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/