Tony Katz, host of The Tony Katz Show, speaks with Larry Kudlow of The Kudlow Report about the Tea Party effect in the Indiana primary, and President Obama’s “revelation” that he now supports gay marriage.
Tag Archive for tea party
Tea Party Speaks, Lugar Out In Indiana
Proving wrong the leaders of the Progressive movement and the MSM, the Tea Party has rocked the political establishment by driving Republican Richard Mourdock to a primary victory in Indiana over 36 year incumbent Richard Lugar.
Lugar, the 80 year-old, six-term Senator, conceded to Mourdock early into the vote counting. Mourdock took 61% of the vote to Lugar’s 39%. In his concession, Lugar stated his hopes that Mourdock will win in November. However, a statement released by his campaign had a stinging rebuke of both Mourdock, and, by extension, the Tea Party: (emphasis mine)
I want to see a Republican elected President, and I want to see a Republican majority in the Congress. I hope my opponent wins in November to help give my friend Mitch McConnell a majority.
If Mr. Mourdock is elected, I want him to be a good Senator. But that will require him to revise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship to Washington. He and I share many positions, but his embrace of an unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience of what brings results for Hoosiers in the Senate. In effect, what he has promised in this campaign is reflexive votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. His answer to the inevitable roadblocks he will encounter in Congress is merely to campaign for more Republicans who embrace the same partisan outlook. He has pledged his support to groups whose prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party of those who stray from orthodoxy as they see it.
This is not conducive to problem solving and governance.
Those groups whose “prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party?” Lugar, of course, means the Tea Party. One wonders whether Lugar came up with these words on his own, or just crib them from Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV) or Chuck Schumer (D-NY)?
This is why Sen. Lugar is the now “lame duck” Sen. Lugar, and why the Tea Party is so very effective. When Lugar speaks of straying from “orthodoxy as they see it,” is he referring to the Constitution? The Constitution is not orthodoxy, it is the values of a nation. It is the blueprint that allows free people to live free, and provides for the people the opportunity to safeguard those freedoms.
Is he referring to fiscal responsibility? In Lugar’s statement, he stated: (emphasis mine)
Ultimately, the re-election of an incumbent to Congress usually comes down to whether voters agree with the positions the incumbent has taken. I knew that I had cast recent votes that would be unpopular with some Republicans and that would be targeted by outside groups.
These included my votes for the TARP program, for government support of the auto industry, for the START Treaty, and for the confirmations of Justices Sotomayor and Kagan.
It was apparent that these positions would be attacked in a Republican primary. But I believe that they were the right votes for the country, and I stand by them without regrets…
Those groups that would “target” Lugar for his votes? Just one – The Tea Party, and rightfully so! While others can argue the votes for Justices Sotomayor and Kagan (let’s see what happens with Obamacare, but no one can argue we knew far too little about Justice Kagan,) and for the START Treaty (an absolutely unnecessary agreement that hurts the United States with unwarranted formality, if not the full text of the treaty,) the Tea Party stands opposed to TARP, and to government spending. For the Tea Party, these are the votes that destroy a country. You Can Not Spend Your Way Into Prosperity!
For Lugar to admonish those who would be upset with these votes (which he stoically stands by) is elitist lunacy. The Tea Party has proven that its “orthodoxy” is nothing more than an adherence to the Constitution. The Tea Party will “target” those who engage in rampant misuse of the American People’s hard earned money. The Tea Party, regardless of the words of Reid or Schumer or Rep. Pelosi or MSNBC, has made a commitment to themselves, to America and to its future which is unshakable. The Tea Party is alive and well.
Congratulations to Richard Mourdock. Congratulations to the Tea Party. Bring on November! There are 181 days until the election.
ICYMI – Tony Katz Talks Tea Party In Kansas
Before the Kansas Tea Party, Tony Katz took to the wide open prairie to talk about the Tea Party, and how to get started.
Tony Katz In Wisconsin, St. Louis And The Kansas Tea Party
Our own Tony Katz is hitting the road, traveling to three states in four days. He is covering the GOP Senate debate in Wisconsin, along with The Franklin Center on Wednesday. Then, he heads down to St. Louis to meet people attending the NRA show. On Friday, he takes the long drive to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he will be giving the keynote address at the Kansas Tea Party!
Along the way, he will be posting videos exclusively to The Tony Katz Show Facebook page. To catch the exploits, the interviews and a first hand look at our great nation, and the people who make it great, Like The Facebook Page By Clicking This Link!
It’s a lot of travel, but he’s up for it! If you want, say a prayer for his safe return. Or, just enjoy the music. As always, you can donate to APM and help us continue our outreach and create new content:
Tony Katz Talks Tea Party And Obamacare On FOX and Friends
Tony Katz, host of The Tony Katz Show, was live in New York to talk to Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris on FOX and Friends. They spoke about the Tea Party, and how Obamacare was received by the Supreme Court.
Tony on TownHall.com; Gingrich Dangles Perry To Get Tea Party Vote
Here is Tony’s latest article on TownHall.com. As Newt Gingrich fights for victories in Alabama and Mississippi, along with continued relevance in the race for President, he has enlisted a new tactic – Get the Tea Party by Offering up Rick Perry as Vice President:
Gingrich Dangles Perry To Get Tea Party Vote
While Mitt Romney is isn’t making any special effort to attract Tea Party voters, Rick Santorum is trying to convince them that social conservatism is integral to Tea Party values. But Newt Gingrich is floating a new strategy – tempt Tea Party voters with Gov. Rick Perry and a Gingrich/Perry ticket. It may just change the course of the election.
FOX News is reporting that Gingrich and Perry might announce their ticket before the RNC convention in order to appeal to Tea Party and conservative voters, thereby capturing enough delegates to ensure that no nominee is chosen prior to the August GOP convention. A convention without a pre-determined nominee is far different from a brokered convention, in which other players (Palin, Daniels, Christie, fill-in-the-blank-with-someone-you-like) could get in on the action. This would involve the same four players (Santorum, Romney, Gingrich and Paul). Their delegates, however, would be free to vote for any of the candidates after the first round. A Gingrich/Perry ticket could give them a reason to change their minds.
According to the report:
Gingrich aides hope forming a predetermined ticket with Perry will unite the evangelical, Tea Party and very conservative voters that make up the core of the GOP.
Some Perry insiders seem wary:
As discussions got underway, two senior aides to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out of the race and endorsed Gingrich, had not heard of the potential ticket and seemed dismissive. One noted that in the past, Perry has likened the Vice Presidency to a bucket of warm spit. Still, Gov. Perry volunteered his services when he endorsed Gingrich in South Carolina, so he may be on board if it’s little more than a joy ride in a trial balloon.
A Santorum aide has referred to the speculation as a Hail Mary pass, intended to get some buzz ahead of the Alabama and Mississippi primaries. According to American Research Group, Gingrich has aslight lead in Mississippi, and a Wall Street Journal survey has a virtual tie between Gingrich and Romney in Alabama.
Whatever its intended purpose, the strategy could turn out to be a stroke of genius. Although his debate performances sunk him, Perry was a Tea Party favorite from early on, and the clear favorite of new media, with endorsements from Mike Flynn of Breitbart.com’s Big Government, Dan McLaughlin ofRedState.com and AceofSpadesHQ.
The Tea Party has no candidate that can sufficiently rally them in voice and numbers and dollars. To date, they are not as vocal in this election as they were in 2010 because, like America, they are waiting for a nominee before they go full out (as well as focusing their attention on winning the Senate and keeping the House as a hedge against an Obama re-elect.)
Introducing Perry into the discussion may be a hail mary pass. It’s a high risk play with a small chance of success. But if it connects with voters, it’s a winner.
Happy Birthday Tea Party!
Three years ago today, I stood on the pier in Santa Monica, CA, wondering if anyone else would show up for the first ever Tea Party in California. It was just a week since CNBC’s Rick Santelli gave his now famous rant, and inspired Americans from across the nation to stand up to big government spending. For some of us, we had been opposed to big government for days, weeks, months and years before, but Santelli’s words got us off the couch and on to the streets.
Three years later, the Tea Party has changed, grown, learned and thrived. Almost two years removed from the epic mid-term victories of 2010, we have remained the key political force in America; thoroughly dominating the political and cultural debate in the US. Candidates search for our approval, enemies try to vilify us, the establishment (once thrilled to have us around) is trying to ignore us. Yet our numbers grow. Not in any one organization or database or under some catchy banner, website or slogan, but in the numbers of people who are fully engaged in their civic responsibility and, truly, their civic opportunity, never to be separated from their job in being “We, The People!”
Coming into this presidential election cycle, the Tea Party (not having a candidate to call their own) has engaged on other levels. Instead of gathering on street corners, they are vetting local candidates, they are precinct walking and phone banking. The activism has taken shape not in the halls of Congress, but in the halls of the local town hall, the mayor’s office, the state house. It has led to trainings, workshops and education – citizens educating citizens on how to be better citizens.
Going forward, the Tea Party remains as strong and as relevant as it was in those first days. But, like all movements, it will have starts and fits; we will not be immune from growing pains, from those who seek to use the Tea Party as a way towards a fast buck, or others who will utilize it only for their personal or professional gain. We can, we must and we will survive those people, and those growing pains. What lies ahead of all of us in the Tea Party, millions of Americans strong, is a nation of possibilities if “We, The People!” continue to do our part. We remain the greatest nation on Earth if we continue to choose to accept the responsibility of discussing the big issues of what are called The Four Basics – the Constitution, Capitalism and Open Markets, Fiscal Responsibility and Smaller Government – and waver not on their importance in creating a free, prosperous America.
America is young in the timeline of nations, and the Tea Party is young in the timeline of America. Yet, in our three years we have done more to benefit this nation than others could dream of doing in a lifetime. The difference, perhaps, between talking and doing. What the next three years bring is up to us, but it will involve hard work. It will involve education, and action. It will involve – from those opposed to a free, prosperous society – absorbing attacks, anger and vitriol. It will involve standing up for what is right by standing tall against those who are wrong. It will involve an open, honest conversation about what makes a nation great, and how to achieve it, no matter what names you are called to shut you down in an attempt to silence honest conversation. Those attempts must be rendered futile.
To you, the members of the Tea Party, I wish you a Happy Birthday. To those who still want to join, Welcome! The party is just getting started. And, to those who wish to stand in our way – prepare to be defeated.
Happy Birthday, Tea Party! And many more!
- Tony Katz
All the best to Gabrielle Giffords
From Tony Katz:
On the day that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords got shot at an event in Tuscon, AZ, I was able to convince one of my radio stations to allow me on the air for an hour to discuss it. I knew little of Giffords, but I knew much about what could have been. This was more than a shooting, this was an attack.
Much of what came out of the aftermath of that shooting which killed six was senselessly political in nature. The Tea Party was blamed for the shooting (though it was never true), the use of “targets” on maps was considered out of bounds. There was a push for the “new tone,” which involved the new utilization of political correctness to punish us not only for our words, but how our words were delivered.
And while those on the outside hurled insults, accusation and innuendo (most recently Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz who used the same “Tea Party Did It” lie just a few weeks ago) Rep. Giffords went on the course of healing. She was shot in the head. These things take time.
No one could have been more shocked to see Rep. Giffords, with some slight assistance, walk out onto the House floor for a vote. Without being told, without being asked, without wondering about party politics, the US House of Representatives broke out into thunderous applause at the sight of Giffords. She waved back. Less than a year ago she was shot in the head. There she stood…waving.
Today, she announced that she is leaving the House. In a statement, Giffords said:
Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery. So to do what’s best for Arizona, I will step down this week. I’m getting better. Every day my spirit is high. I will return, and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.
I join countless numbers of Americans in wishing Rep. Giffords the very best in her recovery, and her life. Her story is not political, it is inspirational. It is one that discusses the worst in humanity, the best in medical technology and the amazement of the human spirit. In that one hour on a Saturday in January, no one could have imagined the speed of her recovery. Undoubtedly, it will continue for years to come. But what we see inspires us. It is what we want our nation to be – strong, capable, full of faith and able to rise after we fall.
Before she goes, Giffords will attend the State of the Union. That may well be the only reason to watch. For at least, when the camera pans her way, you will be inspired.
