I just had a long talk with the guy from the Republican Party Finance Committee about his side of the rules that he says the Henderson Pavilion plans to try to impose on freedom-loving Tea Party activists on Saturday.

He called me after reading some of my posts on the problems of telling Tea Partiers they can’t have signs, and initially he was wondering why I was attacking him (I didn’t even know he was involved – I was objecting to the nonsense of trying to impose Free Speech restrictions on Tea Party Free Americans). He said he didn’t schedule the event for the Pavilion, (he didn’t say who did schedule it at the Pavilion) but he was funding it and organizing it.

At first, he said it wasn’t a Tea Party Express event at all; later, he agreed that it was half Tea Party Express and half Republican party event – with that part aimed at mobilizing people to get involved in local elections.

I don’t think that people who plan to attend see this as anything except a Tea Party (and probably a Tea Party Express) event – they will stay for Ann Coulter (who he said will be talking about local elections, not national races or the Tea Party movement), but I think they’re going to be there for the excitement and freedom and free expression of a Tea Party event, not for a Republican party rally.

I told him this was a mistake and it was courting disaster. The hostile liberal media will be there, and they’ll be looking for any story that makes the Tea Party look bad – and if security tries to stop people from going in with signs, and if security tries to throw people out if they sneak signs in – the Left Wing Media will be all over it.

Scott Ashjian, that Fraudulent Harry Reid False Flag candidate, told Ralston tonight that he’ll be dragging CNN to the tea party express events, looking to cause bad publicity for the Tea Party he pretends to represent. Other hostile media will also be there, looking for trouble. This is going to give them exactly what they’re looking for.

I’m not trying to cause problems (I think the problems are already there, I’m just talking about them), but this whole idea of a bunch of anti-First-Amendment rules being imposed on a celebration of the First Amendment’s rights of free speech and free assembly is bass-ackwards. That is what SEIU and ACORN does – everybody comes in official T-Shirts, everybody’s organized and under control. Mind-numbed robots.

But Tea Party people are by nature Free Americans who do not like the government telling them what they can and can’t do.

It’s too late to change the venue, but it’s also too late to tell people with tickets that there are a bunch of rules that, by their very existence, will make this NOT a Tea Party event. I don’t think that the freedom-loving Americans who are part of the Tea Party movement and who think they’re coming to a Tea Party Express event are going to go gently into that good night of Follow The Rules Just Because They’re Rules.

However, Elizabeth, it seems that your initial assertion that the no-sign rule had to do with security for Ann Coulter is not true – it’s an established rule of the Henderson Pavilion, apparently a very inappropriate venue for a Tea Party event.

We’re looking at a disaster unless the people who think they “own” this event and think it’s a “Republican Party” event rather than a Tea Party event decide to back way off and let people freely express themselves. I told him that, and I hope he’s listening.

Ned

First, I was wrong in ascribing information about these rules to Elizabeth – she was quoting the Sharron Angle campaign.

The more I learn about this, the more I become convinced that this is going to be a disaster – and one that will take place right in front of the media. Nobody can tell the tea party members that they can’t have signs – that’s a defining characteristic of the Tea Party movement. Yet the Pavilion’s rules say you can’t even have a sign in the parking lot. Do they remember the First Amendment, or do they not care?

Imagine the reaction of thousands of Tea Partiers who are confronted with the fact that someone thinks they’ve given up their God-given rights of Free Speech just by showing up … at a Tea Party Express event.

It’s almost like someone who wanted to sabotage the event scheduled it at the Pavilion, which (because of their rules) has to be the worst possible venue.

That this problem seems to have been created by the Republican Party will only serve to drive a wedge between the Republican Party and the tea party activists … which echoes what Scott Ashjian is doing. I don’t think anyone is consciously trying to sabotage the Tea Party Express, but through ignorance or just not paying attention, that may well be the outcome.

I think it’s instructive to carefully read the rules that Sally Minster posted to the Glenn Beck meetup group:

Henderson Pavilion Rules & Safety Guidelines
(The Take Back Our State event March 27th at the Henderson Pavilion is a PRIVATE, CONTRACTED event.)

NED-NOTE: This is a Tea Party Express event, yet the guys paying for it are calling it a “Take Back Our State” event. No mention of Tea Party or Tea Party Express. Seems the Republicans who are paying for this venue and who are bringing in Ann Coulter want to capitalize on the Tea Party Express but they’re nonetheless doing everything they can to shut out the Tea Party Express.

Permitted Items: One unopened bottle of water per person and a blanket.

Prohibited items: Coolers, bottles, cans, weapons, laser pointers, chairs, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, illegal drugs, outside food and beverage, pets, umbrellas and any items deemed inappropriate by management are prohibited from entering the Pavilion.

Sale, Distribution or Promotion: The sale, distribution, promotion or dissemination of any materials will NOT be allowed inside the Pavilion or outside the Pavilion at the event parking sites.

NED-NOTE: The Tea Party Express covers its costs by selling books and programs and other items licensed and approved by the Tea Party Express – it is inconceivable that anybody who’s really planning to “include” the Tea Party Express would promulgate this rule.

Signs and Banners: These items will NOT be allowed inside the Pavilion or outside the Pavilion at the event parking sites.

NED-NOTE: The Tea Party movement is all about free speech, and the creation of home-made signs is a defining element of Tea Party events – it is inconceivable that anybody who’s really planning to “include” the Tea Party and its members would promulgate this rule.

Recording and Video devices: Recording or Videotaping is NOT permitted.

NED-NOTE: The Tea Party Express has a TV network and routinely and officially videotapes and broadcasts Tea Party Express events … also, all Tea Party Express events are open to the public AND THE MEDIA (who are exercising their Freedom of the Press – another of those pesky God-Given Rights – it is inconceivable that anybody who’s really planning to “include” the Tea Party Express or the media (or even the Tea Partiers who want a record of the event) would promulgate this rule.

Other Rules: No refunds of donations. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area. Shoes and shirts are required.

Please note that all bags are subject to search at anytime and Management and Grassroots Nevada reserves all rights to change its rules and procedures.

NED-NOTE: The Grassroots Nevada group which is issuing tickets says it reserves the right to change the rules, but nobody seems willing to even consider changing the above-mentioned restrictions – it is inconceivable that anybody who’s really planning to “include” the Tea Party Express would promulgate these rules – and, once they realized the problems they’re creating, allow those rules to stand. But it seems that they are hell-bent on denying participants (and the Tea Party Express AND the Media) their God-Given rights of Free Assembly, Free Speech and Free Press.

I also think it’s worth reading – critically – the notice that was sent to the Candidates.

Remember, this whole thing began as a Tea Party Express event … and remember that real grass-roots Candidates (not a fraud like Scott Ashjian, but real grass-roots candidates) are welcome and involved in the events.

This is really over-the-top, at least in my opinion:

Notice to all Candidates – Prohibited Items at the Henderson Pavilion

The event at the Henderson Pavilion is a PRIVATE, CONTRACTED event. Grassroots Nevada (but NOT the Tea Party Express) will NOT allow campaign or other materials to be distributed, promoted, sold or disseminated in any manner inside the Pavilion or outside the Pavilion or at the event parking sites.

NED-NOTE – how is it conceivably Constitutional that the display of campaign materials can be banned from public locations such as parking lots or “outside the Pavilion” … if you think about it, “outside the Pavilion” is the ENTIRE WORLD. Who do these fascists think they are? Have they never heard of the First Amendment, which our Founders said came from God, not Man, and therefore Man cannot take away what God has granted to us as Americans.

Also, signs and banners of any type will NOT be allowed inside the Pavilion or outside the Pavilion or at the event parking sites.

NED-NOTE – Same Point: how is it conceivably Constitutional that the display of signs or banners can be banned from public locations such as parking lots or “outside the Pavilion” … again, have they never heard of the First Amendment, which our Founders said came from God, not Man, and therefore Man cannot take away what God has granted to us as Americans.

These rules have been adopted for many legal and practical reasons. Please RESPECT our security team and the Henderson Police officers who are required to make bag checks at the entrance gates and to enforce these rules in the event parking sites. PLEASE INFORM everyone on your team to RESPECT these rules and make everyone’s VOLUNTEER efforts and this event take place without incident.

NED-NOTE – under what Constitutional or Statutory ruling is a PRIVATE EVENT able to tell the Henderson Police that they are REQUIRED to conduct unconstitutional searches (remember the 4th Amendment, our God-Given Right protecting us from unwarranted (i.e., no warrant) search and seizures, in a building or out in public? Do the Police really think they can prevent Free Speech in public? I hope not. Where are the Oath Keepers when we really need them (for those who don’t know, the Oath Keepers asks police and military to not enforce unconstitutional laws or regulations like this.

Anyone who wishes to discuss this policy can contact me directly.
THANK YOU
Jamie Costello
grassrootsnevada@earthlink.net

NED-NOTE – I spoke at length with Jamie Costello tonight. He told me he was representing the Republican Party and its finance committee. He did not tell me he was with grass roots Nevada (apparently, he IS Grass Roots Nevada). He suggested that his hands were tied regarding rules, but above, he reserved the right to change rules.

JAMIE – I suggest that before this whole thing disintegrates into a complete Goat Rope disaster … with you expecting the police to enforce clearly unconstitutional bans on Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Freedom of Assembly (as well as Freedom from unwarranted searches and seizures) … that you change these oppressive, fascistic “rules.”

The media will be there, and watching. Your rules will create chaos, and the media will observe that.

The Tea Party Express, a great organization (and not a “circus”) is going to be damaged, financially, reputationally and with the media. All for no good reason.

The Tea Party movement in Nevada will be damaged.

Finally, when Tea Partiers realizes that the Clark County Republican Party is behind these oppressive rules, there will be a backlash that will hurt the Republican Party and undermine your goals of getting people organized for local elections.

JAMIE, you have time to change this. Do it or there will be chaos that will be laid at your door. Nobody – least of all me – wants to see that happen. I’m writing to try to get your attention and fix the problem before it erupts like a Liberal-Loving Volcano.

Ned