Firebrand group offers political alternative

Published online on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

Even though the Central Valley Tea Party Web site says "the so-called media" have shirked their watchdog responsibility and become "lapdogs of the left," I like the group's firebrand activism.

I also agree with one of its principal tenets: our exploding national debt -- $11.921 trillion when I wrote this sentence -- strangles economic productivity and threatens America's future.

But to influence policy on taxes, corporate bailouts and runaway deficit spending, the organization -- and other Tea Party Patriot affiliates throughout the country -- must do more than throw spleen-venting parties on April 15 and the Fourth of July.

Members must organize, set goals and educate the public about who and what they stand for. These things aren't easily accomplished. If they were, American politics wouldn't be overwhelmingly dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties.

Hoping to build on the momentum of events that drew thousands to Fresno's Save Mart Center and Tulare's International Agri-Center this year, the Central Valley Tea Party is holding a "boot camp" for prospective members Oct. 24 at the Fresno Fairgrounds.

The boot camp's stated objective: "How to transform yourself into a Government Butt Kicking Activist."

Like I said, they're firebrands.

And they don't fit into a tidy political box.

"I would estimate that 20% of us are like me, Libertarians," said Steve Wayte, a Fresno business owner who is a Tea Party coordinator. "Forty percent are Republicans who believe their party is broken and the other 40% believe that everything will be just fine if the Republican party gets back in power. That means 60% realize that the system is broken, and we have to start over."

It also means nearly half the group could vanish once the GOP reclaims Washington. But Wayte believes the Tea Party party has a future -- even if I think this is just Ross Perot all over again.

Wayte says the group received about $37,000 in local contributions to stage its two big rallies. He also says that the Central Valley Tea Party is independent of Tea Party Express, which he describes as "neoconservative Republicans we're trying to distance ourselves from."

In fact, Tea Party Express -- which staged a 34-stop bus tour this summer -- is strictly Astroturf. It is funded by a Republican-leaning political action committee led by veteran GOP consultant Sal Russo.

So, what would you get for plunking down $15 for the boot camp?

A speech from Republican Congressman Tom McClintock -- California's patron saint of tax and spending cuts -- on the dangers of cap-and-trade legislation.

A session on using Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social networking to the rally the troops and get the message out. Pointers on enlisting new recruits from your neighborhood. And a primer on health-care reform from the perspective of a local health professional and Tea Party Patriot.

I asked Wayte -- who worked on behalf of Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texan in the last presidential election -- if he expected the Tea Party movement to change the direction of American politics.

"If it stops at socialism, I'll be pretty happy," he said. "Right now, it's headed for corporate fascism."

Like I said, they're firebrands.