system we are stuck with the two party system, bad as it is.
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Permalink Reply by John Schwark on -
Gene, I agree completely with your thoughts... Continuing as we are keeps our goals crippled.
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Permalink Reply by Stan Runyon on
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We need to be able to endorse candidates. We don’t care if they are Democrat or Republican. We don’t need a third party. A third party would mean we are lining up our “continental army” against the Red Coat British Army in formation. That would be suicidal. Our warfare has to be more of a guerrilla warfare if we are to have success.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Elizabeth Bohm on
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YOU ARE SO RIGHT DEBBIE CONING AND CURTIS JOHNSON.. FORMING A THIRD PARTY WOULD BE THE WORSE THING FOR THE TEA PARTY TO DO.....THAT IS JUST WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS HOPING FOR US TO DO JUST THAT..... LETS SPEND OUR TIME CHECKING OUT THE BEST REPUBLICANS TO BACK AND SEND TO WASHINGTON...CHECK THEIR RECORDS AND KICK OUT THE TURN COATS.. AND ANOTHER THING THAT SHOULD BE PASSED IN WASHINGTON , ANYONE THAT TAKES ANY BRIBES FOR VOTES OR ANY THING OFFERED SHOULD
IMPEACHED AND WITH NO BENIFITS OF ANY KIND BE GIVEN TO THEM.....
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