TFA: Maggart a Primary Tea Party Target

Press release from the Tennessee Firearms Association; May 15, 2012:

TFA is joining forces with other grassroots organizations to have a voice in primary races

The 107th General Assembly, a historic one because it returned full power in Tennessee to the Republicans for the first time since the Civil War, has become the catalyst for grassroots organizations and conservatives across Tennessee how are increasingly voicing displeasure at the actions of the General Assembly (primarily in leadership) and the Governor for turning their backs on the citizens and pandering to the interests of Big Business.

Certainly, it can be said that there have been some changes made which addressed issues of real concern to conservatives and constitutionally based groups but much of what was done can be described as “too little”, “baby steps”, “incomplete” in sum simply far short of what the voters who worked to put these “Republicans” in office expected to be done.

Consequently, even local news organizations are reporting that the primaries – the Republican primaries – are a big issue this year. Why? Because expectations of those incumbent Republicans fell far short of the promises they made and so the primaries are now an election cycle about accountability in Tennessee.

For example, consider the following news release as a sample of what many more Tea Party groups have already or are releasing to their members:

Patriots,

The reason for this letter is to impress upon each Tennessee Tea Party Patriot why we should engage with our money and time in a particular race in Middle Tennessee and why it is imperative that we win this race in District 45 which is in the Madisonville and Goodlettsville area just north of Nashville.

The Tea Party’s goal is to encourage state government to protect Tennesseans from Federal overreach. All of the legislation that we promoted in the past legislative session had only one purpose and that was to protect the people, which is the purpose of government. All of the legislation that we promoted for this purpose either failed or was withdrawn.

After the second armed federal raid on Gibson Guitar and the seizure of their manufacturing materials we expected our state legislators to take action to protect Tennesseans from further such federal abuse of power. The Republican leadership failed to take any interest in protecting us and did absolutely nothing.

The blame for the failure of state government to protect the people lands primarily at the feet of the House Republican leadership. If there is any chance of us getting anywhere with state government standing up to protect us we absolutely must see a change in leadership. As close as we can get to making a change in leadership is to defeat the House Republican Caucus Chairman in the primary election and that is Representative Debra Maggart.

The Tennessee 8th District Tea Party Coalition met on Saturday 5/5/2012 to establish the Republican legislator most in need of defeat in the primary elections. After a four hour meeting and debate all 10 Tea Party groups represented along with two guest groups came to a unanimous decision to support Lt. Col. Courtney Rogers in her bid to unseat Debra Maggart in the primary election. Courtney was leader of the Sumner County Tea Party and we have confidence that she is a true constitutional conservative with the values we need in state government. It is an absolute must that we succeed in defeating Debra Maggart. Tea Party groups in Middle Tennessee will be working with us as well but defeating the House Republican Caucus Chair is a challenge.

It’s time for our membership to step up to the plate. We need grass roots donations to Courtney’s campaign from all 10 of our TN8 Tea Party group members. Please consider doing all you can to be a part of this effort. Visit Courtney’s web-site and read about her background. You’ll be impressed. Then please make a donation that stretches you a little. Again, we’ve got to win this one and nothing of value is gained without sacrifice. You can donate on her web-site here. www.votecourtney.com

If you prefer to donate by check, please mail your check to:

Friends of Courtney Rogers
170 East Main Street, #216
Hendersonville, TN 37075

David Nance
Chairman
Tennessee 8th District Tea Party Coalition

A Common Theme – Remove Debra Maggart from Office

Why has this theme arisen?

Certainly, there are a significant number in the Republican caucus in the General Assembly who deserve to be removed from office. They know it. However, they also take advantage of the old “divide and conquer” strategy. They assume that they can raise money from the Speaker and the Lt. Gov’s super PACS, from business resources, from wealthy governor, etc., in amounts far greater than challengers can raise. Perhaps they can.

What they do not expect, however, is that organizations will focus efforts of their members on specific local races and make those races statewide issues – like the defeat of Debra Maggart. We might not be able to defeat Harwell, McCormick, Maggart, or any of about 14 RINOS that a House Republican member has told TFA to “go get them” this year – but the fact is that we do not have to get them all. What conservative voters and organizations should do is to form a concensus and start picking these incumbents off like political snipers. Make political examples of them. Use their political careers as “hides” and as a political warning and demand for accountability from others. Take them out of office so that the true conservatives (there are some) in the rank and file can get enough courage and enough of a numerical majority to take control of leadership, replace Beth Harwell and others in Republican leadership and install into leadership positions those who place duty to the citizen above partisanship.

Maggart is a member of House leadership. Maggart, by her own words, sees her job as first and foremost partisan – to increase the number of Republicans holding office. She knowingly sacrifices civil rights, constitutional rights, and doing what is right all in the name of partisan power. She pretends to be a 2nd Amendment supporter when talking with gun owners. She pretends to be a 10th Amendment supporter when talking with Tea Parties about the Constitutional Sheriff’s legislation. She pretended to be supportive of local citizens who tried to protect their telephone cooperatives from raids by AT&T. She is a pretender. Citizens have been fooled enough. Now it is time to act.