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The title of “Tea Party” is not enforced by any group or agency. Consequently, anyone can make a website or Facebook group and claim to be a state, regional, or local Tea Party. While I certainly don’t claim to speak on behalf of all Tea Party groups, we were warned by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, that there would be fake “Tea Party” groups popping up on the internet and on Facebook for the sole purpose of pushing a particular agenda. This is now happening in Alabama. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you find a site and are not sure if it is a real, honest Tea Party group.
- Has the group had any public events, protests, or rallies?
- Are the group’s leaders easy to find on their site, identified by name with some way to contact them?
- Do they have a statement giving their core principles or the purpose of their group?
- Do the articles on their site follow their own stated principles?
- Do their articles seem to be “fair and balanced” or do they drip with condescension and bias, especially when discussing conservative candidates? Remember there is a difference between stating the truthful position of candidates and intentionally painting someone with the broad brush of unsubstantiated statements or derision.
- Do they genuinely want to educate people or do they seem to put undue effort into a narrow agenda?
If you find a group that fails some or all of these questions, don’t use their site, don’t send their address to anyone, don’t subscribe. They only gain legitimacy if people view their material and participate in their forums. Be smart, be informed, and be aware.
There are several blogs and posts on sites that would fail such a test that have made disparaging about me or the Huntsville Tea Party. If any of you have doubts or concerns about my actions, my character, or the way that the Huntsville Tea Party is being led, I would ask that you contact me for the truth instead of making a rash judgment or hasty decision based on rumors without evidence and before spreading such things by email or Facebook. I value the integrity and image of the Huntsville Tea Party as well as my own.
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