Part 1
Part 2
Monday, September 13, 2010
Image Impact
Houston, Texas Tea Party
Felicia Winfree Cravens
There's a lot of press chasing the latest doings of the administration, and the vocal opposition to its agenda. You can't turn on the news without seeing a story about the health care debate, or the economy, or Cap and Trade. The debate is a good thing, and people who never cared about such issues before have suddenly found themselves chest-deep in the intricacies of legislation, discussing the Constitution. That renewed interest can never be bad for our republic.
What concerns me is the image portrayed by our opposition.
First, let's think about the goal here. Is the highest goal to keep a given piece of legislation from being passed? If so, then how do we make that happen? The obvious answer is to amass enough public opposition to render it politically impossible for Congress to pass it. This is why the town hall meetings have been so compelling; people are attending these events in unprecedented numbers to make their opinion known, especially on the health care legislation.
Is it having an effect? A little bit. It might result in a watered-down version of what's currently on offer being passed. But make no mistake, unless there's a radical change in the typical congressvarmint's point of view, this bill, in some form, WILL PASS.
So how do you change the view of Congress? My opinion is that you do it by reaching some of their base who do not currently agree with you. That takes many forms, but a good example is Tracy Miller's attempt to explain the health care legislation at an aborted Sheila Jackson Lee town hall. Sheila moved her town hall, and Tracy ended up at the original location. There she met several people who were supporters of the congresswoman, but who didn't know much about what was in the bill. She spent time that evening talking to those people and giving them facts and excerpts from the bill, and found common ground with them. She gave them something that was in short supply from Sheila Jackson Lee - information. That's a valuable outreach effort.
Would Tracy have had that opportunity to reach these SJL supporters had she charged in with her Obama Joker poster held high? I really don't think so. Would they have been receptive to anything she had to say? Probably not. Tracy knows this, and acted accordingly.
We should all take a page from her book, and learn something about image.
When Houston Tea Party Society hosted tea parties, we did our best to encourage people to focus on Congress as their targets. Putting the focus on the newly-elected, highly popular, still-honeymooning president would only serve to make those supporters dig in their heels and root their support even deeper. Congress was (and is) a much smarter target choice, and as Tracy found in an early SJL town hall, rich with material - as when SJL pretended to listen to Tracy's question and talked on her cell phone at the same time. That video landed the congresswoman, and Tracy, on the Fox News Channel.
The point here is that without the distraction of an altered Obama photo, without the distraction of a Sheila Jackson Lee voodoo doll, the story became Sheila Jackson Lee's behavior. Add those distracting elements into the picture, and the media would be reporting on the poster, on the doll. Is that the story we want to tell? Is that the goal; to get a chuckle out of people who agree with us? Or is the larger goal to prevail, to sway more people on the fence to agree with us, to amass the numbers we need to force Congress to abandon their socialist plans?
You can go for the cheap laugh, or you can go for the win. It's up to you. But if you go for the laugh, don't be surprised if we aren't all laughing along. Some of us would like to keep the focus on the issues.
Felicia Winfree Cravens
There's a lot of press chasing the latest doings of the administration, and the vocal opposition to its agenda. You can't turn on the news without seeing a story about the health care debate, or the economy, or Cap and Trade. The debate is a good thing, and people who never cared about such issues before have suddenly found themselves chest-deep in the intricacies of legislation, discussing the Constitution. That renewed interest can never be bad for our republic.
What concerns me is the image portrayed by our opposition.
First, let's think about the goal here. Is the highest goal to keep a given piece of legislation from being passed? If so, then how do we make that happen? The obvious answer is to amass enough public opposition to render it politically impossible for Congress to pass it. This is why the town hall meetings have been so compelling; people are attending these events in unprecedented numbers to make their opinion known, especially on the health care legislation.
Is it having an effect? A little bit. It might result in a watered-down version of what's currently on offer being passed. But make no mistake, unless there's a radical change in the typical congressvarmint's point of view, this bill, in some form, WILL PASS.
So how do you change the view of Congress? My opinion is that you do it by reaching some of their base who do not currently agree with you. That takes many forms, but a good example is Tracy Miller's attempt to explain the health care legislation at an aborted Sheila Jackson Lee town hall. Sheila moved her town hall, and Tracy ended up at the original location. There she met several people who were supporters of the congresswoman, but who didn't know much about what was in the bill. She spent time that evening talking to those people and giving them facts and excerpts from the bill, and found common ground with them. She gave them something that was in short supply from Sheila Jackson Lee - information. That's a valuable outreach effort.
Would Tracy have had that opportunity to reach these SJL supporters had she charged in with her Obama Joker poster held high? I really don't think so. Would they have been receptive to anything she had to say? Probably not. Tracy knows this, and acted accordingly.
We should all take a page from her book, and learn something about image.
When Houston Tea Party Society hosted tea parties, we did our best to encourage people to focus on Congress as their targets. Putting the focus on the newly-elected, highly popular, still-honeymooning president would only serve to make those supporters dig in their heels and root their support even deeper. Congress was (and is) a much smarter target choice, and as Tracy found in an early SJL town hall, rich with material - as when SJL pretended to listen to Tracy's question and talked on her cell phone at the same time. That video landed the congresswoman, and Tracy, on the Fox News Channel.
The point here is that without the distraction of an altered Obama photo, without the distraction of a Sheila Jackson Lee voodoo doll, the story became Sheila Jackson Lee's behavior. Add those distracting elements into the picture, and the media would be reporting on the poster, on the doll. Is that the story we want to tell? Is that the goal; to get a chuckle out of people who agree with us? Or is the larger goal to prevail, to sway more people on the fence to agree with us, to amass the numbers we need to force Congress to abandon their socialist plans?
You can go for the cheap laugh, or you can go for the win. It's up to you. But if you go for the laugh, don't be surprised if we aren't all laughing along. Some of us would like to keep the focus on the issues.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
U.S. Senate Candidate Lee Fisher Disrespects 9/11
From a guy that supports the DREAM Act and amnesty for illegal immigrants, should we expect anything less from a guy like Lee Fisher...
From Politico -- (emphasis added)
From Politico -- (emphasis added)
POLITICO reports today about the fading taboo of Sept. 11 politics: Marginal groups are holding dueling mosque rallies in New York that day, while across the country politicians tiptoe back toward having certain, relatively low-key political events that day.
The story doesn't make mention of any candidate fundraisers, but Ohio Senate candidate Lee Fisher is crossing that line as well, with a campaign fundraiser that evening at the home of a Mansfield City councilwoman, Ellen Haring.
Asked about the timing, a Fisher aide noted that earlier that day, the Democrat is attending a first-responder dedication ceremony in Hilliard, Ohio.
Fisher is, as far as I know, the only federal candidate in the country holding a fundraiser that day.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Ohioans acknowledge Governor Strickland's FAILURE on School Funding Fix
In his own words....
From Third Base Politics --
From Third Base Politics --
Remember this quote from Ted Strickland way back in 2006?
"Let me tell ...you this: I am so committed to solving this school-funding issue that if I become governor, and I do a lot of wonderful things but I fail to address this school-funding issue, I will have been a failed governor," Strickland said."
Interestingly enough, respondents to this weekend's Dispatch poll were asked about this very issue:
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Tea Party Patriots Host 9/12 St. Louis Rally to “Recycle Government” at Arch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tea Party Patriots Host 9/12 St. Louis Rally to
“Recycle Government” at Arch
One of Three Major 9/12 Events Across the Country
(ST LOUIS, MO) August 25, 2010 Thousands of Tea Party Patriots from across the Midwest are expected to converge in St. Louis on September 12, 2010 to rally in support of restoring founding U.S. principles, in protest at the size and scope of government, and in support of current efforts to repeal legislation that they believe has been forced upon them and will not deliver on its promises.
The rally will be held under the Gateway Arch with speakers and music on the Riverfront Stage. Music will begin at noon; speakers to begin at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. KFTK 97.1 FM Talk serves as the official radio sponsor.
“Our theme this year is ‘Recycle Government’ – to repeal ObamaCare, reduce government spending, and restore the principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets that make this nation great and free,” says Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder and national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, the largest network of voluntarily affiliated tea party and 9/12 groups in the country.
One of those groups, the St. Louis Tea Party, is a co-sponsor of the event. “We’re thrilled to welcome tea partiers from across the nation to St. Louis, the very heartland of America. St. Louis supports the Tea Party Patriots and looks forward to welcoming grassroots groups from all over to the event,” says Dana Loesch. Loesch and Bill Hennessy are founders of the St. Louis Tea Party.
The “9/12” rally, as its come to be known, first took place on 9/12/2009. More than 850,000 people converged on Washington, D.C. to protest out of control government spending, the erosion of personal liberties, and the bailouts of troubled industries. This year, the “9/12” rally will be held in St. Louis and Sacramento, CA in addition to Washington, D.C.
St. Louis participants will hear music from country music legend Sammy Kershaw; former American Idol contestant Krista Branch; Neil E. Boyd, winner of America’s Got Talent and St. Louis diva Kim Massie. Speakers will include US Congressional Representative Steve King, radio and Internet personalities, and grassroots organizers from Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Maine, Georgia, and Washington.
For more information about the 9/12 St. Louis “Gateway to November” event go to recyclegovernment.org/stlouis
Tea Party Patriots, Inc. operates as a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.
Tea Party Patriots, Inc. ("TPP") is a non-partisan, non-profit social welfare organization dedicated to furthering the common good and general welfare of the people of the United States. TPP furthers this goal by educating the public and promoting the principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free markets. Tea Party Patriots has not endorsed candidates for public office.
Tea Party Patriots.org “Ordinary Citizens Restoring America’s Founding Principles”
Contact:
Scott Boston
Tea Party Patriots, National Education Coordinator
9/12 St. Louis Event Coordinator
scottsboston@gmail.com
419-819-7590
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Lee Fisher Supports DREAM Act & Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
Running in the U.S. Senate race for OH, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher recently attended an exclusive "meet & greet" with proponents of amnesty for illegal immigrants. At this little breakfast bash Fisher fielded questions from the audience and boasted how he fully supports the efforts of the groups in attendance.
The OH representative of Reform Immigration for America, Ruben Castilla Herrera, posted the following at Ohio Action Circle -- (emphasis added)
But more importantly, if Lee Fisher is a man of his word and if he is elected U.S. Senator, Fisher has pledged to not only support the DREAM Act, but supports a comprehensive immigration reform -- which are political code words for granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.
What is the DREAM Act & what does it do?
More disturbing than Herrera not knowing the difference between a U.S. Senator and a State Senator is that, Lee Fisher, from his statements, is unaware that the United States ALREADY has a "path to citizenship" for immigrants wanting to become U.S. citizens.
Can we afford electing a Senator that supports giving preferential treatment, financial support & special perks to non-citizens over U.S. citizens when it comes to higher education or anything else for that matter? Can we afford electing a person Senator that supports back door amnesty for illegal immigrants?
At the point and time we are at in our country, where our U.S. Constitution is slowly being turned into confetti -- it is important, now more than ever, that anyone elected to the Senate be knowledgeable & respectful of the document they will swear an oath to uphold. It appears from his statements, Lee Fisher does neither!
The OH representative of Reform Immigration for America, Ruben Castilla Herrera, posted the following at Ohio Action Circle -- (emphasis added)
Columbus, Ohio – This morning I was at a breakfast meet and greet with Ohio Senate candidate Lee Fisher and twelve Columbus area Latino leaders. Fisher spoke briefly, then is was time for the guests to ask questions. I was the first to ask him a question and of course it was about the Dream Act and immigration reform.....First, in correcting Herrera.... Fisher is a candidate for U.S. Senate and NOT the OH Senate. It is pretty sad when the person arguing for amnesty of illegal immigrants doesn't even know the difference between a U.S. Senator and State Senator.
Do you support the Dream Act and immigration reform? To this, he gave a solid YES. He is on record indicating he supports a pathway to citizenship but to my knowledge has never been asked specifically about the Dream Act. This was good....!
The questions continued; Would you support the Dream Act as a stand along bill? He responding by saying that he prefers Dream to be a part of comprehensive immigration reform but if elected "I will support it either way."
I then asked; Can you go on record at a public event stating this support? He quickly commented, "I feel like I'm on Meet the Press", then gave another "yes" to this request. I told him that I will be following up very soon on this!
Oh...one more question Lt. Governor...
When you are elected our new Ohio Senator, will you take Comprehensive Immigration Reform as priority in the first few months of 2011? There was some hesitation but again he gave a YES!
But more importantly, if Lee Fisher is a man of his word and if he is elected U.S. Senator, Fisher has pledged to not only support the DREAM Act, but supports a comprehensive immigration reform -- which are political code words for granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.
What is the DREAM Act & what does it do?
The DREAM Act (S. 774) is a nightmare. It is a massive amnesty that extends to the millions of illegal aliens who entered the United States before the age of 16. The illegal alien who applies for this amnesty is immediately rewarded with "conditional" lawful permanent resident (green card) status, which can be converted to a non-conditional green card in short order. The alien can then use his newly acquired status to seek green cards for the parents who brought him in illegally in the first place. In this way, it is also a backdoor amnesty for the millions of illegal aliens who brought their children with them to the United States.Senator Harry Reid has stated he will strongly consider pushing the DREAM Act forward as a stand-alone bill before the end of the 2010! There are now 39 DREAM Act cosponsors in the Senate and 128 in the House of Representatives -- if elected to the U.S. Senate -- Lee Fisher would make it 40 supporters of the DREAM Act.
What is less well known about the DREAM Act is that it also allows illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition rates at public universities, discriminating against U.S. citizens from out of state and law-abiding foreign students. It repeals a 1996 federal law that prohibits any state from offering in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens unless the state also offers in-state tuition rates to all U.S. citizens. More....
More disturbing than Herrera not knowing the difference between a U.S. Senator and a State Senator is that, Lee Fisher, from his statements, is unaware that the United States ALREADY has a "path to citizenship" for immigrants wanting to become U.S. citizens.
Can we afford electing a Senator that supports giving preferential treatment, financial support & special perks to non-citizens over U.S. citizens when it comes to higher education or anything else for that matter? Can we afford electing a person Senator that supports back door amnesty for illegal immigrants?
At the point and time we are at in our country, where our U.S. Constitution is slowly being turned into confetti -- it is important, now more than ever, that anyone elected to the Senate be knowledgeable & respectful of the document they will swear an oath to uphold. It appears from his statements, Lee Fisher does neither!
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