Some Nevada Tea Party activists are gathering signatures to denounce the new “Tea Party of Nevada” political party. Via email missive (and attached statement: Joint Statement 3-10-10) from a group of activist/organizers:
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2010
From Nevada grassroots and tea party leaders
Subject: Unified Statement / Grassroots Nevada is United
On March 9th, conservative leaders across Nevada came together to issue the following statement. The signature list is subject to modification over the next 24 hours. The final, signed statement will be available by Friday, March 12, 2010 at 12 noon.
We, the grassroots/tea party leaders of Nevada, speaking for the conservative activists in our communities, are united in issuing the following statement.
– We are united in denouncing the TPN (Tea Party of Nevada).
– The TPN is not a conservative party who speaks for grassroots and tea party activists in Nevada.
– The TPN is not now, has never been, and will never be affiliated with grassroots efforts in Nevada.
– The term “Tea Party Candidate” will no longer be used to indicate grassroots support for a candidate or candidates.
– The TPN will not be invited to or allowed to represent themselves at conservative grassroots events and functions across Nevada.
– We are united in our desire for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability from legislators and in legislation from Carson City, NV and Washington, D.C.
– We are united in opposition of progressive leanings towards unfunded mandates as a solution to appeasing special interest and delivering ‘social justice’.
– We are united in the belief that our government should be inspiring pride and accountability, and personal strength and opportunity, not a path for us to follow to have our needs met as the government sees fit.
– We, the tea party activists and grassroots organizers in Nevada, are united.
The joint statement is attached for signature. Please return a clear/strong signature by fax to Debbie Landis 775-852-2611 or email to info@angerisbrewing.com. When all signatures have been returned, the final document will be made available electronically.
Feel free to disseminate to the media as a joint NV grassroots effort, with our organizations united we are exponentially stronger than the sum of our members. I am truly proud to be part of joint efforts moving forward.
We are all in this together,
Debbie Landis / www.AngerIsBrewing.com
I don’t mean any disrespect, but wouldn’t one just naturally assume that the Tea Party of Nevada principals (and candidate Scott Ashjian) are well aware that they speak for themselves and not “for grassroots and tea party activists” around the state? Does this really require a formal denouncement?
Various grassroots and tea party leaders, activists and groups (and any candidates they support) also speak only for themselves and their own members/supporters and not for all grassroots/tea partiers. Nobody “owns” a certain message or the right to speak about it. Are all the different factions and wings of the grassroots/tea party movement going to put out disclaimers/denouncements clarifying that others do not speak for them?
And speaking of owning:
Scott Ashjian was quoted in a CNN story today as saying, “I don’t think Republicans own the Tea Party. In fact I know they don’t in Nevada, because I do.” Not sure what he meant by that. The Tea Party, as a movement, is not “owned” by anyone. The Tea Party of Nevada, as a political party, is not “owned” either. A political party, by nature, is an organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within government by participating in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protests. Parties espouse an expressed ideology or vision bolstered by a written platform with specific goals. It’s not about ownership, it’s about ideas.
Beyond all this “ownership” talk, though, here’s the bullet from that doc that really gets me:
“The TPN will not be invited to or allowed to represent themselves at conservative grassroots events and functions across Nevada.”
Really? Why not? And who is going to stop them? Isn’t the very nature of public, citizen-driven grassroots gatherings to allow and enable individuals to show up and express their views? What are these folks going to do if Scott Ashjian shows up with a sign and some stickers and starts speaking to people? And why on earth wouldn’t he be invited to, say, a rally or a debate with and among tea party/conservative candidates? Aren’t individual liberty and the right to speak one’s mind part of the energizing force and core values of the Tea Party movement?
Whether Scott Ashjian is “the real deal” as a tea party candidate, or an electable candidate at all, is not the point here. (Vetting him is all well and good but ultimately, his conservative creds will be for the voters to decide.) He’s a citizen, first and foremost. If he wants to form and file a third party, run for office, do CNN interviews, show up at a Tea Party or attend a conservative event, he ought to be – and is – free to do so.
Update (12:22 p.m.):
Here is a list of signers to the above document/denouncement so far:
It should also be said, perhaps, that the right to do something does not necessarily make that something the right thing to do. And that cuts both ways in this situation. Do Tea Party/grassroots groups have the “right” to denounce Scott Ashjian and ban him from their podium and private events? Yes. But is that the right thing to do?
E, I think you’re somewhat missing the point.
But first, my comment on the following…
“If he wants to form and file a third party, run for office, do CNN interviews, show up at a Tea Party or attend a conservative event, he ought to be – and is – free to do so.”
He is absolutely free to do so. But, as free Americans, we are free to oppose his candidacy. He is also free to attend PUBLIC events, but we who organize events are also free to deny him a microphone.
This is generally the logic we already use. For example, you won’t go to a Republican Men’s Club meeting and see Harry Reid speak. Reid would not be invited and his candidacy is strongly opposed by that particular group.
Also, to further expand on that, if Joe Schmoe decided that he would file a “Nevada News Bureau Party” and announce his candidacy, I’m fairly certain you would somewhat react the same way everyone here has.
The bottom line is that Ashjian has clearly made his move to ride the hard work of every tea party activist in Nevada. We’re not sure what his intentions really are, but that isn’t nearly as relevant as the fact that his actions themselves are what is damaging to both the tea party movement as well as our efforts to defeat Harry Reid.
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that Ashjian doesnt have the right to do what he did; Rather, the suggestion here is that we all have the right to oppose what he is doing.
And finally, yes, you’re right, this movement is not about ownership… it’s about ideas. But that has nothing to do with this. The only one claiming “ownership” over anything is Ashjian. We’re about ideas, but if Ashjian continues on his path without tea party opposition, Harry Reid and HIS ideas will continue to rule the land.
Our actions are logical and totally encouraged by the members we represent.
My two.
-Eric
In reply to your update…
“Do Tea Party/grassroots groups have the “right” to denounce Scott Ashjian and ban him from their podium and private events? Yes. But is that the right thing to do?”
Absolutely it makes it right! I’m not sure I understand why that is even a question. The question itself suggests that it’s possibly wrong for us to refuse someone the mic at an event we host.
Again, most groups in Nevada, left, right, partisan, non-partisan, all choose who is allowed and who is not allowed to speak at events. It’s perfectly right and ok for them to do so.
In my opinion of course…
-Eric
How do you know that he isnt just a concerned nevadan like your self, who thought, “i am so upset with the state of our country, i want to do something about it” your party will never gain steam if you try and destroy those that seek the change you claim to support.
i am speaking of John Ashjian of course.
I don’t know. And frankly, I don’t care.
Our organization has a goal of defeating Harry Reid. There are MANY ways you can “seek the change” we support, but going the route Ashjian went is not one of them.
Sorry, but that’s just a reality.
Who are these people that would register a political party name stolen from the common man? A real Tea Party Patriot would not fabricate a name, distort, and mislead others that have been working on these issues for years. No, this is the work of an ambulance chasing democrat lawyer and a broke businessman looking to make a quick buck.
How much will they want to charge all the groups already using the Tea Party name? They think they own it now. Tar is made for more things than paving roads. Add a sack of feathers, a rail and what do you have? I would call it Nevada justice.
you are both speculating. as am i but if I err it is with nothing at stake. Where you are a Tea party activist with everything at stake. The movement itself in Nevada is at stake, so will you run a “real Tea Party”candidate, or are you just going to hop on the republican band wagon. The Tea party only works in theory if it is made of new people. First Danny Tarkanian, and Sue Lowden arent New to the political arena, furthermore they are not everyday folks like you or I. They are monied interest. I just think it is amusing. The whole thing is just ass backwards
boblawlaw, surely you don’t believe that:
A) Scott Ashjian is going to win against Harry Reid
and
B) His use of the “tea party” brand was not simply to ride the brand for the purpose of getting default votes
Do you?
ASHJIAN NOT INVITED TO THE TEA PARTY!!!!!!!! KIND OF LIKE THE REPUBLICANS NOT INVITED TO THE DEBATE ON HEALTH CARE!!!!!!! WHO IS WRITING THIS CRAP!!!! THATS RIGHT CRAP!!!!! THE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN THIS BASHING , SEGREGATION, AND DEFAMATION, WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER ROSA PARKS NOT BEING ALLOWED ON THE BUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THATS RIGHT ……..ROSA PARKS……. SOUNDS LIKE OU ARE IMMERSED IN THE TICK OF THIN THINGS!!!! A REASONABLY MEASURED PERSON WOULD EMBRACE THE IDEA OF NEW THINKING AND IDEAS OR AT LEAST “FREEDOM OF SPEECH ” WOULD PREVAIL???
WHAT ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF???? NOT INVITING SCOTT ASHJIAN TO THE PARTY??? WHAT ARE THEY SCARED OF????????? MAKES ONE THINK WHO IS CONTROLLING WHO?????
ROSA PARKS PEOPLE???????????
ummm… I hope you realize that type of comment doesn’t really help your position become any stronger.
Just sayin.
I just find it interesting that you claim to support a new movement in our country. but you subvert those beliefs by making your goal, “defeat Harry Reid”. Why not build an alternative to both parties, all your “goal” equates to is empowering republicans.
as a side note ashjian is a hero is crazy. What are you talking about man. Rosa Parks? what?
back to Eric Odom, your questions.
A) I dont know if Ashjian can beat reid, but i do know he has good poll numbers and can help build a party, yet it seems your group isnt genuinely interested in doing that. you are interested in proping up the republican party.
B) Your question is not clearly stated. You sound like a Douche!!!!!!!!!!!!
boblawlaw, I’m interested in helping whoever has the best chance of beating Reid. That shouldn’t be too hard for you to understand, but apparently it is.
And on your last note, I’m not exactly sure what a “Douche” sounds like, so I can neither agree nor disagree with your assessment.
I do, however, note your unwillingness to address my assertion that Ashjian is simply vying for default votes by using the tea party brand to his advantage.
there are at least a couple ppl in this discussion who have tried to use the tea party brand to their advantage.
Of course he is! but that is how you begin to build a party, with a block of votes. Yet I take exception with the fact that you hear these tea partiers say, “impeach them all”, and spew rhetoric that holds contempt of both parties, yet you dont seem concerned with any of that, your one self confessed goal is to beat Harry Reid, you would do it with a toad, if he had the poll numbers. You arent concerned with changing the country you are unabashedly conceding that you want republicans to win, even if they are the same old tired folks who are just as bad as democrats. Your Tea party ambitious are nothing but a republican fascade.