(Bruce Wayland) – I am a registered Nevadan Republican and support the Tea Party Express (Our Country Deserves Better PAC) principles including Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets – all of which I agree with, but I cannot support their current tactics.
The Tea Party Express (Our Country Deserves Better PAC) could publish a marketing book on how not to handle public relations in a digital age over its handling of the Sharon Angle campaign.
They are using tactics to turn their campaign in their favor, when they are not even a recognized party. I would most likely expect this from some liberals, but not the Tea Party Express based on their ideals. This is about the candidates, not the Tea Party. When their Facebook page posts have any possible negative connotations, they are removing content and disallowing supporters to communicate with other Tea Party supporters for a healthy debate.
These actions do not represent the kind of government principles I signed up for.
The majority of recent posts which the “Our Country Deserves Better PAC (aka Tea Party Express)” has been posting are Sharron Angle driven, due to the Nevada Primary. Understanding they endorsed Sharron, but to basically ban any comment and further conversations from all fans that don’t meet their “holier-than-thou” attitude when it comes to Sharron Angle or their principles, is both discriminatory, non-transparent, and unfair to all supporters who believe in the Tea Party Express principles – especially at a time when voters are looking for information.
If they are limiting access to supporters on Facebook and censoring content, I have a harder time understanding how they are going to handle their constitutional core principles on a national basis.
I had posted a comment which is fact based concerning two polls (6 years apart) which graded Sharron Angle’s ability. A trustful PAC or Group should have assisted in disputing the fact, given answers, and would have offered up a healthy debate (if needed), but instead it was blatantly removed and at the same time, they took away any means of two-way communication. The PAC also removed a comment that was also on the string of comments concerning a Scientology correlation.
I have supported the Tea Party Express since Searchlight, and to be banned because I was sharing a true factoid and searching for information, the Tea Party Express passed judgement on their own supporter (and basically being called a liberal) is like cutting off the hand that supports you. My hands are free now to support real grassroot movements.
In order for voters to make informed decisions, all relative points in a candidate’s history are looked at. By removing content, they are basically hiding information from the public or stating that they do not have a counterpoint to unsubstantiate any claims reported by the Media. After further investigation through various News sites, Sharron Angle publicly had claimed that the polls were a liberal plot.
Sounds like a Tea Party Express plot to me, not a liberal plot. If there is plot, it is only a plot by the PAC to not enlighten voters with all the facts. This sort of action (censorship) makes voters and supporters question the Tea Party Express substance on an endorsed candidate.
The protections of the First Amendment are some of the most basic and fundamental rights guaranteed to all Americans (the Tea Party Express should read up on our Constitution / Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence if they are trying to transform the Government we believe is too big). Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas stated “Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us”.
The officials of the Tea Party Express better have a more legitimate reason than a mere desire to avoid that may accompany a different viewpoint or facts. The answer to speech you don’t like is more speech, not less. In my opinion, the Tea Party Express has neglected their responsibility and violated rights to free speech for political gain.
Tea Party Express – please explain to those who follow your principles what conduct is acceptable under the First Amendment of the Constitution?
Justice William Brennan wrote in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, the First Amendment provides that “debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.”. It is imperative that you do not lose focus of the importance of the fundamental importance of the First Amendment to the American landscape, especially in shaping the minds of those who will be voting in the Primary and November, inclusive of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, etc.. – the American People (or in our case, Nevadans).
Shame on you Tea Party Express (Our Country Deserves Better PAC) for your actions – you just censored a supporter (and I am probably not the first). I hope you can find your real commitment to tea party principles, since Our Country Does Deserve Better. I support your principles, not your tactics.
Nevadans should listen to their candidates, instead of the messages being received by groups outside our great state of Nevada, corporations and unions who are basically electing our representatives for us. This is devastating for democracy. With the Primary upon us, it’s not only time to take America back, but let’s take Nevada back at the same time.
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