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Boston Tea Party Vice Chair Dr. Tom Stevens has resigned

June 7th, 2008 · written by · 5 Comments

Earlier this week, IPR reported on the controversy brewing within the Boston Tea Party surrounding a dispute between Vice Chair Tom Stevens and party founder Tom Knapp. Now, according to Todd Andrew Barrett, Dr. Stevens has resigned.

As of today, Saturday, June 7, 2008, national Vice Chair Dr. Tom
Stevens has officially resigned from the National Committee. National
Chairman Jim Davidson had blocked his messages, effectively suspending
his posting privileges as a result of his juvenile attacks on Tom
Knapp that were posted to the BTP’s website.

It has not been made official yet, but I am a contender for the Vice
Chair spot. If it goes through and I get elected by either the NatComm
or the membership, I’m in.

Yours in Liberty,

Todd Andrew Barnett

Filed Under: Non-left/right parties

5 responses so far ↓

  • 1 bsharitt // Jun 7, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    While I don’t think they have a chance of really making an impact as a political party, I do hope the Boston Tea Party survives this little snafu to at least be an effective advocacy outlet for smaller government.

  • 2 planetaryjim // Jun 8, 2008 at 12:45 am

    The notion that the actions of Tom Stevens in deliberately deleting a legitimate and lawful poll of the members to contest an action of the national committee is a dispute between him and Tom Knapp is mistaken. It was a dispute between the members of the Boston Tea Party who wanted their voices heard, and Tom Stevens who wanted to silence them.

    In commenting on his action, Stevens asserted that no “mere member” should be allowed to ever question any of his decisions as a “National Committee” member, his choice in capitalization. Obviously, his arrogance was poorly suited to a party of individuals seeking freedom.

    As a result of his action in deleting the poll and his call for the dissolution of the party and his threat to dissolve all the standing state affiliates, I asked him to resign. I believe his resignation was the best thing for the party.

  • 3 planetaryjim // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:39 am

    I note that Rocco Fama has informed the national committee that the Tennessee affiliate for the Boston Tea Party has disbanded. A short time later, Rocco resigned his seat on the national committee.

    The party is developing new affiliates in Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri, and Florida.

    I have asked Todd Barnett to serve as vice chair, he has accepted, and I have placed the matter before the national committee for approval.

  • 4 Dr. Tom Stevens announces plans to form Personal Freedom Party in New York | Independent Political Report // Nov 10, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    [...] in addition to having held various offices in the local, state and national Libertarian Party, was at one point the Vice Chair of the Boston Tea Party, and also founded and ran as the Presidential candidate of the Objectivist Party, which still [...]

  • 5 IPR Investigation: The Origins of the Personal Freedom Party | Independent Political Report // Sep 26, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    [...] http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/06/boston-tea-party-vice-chair-dr-tom-stevens-has-res… and comments [...]

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