Political News and Commentary with the Right Perspective. NAVIGATION
  • Front Page
  • News
  • Multimedia
  • Tags
  • RSS Feed


  • Advertise on RightMichigan.com


    NEWS TIPS!

    Get the RightMighigan.com toolbar!


    RightMichigan.com

    Buzz

    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Major Withdrawal From MI4CS


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Mon Feb 20, 2012 at 02:00:15 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan For Conservative Senate, Tea Party of West Michigan, Michigan Tea Party Network, Michigan Republican Senate Primary (all tags)

    You may recall this article that I wrote about some tea party organizations in Michigan having some concerns with a group calling itself "Michigan 4 Conservative Senate."  In it, I mentioned several misgivings about an attempt to unify the tea party vote eleven weeks in advance of the filing deadline, and in fact attempting to unify the voices of the Michigan tea party network at all (coordinate, yes; unite, not so much).  Given everything that's come out and been discussed about MI4CS since then, and given also that the straw poll convention is this coming Saturday (scheduled for 25 Feb 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. according to the River City Patriots), I thought that I should tell you about a major development . . . following the break.


    According to my notes, the Michigan Tea Party Patriot Network consists of just over 120 individual organizations covering almost all of Michigan's 83 counties, literally reaching into every corner of the state.  According to the MI4CS information page, 55 of those organizations (representing a collective membership of about 13,000 patriots) comprise their group, their mission being:  "To ensure the United States senatorial representation of Michigan reflects conservative values and strict adherence with the Constitution of the United States as worded and originally intended by the writers of this sacred document."

    I'll cede that the intention is solid, as the reason that Michigan currently has Governor Snyder is because we had just enough conservative candidates running to sufficiently split the vote and hand RDS the 2010 primary win.  (I think it was Jason who mentioned that a three-point spread in a four-way contest with 20 percent still undecided on the GOTV weekend was a scary prospect.)  With the prescient need to pack as many constitutional conservatives into the Senate as possible, the concern of having so many conservatives in a primary race that the vote may be diluted, again, is indeed daunting.  Any reasonable effort to weed out the field and flag, ideally, one honest conservative behind whom the support of the tea party movement can coalesce, is a good idea, to say the very least.

    However, there has always been considerable backchannel discussion as to exactly how this is going to work.  With regard to MI4CS specifically, much of the discussion has revolved around which tea party organizations are in this group, and how that was decided, as well as whether or not MI4CS was already "in the tank" for a particular candidate (or already pre-stacked against a particular candidate).  I had referenced Dan Wholihan in my earlier article, but there have also been posts by Jen Kuznicki and Bill Gavette on this matter, among others.  The tweets of Pat Battaglia haven't helped matters any, either.

    A review of the FAQ page of the MI4CS website provides a rundown of the criteria for tea party involvement, which had me wondering what the hell the perception of a big secret was all about.   The very next item is a discussion on why MI4CS is keeping their membership list under wraps, "in order to protect their privacy as well as to discourage divisiveness within the TEA Party movement."  For a group that's supposed to be all about uniting the Michigan tea party voices behind a single senate candidate, that notion seems a tad strange, but given all of the crap that's swirling around about this, maybe that's wise.  According to Cindy Gamrat, each individual group is free to out itself if it wishes to do so, but she's keeping the list under wraps.

    Even more strange is the word circulating on tea party forums in Michigan that, as of February 8th, MI4CS claims only 15 tea party organizations within its convention framework.  Since the MI4CS website doesn't have any note anywhere reflecting this drastic change, I double-checked with Cindy Gamrat, who confirmed that (as of 8:00 p.m. Sunday night) at least 40 organizations are participating, holding an aggregate membership of at least 10,000 people, with about seven organizations that haven't finished their deliberations yet.  From this morning's press release:

    "We are changing the landscape of the way politics is done in this country.  It is a change that has been needed for a long time and it is great to be a part of it.  Americans are waking up and are not going to stand idly by anymore as our freedoms are stolen from us and our future generations.  MI4CS is one way of making an impact in who we send to Washington D.C." stated Cindy Gamrat, MI4CS facilitator.

    Months of planning have led up to this extremely important event.  TEA Party members around the state have been meeting with the candidates, attending debates, and evaluating responses to vetting questions to learn as much as they can about all of the candidates.  They will be bringing their votes to the MI4CS convention to have their group's voice heard in the straw poll.

    The winning candidate of the straw poll will be endorsed by MI4CS.  Groups participating are encouraged to unite behind that candidate and give him the boots on the ground necessary to win the primary election in August and then the general election in November.

    Cindy also mentioned in our phone conversation earlier today that she and I arrive at our numbers a little differently.  I consider any tea party group that holds its own meetings to be a separate organization, even if it's a "franchise chapter" of an "umbrella organization," whereas she aggregates them as one organization.  As an example, the Ottawa County Patriots have three semi-independent subordinate organizations that meet in Holland, Hudsonville, and Grand Haven; I view that as four organizations, while she treats it as one.

    But I do know that one of the largest tea party organizations in Michigan isn't participating in the MI4CS convention.  Last week, I received an e-mail from Tina Dupont, one of the founders of Tea Party of West Michigan:

    A message to all members of Tea Party of West Michigan

    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:

    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 its 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!

    The Tea Party of West Michigan currently lists 2,568 members on their website, spread among between 16 and 20 chapters throughout the 13 counties of Central-West Michigan, (plus outliers in Bay, Benzie, and Manistee counties).  I know that the actual active membership is a much smaller number, but I don't know how much smaller, so how that plays out across the rest of the MI4CS organization I don't know.  I do find it interesting that a major tea party organization felt the need to go public with their non-participation in MI4CS, and I'm aware that several others (Rattle With Us, Grassroots In Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Patriots among them) have also withdrawn from participation.

    I'm curious as to how many more tea party organizations will feel compelled to go public either this week or next with the message that MI4CS doesn't speak for them, which will then raise the twin questions of how that ought to be handled and whether that should even matter.  Because I don't think that conservatives sniping at each other is the wisest thing we could be doing.

    < Thank You, Charlie! | Compactcare: The Progressive Tactic >


    Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit


    Display: Sort:
    I'll try and find out more tonight (none / 0) (#1)
    by Republican Michigander on Mon Feb 20, 2012 at 03:41:06 PM EST
    I have the 8th district meeting tonight. If some of the retakeourgov or Brighton Tea Party folks I know are there, I'll see what I can find out.

    There's a name I'm waiting to hear. I've heard it since December. I don't want to disclose who I think is the "choice" yet.

    Even us diehards usually start senate stuff in May.

    I don't like this for a few reasons:

    1. Early. Before filing deadline and signature requirements.
    2. Timing. When the presidential primary dominates the news.
    3. What's criteria for being part of the decision making process?
    4. How are votes weighted?
    5. Exclusion of PACS...or some PACS.

    I hope this is not an attempt at a reverse coronation (to stop Hoekstra and that's what this is about) like what is attempted with the establishment for Hoekstra. To me it is the same thing. I have nothing against Pete Hoekstra or the person that I'm expecting to see them pick as the alternative, but I don't care for coronations in general.

    At least wait until after the filing deadline, wait until when the campaigns become more active, and then make a decision if it is necessary to avoid a Rick Snyder or Joe Schwarz type of situation. I don't put Hoekstra in that category and like to save those types of tactics for the Snyder/Schwarz/Romney level of people.

    For all its worth (none / 0) (#2)
    by JGillman on Mon Feb 20, 2012 at 04:33:13 PM EST
    WAAY too much time is spent worrying about whether the Mi4CS is speaking for any specific tea group.

    Bottom line is that it has brought attention to the race, and a couple of "no-name candidates" had the opportunity to compete on the same stage as the presumed front runner in debates.

    The FIX however, is in how the presumed front runner cowardly avoids those particular events because it doesn't fit his electioneering style.

    No one is speaking for anyone, and it is is offered up more like a really good poll in the end.  

    Pete will look like crap in the results because he treated the opportunity to win over those tea types like crap.  For him is it a calculated risk, nothing more or less.

    And in the process, he proves once again the attitude of the elite, and says pretty much:

    "Who do you think you are to challenge ME??!"

    coronation, reverse coronation, whatever. It can be spun as irrelevant to be sure, but 5 of the 7 candidates thought it was important enough to assemble under the banner of added exposure.  THOSE are the good guys, with good ideas instead of the inane "I'm Pete Spend a little less" slogans that actually insult our intelligence.

    As for that Ad? I didn't find the it to be necessarily xenophobic, however, it was a not-so-well thought out translation of a serious issue.

    But what does one expect when dealing with professional deliverer of political bromide?

    HOW YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR NUMBERS. (none / 0) (#4)
    by PATRIOTIST on Wed Feb 22, 2012 at 03:13:11 PM EST
    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.
    <a href="http://www.michigan4conservativesenate.com/"></a>
    <a href="mailto:patriotist@msn,com"></a>

    List Of KnownTea Parties NOT Particpating in MI4CS (none / 0) (#5)
    by apackof2 on Sat Feb 25, 2012 at 02:12:23 PM EST
    This is just organized tea parties and does not account for tea party movement adherents who have chosen not be involved in any organization.

    1. Lapeer Tea Party
    2. Romeo Tea Party
    3. SE/9-12
    4. Port Huron Tea Party
    5. Lenawee 9/12
    6. Ann Arbor Patriots
    7. Willow Run Tea Party
    8. Manistee Area Tea Party
    9. Ludington Area Tea Party
    10. Tea Party of West Michigan North Kent Chapter
    11. Tea Party of West Michigan Central Chapter (Grand Rapids)
    12. Re Take Our Gov
    13. Brighton Tea Party
    14. Rattle With Us
    15. West Oakland County Tea Party Patriots
    16. Branch County Tea Party
    17. Southwest Michigan Patriots
    18. Newaygo Tea Party
    19. SE Oakland 9-12
    20. Grassroots in Michigan (Capitol City Based)
    21. Western Washtenaw Tea Party


    Gary Glenn got it as expected (none / 0) (#7)
    by Republican Michigander on Sat Feb 25, 2012 at 07:08:16 PM EST
    That was exactly the name I was hearing in December as well.

    Nothing for or against Glenn, but what makes him that much better than Konetchy, Durant, Marino, or Hekman. I'm not going to say anything about Glenn one way or the other here because I think the problem is the process.

    Which tea parties made the decision? A lot of them sat out, including the ones I know best. (Retake our Gov, Brighton)

    Why announce this the Saturday before the presidential primary?

    What happens if Glenn doesn't make a good showing in the primary?

    Quick! Hide the Gadsden's (none / 0) (#8)
    by Corinthian Scales on Mon Feb 27, 2012 at 04:49:15 PM EST
    Display: Sort:

    Login

    Make a new account

    Username:
    Password:
    Tweet along with RightMichigan by
    following us on Twitter HERE!

    Poll

    Who would you like to see come away with the MI4CS endorsement?
    Scott Boman (Detroit)
    Clark Durant (Detroit)
    Gary Glenn (Midland)
    Randy Hekman (Grand Rapids)
    Pete Hoekstra (Holland)
    Peter Konetchy (Roscommon)
    Chuck Marino (Howell)
    Rick Wilson (Grand Blanc)

    Votes: 5
    Results | Other Polls
    create account | faq | search