The Montana media is wrongly labelling candidates as “Tea Party” candidates. That’s the charge from the Montana Tea Party Coalition in a press release sent out Tuesday afternoon.
The MTPC is also disavowing any connection with US House candidate Drew Turiano.
FULL PRESS RELEASE
Montana Tea Party Coalition Denies Any Connection with Drew Turiano
Helena, Mont.—The Montana Tea Party Coalition, in response to Drew Turiano’s claim that he is the “Tea Party candidate” running for US House, denies any affiliation with Turiano. After surveying its 17-member organizations that comprise the MTCP, not a single Tea Party reported having met Turiano or seen him at a Tea Party event or meeting. Furthermore, the MTPC as well as the individual Tea Party groups as a matter of policy do not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for public office or support or oppose any political party.
With regards to Turiano’s claims of being the “Tea Party” candidate, Jay Anderson, member of the MTPC Media Committee said:
“We encourage people who believe in our values of Constitutionally-limited government, free markets and fiscal accountability to get involved in the political process. To some members it may mean running for office, for others it means playing a supportive role, going door-to-door or phone calling, but they do so as individuals and not as representatives of any Tea Party. In the case of Drew Turiano, not one of our 17 member organizations has reported ever seeing him at any of their meetings or events. In fact, many Tea Party leaders and members are upset with his self-proclamation as the ‘Tea Party candidate’ and strongly disagree with his views. We also find it alarming that the media made no effort to substantiate his claims.”
In a similar manner, MTPC is perplexed at the media’s claim that there are Tea Party candidates running in the Democratic primary. After surveying its member organizations, no one in the MTPC knew of any active member of their Tea Party who decided (or was prompted) to run in a Democratic primary. Mike Comstock, who was previously involved with the local Bozeman Tea Party and has run twice before as a Democrat, is an exception. “We welcome people of all political persuasions to take up our issues of fiscal accountability and if inspired, run for office as individuals in the party of their choice. However being a candidate and in agreement with some of our principles is a far cry from being a ‘Tea Party’ candidate,” Anderson said.
Rather than identify individuals as “Tea Party candidates”, the MTCP urges the media to contact us directly for comment. In the case of Drew Turiano, his misleading connection to the Tea Party has been used by progressives and left-leaning media to disparage the Tea Party and to wrongly associate our organizations with his views.
About the Montana Tea Party Coalition
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Al Smith
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 5:51 PM
How typical or our present day media. It’s no wonder folks have so little faith in what they hear and read anymore. Why should we believe what is presented as news when it seems the media is too lazy to check sources and verify the facts.
My disclaimer…I’m not a “dues paying member” of any political organization, consider myself an independent conservative, but I support those who hold good old American values such as those the tea party movement espouses.
To those who consider the Taxed Enough Already movement radical, be reminded it was taxation that triggered the original Tea Party in Boston Harbor. Unfair taxes coupled with other greivances were the basis for the Revolution which gave birth to our nation. Were our founders radial?
You answer.