Kevin, What a misleading Headline. Almost all the original 55 groups (tpwmi was counted as one) are still involved. Interesting in one of your previous Blogs you cite the total numberof MI Liberty groups as being over, and now you are down to 120. It would help if you would provide a link to the Michigan Tea Party Patriot Network that you cite as your source. All the research done by MI4CS shows a total of 64 Tea party groups in MI. Yes they have criteria. Any legitimate organization does. MI4CS is modeled after a similar effort that elected a true conservative to office in Indiana in 2010. You also mention the tpwmi. Yet failed to use the entire email, which verifies that that group is down to only 5 chapters. 3 of which had to cancel most of their meetings last year for lack of interest.(yet still claims to represent all those who have left).
complete message :
You may have heard that there is a movement of some tea parties in Michigan to work to get behind one candidate for U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan. This letter is explaining what your Chapters have determined to be their role in this endeavor. We all looked into it in various degrees and came away with this conclusion:
Tea Party of West Michigan
The leaders of the chapters of Tea Party of West Michigan have talked to their members and decided individually to not participate in Michigan for Conservative Senate (MI4CS).
We know there are some very good people who have worked hard to make this succeed, but we feel it has fallen short of it's goal and certainly should not be considered a consensus of who the tea parties across the state are backing in the Senate race.
The good things that came out of this process, communication among groups and the wonderful debates held across the state, are positive improvements to our tea parties. It's always a good thing when voters can see up close and personal the candidates they will have the opportunity to vote for. Much work went into these efforts and we're convinced there can be a silver lining to this experiment.
Our members will vet all seven candidates thoroughly and decide whom they wish to support in the primary. We all agree any of these candidates would be an improvement over our current Senator. After the primary we will unite behind the winner to replace Debbie Stabenow.
Dump Debbie!
Manistee Area Tea Party
Ludington Area Tea Party
Newaygo Co. Tea Party
Tea Party of West Michigan North Kent Chapter
Tea Party of West Michigan Central Chapter (Grand Rapids)
I consider you a friend, but please get the facts straight. I know for a fact the website membership (tpwmi)was not informed or involved in the decision making process. A search of Their website shows only 3 mentions of MI4CS, 2 pertaining to the Barry county chapter,and 1 to the Oceana county chapter, neither of which is still officially part of the tpwmi, and both of which have been part MI4CS. You also know that the website numbers include the members from the groups that broke away after the original charter was ignored, and officer elections cancelled. Including the Ottawa groups that you mentioned, and Mark Petzold's( The REAL Founder, who brought Everyone together in the first place, and tried to follow the charter) original core group the Tea Party of Grand Rapids/River City Patriots.( which is also still listed in their membership roles, Tina just changed the group name). If I was a cynic, I might think that the tpwmi leadership purposely got involved in MI4CS, leaving their members in the dark, with the plan to pull out at the end, to sabotage the effort.(only a theory?).
MI4Cs has been a POSITIVE force for getting the message out, and introducing the candidates to the public. It has also caused many more people to get engaged in the process. The 55 member groups have held over 150 meetings,forums, and debates, all across the state. The energy harnessed thus far will culminate in Mt Pleasant on Feb. 25th, and kick off even more action as we go into the primary.
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