To Whom it May Concern…

Eric Odom of Grassfire traveled with us on our recent Tea Party Express national tour. In fact, he was my “seat-mate”, sitting beside me at the small club table he commandeered as his “office”, typing away on his computer as the miles rolled by.

We shared several conversations and it was during those chats I learned that Eric is among the sharpest political analysts I’ve come across, and a connoisseur of the best tequila money can buy…

Here are Eric’s thoughts this morning.

Open Letter to the “Rich”

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 08:01 AM PDT

To Whom it May Concern,

I write this letter openly to you, my fellow Americans, who have come into extraordinary wealth via the Capitalist/Free-Market system that once flourished in our great nation. Many of you hold millions of dollars, many hold tens of millions, many hold many billions.

You might have acquired this wealth through genuine hard work, blood and sweat. You might have spent many a sleepless night fine-tuning your idea until it could be sold or manufactured. You might have concocted a string of computer code that simplified life for millions of Americans. You might have simply inherited your wealth from a family member.

Regardless of how you came into wealth, I personally wish to congratulate you. While I myself have not yet been so fortunate, I don’t in any way envy you and I’m proud to say I live in a nation where such wealth can be attained.

That said, I must admit I find myself starting to become frustrated with “most” of you on a very personal level. I know there are many wealthy Americans who refuse to prop up corrupt politicians and fund the political machine that strips our nation of its liberty. I know there are still millionaires and billionaires who won’t take part in creating the monster that now consumes all of our productivity for political gain.

Most of you, however, are taking the fruits grown through liberty and using them to feed a great beast that opposes freedom. This beast is hell-bent on destroying my right/ability to try and one day join you in financial prosperity.

I would like to share with you a few paragraphs recently quoted from the Czech Republic Observer.

The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency.

It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama Presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their President.

The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America.

Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their President.

While the above words are somewhat specific to the general electorate of America, there is a greater disregard for responsibility happening within the wealthier class of Americans. Yes, the American electorate is being duped. Yes, the American electorate is being dumbed down, lied to and sold marketing campaigns instead of principled leadership.

Yes, it is the responsibility of the voters to make informed, coherent and logical decisions at the ballot box.

But, it’s YOUR money that is being used to sell the lies. It’s YOUR money that is selling the astro-turf marketing campaigns. YOU pay for the TV ads, the political mailers and the radio spots.

I get that it makes sense financially for you to continue doing so. What I don’t get is how you’ve become so short-sighted as to believe that temporary financial gain is more important than long-term solvency as a nation. Are you so greedy that you’ll throw away the future of your children and your grandchildren so that you can enjoy untold wealth for a season?

Not only are most of you playing the game, buying power and supporting criminals in Washington, you’re also refusing to tell your fellow Americans what is really going on. You sit at your mahogany desks writing checks to incumbents, knowing full well why the economy is tanking, and you completely refuse to write columns exposing the madness. You refuse to appear in public, explaining to the electorate why we’re all losing our liberty.

I know… the stock holders. I know, you have boards and committee’s to report to. I know, you have investors who want you to tell them they’re all wealthier now. I get that and I actually like that being the case. I mean, if it weren’t for the drive of profit many more millions of Americans would be unemployed. Products wouldn’t be so affordable, medications wouldn’t be available and the great American economic engine wouldn’t be as strong.

The problem occurs when you make decisions that have an effect on my rights. The problem comes into play when you fund politicians that will kill off my chance at becoming wealthy. You see, that’s when your decisions become downright malicious against the rest of us. That’s when your actions become a direct assault on the ability for anyone to prosper.

The leftists have it all wrong. They chant and rant against the “rich” for reasons that aren’t logical. They protest you because they envy you. They don’t understand that YOU create jobs and innovate in ways that drive economic success. They protest you with signs made of material YOU manufactured. They protest you wearing shoes YOU designed. They drive cars YOU built to join others in protesting you.

That doesn’t make sense and it’s why most Americans won’t join them.

That said, many of us are starting to get frustrated with you because your actions are turning you against the rest of us. I’m talking about those of us who support you and defend you in the public arena of ideas. You know, those of us who know full well you pay FAR more than your “fair share” in taxes.

We’re in your corner, but only when you’re also in ours. The moment you move over to your own corner is the moment we’re all going to start looking at you in a different light. Yes, you need to profit and prosper. I personally have great respect for profit and will never discourage it.

But don’t you dare seek it at the expense of the Constitution, my rights, our liberty and the ability for all Americans to seek financial success.

This letter isn’t about rich vs not rich, this letter is about Americans vs Americans. It’s not about class warfare, it’s about our collaborative fight to keep freedom alive.

Please, speak out about what’s really going on. Let authentic principles drive your decisions and follow that up with methods that lead to profit. Tell the American people what you see and don’t do it through a filter. Stop funding campaigns that produce corrupt politicians who work to oppose liberty.

Don’t put another penny into the beast that is destroying our nation. If you want to prosper, then make sure your targeted market is prospering as well. If you want profit, make sure I can purchase your product, and that in turn I can create a product to sell to you.

That’s what America is all about. That is the America that elevated you to financial prosperity.

Fight for it. Please?

Sincerely,

-Eric Odom

Source: Patriot Radio

'Generation Zero' Blows Roof Off Tea Party Convention

A controversial new documentary film, “Generation Zero” which provides a unique perspective on the causes of the recent financial meltdown and the economic debacle it triggered, was premiered in a special screening at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville last week.

Andrew Breitbart, who also introduced keynote speaker, Gov. Sarah Palin the following evening, provided introductory remarks concerning the film.

Generation Zero - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qySErIWliIU&feature=player_embedded
See Special on Hannity tonight on Fox Cable News

Sarah Palin’s Keynote Speech - Tea Party Convention Update - Part II

Sarah Palin’s Keynote Speech - In Full

Tea Party Convention Update

Palin Said It Would Be Absurd For Her Not To ‘Consider’ 2012 Presidential Bid But No Announcement

Tea Party Convention Update

Palin Goes After Obama at Tea Party Convention

The Democratic agenda is "running out of time," former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Saturday at the National Tea Party Convention, claiming that the conservative tea party movement is part of a brewing "revolution" that constitutes the "future of politics."

Palin, who delivered the keynote speech on the closing night of the three-day gathering of conservative activists, aligned herself squarely with the movement, frequently using the word "us" in describing it.

"This is the future of our country. The tea party movement is the future of politics," she said.

The former GOP vice presidential nominee pointed to the room full of activists, as well as the recent election of Republican Scott Brown to U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, as the sign of a political tide change.

"If Scott Brown is any indication, it’s running out of time," Palin said of the Democratic agenda.

"It’s a ground-up call to action that is forcing both parties to change the way they do business, and that’s beautiful."

Palin got an ecstatic response from the hundreds of tea party activists in the banquet hall in Nashville, where they had spent the last few days hashing out ways to grow the movement and defeat Democrats in the 2010 midterms. Though tea party groups have faced criticism for being disorganized and been cast occasionally as angry rebels without a cause, the former governor said the activists have started something that Washington must heed.

"America is ready for another revolution, and you are a part of this," Palin said.

The former governor used her speech to go after President Obama as well, hammering him for his economic, foreign and security policies.

She zeroed in on the Obama administration's handling of the alleged Christmas Day bomber.

Echoing wide-ranging complaints among Republicans that the administration should not have let suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab get "lawyered up," Palin said the administration is treating the incident like a "crime spree," rather than an act of war.

"Treating this like a mere law enforcement matter places our country at great risk," she said. "To win that war, we need a commander-in-chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern."

Palin, in a pre-taped interview with "Fox News Sunday" earlier in Nashville, said the way Obama is approaching national security is causing an "uneasiness" among many Americans.

"We are in war," Palin said. "These are acts of war that these terrorists are committing. We need to treat them a little bit differently than an American who is worthy, an American being worthy of our U.S. constitutional rights. I don’t think the terrorists are worthy of our rights."

Palin, in her keynote address, also blasted the administration for "wasteful" stimulus spending, urged Congress to kill the latest stimulus-style proposal and said the last year has proved that the administration’s attempts to extend an open hand to hostile nations, like North Korea, has not worked.

"It’s no wonder that our president only spent about 9 percent of his State of the Union address discussing national security, foreign policy, because there aren’t a whole lot of victories he can talk about," she said.

Palin addressed the convention despite facing some controversy over the $100,000 speaking fee she was receiving and the fact that two other scheduled speakers, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., dropped out following ethics committee questions over how the convention profits would be used.

But Palin says she will not personally benefit from the engagement and that the speaking fee will go back to the "cause."

Angela McGowen at National Tea Party Convention

Joseph Farah at Tea Party Convention - Part 1

Joseph Farah at National Tea Party – Part 2

Joseph Farah at National Tea Party – Part 3

Joseph Farah at National Tea Party – Part 4

Remembering Reagan’s Legacy and Applying It Today

Fox Nation Behind the Scenes at the Tea Party

Fox Nation Behind the Scenes at the Tea Party Convention

LIVE at The National Tea Party Convention

by FOX News Crews

By Fox Nation Senior Editor Jesse Watters

If you paid any attention to the mainstream media last week, you’d think the National Tea Party Convention was a near-bankrupt, disorganized event torn apart by internal squabbling and backstabbing that would tarnish and splinter the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement itself.

Don’t believe the hype.

I am behind-the-scenes at the convention and has spoken to various leaders, dozens of grassroots activists and a host of trusted pundits. Here’s what I found…

The National Tea Party Convention – hosted by Tea Party Nation – has begun to lay the foundation for a merging of Tea Party activists with the Republican Party. Despite attempts by Democrats and certain media outlets to drive a wedge between the Tea Parties and the GOP, it’s becoming clear that the Tea Parties will grow WITHIN the Republican Party and not splinter off and form a 3rd party.

Tea Party Nation has announced the formation of “Ensuring Liberty Corporation” – a 501(c)(4) that will organize and raise funds to support candidates across the country who embrace the conservative principles of:

1. Fiscal Responsibility

2. Lower Taxes

3. Less Government

4. States’ Rights

5. National Security

Although the media tried to paint this event as chaotic and hemorrhaging cash, this Convention is obviously strong and growing.

This Political Action Committee has identified 20 key races in 2010, from Mississippi to Arkansas to Tennessee – and does not seek to “co-opt” or “replace” the RNC. Tea Party Nation has also announced follow-up events, a direct democracy technology strategy to enhance voter participation, as well as a national movie screening to commemorate Rick Santelli’s “rant” on Feb 27th.

The grassroots activists here are ignoring the media-driven narrative of infighting within the Tea Party Movement. They don’t care about that. Yes, there are disputes among different Tea Party groups: The Tea Party Patriots, The Tea Party Express, Tea Party Nation, Freedom Works … but I have not witnessed any of this in Nashville so far and hears that discussions are taking place at the leadership level to resolve what are considered healthy disagreements that occur in all young organic movements.

No one is complaining about cost. The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is the largest hotel (without a casino) in the entire world and people are absolutely thrilled to be here, meet each other and learn. In fact, the primary schedule for the Convention revolves around strategy sessions led by local activists and professionals: How to organize a Tea Party, how to engage young voters, how to leverage technology, and how to set up voter drives. They’re getting a bang for their buck.

The majority of activists here are middle aged Americans and senior citizens – not the wild-eyed gun-toting survivalists who some cable news stations like to present as defining the movement. Many of these folks have never participated in politics before … and almost everyone I have spoken to says that they don’t think politicians in Washington are listening to them. They see their freedom, their money and their children’s futures slowly being compromised – and want to restore the republic to its constitutional principles with their idea that elected politicians work for THEM, not the other way around.

People here are vigilant in their pursuit of restoring the principles laid out by our Founding Fathers. These Americans call themselves “the silent majority,” but they’re beginning to have their voice heard.

There were hundreds of press credentials given out today, an ironic situation since last year the media mainly ignored the movement, then tried to marginalize it. Andrew Breitbart is here to introduce Sarah Palin Saturday night – and a dozen conservative bloggers are finally meeting face to face. The international media is also here – from Holland to Japan … even Al Jazeera. Typically, the mainstream media representatives here are trying to foment discord and continue to hammer the Tea Party Nation leadership about controversial comments made Thursday night by Tom Tancredo.

Stay Tuned for more updates throughout the Convention and watch Palin’s speech Saturday night streaming online and or LIVE on Fox News…

One of the best tidbits so far is that everyone there seemed to agree... NO THIRD PARTY... or we (conservatives and America) will lose!

American Rising… An Open Letter