In response to a statement made by Representative John Shaddegg during today’s protest by Republican congressmen on the House floor, Boston Tea Party Interim Chair Jim Davidson has issued a press release illustrating the difference between the two parties and what it would take for Shadegg to live up to his words:
Cyberspace — “How many of you remember the Boston Tea Party? This is the Boston Tea Party!” US Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ) said Friday while leading a Republican protest against Congress’s summer recess.
But members of the Boston Tea Party aren’t Republicans, says Jim Davidson, chair of America’s new libertarian political alternative. “Recess? We wish they’d go home and STAY home,” he says. “The more time Congress spends in Washington, the heavier our chains and the lighter our wallets get.”
Founded in 2006, the Boston Tea Party touts a one-sentence platform: “The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.”
“Republicans talk that talk sometimes,” says Davidson. “But the next time they walk it will be the first in living memory. They wouldn’t know smaller government if it walked up behind them and hit them in the pants with a bass fiddle.”
The party, which conducts its national operations — including its conventions — entirely online, has recently chartered affiliates in ten states and expects its presidential candidate, Charles Jay of Florida, to appear on the ballot in at least four states this November. While working to achieve 50-state ballot access over time, the party has endorsed independent, non-partisan and Libertarian candidates in a number of races across the country.
“If Congressman Shadegg wants to be a member of our party, he can start being more pro-freedom … and register at the web site like everyone else,” says Davidson. “We pay as little attention as possible to rants from between the fasces on the House chamber’s wall.”
4 responses so far ↓
1 Jason_Gatties // Aug 1, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I’ve been a bit critical of Jim at times lately. However, kudos, outstanding press release.
2 Trent Hill // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:49 am
Outstanding? Its ludicrous.
Mr. Davidson picked out the offhand comments of a congressman in New Hampshire at a random meeting about the EVENT, the Boston Tea Party–and then invited a major party candidate to sign up for his political party “online like everyone else”.
3 Thomas L. Knapp // Aug 2, 2008 at 9:10 am
Mr. Hill,
I’m not sure where you’re getting this stuff about a meeting in New Hampshire at. Shadegg (who’s from Arizona) was speaking from the dais of the chamber of the US House of Representatives (which is in DC) while leading a Republican protest when he made the remarks.
The meeting was not “random” (it was organized by the GOP House leadership) nor was it about the historical event (it was about the fact that Congress recessed without giving the GOP the goodies it wanted).
And yes, a “major party candidate” who wanted to be affiliated with the BTP would have to establish that affiliation “like everyone else.”
All that said, the release was a simple name recognition establishment attempt — a major US political figure used the term “Boston Tea Party” in a way that gave us an excuse to chide him for it. To the extent that chiding him for it puts our name in front of more people, that’s a good thing to do.
4 Jason_Gatties // Aug 2, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Cmon Trent. Had the guy said “We are having ourselves a Constitution Party tonight!”, I know for a fact that SOMEONE in the Constitution Party would have done the same thing as Jim.
I stick by my thoughts. Jim jumped all over this and was very clever about it.
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