Are the Tea Baggers falling apart already?

january 26, 2010
tea party disputes take toll on convention

kate zernike
tea party convention billed coming of grass-roots groups began sprouting around country year ago unraveling sponsors , participants pull out protest expense , express concerns “profiteering.”

convention’s difficulties highlight fractiousness of tea party groups, , considerable suspicions among members of suggests establishment.

convention, held in nashville in february, made splash attracting big-name politicians. (former gov. sarah palin of alaska scheduled deliver keynote speech.) groups have criticized cost — $549 per ticket , $9.95 fee, plus hotel , airfare — out of reach average tea partier. , have balked @ ms. palin’s speaking fee, news reports have put @ $100,000, figure organizers not confirm or deny.

tea party events exploded last winter, increasingly large gatherings protested federal stimulus bill, government bailouts , proposed health care legislation. while vary name, specific tenets , relative embrace of anarchy, such groups tend unite around fiscal conservatism , belief federal government — whether led republicans or democrats — has overstepped constitutional powers.

tea party nation, convention organizer, started social networking site groups last year, kind of facebook conservatives “form bonds, network , make plans action.” founders, former sponsors , participants trading accusations.

philip glass, national director of national precinct alliance, announced late sunday “amid growing controversy” around convention, organization no longer participate. group seeks take on republican party bottom filling ranks of local , state parties grass-roots conservatives, , mr. glass had been scheduled lead workshops on strategy.

“we concerned appearance of t.p.n. profiteering , exploitation of grass-roots movement,” said in statement. “we under impression t.p.n. nonprofit organization n.p.a., interested in uniting , educating tea party activists on how make real difference in political arena.”

mr. glass said concerned role in convention of groups tea party express, has held rallies across country through 2 bus tours, , freedomworks, tea party umbrella. called them “republican national committee-related groups,” , added, “at best, creates appearance of r.n.c. hijacking; @ worst, one.”

erick erickson, editor of influential conservative blog redstate.com, wrote month seemed “scammy” convention. , american liberty alliance withdrew sponsor after members expressed concerns convention’s finances being channeled through private bank accounts , organizer being “for profit.”

“when @ $500 price tag event , fact many of original leaders in group left on similar issues, it’s hard not assume worst,” eric odom, executive director of american liberty alliance , organizer of tax day rallies last april, wrote on group’s web site.

sherry phillips, founded , runs tea party nation husband, judson, said monday not nonprofit group.

ms. phillips said american liberty alliance “a for-profit company takes donations.” national precinct alliance, said, demanded compensation of around $3,000. “our budget on convention tight , not afford them,” wrote in e-mail message.

declined comment on ms. palin’s speaking fee.

“if there profit,” ms. phillips said, “the money go toward furthering cause of conservatism.”

mr. glass denied group had requested money , said convention organizers had asked group pay $2,200 speak.

freedomworks, not convention sponsor. tea party leaders in training sessions @ group’s headquarters on monday said members, part, not afford convention or not interested.

earlier version of article erroneously said sherry phillips called tea party "nonprofit" group.

article has been revised reflect following correction:

correction: january 27, 2010
article on tuesday concerns on part of tea party groups around country on cost of tea party convention scheduled next month in nashville paraphrased incorrectly e-mail message sherry phillips, founder of convention organizer, tea party nation. ms. phillips wr

january 26, 2010 tea party disputes take toll on convention kate zernike tea party convention billed coming of grass-roots groups began sprouting around country year ago unraveling sponsors , participants pull out protest expense , express concerns about...

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