Published: October 20, 2009 11:32 am      

Letter to the Editor, 10-18-09

Dear Editor:

I read the opinion page of the Ada Evening News copy for Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 and the section “Sounding Board.” As Ada TEA Party Coordinator, I would like to reply. The first question in the Sounding Board area is: Who is sponsoring these tea parties? A second question: Where is the money coming from to do all this? (I assume the questioner is asking about the financial backing for the tea parties.) Third question: Is it local people (or outside groups) who fund, who attend, organize and sponsor the tea parties? Fourth question: Who is responsible for the information they put out?

I am delighted to reply, but first let me clear up an inaccuracy in the location: we have never used and probably never will use the Agriplex as it most likely is either unavailable when we arrange the tea party or it is too costly. All of our funds come from local folks, from private donations, such as paying for the rental of Pontotoc Technology Center last Friday, an indoors tea party setting rather than outdoors on the County Courthouse lawn as was done for the April and July parties. Also, there was donated the funds for payment for the specially designed and produced white tee shirts which by the way are able to be ordered for ten dollars each as an inital fundraiser for subsequent tea parties. Another resource which was available at the tea party #3 this past Friday evening was a DVD showing the differences between two types of government—democratic vs. republic types. These were for sale, another fundraiser, for $5 each. This DVD is an amazing message about how our nation’s constitutional and conservative origin, one nation under God, began and how, over the years and under many government leaderships, the original intent of our Founding Fathers’ intentions and documents have been dismissed as obsolete, needing modernization. Those documents are not needing modernization at all but adhered to for operating a republic-type of government.

Local folks direct the tea parties via attending and giving their input at the tea party committee meetings. So far, committee members are from Ada, Fittstown, Maud, Sasakwa, and Konawa. The meetings are open to anyone interested in making a difference by having a presence and input into the ongoing tea parties.

About the information they put out: unfortunately, the publicity costs so far are more than our committee has. Any person interested in returning to a constitutional conservative government as nationwide tea parties are demonstrating, the committee would welcome help to make the subsequent tea parties well publicized. It is too bad to reflect on the tea party #3 where four panelists presented their personal platforms and endeavored to convince the audience of grassroots Americans why they should vote for them. The attendance was clearly insufficient, but the quality of the panelists was superb and those missing this event really missed a marvelous opportunityy to get informed and aquainted with those seeking our votes for election 2010. Audience participants offered well-thought-out questions for the panelists and got specific, truthful responses. Many in the audience stayed over a half-hour to question further the panelists.

Hopefully, those reading this letter will plan to attend the fourth tea party, Thursday, Nov. 19 at PTC from 6 to 9 p.m. Our tentative agenda is to have more candidates from the Democratic side be center stage. Candidates for Lt. Governor and for Districts 4 and 5 also were invited, but could not attend. Hopefully, these persons’ schedules will allow them to be present for the fourth tea party as well as much better publicity be carried out.

Any persons interested in knowing more about the tea parties, either call me at (405) 941-3381.

Catherine White

Ada TEA Party Coordinator