Jul 4 2009

For Immediate Release: “Chicago America’s Independence Day Tea Party: A Non-Partisan, Astroturf-Free Tea Party”

America’s Independence Day Tea Parties

 
   


Chicago, Il - On Saturday July 4th, hundreds of “Tea Parties” will be held across the nation, drawing attention to the American people’s growing dissatisfaction with the actions of our Federal government.
 
Unfortunately, many of the Tea Parties are organized by “Astroturf” political consultants, intent on making the Tea Parties nothing but an artificial Republican Party rally, complete with the feigned outrage of talk radio talking heads.
 
The Free & Equal.org/ ReTeaParty.com Tea Party to be held in Chicago will be something very different.
 
Chicago’s Independence Day Tea Party will take place this Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The event will take place from 12 Noon until 4pm in Gateway Park at Navy Pier.
 
The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation. 
 
On July 4th, 2009, we are asking Americans everywhere to re-declare our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
 
The Independence Day Tea Parties are very different in nature from other tea parties taking place around the nation. The Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties are non-partisan in nature, and will feature speakers and guests from across the political spectrum.
 
“The Chicago Independence Day Tea Party is a fully nonpartisan event, with guests from all across the political spectrum,” said Free and Equal Chair and event organizer Christina Tobin. 
 
Tobin added, “This will be a forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation.  While we may disagree on the solutions, on July 4th, 2009 we will come together as Americans to peacefully express our dissent from the current political status quo.”   
 
Free & Equal.org & ReTeaParty have announced the speakers for the Chicago Tea Party. This diverse list of speakers includes members of several different political parties, activists from assorted political backgrounds, and authors who continue to challenge the current political status quo.
 
12:00 - 12:25  Christos Dimoulis, Concerned Youth of America (Member NCFCA
                        National Debate Team)
 
12:30 - 12:45  Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge
 
12:45 - 1:00   Richard Lorenc, Director of Outreach at Illinois Policy Institute
 
1:05 - 1:20      John Bambenek, Author and Activist: The put-back amendment;
                        reforming the State Legislature to be responsive to the people
 
1:30 - 1:45     Theresa Amato, Campaign Manager for Ralph Nader for President      
                        2000 & 2004, and author of Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice
                        in a Two-Party Tyranny.
 
1:45 - 1:55      Rosanna Pulido, (IL 5) Congressional Candidate
 
2:00 - 2:10      Artist Marc Rubin, Art and Freedom
 
2:15 - 2:25      Charlie Howe, Green Party Activist & Candidate
 
2:30 - 2:45      Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois
 
2:50 - 3:00      Adam Andrzejewski, Republican Candidate for Governor of Illinois
 
3:05- 3:15       Rev. Isaac Hayes, Republican Congressional Candidate
 
3:20 - 3:30      Peter Lewis, Former Illinois State Coordinator for Ralph Nader 2008
 
3:30-Close      Christina Tobin, Founder & Chair, Free & Equal Elections.
 
For more information on this, and other Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties, contact Christina Tobin at 312-320-4101, or Christina@FreeAndEqual.org
 

 ReTeaParty.com & The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation. 
 
Free & Equal is a non-partisan election reform and activist organization dedicated to improving ballot access laws in the United States.
 
Many states have restrictive requirements that make it difficult for Independent and Third Party candidates to place their names on the ballot.
 
Free & Equal will challenge these laws, through lobbying of state legislators, court challenges, and initiatives.
 
Free & Equal will also engage in activism for causes independent of the current two-party duopoly.
 
 

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Jul 2 2009

A Tale Of Two Chicago Tea Parties – One Is Canceled And One Is Not

Founding Bloggers 

July 2, 2009

Recently, we received a comment asking us to post some information about the upcoming Chicago Independence Day Tea Party.

We did some digging to see what was shaping up, and we discovered some interesting and confusing facts surrounding the Chicago 4th of July Tea Party.

The first information we came across was from a website calledTeaPartyDay.com. Their motto is Taxed Enough Already.

They listed Maurice Bonamigo as the organizer of the Chicago Tea Party. We had never heard of Maurice, but according to his website, he is a very successful conservative political consultant.

We phoned Mr. Bonamigo and he informed us that Chicago’s Independence Day Tea Party had been canceled. Wha Wha What? That’s right….canceled.

Mr. Bonamigo mentioned something to us about $16,000-$20,000 needed to stage the event in a city park. On the 4th of July, it is not surprising there would be a steep fee involved for a spot in the park.

Mr. Bonamigo said that the city would have allowed the Tea Party to take place in Federal Plaza (the location of the previous Chicago Tea Party), but there was a costly insurance requirement attached to the offer. He says the city wanted the Tea Party to carry $5,000,000 in insurance which he estimated would cost about $1500.00.

These requirements proved too cumbersome for the Chicago Tea Party efforts, and therefore according to Mr. Bonamigo, the Chicago Tea Party was canceled.

Mr. Bonamigo was unable to provide any information as to whom he spoke with from the city.

We continued digging, and came across another tea party website,teapartypatriots.org. This appears to be the group largely, though not solely,  responsible for organizing the previous round of Tax Day Tea Parties.

This is what their site says about Chicago’s Independence Day Tea Party:

9/12 Project July 4th Tea Party & Veterans Tribute
Chicago Hub, Illinois
Saturday, July 4, 2009
ALL DAY and early evening.
NOT A LOCAL PHYSICAL EVENT
Coordinated in Sacramento
Dave Jenest (organizer)

Huh? Not a local physical event? We contacted Dave Jenest, and he confirmed that there is no Chicago event. He actually sounded a little surprised that he was listed as the Chicago organizer, because he is all the way out in Sacramento, where their Tea Party has been canceled.

Mr. Jenest is planning a virtual event that you can learn more about here.

We continued digging, and finally came up with a Chicago Tea Party that IS happening. We found this info on the Re-Tea Party website,chicago.reteaparty.com

Chicago, Il –FreeAndEqual.org and ReTeaParty.com have recently coordinated to host Tea Parties around the country on Saturday July 4th

The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation. On July 4th, 2009, we are asking Americans everywhere to re-declare our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Chicago’s Tea Party will take place this Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The event will take place from12 Noon until 4pm Gateway Park at Navy Pier.

The Independence Day Tea Parties are very different in nature from other tea parties taking place around the nation. The Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties are non-partisan in nature, and will feature speakers and guests from across the political spectrum.

Confirmed speakers include:

* Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United, Illinois
*
 Paul Jacob, President of the Citizens in Charge Foundation
*
 Theresa Amato, Campaign Manager for Ralph Nader for President 2004, and author of Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny.
*Isaac Hayes, Republican Congressional Candidate
*Rosanna Pulido, former Congressional Candidate
*Charlie Howe, Green Party Activist & Candidate

Contact: Christina Tobin
Chicago Free and Equal / ReTea Party Coordinator
(312) 320 4101
christina@freeandequal.org

We spoke with Christina Tobin late last night, and she confirmed this Tea Party is in fact taking place.

What does this all mean? Is there more than one Tea Party movement? Is the Tea Party movement fracturing? Stay tuned…..

Link to story: http://www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2009/07/a-tale-of-two-tea-parties-one-is-canceled-and-one-is-not/

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Jul 2 2009

For Immediate Release: All-Partisan July 4th Chicago Free and Equal / ReTeaParty at Navy Pier’s Gateway Park from 12-4pm


The Free & Equal Elections Foundation

407 S. Dearborn St. Ste. 1170

Chicago, IL 60605

Phone: 312-320-4101 fax: 1.866.309.7803


America’s Independence Day Tea Party to Take Place in

Chicago on July 4th at Navy Pier’s Gateway Park from 12-4pm


Chicago, Il –FreeAndEqual.org and ReTeaParty.com have recently coordinated to host Tea Parties around the country on Saturday July 4th.

The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide demonstration forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation. On July 4th, 2009, we are asking Americans everywhere to re-declare our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Chicago’s Tea Party will take place this Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The event will take place from 12 Noon until 4pm in Gateway Park at Navy Pier.

The Independence Day Tea Parties are very different in nature from other tea parties taking place around the nation. The Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties are non-partisan in nature, and will feature speakers and guests from across the political spectrum.

“The Chicago Independence Day Tea Party is a fully nonpartisan event, with guests from all across the political spectrum,” said Free and Equal CEO and event organizer Christina Tobin 

Tobin added, “This will be a forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation.  While we may disagree on the solutions, on July 4th, 2009 we will come together as Americans to peacefully express our dissent from the current political status quo.”   


Confirmed speakers include:  

* Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United, Illinois  

* Paul Jacob, President of the Citizens in Charge Foundation  

* Theresa Amato, Campaign Manager for Ralph Nader for President 2004, and author of Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny.

*Isaac Hayes, Republican Congressional Candidate

*Rosanna Pulido, former Congressional Candidate

*Charlie Howe, Green Party Activist & Candidate


The full speakers list for the Chicago Tea Party will be announced Friday. For more information on this, and other Free & Equal/ ReTea Parties, contact Christina Tobin, or log on to www.ReTeaParty.com 

####

For media inquiries, please contact Christina Tobin at 312-320-4101, or by e-mail at Christina@freeandequal.org

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