As Seen On Breitbart.com: "We Can Really Do This"

This article first appeared at Breitbart.com
By Michael Patrick Leahy

When I told Hugh Hewitt this on his radio program, he was skeptical. My message to him then was simple:

“We can really do this.”

The day after Rick Santelli’s rant, on February 20, 2009, when I organized a call of about fifty online conservative activists in which we unanimously concluded that we should launch a nationwide series of tea party rallies within one week, the sentiment was unanimous.

“We can really do this.”

On April 15, 2009, when one million Americans gathered in 900 tea party rallies across the country to voice their support for the three core values of constitutionally limited government, free markets, and fiscal responsibility, the sentiment was unanimous.

“We can really do this.”

On November 2, 2010, when tea partiers across the country elected 63 new members of the House of Representatives, the notion that we could really do it in that election it was proved correct.

Today, when I assert that the November, 2012 elections will be a conservative landslide, I am certain, once again:

“We can really do this.”

Santorum Featured Speaker at Third Year Anniversary Celebration of the Tea Party Movement in Chattanooga this Saturday

CONTACT:
Michael Patrick Leahy
michaelpatrickleahy@gmail.com
615-243-6869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santorum Featured Speaker at Third Year Anniversary Celebration of the Tea Party Movement in Chattanooga this Saturday

February 20, 2012 - Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum will be the featured speaker at a celebration of the third anniversary of the Tea Party movement that will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee this Saturday, February 25th . The event, a “Liberty Forum” hosted by the Chattanooga Tea Party, is the most prominent of dozens of tea party celebrations that will be held around the country as part of the ElectionDayTeaParty.com project.

Mark West, President of the Chattanooga Tea Party, was pleased that Senator Santorum accepted his group’s invitation. “We launched our local group three years ago in 2009.” West said. “Our focus has never wavered from demanding that federal, state and local governments adhere to their constitutional foundations, follow fiscal conservatism, and support free markets. We encourage our members, as well as other tea partiers and interested citizens from surrounding states, to come and join us for the day as we get to know more about Senator Santorum. Since Senator Santorum currently leads in several national polls of GOP candidates, this event is a significant opportunity for the tea party.”

Michael Patrick Leahy, co-organizer of Election Day Tea Party, said, "This election is about determining which of these candidates will best align their policies with the core values of the Tea Party movement. So far, none of the current candidates seeking the Republican Presidential nomination have convinced us that they will fully support a constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets.

"Our project has invited all four candidates to join us at events celebrating the third anniversary of the Tea Party movement. So far, only Rick Santorum has accepted our invitation. His acceptance says that he wants to engage with us, and that he understands the tea party’s get out the vote power is the necessary ingredient to win the Presidency."

The Chattanooga Tea Party extended an invitation to Newt Gingrich to participate in the third year anniversary celebration but never received any confirmation that the Speaker could attend.

Mark Skoda of the Memphis Tea Party, another tea party holding a third year anniversary celebration this week, has invited Mitt Romney to join him on his radio show, the Mark Skoda Show, for an interview as scheduling did not permit him to attend the local Memphis celebration. Mr. Skoda’s show is syndicated through IRN/USA Network.

Christina Botteri, co-organizer of Election Day Tea Party, added, “We’ve invited Ron Paul to address a third year anniversary celebration of his choosing, but we’ve not yet heard back from the campaign.”

The Tea Party movement was launched on February 27, 2009 with simultaneous tea parties in fifty cities which were attended by more than 30,000 tea partiers. This was immediately followed by Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, when over 1 million tea partiers participated in rallies held in more than 900 cities.

Chattanooga’s third year anniversary celebration, “Liberty Forum”, will be held at Abba’s House, located at 5208 Hixson Pike in Hixson, Tennessee. The event will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The first national event of Election Day Tea Party 2012 will be a celebration of the Tea Party movement's 3rd anniversary on February 25th, 26th, and 27th. On February 27, 2009, the Tea Party movement was launched with simultaneous tea parties in fifty cities which were attended by more than 30,000 tea partiers. This was immediately followed by Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, when over 1 million tea partiers participated in rallies held in more than 900 cities.

About Election Day Tea Party 2012: Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, an informal federation of thirty local tea parties from around the country who work collaboratively on national projects.

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Tea Party Leaders to Florida Voters: Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul Should Continue Past Florida

CONTACT:
Michael Patrick Leahy
michaelpatrickleahy@gmail.com
615-243-6869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tea Party Leaders to Florida Voters: Santorum, Gingrich,
and Paul Should Continue Past Florida

January 30, 2012 - Local tea party leaders from around the country who have organized the ElectionDayTeaParty.com project today released a statement of support for Florida voters participating in Tuesday's Presidential preference election.

Billie Tucker, of Jacksonville’s First Coast Tea Party declined supporting any single candidate, stating, "I am endorsing We the People because I believe they will make the right decision this Tuesday based on facts, data, research and truth.

"I am endorsing the People because they have become wise and know that what we are seeing on the airwaves and hearing from the mouths of some of these candidates is not truth.

"I am endorsing the People because I trust them more than I trust any consultant, media personality or 'has-been political operatives.' I trust the people to show the Establishment that times have changed."

Michael Patrick Leahy, co-organizer of Election Day Tea Party, agreed, and added, “None of the four candidates seeking the Republican Presidential nomination have yet earned the full support of the Tea Party movement.  For us, this election is about determining which of these candidates will best align their policies with the three core values of the Tea Party movement: constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets.”

Michelle Moore, co-founder of the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition, stated, "Sarah Palin recently suggested we should '… keep this vetting process going,' and many tea partiers agree with that sentiment.  It’s time to elevate the discussions in this campaign process beyond petty personal attacks over insignificant issues.  By keeping the debate going, we will see exactly which candidate understands that it is only with limited government that we have unlimited opportunity to pursue happiness and prosperity in America."

Mark West of the Chattanooga Tea Party said, "At this point, it’s quite clear to most in the Tea Party movement that Governor Romney has made a strategic decision not to engage with the movement, or make a serious attempt to understand our message.  Personally, I want to encourage Floridians to vote for a candidate other than Governor Romney in order to continue this critical conversation."

Carol Knighton, co-founder of Florida’s Leesburg Regional Tea Party said, "So far, none of the top three candidates have given us any confidence they will demand any more fiscal responsibility than the current Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate - which INCREASED federal spending in 2011 by 5% over 2010 - after the Tea Party movement's historic role to elect 63 new Republican members of Congress in 2010."

Zan Green, founder of the RainyDayPatriots.org Tea Party in Birmingham, Alabama, added, "The modern Tea Party movement started because Washington and the two primary parties had lost all moorings to our Constitution. We the people demanded a return of the Government of the people, and only ‘We The People’ can pick the leader by the vetting process and by having that candidate answer to us."

Lorie Medina, founder of the Frisco, Texas Tea Party and creator of the Victory-in-a-Box get-out-the-vote program added, “The Tea Party is back for the 2012 elections and stronger than ever.  We’ve been flooded with volunteers at ElectionDayTeaParty.com who want to help get-out-the vote this November.

"I encourage everyone who supports the idea of constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets to sign up at our website today.  We’ll help you use your talents and energies in our campaign to restore this country.”

The first national event of Election Day Tea Party 2012 will be a celebration of the Tea Party movement's 3rd anniversary on February 25th, 26th, and 27th.  On February 27, 2009, the Tea Party movement was launched with simultaneous tea parties in fifty cities which were attended by more than 30,000 tea partiers.  This was immediately followed by Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, when over 1 million tea partiers participated in rallies held in more than 900 cities.

Additional tea parties who joined the Election Day Tea Party 2012 project and the third anniversary celebration in February come from Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Texas, Delaware, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Mexico, California, Florida, and Connecticut.  Election Day Tea Party 2012 anticipates that tea parties from every state will participate.

About Election Day Tea Party 2012: Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, an informal federation of thirty local tea parties from around the country who work collaboratively on national projects.

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Tea Party to Canada: We’ll Beat Obama, Build Pipeline With You in 2013

CONTACT:
Michael Patrick Leahy
michaelpatrickleahy@gmail.com
615-243-6869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tea Party to Canada: We’ll Beat Obama,
Build Pipeline With You in 2013

January 18, 2012 - Local tea party leaders from around the country who have organized the ElectionDayTeaParty.com website sent a message of encouragement today to the Canadian people and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“Today, President Obama decided to reject the proposed Keystone Pipeline, which would bring tens of thousands of jobs to both the United States and Canada,” said Ben Cunningham, founder of the Nashville Tea Party.  “In addition to creating jobs, the proposed Keystone Pipeline will also reduce our dependence on foreign energy. President Obama’s bad decision is yet another example of his continued rejection of free market principles. In this instance, Canada is embracing those principles while our own government is trampling upon them.

"Our message to the Canadian people is clear: the Tea Party is going to get out the vote to defeat Barack Obama and every incumbent supporter of collectivist statism in the election of 2012. When we win, the first agenda item after the repeal of ObamaCare will be the initiation of the Keystone Pipeline project.”

Teri Adams, President of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association, which held a July 4, 2011 Energy Independence Day Tea Party in Philadelphia, said, "Energy Independence is crucial to the financial success and security of the United States.  The Keystone Pipeline project will move forward in the very near future."

"With staggering unemployment, skyrocketing energy and food prices; and the spectacular record of safe and reliable operations of land-based oil pipelines, the decision to shut down the Keystone Pipeline project is utterly inexplicable," said Christina Botteri, co-organizer of the Election Day Tea Party project. "Yet again, the President and his statist supporters in the regulatory agencies are buying the support of the hyper-environmental lobby, leaving hard-working Americans to pay his bill."

Lorie Medina, founder of the Frisco, Texas Tea Party and creator of the Victory in a Box Get-out-the Vote program added, “The Tea Party is back for the 2012 elections and stronger than ever. We’ve been flooded with volunteers at ElectionDayTeaParty.com who want to help get-out-the vote in November, 2012. I encourage everyone who supports the Keystone Pipeline and the jobs it will create to sign up at our website today. We’ll help you use your talents and energies in our campaign to restore this country.”

The first national event of Election Day Tea Party 2012 will be a celebration of the Tea Party movement’s 3rd anniversary on February 25th, 26th, and 27th. On February 27, 2009, the Tea Party movement was launched with simultaneous tea parties in fifty cities which were attended by more than 30,000 tea partiers. This was immediately followed by Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, when over 1 million tea partiers participated in rallies held in more than 900 cities.

Additional tea parties who’ve signed up to be part of Election Day Tea Party 2012 and the third anniversary celebration in February come from Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Texas, Delaware, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, and Connecticut.  Election Day Tea Party 2012 anticipates that tea parties from every state will participate.

About Election Day Tea Party 2012: Election Day Tea Party 2012 is a project of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, an informal federation of thirty local tea parties from around the country who work collaboratively on national projects.

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Tea Party Leaders to DNC: Stop Lying About Us

CONTACT:
Michael Patrick Leahy
michaelpatrickleahy@gmail.com
615-243-6869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tea Party Leaders to DNC Chair: Stop Lying About Us
Challenge Ms. Wasserman Schultz to a Debate on the Constitution

January 12, 2012 - Local tea party leaders from around the country who organized the ElectionDayTeaParty.com website today told DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz that it was time to stop lying about the Tea Party movement.

"It's time for Ms. Wasserman Schultz to stop spreading her vitriolic and divisive rhetoric about the millions of Americans who support the Tea Party movement and its three core values of constitutionally limited government, free markets, and fiscal responsibility," said Mark West, President of the Chattanooga Tea Party.

"Today, we are challenging Ms. Wasserman Schultz to a debate on the Constitution," said Michael Patrick Leahy, co-coordinator of Election Day Tea Party. "We think the country is ready for direct and civil discourse on what the Constitution says about the proper role of the federal government in our lives. That's the real issue. Ms. Wasserman Schultz and the entire leadership of the Democratic Party believe that the federal government should keep taxing and spending more and more. We in the Tea Party movement think otherwise."

The first national event of Election Day Tea Party 2012 will be a celebration of the Tea Party movement's 3rd anniversary on February 25th, 26th, and 27th. On February 27, 2009, the Tea Party movement was launched with simultaneous tea parties in fifty cities which were attended by more than 30,000 tea partiers. This was immediately followed by Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, when over 1 million tea partiers participated in rallies held in more than 900 cities.

Michelle Moore, organizer of the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition in February 2009, said "The St, Louis Tea Party will be happy to host this debate on February 25, 2012, the 3rd Anniversary of the movement. We think CNN, MSNBC, and FoxNews will be very interested in covering such an event."

Lorie Medina, founder of the Frisco, Texas Tea Party and creator of the Victory in a Box Get-out-the Vote program added, "We'll put forward the Tea Party's view of the proper constitutional role of the federal government. Ms. Wasserman Schultz can put forward the Democratic Party's view of the proper role of the federal government. We'll let the voters decide which view they agree with, and which view is extremist."

About Election Day Tea Party 2012: Election Day Tea Party 2012 is a project of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, an informal federation of thirty local tea parties from around the country who work collaboratively on national projects.

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