We already knew the April 15 rallies were partisan Republican political affairs with plenty of anti-Obama hate speech thrown in, so it should come as no surprise that right-wingers are using the Astroturf rally organized by Washington, D.C. lobbying groups as a fundraiser.
Former GOP state Representative and head of the so-called “Michigan Taxpayer Alliance (MTA)” Leon Drolet is using the occasion to send out a fundraising email. The MTA is co-sponsoring the Lansing event along with the extreme rightwing Washington, D.C. lobbying group “Americans for Prosperity,” and Drolet is also asking people send a check to his Macomb Township home.
As you may recall, Drolet’s 15 minutes of infamy came in 2007 when he tried to intimidate lawmakers from voting to keep the state government going and avoid further harmful spending cuts when the budget faced a $1.8 million deficit. After much blustering and threats to go after Democrats who did the right and courageous thing and voted to keep government open, he only managed to gather enough signatures to place a recall on the ballot against House Speaker Andy Dillon.
However, it was accomplished with fraud and deceit, out of state money, illegal petition gathers, cash for signatures and illegal campaign contributions. Once it got on the ballot, voters soundly rejected it. Drolet, who has never had a job in the private sector, was seen around Lansing and in districts represented by Democrats hauling a large, model pink pig.
What was the benefit of that sham? According to the pig man:
“Battling to recall the House Speaker wasn't cheap - the Michigan Democratic Party and the Speaker spent well over a million dollars to fight the recall.”
I don’t know if that is true, and since Drolet said it, its suspect. However, is that a reason for people to attend the allegedly nonpartisan Astroturf “tea party?” To send him money to campaign against Democrats?
Then the man who has never had a job in the private sector took his standard shot at government employees that has become a standard GOP refrain.
“Just last week, the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average public employee is paid $39.25 an hour in salary and benefits - $11.90 an hour more than comparable private-sector citizens. Benefit costs for government workers cost $13.38 an hour compared to $7.98 for private-sector workers. Who is serving who? “
He, of course, provides no reference, but even worse, he is comparing apples to oranges to smear dedicated state employees. Private sector employees include minimum wage, low skilled workers, but most state employees are not entry level, and the majority of them hold college degrees. In fact, if you go to the Michigan Civil Service web site, 80 percent of the jobs listed have this education requirement: “Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major.”
Not to be out done in taking advantage of the Astroturf, GOP campaign event, RNC Chair Michael Steele sent out his own letter to make some scratch. Steele sent out a mass email urging people to send a tea bag to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and while you are at it, he hopes “you will also take this opportunity to make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the RNC today.
The Astroturf and misnamed “tea parties” should be well intended after the way Faux News has been playing it up and doing promo after promo advertising where their “unbiased” hosts will be present. Plus, almost 60 million people voted for Republicans in November, but the good news is almost 70 million voted for President Obama.
No matter how many people and rightwing hate groups show up tomorrow, they will continue to be in the minority. A recent Gallup poll finds that 61 percent of Americans say they regard the income taxes they have to pay this year as fair.
I guess we will see the other 39 percent tomorrow.
2 comments:
From the first paragraph on whether Americans polled think their taxes are too high:
"PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds 48% of Americans saying the amount of federal income taxes they pay is "about right," with 46% saying "too high" -- one of the most positive assessments Gallup has measured since 1956. Typically, a majority of Americans say their taxes are too high, and relatively few say their taxes are too low."
I don't see 61% in there, but what's even more ironic is that we are still operating under the Bush Income Tax plan. The Bush tax cuts don't expire until December 31, 2010 when they will go back to the high rates paid under Clinton. That is if the Socialist Democrat in the White House doesn't convince the Socialist Democrats in the House and Senate to eliminate the bush tax cuts sooner.
I find it hilarious that you whine about some of these groups raising money from those attending the tea parties and you do this on a day when the news comes out that Governor Sebelius, who is one of the many nominees of Obama that have cheated on their taxes and had to pay $7,000 has now been caught not telling the truth about how much money she received from a Partial Birth Abortion doctor.
I guess we'll have to see after the next election when a Republican is elected, whether or not those raising money now for the Republicans report the donations they receive.
I'm just having so much fun watching all of these Socialist Democrats that raise taxes and fees left and right in this country, are getting caught not having paid their own taxes. Geithner, Killefer, Sebelius, Solis, Daschle and the other two who's names I can't remember off the top of my head. Not to mention the sweetheart deals on real estate and mortgages for Dodd, Reid, and Conrad, while the American people are losing their homes.
See you at the tea party tomorrow. I'll be the one with the camera who takes your picture and sends it to the newspaper saying "here's just one of the supporters of the tea party in Lansing.
You should read the entire article before you spout off, brett; it makes you look even more misinformed than normal.
In the seventh paragraph it says: “Six in 10 Continue to Say Taxes are Fair
“The poll also finds 61% of Americans saying they regard the income taxes they have to pay this year as fair. There has been very little change on this measure in the last six years.”
Oh, we’re still under the Bush tax plan. One thing I know for sure, we are still under the Bush recession and have been for a few years. I also know this: I got a tax cut this year like 95 percent of Americans, and there was more money in my paycheck last week. The richest 1 percent are going to see the Bush giveaway expire.
Once again, brett, there is so such thing as a “Socialist Democrat” in this country, let alone in the White House, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point. How long are you going to keep repeating that lie?
I haven’t heard anything about Gov. Sebelius, and as usual you provide no link. If she paid $7,000 I don’t see how she can be “tax cheat.” The so-called partial birth abortion” is illegal.
All those people you named did pay their taxes, and there were no “sweetheart deals on real estate and mortgages.”
Like I said before, I have to work tomorrow, so I don’t know if I will be able to attend the Astroturf GOP political rally. You will know me because I have never hid and use my picture, but I won’t know you. But, go right ahead and take my picture and send it to “the newspaper“or any newspaper. I’m not sure why they would want it, but you’re cutline is incorrect. I’m not a supporter, and it’s not a tea party. The real tea party was staged to protest taxation without representation. With the President’s approval rating and 61 percent of Americans saying they think the income taxes they have to pay this year are fair they are being represented just fine.
But the thing that’s even more important than attending that Republican Obama hatefest; make sure you send your check to Steele and Drolet. See ya.
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