Stop Ohio Republican Party from Disrespecting 9/11

Tea Party Patriot Action Alert

As we near the date of 9/11, the day of one of the most vicious attacks on American soil, many of us will be going to an event honoring the fallen, their families and the heroes of that day. As everyone did 8 years ago, and for some time afterwards, partisan politics were put aside and we came together as Americans. Our leaders acted in the best interest of America and “for which we stand.”

Unfortunately, as this fateful and sacred day in our country’s history nears, instead of being respectful by honoring, commemorating and remembering the victims and their family and instead of putting partisan politics away for a day, the Ohio Republican Party insists on donning their Elephant lapel pins and going to work.

In the most disgraceful way, the State Central Committee for the Ohio Republican Party will be meeting at 10:00AM on Fri. 9/11 at the Hilton Polaris (8700 Lyra Dr. / Near the Polaris Mall) to give out state party endorsements for the May 2010 primary.

After speaking with quite a few other Cleveland Tea Party Patriots (CTPP) who were also upset about this meeting, I contacted Chairman DeWine’s office to express our concerns. I identified myself as one of the CTPP coordinators, and that I was calling with some concerns about an upcoming endorsement meeting.

It was stated that we find it offensive, and most importantly disrespectful, that the OH GOP feels the need to hold partisan political meetings on 9/11 for the reason of giving out party endorsements. Surely, with the primary race over 6 months away -- there could be no rational or justifiable reason for giving out endorsements on this sacred day. (Or so I thought!)

Furthermore, it was stated that we feel party endorsements should not be given out in primary races and that the candidates should be elected on the merits of their accomplishments and/or their proposed platforms. I then requested, that if the endorsements must be given for primary races, that at least in good taste, the endorsement meeting should rescheduled for another day.

Since the OH GOP Chairman, Kevin DeWine, or his Executive Director, Jason Mauk, refuses to return calls, we are left to go by what was stated by DeWines office staff on his behalf....

In response to my above remarks it was confirmed the meeting is being held on 9/11/09, that the endorsement meeting will go on regardless of the date and something will be done to remember the victims. It was further stated by the Chairman’s office that, “the GOP Chairman in ALL 88 county’s and ALL of the members on the OH GOP State Central Committee felt the need to ‘direct’ voters in the primary on who to vote for and that is why the endorsements will be given.”

As we can clearly see, while the OH GOP claims they hear our Tea Party Patriot message that -- we are free-thinking conservative voters, we don’t need their direction & are tired of being told who to vote for -- their actions do not show it.

If you feel it is disrespectful and offensive to meet and give out party endorsements on 9/11 and you do not to need to be told who to vote for - we are urging you to contact the OH GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine, all 88 County GOP Chairman and all GOP State Central Committee members and ask that the endorsement meeting be canceled on this sacred day and no endorsements be given out for any primary races.

If the OH GOP Chairman DeWine refuses our requests we will request that any candidate, in honoring the victims and the heroes that stood up for our freedom on that sacred day, refuse the endorsement on the grounds that 9/11 should be national day of remembrance free of partisan politics.

Take Action:
---then forward this---

1.) Call OH GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine (614)228-2481

2.) Call your Republican Party County Chairman (from the list below). Leave brief message with your opinion on the endorsement meetings.

3.) E-mail members of the Republican State Central Committee. E-mail them as a group by copying / pasting their e-addresses:

1val@sbcglobal.net; acoughlin@neo.rr.com; Aesabath@aol.com; Bennett@ohiogop.org; betkitchen@aol.com; bjbinkley@msn.com; bryancwilliams@verizon.net; Burkeamb@hotmail.com; casey524@aol.com; cetodd1@aol.com; chairman@starkgop.org; christa.criddle@fuse.net; christim@fuse.net; cscal81@zoominternet.net; Curt3638_2000@yahoo.com; cwing@lakewoodrepublicans.org; dalefellows@sbcglobal.net; davebaileybadco@yahoo.com; dean@en.com; DGunning@ralaw.com; dhtalmage@voyager.net; djbjsherman@gmail.com; dmehaffie@woh.rr.com; doug@franklincountygop.org; dwjohnson@summitville.com; edonsim@aol.com; jadavidson@ameritech.net; JBecker@Fuse.net; jeantwinoaks@voyager.net; jowac@aim.com; kay1@zoomnet.net; kjohnston@insight.rr.com; lauragroux@hotmail.com; ledicesae@roppe.com; llf@bright.net; mark@compcoind.com; Montgomery@aol.com; nancegop@adelphia.net; NCLaria@gmail.com; nuts2u2@earthlink.net; Ohioandy@aol.com; owenhall@owenhall.com; payne@ohiogop.org; pflanaga@aol.com; ph@putnamtruckload.net; philbow@roadrunner.com; phog@northcoastwindandpower.com; phyllismosley1234@yahoo.com; randylaw4ohio@aol.com; rexdamschroder@yahoo.com; rhouck@willard-oh.com; seau@adelphia.net; Spaethchair@aol.com; srjones5@sbcglobal.net; Stewartd@mcohio.org; swain5030@yahoo.com; tmorgan@gradyhospital.com; mauk@ohiogop.org; gormley@ohiogop.org; chairman@ohiogop.org

Republican Party County Chairmen -

Find your county Chair & call him/her:

Allen Keith Cheney 419-228-7040 419-331-5655
Ashland Bob DeSanto 419-289-1710 419-289-1454
Ashtabula Richard Hornstein 440-992-4008 440-576-6925
Athens Pete Couladis 740-589-9914
Belmont Kent Moore 740-676-0206
Brown Paul Hall 800-525-4255
Butler Joseph Schwarz 513-893-5292
Carroll David Jones 330-735-2200
Champaign Ron Coder 937-653-6073 937-653-1477
Clark Dan Harkins 937-324-8482 937-307-0607
Clermont Tim Rudd 513-876-3466 513-732-1611
Clinton Roger Bennett 937-382-3778 937-382-3444
Columbiana David Johnson 330-223-1511
Coshocton David Burns 740-622-8960 740-622-2011
Crawford Don Long 419-562-8739
Cuyahoga Robert Frost 216-621-5415
Darke Gerg Fraley 937-548-0313
Defiance Jeffrey Strausbaugh 419-782-2625 419-784-3700
Delaware Teri Morgan 614-888-6085
Erie Jude Hammond 419-433-3031 419-627-6650
Fairfield Steve David 740-689-1746
Fayette Robin Beekman 740-426-6273
Fulton Sandra Barber 419-335-4428 419-337-9282
Gallia Lawrence Tawney 740-446-1856
Geauga 440-834-0680
Greene Marilyn Reid 937-431-5000
Guernsey Donald Brown 740-439-3443 740-432-5638
Hamilton Alex Triantafilou 513-381-5454
Hancock Rick White 419-422-3824
Hardin James Crates 419-675-7272 419-673-1129
Harrison Dennis Watson 740-968-0112
Henry David Grahn 419-592-5520 419-592-3503
Highland Kay Ayers 937-393-6512
Hocking Rod Hedges 740-385-6044 740-385-5392
Holmes Robin Hovis 330-674-3763 330-674-5000
Huron David Kniffen 419-668-4622 419-668-7576
Jackson Alan Stockmeister 740-286-2122
Jefferson Rick Desmar 740-283-3981
Knox Ken Lane 740-397-2462 800-307-8038
Lake Dale Fellows 440-352-0704
Lawrence Ray Dutey 740-532-1760 740-533-4308
Licking Richard Salvage 740-973-5440
Logan Robert Erwin 937-593-7120 937-593-9065
Lorain Robert Rousseau 440-235-6298
Lucas Bernadette Noe 419-842-1777
Madison Pete Kitchen 614-879-7044 614-879-6400
Mahoning Mike Smith 330-482-0200
Marion Karyle Mumper 740-389-4329 740-244-4344
Medina Ralph Berry 330-723-0415
Meigs Charles Barrett 740-742-2578 740-992-2911
Mercer Owen Hall 419-586-4078 419-586-7728
Miami John O'Brien 937-339-1112 937-332-6912
Monroe Roger Clause 740-567-3168
Montgomery Patrick Flanagan 937-434-0734 937-223-5200
Morgan Dean Cain 740-559-2248
Morrow Dan Osborne 419-947-3435
Muskingum Pat Hennessey 740-454-2841 740-454-1221
Ottawa Terry Lowe 419-898-0628 419-898-6874
Paulding Tony Langham 419-399-4933
Perry Dave Freriks 740-342-4130 740-605-0647
Pickaway Jeffrey Call 740-869-3884
Portage Norm Sandvoss 330-297-5718
Pike Doug Miller 740-493-2459 740-493-3199
Preble Hal Yoder 937-456-8148
Putnam Gary Grant 419-596-3327 419-596-3848
Richland Mike Smith 419-524-1808
Ross Ron Fields 740-775-2323
Sandusky Lee Shaffer 419-665-2316 419-332-1527
Scioto Dr. Terry Johnson Tjohnson@somc.org
Seneca Charles Knight 419-435-4000
Shelby Ralph Bauer 937-295-3714 937-497-7222
Stark 330-456-6333
Summit Alex Arshinkoff 216-650-5055 330-434-9151
Trumbull Craig Bonar 330-638-3251 330-392-2511
Tuscarawas Doug Wills 330-343-6131
Union Jim Westfall 937-642-0869
Van Wert Martin Burchfield 419-238-5198 419-238-6553
Vinton Patricia Napier 740-385-5898
Warren Les Spaeth previous 513-398-4761
Warren Tom Grossmann 513-357-9384 513-754-8660
Washington Marilyn Ashcraft 740-373-6830 740-732-2331
Wayne Jim Carmichael 330-264-4744 330-466-1474
Williams Bob Winzeler 419-485-3543 419-485-3147
Wood John Miller 419-354-5927
Wyandot Sherman Stansberry 419-294-3237

Go Get 'em Patriots!

An answer to: Fact Checking the White House: Congressmen Did Opt Out of Public Option

As we search the world wide web for information, we have read a number of blogs where folks like you and me have asked, why won't the fed's give up their health care coverage? Why can't we have what they have?

We came across this web site:

http://www.opm.gov/INSURE/HEALTH/

which outlines health care for federal/govt employees.

The opening paragraphs on this site reads:

"The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program can help you and your family meet your health care needs. Federal employees, retirees and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. You can choose from among Consumer-Driven and High Deductible plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan."

"Use this site to compare the costs, benefits, and features of different plans. We chose the different benefit categories based on enrollee requests, differences among plans, and simplicity. However, we urge you to consider the total benefit package, in addition to service and cost, and provider availability when choosing a health plan."

Further down on the page is this:

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, enacted February 17, 2009, provides a new health insurance opportunity for former employees who were or are involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. Under this new law, former Federal employees may request premium assistance for their temporary continuation of coverage (TCC) under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Premium assistance means your former agency will make a Government contribution of 65 percent of the TCC premiums for your FEHB plan enrollment."


The full text of the Benefits Administration's Letter can be found here:

http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/2009/09-202.pdf

With such a wide range of choices, 283 plans in all, why would any Congressperson/Senator/federal employee go for the "public option"? Why should we?

Fact Checking the White House: Special-Needs Patients Face Fewer Choices

Since many Americans with special needs, or their caretakers, use Medicare Advantage plans as a way to pay for their higher medical costs, they have every right to be concerned about the reduced funding congressional leadership is proposing to pay for its massive health care legislation. Dennis Smith, who worked tirelessly to improve options for disabled Americans when he was at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, notes that H.R. 3200 would reduce reimbursement for Medicare Advantage plans, resulting in fewer health insurance plans tailored to those with disabilities being available. That would mean fewer choices for people with special needs, not more as the White House claims.

To Congress, The 5 Pledges

To Congress, The 5 Pledges

1. I believe in a balanced budget and therefore will vote for a freeze in government spending until that goal is realized.

2. I believe government should not increase the financial burden on its citizenry during a difficult economic times, therefore I will oppose all tax increases until our economy has rebounded.

3. I believe more than four decades of US dependence on foreign oil is a travesty, therefore I will support an energy plan that calls for immediately increasing usage of all domestic resources including nuclear energy, natural gas and coal as necessary.

4. I believe in the sovereignty and security of our country and therefore will support measures to close our borders except for designated immigration points so we will know who is entering and why. I will vehemently oppose any measure giving another country, the United Nations, or any other entity power over US citizens.

5. I believe the United States of America is the greatest country on earth and therefore will not apologize for policies or actions which have served to free more and feed more people around the world than any other nation on the planet.

Obama 'Green Jobs' Adviser Van Jones Resigns Amid Controversy

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's adviser Van Jones has resigned amid controversy over past inflammatory statements, the White House said early Sunday.

Jones, an administration official specializing in environmentally friendly "green jobs" with the White House Council on Environmental Quality was linked to efforts suggesting a government role in the 2001 terror attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans.

The resignation comes as Obama is working to regain his footing in the contentious health care debate.

Jones issued an apology on Thursday for his past statements. When asked the next day whether Obama still had confidence in him, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones "continues to work in the administration."

The matter surfaced after news reports of a derogatory comment Jones made in the past about Republicans, and separately, of Jones' name appearing on a petition connected to the events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. That 2004 petition had asked for congressional hearings and other investigations into whether high-level government officials had allowed the attacks to occur.

"On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones said in his resignation statement. "They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."

Jones said he has been "inundated with calls from across the political spectrum urging me to stay and fight."

But he said he cannot in good conscience ask his colleagues to spend time and energy defending or explaining his past.

Jones flatly said in an earlier statement that he did not agree with the petition's stand on the 9/11 attacks and that "it certainly does not reflect my views, now or ever."

As for his other comments he made before joining Obama's team, Jones said, "If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."

Despite his apologies, Republicans demanded Jones quit.

Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana said in a statement, "His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this administration or the public debate." Missouri Sen. Christopher Bonds said Congress should investigate Jones's fitness the job.

FOX News' Glenn Beck repeatedly denounced Jones after a group the adviser co-founded, ColorofChange.org, led an advertising boycott against Beck's show to protest his claim that Obama is a racist.

James Rucker, the organization's executive director, has said Jones had nothing to do with ColorofChange.org now and didn't even know about the campaign before it started.

Jones, well-known in the environmental movement, was a civil-rights activist in California before shifting his attention to environmental and energy issues. He is known for laying out a broad vision of a green economy.

Nancy Sutley chair of the council, said in a statement released early Sunday that she accepts Jones resignation and thanked him for his service.

"Over the last six months, he had been a strong voice for creating jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources," she said. "We appreciate his hard work and wish him the best moving forward."

Can’t make the 9/12 March on D.C.?

By now I'm sure everyone has heard about the 9.12 Tax Payers March on DC where untold thousands are expected to turn out.

If you can't get to DC and want to participate in some Tea Party Patriot events -- don't worry... as the Weekend of Patriot Day is coming there is a whole bunch of Patriotic 'stuff' to do locally.

First, on the way to the D.C. event the Tea Party Express bus will be stopping in Canton on 9/9. Amy Kremer, one of the Tea Party Patriot National Organizers, will be on the bus and is looking forward to meeting all the die-hard Tea Party Patriots from OH. Amy will be blogging about the Tea Part Express as it makes it way to DC on her Southern Belle Politics Blog.

Then in remembering and honoring the day our country was attacked by flying jihadikaze's, the Richfield Tea Party Patriots will be having Patriot Day Tea Party on 9/11 from 5pm - 7pm. There is going to be a special "seating" area at this event which I am sure will bring a smile and get a good laugh from all attending. This special seating area may just make national news! Click here to RSVP and for more details.

After a good night's sleep of counting terrorists being waterboarded instead of sheep jumping a fence, head down to Mansfield for the Mansfield Tea Party & Bike Rally on September 12th at the Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park Pavilion. Besides some awesome speakers, this all day event will also feature live bands. Click here to RSVP and for more details.

We hope to see you at one or all of the events!

Fact Checking the White House: Congressmen Did Opt Out of Public Option

Contrary to the White House’s video, member of Congress in the House Ways and Means Committee already have exempted themselves from a government-run health plan with the defeat of an amendment by Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV). The amendment, which would have required members of Congress to enroll in the newly created public health insurance plan, failed with 21 Democrats voting no. Here’s the truth behind the entirely private coverage options offered to Congress and government employees through the successful Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.