The Tea Party Speaks: 160K Petitions (and Counting) Saying No New Taxes!

By Jennifer Burke
TPNN Contributor

TheTeaParty.net held a press conference today to send a message loud and clear that this country does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Moderated by Scottie Nell Hughes, News Director and Anchor of Tea Party News Network, a sister organization of TheTeaParty.net, the press conference aimed to make it clear that Americans are taxed enough already and cannot stand more taxation from an overreaching and bloated government.

The group presented the over 160,000 petitions demanding that they will not be pitted against one another in Obama’s class warfare game. They also demand that Speaker John Boehner and the GOP not cave into Obama’s desire to raise more revenue by raising taxes. Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky was the opening speaker and summed it all up at the beginning of his remarks.

“The Republican Party is the party of limited government and low taxation. I was elected because voters of Kentucky want less spending, limited government, and less taxation. I know of no better way to stimulate the economy than to leave more money in the private sector.

Each speaker that followed built upon that idea of principles and standing by them. Representative Louis Gohmert from Louisiana was clear that he advocates for a Flat Tax. In response to the constant attack by those on the left that that GOP is the party of the rich, Gohmert’s response pulled no punches.

”We’re about trying to protect the principles upon which this country was founded. We don’t want to protect the rich. We want to get back to a system where anybody in American can get rich by hard work, saving money, and entrepreneurship. What this president and the Senate want to do, the majority, is to punish people who are working hard and trying to make it.”

Rep. John Fleming from Louisiana expanded upon Senator Paul’s quick educational lesson on the history of the Republican Party regarding taxation.

”Our federal tax system began as a result of the 16th Amendment that was ratified in 1913. And do you realize that in this entire time, and even before that going back to the founding of this nation, not once has a Republican controlled House of Representatives ever lifted the tax rates on the American citizens. So that means that if we do it here now, this will be unprecedented. Raising the federal tax rates for the first time in a Republican lead House of Representatives”

Fleming also called out President Obama out for his statement two years ago that the Bush tax rates should be kept in difficult financial times. Fleming’s response was that the times are worse now than they were then, so why would we change that? He went on to say that the real debate should be on spending.

The spending addiction that our government possesses is a topic that few people want to address. However, it is a topic that Americans for Tax Reform, headed by Grover Norquist, has at the heart of its mission. Each of these congressmen who showed up to stand with The Tea Party signed that pledge. Holding fast to their promise to not raise taxes has caused them to be the target of many attacks with the accusation that they are bowing down to Norquist.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who was one of four conservative Republicans recently removed from his House Committee assignment for what he believes is his adherence to his conservative principles, addressed this attack. Speaking about the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Huelskamp was clear and direct.

“It’s not a pledge to a particular gentleman, a gentleman who by the way I happen to call a friend, but to 750,000 Kansans. The president wants Republicans to violate their principles. He wants Republicans to admit that the failed economic policies are the result of bad tax policies. We can’t go down that road.”

With adherence to principles often comes harsh reality that needs to be spoken powerfully as truth. Representative Paul Broun from Georgia delivered that stark realization that America must come to grips with as we continue to have this discussion on the looming fiscal cliff and how to address it.

I believe we are headed towards a depression that is worse than the 1930’s. We have got to stop spending.”

The message was delivered with speakers surrounded by the 160,000+ petitions that were signed by individuals via the TheTeaParty.net’s online petitioning system. Each petition was previously delivered by email to each signer’s representative and senators. To drive the message home, the petitions will be hand delivered to their office as well.

Dustin Stockton, Chief Strategist for TheTeaParty.net, shared with those in attendance that although Speaker John Boehner was invited to attend the press conference and members of the team met with him yesterday, he declined to attend.

The closing remarks were given by Todd Cefaratti, Founder and Freedom Organizer of TheTeaParty.net, who said that the organization is taking a stand for the American people.

We’re here representing the people. And for the pundits in both parties that have been trying to declare the tea party dead, take a look (at the petitions). This is just after two weeks and the petitions are still pouring in.

Taking their level of activism to a higher level, TheTeaParty.net also revealed a team of freedom advocates that will be working on Capitol Hill to represent the voice of the freedom, who will stand for the Constitution, and who will hold our elected officials directly responsible to their promises to the people. No longer will things said during a campaign be simply talking points to get elected. The team will consist of Former Congressman from Arizona J.D. Hayworth, TheTeaParty.net Spokesperson Niger Innis, and Bob Adams, the organization’s Capitol Hill Liaison.

These are exciting times for the Tea Party Movement. TheTeaParty.net is demonstrating that just because you don’t see rallies held every few weeks doesn’t mean that work isn’t being done. The powerful presence that they will have on a regular basis on Capitol Hill will keep our government officials on their toes because they will have someone to be accountable to on a frequent basis, not just during election years. This level of advocacy will give a powerful voice to the people and the Constitution in the fight for freedom.