Sherry, you certainly did not speak for me.

[Ray Kirkus]

In a pathetic pleading to Herman Cain... "please promise you'll come back, we need you more than ever".  Speak for yourself, I don't need the likes of Cain, former Federal Reserve regional bank president.  This was  a disgusting  display coming from one who is supposed to be chairing and leading this so called group of patriots.  Funny considering that most members of this group don't come close to following nor endorsing the posted core principles.  You were right Sherry, someone needs to start a REAL Tea Party group  here in Southwest Michigan because all this group is is a spin off of the establishment  Berrien County GOP. 

[albaby]

Most people would have mailed in their donantion/. Matthew 6: Take heed that yo do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpetbefore you as hypocites do----that they may have the glory of men.

[albaby]

So go ahead and start one, Ray. Lets see how you do. Maybe you would like the TCTP to be a spin off of the Libertarian party you were once the head of.

[Peter McG]

Ray, you really seem to have something personal against Sherry and quite frankly anyone who does not agree with you that Ron Paul is our savior.  If you are not satified with this group then maybe you should start a group.  I would be interested in seeing how it goes.  Good luck with your run for Commisioner!  Don't burn any bridges behind you.  Don't let the door hit you in the back.

[John Nimtz]

I missed you at the rally, Al. From what perspective do you make your comment?

albaby said:

Most people would have mailed in their donantion/. Matthew 6: Take heed that yo do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpetbefore you as hypocites do----that they may have the glory of men.

[Cheryl Walberg]

 Sherry does speak for me.  It is great to disagree,  but lashing out at another person like you have is disgusting.  You are welcome to start your own group.  I don't see anyone holding you back except yourself. 

[David Walberg]

@Ray,

I think it is important that we do not internally self destruct.  Of course we do not all agree but we need to discuss our differences and elect an alternative to the worst president EVER.  Please be civil.

[Sherry Williams]

I was not speaking for anyone but myself. I simply asked if Herman Cain would come back to our community because I believe he could have a positive influence in Benton Harbor over the likes of Rev. Pickney, Jessie Jackson and some of the other so called leaders in that community.

[Ray Kirkus]

I'm glad to see that the forum is active and full of comments. For a while I thought it was dead. I'm wondering which part of the 999 plan is supported by the Tea Party or which part of Cain's platform aligns with the mission statement in this very website. Telling me not to let the door hit me in the ass is simply a cop out in not wanting to deal with me, nor others who DO believe in the mission statement as I do. Sherry, You said WE, not I. Speaking as the Chair you spoke for the group, regardless of what you say now, but I do appreciate the clarification. Whether you or others like it or not I happen to be part of that group and I do not endorse nor agree with your comment. Maybe you can ban me from attending meetings? LOL 

For some this group  is little more than lip service to drag then into a group which dictates prayer and dictates how to say the pledge, even when doing in front of a gold fringed flag ( library), which of course, few of you understand the meaning of. I don't claim to know everything, nor do I think Ron Paul is the savior of the world, but he happens to be the only one who makes any sense at all and I do agree with his message of peace and prosperity and more importantly CONSTITUTIONALITY of government action, which happens to be a conservative message and which is historically verified. My run for commissioner is not about me at all,  If it was , I'd be out kissing everyones butt,  It's about the same message of liberty, more freedom and less government; again in alignment with the group mission statement, but seeing the way the group is run, there is little chance advancing that since the group is more about control and pushing GOP establishment propaganda than anything else, precisely the opposite reason of what the Tea Party was created for. Maybe some of you should do some research as I have. I have no problem standing alone on principle and in line with the libertarian minded founders of this country.  This group, especially ( most) in the executive committee, including Sherry, hates any challenge to the status quo or it's own opinions. Everything is a fight as she refers to me and others of like mind as I as  "YOU PEOPLE"... really? And then a poster here says that I have something against Sherry? Yeah right... the problem seems to be that I don't fall in line... oh well.. so be it.

I wonder if these posters ever go back and read that mission statement thoroughly and consider if they themselves are aligned with those ideals?  Libertarian ideals happen to be  at the core of freedom and Liberty. As Ronald Reagan once quoted, "Libertarianism is the heart and soul of conservatism", but most of these posters probably didn't know that either, did they? Just as we have to change the government from within, the same goes for anything else and of course its always good to know where you stand amongst your peers. Criticism is simply not acceptable at the TCTP.  Cheryl, clarifying that someone's  PUBLIC statement is out of line and not representative of another group member's stance is out of line and disgusting? So maybe you don't believe in Am I either?  Is this yet another dictate for this group? I'm either with you or against you?  Maybe you think Bush was a great president as well as I'm sure many do.  Thanks so much for all your input. Funny how the only logical and appropriate response actually came from Sherry. Thanks for clarifying your statement, the rest was icing. It's good to know where you all stand.   Regards

[Ray Kirkus]

What part of this stuff don't you folks understand?

http://runronpaul.com/supporter-video/ron-paul-revolution-a-new-era...

Please.. sell me your candidate!  How are they going to stop all this stuff going on? Speak for your candidate, tell me exactly what Herman Cain said during his talk the other day?  Please AL BABY, put some selling points out there for us. Your'e real good at putting folks down,  lets see how you can prop them up.

Happy Easter, lets pray and then go bomb people in the middle east.. and here too..

[John Nimtz]

@ Ray,

In the spirit of answering a question posed by you (a thoughtful and fair question, BTW), I followed your prompting and took some time to see what the SWM Patriots' principles are in regard to taxes, and how the 9-9-9 plan fits those principles.

Your question:
"I'm wondering which part of the 999 [sic] plan is supported by the Tea [sic] Party or which part of Cain's platform aligns with the mission statement in this very website?"

Answer I found:
Mission Statement
"To firmly communicate to our elected officials the message that they must return to the principles, laws and values upon which our nation was founded: Individual liberty, limited government, and a respect for the Constitution."
The mission statement contains no discussion on taxation; your question is misdirected and should have inquired of the Core Principles.

Core Principles
Taxes - We support the movement to replace the current Tax Code System with a fairer, flatter, more equitable system.  Several options exist such as the "Fair Tax".  The United States is a capitalist nation where citizens have the right to prosper and accumulate individual wealth.  We vigorously oppose all policies which attempt to redistribute individual wealth and earned income through the confiscation of tax revenue. Source: http://kzooteaparty.ning.com/notes/Core_Principles

To become more informed about the 9-9-9 plan, I visited http://cainsolutionsrevolution.com/999

As I read about the 9-9-9 plan, I found that it is intended to replace the current tax system with a flatter, more fair tax structure. I don't know that it's better one worse than other systems such as the Fair Tax, but it appears to fit into the principles of the TEA Party, whether we specifically endorse it or not.

I also noted a lot of discussion surrounding the 9-9-9 plan with regard to whether it will work, whether it can be implemented and topics of that nature. To be fair, those same discussions are present with any proposed changes. In fact, it is those discussions that allow modifications to the original concepts in order to make them more workable, not merely to prove why they won't work.

In conclusion, while we may agree or disagree with the 9-9-9 plan becoming the law of the land, it is in direct alignment with the Core Principles of this very website for the SW Michigan Patriots.

[Cheryl Walberg]

Ray, I feel if you are going to put a person down, as you did Sherry, you can do it somewhere other than a public forum.  Try a phone call or email.  You continually write as if you are the only one that knows anything.  Do you feel a need to put people down---maybe that makes you feel better.  I don't know what your problem is.  I do know one thing.  I do not have the values that Ron Paul has. I do not like to have to listen to you talking about him all of the time.  I did not think Bush was a great president, but he was much better than the alternative.  But what bothers me the most is that you seem not to want to pray or say the pledge to the flag.  The TEA Party does not dictate prayer.  You may pray if you want.    Our country was founded on prayer and  I am glad we pray.  I, also, am glad we say the pledge the correct way.  If you don't want to pray or say the pledge, then you can simply step out at that time.

Also I think you should read your posts before you post them.  Not sure what all you were accusing me of.

[Scott Arnett]

So, rather than criticize, start one. We all have problems with the fed, but it's important to appreciate those who will stand against the current tax code and establishment policies. You have your right to speak as Sherry does. Why don't you make it productive instead of destructive. We all need constructive dialog.