ACTION

Time Out! Tea Party!

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You know with approximately six thousand Tea Party/9-12 groups nationwide and many of them under the umbrella of one or more national Tea Party groups it is an impossible task to get them to all march to the same tune. Let’s face it they are a diverse group of folks with little or no interest in having a single national leader or group because each individual Tea Partier or group has their own priorities.

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They are bound together by certain principles, namely; Constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility both personal and government, free market economics, less government spending resulting in lower taxes, return of sovereignty to the states and the individual, and most importantly protecting their freedom and liberty!

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Some groups focus on just a few of the above or add in some 2^nd Amendment or social issues that are dear to them…to each their own. They all fall under the broad umbrella of the Tea Party movement, born of the awakening of the “great silent majority” and silent no more. The Tea Party is the “Conscience of America”, conservatively plain and simple.

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The best path forward for the “Tea Party” movement is for each to allow the others their space. By now the whole world knows that regardless of what one group or individual may say or infer, there is no one leader, no one group that speaks for all of the Tea Party movement even though the media may try to portray it that way, but isn’t that how the MSM has always operated, exploiting situations for sensationalism and provocative headlines?

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There is no need for us to speak out publicly against one another every time we don’t agree with some action, statement or project of another. It just makes us look fractious; it impugns our collective character; it provides the MSM with even more cannon fodder and it pits brother against brother and sister against sister. Oft times we are perceived as like little kids fighting over marbles and what a shame because we all know of the sacrifice of time and money we all put into our efforts. That effort is at times staggering; mindboggling!

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Complaints have been vented about a National Convention, a state convention, bus road trips, particular rallies, press conferences, press releases, you name it, but you know what? If you talk to anyone who participated or attended, they were fired up and thought it was a great success! Maybe we should begin recognizing some of these “complaints” for what they really are, differences in opinion, before we launch public attacks. As defenders of the Constitution we must always be mindful of other's First Amendment rights and learn to express a difference in opinion, at will, but to reserve attacks for only the most egregious acts or statements by those who would harm the Tea Party.

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We can no more control what road folks choose to take or prevent them from making their own mistakes, than we can affect the rising and setting of the sun. What we can do is learn from each other whether it is from what worked or what didn’t work. We can support each other’s efforts and recognize it is all for the greater good.

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It has been said that even greater deeds may be accomplished, even greater heights may be reached, when we are not encumbered by, who gets the credit. Two tactics by which we may all do a better job and be more effective are before making comments: first, ask yourself, always “Is this good for everyone in the Tea Party, all of our grassroots?” and secondly “Speak no ill of other conservatives/Tea Partiers publicly” in other words let’s keep our house cleaning, disagreements or complaints among ourselves.

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We are not ourselves the enemy; we just sometimes disagree on the battle plan. We must learn to save and focus all of our angst and energy on the real enemy, the liberal and progressive Left. We must not waste our energies on infighting and thereby afford strength to the liberal Left and the MSM!

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It is rare that you would ever agree with anyone 100% of the time. Relish and be thankful for that which you agree on and learn to accept that there will be some things that you won’t ever agree on.

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Remember always to stay focused on the prize; forgive others who are less focused; realize we all have different skills and resources and will approach things differently; don’t worry who is getting the credit (the folks who really matter know where it belongs); don’t speak ill of other Tea Partiers (it tarnishes character and lowers stature, your own!); remember just because you didn’t think of it doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea; apologize for no one but yourself (you know when you are wrong, apologizing for others may prove to be a mistake in the long run); worry more about how good a job you are doing than the judging of others and remember in the end, we are all accountable to only One!

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The prize you may ask? Here on earth, your liberty and freedom as well as that of your family and loved ones. And afterwards?………you hold the key to that prize in your heart and mind!!

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For Liberty’s Sake,

Tom Whitmore