Roanoke Tea Party Hopes to Inspire Bob Goodlatte to be a Fiscal Revolutionary
By Jason Johnson | Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 | PolicyWhen Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg in 1517, he ignited a spiritual revolution that would change Christendom forever. The Roanoke Tea Party hopes they can similarly ignite a fiscal revolution by posting a petition on the door of 6th District Representative Bob Goodlatte’s Roanoke office as part of their Fiscal Sanity Rally today at noon.
Here is the text of the petition they will post:
As concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, we bring this petition before our United States Congressional representative. We do not make these demands lightly, but as engaged citizens who see a Federal budget process that is out of control, and becoming increasingly desperate by the day.
The Crisis as We See it:
- The Federal Government has run up over $14 trillion dollars in debt which will need to be repaid from future tax revenue, or inflated away by debasement of the currency.
- Social Security and Medicare Programs have $114 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities which are promised regardless of the government’s ability to pay.
- The Federal Reserve has, without Congressional oversight, acceded to continuing devaluation of the dollar.
- We continue to fund unconstitutional Federal Programs per Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution and the 10th Amendment
- This path is unsustainable. The fiscal future of this nation is doomed absent immediate and drastic action. Only principled, individual action from our legislators can hope to save our nation from this fate.
Actions We Need NOW
- Vote no on any future Continuing Resolution that does not include dramatic spending cuts and/or a balanced budget vote.
- Vote immediately to defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
- Vote no on raising the debt limit; begin serious cuts in Federal spending.
- Vote to address Medicare and Social Security insolvency.
- Vote to audit the Federal Reserve.
- Vote to defund federal agencies that are not sanctioned in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution.
Only these drastic actions can save this nation from financial ruin. We hope we can count on you for leadership at this crucial moment in history.
While the Roanoke Tea Party is absolutely right in requesting that Congress take action on their petition, it could be argued that the Roanoke Tea Party is preaching to the choir. Some members of Congress need to be reminded why they were elected; Bob Goodlatte is not one of them. Since he was seated in 1993, Rep. Goodlatte has been a fairly consistent vote for fiscal responsibility. He has proposed the Balanced Budget Amendment in the 110th, 111th and the 112th Congresses. Rep. Goodlatte has recently taken the Obama Administration to task for what he believes is an unnecessary and exorbitantly expensive renovation of Roanoke’s Poff Federal Building—$50.9 million—funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. After fighting the project for more than one year, Rep. Goodlatte laments that he still has not received the answers that he has requested from the Obama Administration (is anyone really surprised?).
I believe the Roanoke Tea Party would find an ally in Rep. Goodlatte if they approached him and helped him demand answers on the Poff Building renovation. Instead, they are finding out how not to make friends and influence people in Washington.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
A lifelong political junkie, Jason caught the political bug as a fifth grader after meeting George Allen in 1993. Since then he has studied political science at both the undergraduate and graduate level. When not perusing the blogs or volunteering for conservative Republicans, Jason enjoys cheering on his beloved Virginia Tech Hokies and spending time at his Bedford County home.
Comments
23 Responses to "Roanoke Tea Party Hopes to Inspire Bob Goodlatte to be a Fiscal Revolutionary"
“I knew Martin Luther. Martin Luther was a friend of mine. And you, sir, are no Martin Luther.”
Good post, Jason. These “our way or the highway” demands will not endear the Tea Party movement to anyone except their fellow echo chamber occupants.
In my opinion, the Tea Party is self-destructing as a movement capable of garnering moderate votes on five fronts:
1. Refusal to compromise or accept 75% or even 90% solutions. The $15T debt didn’t occur overnight or under a single administration. And it won’t go away overnight or under a single Congress.
2. Borderline lunatic politicians who are embraced as the leaders of the TPM: Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, et al.
3. The Birthers, who are astonishingly ignorant of US citizenship law, to the point of appearing racist.
4. Paranoid behavior towards their own democratically elected government. Reckless and irresponsible talk of revolution, government conspiracies, and currency reform.
5. An “Ignorance-Is-Bliss” anti-intellectual philosophy that hasn’t been seen in American politics since the No-Nothing nativist movement of the 19th Century.
Excuse me, I meant to type ‘Know-Nothing.’ (Damned silent consonants in English. It should be pronounced “ka-now.”)
HisRoc,
You being a vet, it is a shame that you take American freedom for granted. For you to think that America is immune to conspiracies shows arrogance. With your demeaning others for wanting discussions on the Federal Reserve, national debt/deficit and entitlement programs that are unsustainable seem much more reckless.
Argue on merit because your argument sucks. I believe you’re reading too many anti-Tea Party blogs.
1. The latest proposed plan is a 4% solution, nowhere near 75%. How do you propose to balance the budget or pay down the debt? Next year, it is about to turn into a kill grandma scenario.
2. TP doesn’t have leaders…and it’s a shame you use such charged words when describing these ladies. It appears someone may have an inferiority issue.
3. Birthers do not equate to Tea Party…don’t show your ignorance.
4 & 5. SEIU Steve Learner is talking about overthrow of banks and you must be a fan of the Federal Reserve. The TPs revolution has taken a different form than you envision…you’re watching too much MSNBC.
There’s nothing wrong with voicing your opinion with your local representative. It’s nice to see a conservative group actually stand up for true American interests.
———————
Jason, very tasteful article, thanks.
Not quite sure I understand your philosophy on letting politicians slide by on votes and wasteful spending. He has participated in growing the government to the right on more than a handful of votes, but I feel like you overlook those because he is a Republican. How many chances should the TP and voters give him? How many hollow explanations full of YesMan rhetoric should be acceptable? I suppose that is part of an addendum of the Republican Creed that we aren’t privy to.
As far as the tea party is concerned, I have found that there are people on this blog that love the tea party when they feel like they are working hand in hand with the GOP. The minute a TP group stands up against the GOP and calls them out on their behavior, all of a sudden they are erratic. The Tea Party is not a political organization, at least legit TP groups are not. They are a watchdog group in the form of liberty minded conservatives, not just conservatives who identify with the GOP, but conservatives across the entire political spectrum.
The Tea Party is not in this arena to make friends and buddies in DC. They are not interested in patting and scratching backs. They just want accountability and transparency, and those are not things you are going to get with establishment politicians who play the game like Goodlatte.
You are correct that Goodlatte is “generally” good on fiscal issues. He has supported the BBA. But he has some shaky votes too. In particular his vote for the Medicare Prescription B program in 2003. That program has, in a short time, amassed unfunded mandates almost equal to the Social Security Program. Goodlatte is a good man, but he is generally a fan of compromise. And we need him to stand up and be a leader now, something that is not h
his strong point. We want him to dig his heels and make the tough votes now, and be willing to shut down the govenrment and not increase the debt ceiling. Based on his history, it is not at all certain he will do that. If we were in Ron Paul’s district, this would be preaching to the choir. But while I am certainly no Martin Luther, Bob Goodlatte is certainly no Ron Paul.
BTW we certainly support Goodlatte’s work on the Poff Building.
People who wish to see a gov’t shutdown:
Please comment on Speaker Boehner’s assertion that shutting down the government will cost more money than it saves due to the interruption of contracts.
John Jackson,
“TP doesn’t have leaders…”
That is laughable on the very face of it. It reminds me of Libyan dictator Quadaffi claiming that he can’t resign from power because he holds no constitutional office.
“Birthers do not equate to Tea Party…don’t show your ignorance.”
Give me a break. Please point us to a single birther protest that wasn’t part of a Tea Party demonstration or rally.
The rest of your rambling innuendo deserves no response. People who have read my comments here know that I am no apologist for liberals and certainly not a fan of MSNBC. As for my solutions to pay down the debt, I have posted them here several times. If you haven’t read them, then you just weren’t paying attention.
You epitomize what is wrong with the Tea Party–”you are either with us or you are the enemy.” That attitude will hardly help you build the political coalitions that you need to make a difference. All the Tea Party is accomplishing right now is equivalent to a petulant child who sticks his thumb in his mouth and threatens to hold his breath until he turns blue.
Well, I can come to Mr. Jackson’s defence regarding Tea Party leadership, at least from a “personal experience” standpoint:
A couple years ago, with a career change impending and a young family to take care of, I began to pay more attention to politics and the economy, especially the national debt. Federal funds began to be spent at a breakneck pace — so I put a bumper sticker on my car and voted, then started calling and emailing my elected representatives, but all to no avail. I saw a small, non-descript sign in Virginia Beach one day announcing a “Tea Party Rally” a few days later, and I made up my mind to show up and bring my older boys. Imagine my shock to find out I wasn’t alone in my concerns and frustration. I talked to quite a number of folks there, and every one of them had about the same experience and motivation as I did. I went to a couple more of these rallies, then by 2010 took a more active volunteer and financial role in a political campaign.
I consider myself a “Tea Party” member, although I have no membership card, have paid no dues, and definitely have no “leader”. I read BD, look at some TP facebook and web sites, and have my own opinions on social issues that may or may not line up with those of other Tea Party members (or self-proclaimed “leaders”).
Now, I don’t know how many others are in my boat, but my guess is quite a few. As a result of my participation at these rallies, I’ve been indirectly called a crackpot, a redneck, a racist, an anarchist, a birther, and a fringe radical right-winger. I guess it’s an attempt to send me scampering back into a life of apolitical apathy.
Anyway, John, in my experience, you are right — there is no leader listed on my non-existent Tea Party Membership card…
Bob is a decent man but his method of Congressional Leadership based on committee seniority(which he uses to justify his presence) is outmoded. This has happened before in Congress, where old bulls were gradually pushed out, so its not anything that Bob has done wrong necessarily. He’s used the safest seat in Virginia to gain reelection and to be a faithful party soldier. We need representation that can be effective in floor debate and rallying constituents, which is where the action will have to be if we are going to roll back HealthCare Deform. Committee work will not be as important in the next few Congresses. We know what the problems are.
HisRoc- I agree with you. Anyone who thinks the Tea Parties, at least the national or “Corporate” ones have no leaders, are simply in denial. Jenny Beth Martin, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world, is one of them, along with her co-founders Mark Meckler and Dick Armey. Martin and Meckler both collect 6 figure salaries for their “leadership” positions with the Tea Party Patriots. They are the “face” of the Tea Parties, at least according to the amount of time both spend on national TV, supposedly reflecting the values of the Tea Partiers. They have not disclosed how much in funds they have collected from the members, nor do they relay where those monies are spent.
The Tea Party Patriots are joined at the hip with the Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty, who are very narrowly focused on fiscal issues, and be danged with Social and Nat. Sec. issues. I contend that the members are awakening to that fact, and are backing away from them. Google Tea Party Patriots Campaign for Liberty, and you will find pages of groups representing both organizations on their websites. It’s a fact.
Last week, the Jefferson area Tea Party Patriot group held protest rallies at VA 5th District Robert Hurt’s office. Hurt was never supported by the Tea Parties, until the very end when their help was all but useless in the General. I have been pleasantly surprised with Hurt’s votes in Congress. He has voted with the majority of the party more than 95% of the time. According to the TPP, he screwed up when he voted for the second CR. For that he brought on the micro managers rath. There were signs at the rally saying we put you there, and we can remove you. That’s a joke, as the Tea Parties had no hand in sending Hurt to DC, so, they have no say in his remaining there, but they like to think they do.
The micro-managing TPP remind me of an employer who hires you because of your experience, education, skills and appropriateness to the company. Then he/she stands over your shoulder watching every single move you make, just in case you make any mistakes, because they expect and demand 100% perfection. I’m wondering why they don’t just manufacture some unthinking, uncaring pre-programed robots to send to Washington. The Liberals are not destroying the Tea Parties, they are busy eating their own, and their young. Soon we will be back in the day when district after district in this country has no Republican running for those seats, and the Democrats will once again win by default. It’s beyond “hold their feet to the fire.” It’s become “keep their feet in the fire, just in case.”
Billy Bunn,
A very touching story. Was it also a dark and stormy night when you attended your first TPM rally?
BTW, I was not aware that members of the Democratic Party and Republican Party paid dues and got membership cards. Did I miss something?
Finally, a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at this video and then tell me that Michele Bachmann isn’t a leader of the Tea Party.
There are clearly two very different Tea Parties in existence. You have the GOP infiltrated Bachman/Palin TPs and the Ron Paul-ish TPs. The two do not get along for obvious reasons.
Mr. Roc,
No, it was not a dark and stormy night. It was a cold and moonless night. A stiff breeze blew in from the northeast, the kind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. In the distance, a dog barked.
I agree I got a little melodramatic with my post, didn’t I? Okay, no more 3:40am Bearing Drift visits…
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know my Jenny Beths from my Mecklers, but since I’m not sending them money, I think that’s alright. My point was that, whoever may be attempting to speak for a Tea Party, there’s this other thing we’ll call the tea party, that came out and voted in 2010 after sitting on the sidelines for too long, and that is truly grass roots and does not have a leader or a figurehead.
Or maybe I’m the only one, which would make me the leader and the figurehead.
HisRoc,
It doesn’t matter who delivers the message as long as it gets delivered. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS A FEMALE INFERIORITY COMPLEX. I bet you despise Sharon Angle and Christine O’Donnell. As for the message, I will stand by gays, atheist, Code Pink, MoveOn.org or whoever wants to deliver the message. It’s about execution of the principle message, not status of the messenger.
As for corporations funding our cause, it’s about time.
For the birthers, there is no louder voice than MSNBCs Chrissy Matthews and he isn’t quit the TP type. …and you could throw Donald Trump in there too. They seem to be the loudest and they have the national stage.
As with the Roanoke Tea Party, message delivered.
BTW, I am curious as to what are the Republican’s loyal base look like? The Democrats are leading Israel on a certain path to annihilation, and they have the support of the Jews. The black community hasn’t voted for a Republican for decades. Women? Gays? Unions? Even corporations? You cannot pin decades of voter isolation on the Tea Party. Even the Ron Paul Libertarians are being mocked.
…but I could never imagine why the Republicans cannot pin down a loyal base.
The Tea Party isn’t some monolithic group. Just as the Republican Party isn’t. The only reason the Tea Party is useful at all is because it is a coalition of many groups that differ greatly on some issues, but have a LOT in common on the fiscal front.
People can try to be spokespersons and leaders. There are leaders, but there is no mandate to follow any of them. You don’t sign up, you just go. You don’t sign a pledge to blindly support a Tea Party candidate over one from a different party either.
There are leaders, but there are no real authorties. How could there be? How does a Libertarian Tea Partier tell a Social Conservative Tea Partier to move on social issues or vice versa. THEY CAN’T!!! At any moment anyone can pack their stuff and go. In order to prevent that, all Tea Partiers must respect differences if common goals are to be achieved.
HisRoc,
Yes, and a YouTube video is worth a trillion words. I would rather have Bachman or Palin represent my view than this lunatic politician (there is no borderline).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG1q2aaZFjQ
Listen to the message, not the status! The message is even more dangerous.
John Jackson,
You have exposed yourself as being a part of the lunatic fringe by describing the honorable Senator Lindsey Graham as a lunatic.
I know, Lindsey Graham is a RINO. Rhinos are becoming extinct within the Republican Party. That is why I am a Democrat.
When reason fails, shift your weight to those more reasonable.
John Jackson,
I have no problem with Senator Graham’s position. There are well-established limits on free speech. For example, you cannot communicate a threat and be protected by free speech. Inciting a riot is not protected speech. This lunatic preacher in Florida has placed American lives in jeopardy with his foolish and bigoted demonstration, as has been pointed out by GEN Petraeus.
Tell us, do you believe that free speech protects PFC Bradley Manning and the WikiLeaks crowd? Is this another example of government conspiracies that are intended to infringe our freedom?
BTW, keep flinging the personal insults and insinuations. They hardly make you sound logical; quite the contrary, they reveal you to be a person whose judgment is driven more by emotions than by facts.
LittleDavid
“You have exposed yourself as being a part of the lunatic fringe by describing the Honorable Senator Lindsey Graham as a Lunatic.” As I am not star struck by the status of Lindsey Graham, his position is alarming. BTW, I was uttering the words HisRoc used to describe the Honorable Michele Bachman.
HisRoc,
Our freedoms have been held hostage for a long time. People don’t reference Muhammad or Allah without the radical Muslim element making death threats or killing people.
On March 20, Terry Jones burned the Quran. After two weeks of no protesting, Hamid Karzai makes a speech mentioning Terry Jones’ Quran burning and the next day, protestors stormed the U.N. compound killing 22 people. It sounds as though Hamid Karzai was acting pretty irresponsible but typical political figures won’t accept responsibility for their actions.
We need to really get over this, our actions caused the Muslims (or whoever) to kill Americans because eventually that action will be breathing.
As for the Bradley Manning comparison, it’s night and day. As though Bradley Manning took an oath for the position he held, he surrendered his right to free speech for exposure to the secret documents he would provide to WikiLeaks. But I know you already know that.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that Lutheran groups started disassociating themselves from Martin Luther’s “On the Jews and their lies” and not until this year did the Roman Catholic pope exonerate all the Jews of responsibility for Jesus’ death.
It’s nuts to blame any group of people for the crimes of a few anyway. Down with all the superstitious groups! (There is no evidence that religious folks are more ethical or happier, so stop supporting all of them!)
Leave your response
The comments section is for meaningful discussion. Readers are reminded to post comments that are germane to the article and write in a common language that steers clear of personal attacks and/or vulgarities.
Please take a moment to review our comment policy.