Tea Party Organizer: Effort "In A Very Disconcerting Position At The Moment"

One of the leading coordinators of the tea parties that happened across the country on tax day, April 15, has penned a soul-searching letter to supporters saying the tea party effort is "in a very disconcerting position at the moment."

Eric Odom, administrator of TaxDayTeaParty.com (the online hub of the tea party phenomenon), wrote on Monday that he is troubled that the parties have come to be seen, from both within and without, as a unified "movement" with central leaders trampling the prerogatives of the grassroots.

Odom writes that at the federal policy level, tea partiers should be focused on three things: opposing "Socialized Healthcare," "Internet Taxation," and "Union Card Check."

At the local level, those sympathetic to the tea party events should look to strengthening processes for ballot initiatives and referendums, term limits, and supporting tea-minded candidates for local offices.

READ ODOM'S LETTER:

OK, seriously... what's going on with the Tea Party effort?
And what should we all be thinking as we move forward?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi [Name],

If you're concerned about the direction of the Tea Party effort, it is VERY important that you take a few moments to read and digest this entire email.

I'm writing you because I find the Tea Party effort in a very disconcerting position at the moment. I've been on vacation for the past few days, so I'm a little behind on all the news, but from what I'm reading it sounds like there has been a lot of things said internally, within the effort, that probably should not have been said.

Story continues below

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For the record... I'm not writing you as a representative of any organization or coalition. I'm not writing you as director of this org or that org; Rather, I'm writing you as Eric Odom. Eric Odom the activist, the tea party organizer, and the concerned American.

I now recognize that I should have written to you about this sooner. I know that many of you are emailing me and calling my cell phone to try and figure out which "group" I am joining or which "coalition" I support, so I thought I would address that question, and follow it up with a full explanation of what I'm personally doing post April 15th.

To give you some quick background... I'm the guy who developed both the site and concept for the February 27th Chicago Tea Party as well as the April 15th Tax Day Tea Party. I'm not in any way suggesting this was all my idea, but I am asserting that I've been HEAVILY involved since minute one of everything that has happened in the movement to date.

This has given me a very unique and humble perspective on the Tea Party effort. Unique because I have numbers and data that no one else has. I mean, I know exactly how many visitors we had, what they were searching for, who contacted us, what they were asking, how many contacts we made, and how many media mentions we were privy to (among MANY other things). Humble because I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit behind the scenes and work to facilitate an environment where true grassroots activity can occur, which has provided a much different view of this movement as it unfolded as opposed to what many others have seen happen.

Since day one, I've strongly held the opinion that there should never be an "official" coalition or group to "oversee" the Tea Party effort. In fact, my belief is that doing so is impossible.

This caused problems between myself and a couple other national organizers because some of us shared vastly different opinions on how this movement should function.

Yes, we had a website. And yes, our website had sponsors (some of which, by the way, I was not very happy about), but I believe our sponsors did help us get an early nudge that we needed for mass attention, and in turn, mass collaboration.

But to me that should have been the end of it. In my view, our goal should have always been to simply facilitate an environment where local organizers could take the lead in this movement.

Sure, our website had difficulties... but that was a learning process for us and one we learned great lessons from. That said, we did everything possible to stay out of the way of local organizers. We didn't try and tell organizers what to do or say, we just tried to provide advice and help others share their experiences.

Essentially, our function as a website was solely to market local Tea Parties and help organizers collaborate. That was it!

Now I understand that some out there are saying "there is poor leadership involved within the group who originally started all of this", but to those folks I would remind them that I never wanted to be THE leader of this effort. Nor did I believe any of us at TaxDayTeaParty.com should try and become THE leader of this effort.

I constantly stated my desire to see all 800+ local organizers take a leadership role at the local level and begin developing local coalitions, taxpayer groups, lobby networks, citizen action groups, etc. It has been and always will be my opinion that a top down model fails every time in the modern day free-market movement.

So why on earth should we try and do it again?

And as a side note, we at some point need to understand the VITAL importance of regaining control of our LOCAL government. I get that fighting Federal battles is sexy and everyone is doing it, but I also get that we're losing our asses in our own back yards!

So I cringe when I see people claiming to be "leaders" in this movement make statements about the Federal government and how that is where all of our energy needs to be spent.

Here's a memo for you... the current administration as well as the current congress are doing a fantastic job of defeating themselves. Not to say we just ignore them, but if we devote all of our time to the Federal fight yet lose our states... we do so at our own peril.

I think this is why I have always gotten along so well with Stacy Mott of Smart Girl Politics and Ned Ryun over at American Majority. They get it. They're a part of a group of free-market movement folks who understand the value in fighting out-of-control government at the local level and how it in turn affects government at the federal level.

So, I think a part of what I'm trying to say here is that I never personally left the Tea Party Movement. In fact, I would suggest quite the opposite. I would, however, admit that I lost interest in being a part of a national "brand" that centers around planned protests in a top down format.

Also, I was never once a fan of trying to brand the free-market movement as the "Tea Party Movement." The DontGo Movement already learned a hard lesson from trying to do just that (http://dontgomovement.com). Last August we had a HUGE groundswell of action related to the energy debate, and through Twitter our campaign was branded "DontGo." The reason for that word is because our message is that we were paying extremely high gas prices and congress needed to stay in session to find a solution to the problem BEFORE going on vacation.

Just like with the Tea Party effort, many media outlets and political pundits put pen to paper claiming the "DontGo" campaign was officially a movement. This is what became the DontGo Movement.

The problem, however, is that there was an error in the way DontGo was viewed. DontGo was not a movement; Rather, it was a campaign within a movement. The real movement is much larger... the real movement is the nationwide free-market movement. DontGo shouldnt have been branded as a movement. Instead, it should have been branded as a national grassroots campaign within the movement.

I believe this should be the case for the Tea Party effort as well. The movement already existed, we just needed to be called into action. The Tea Party effort is not the movement... the Tea Party effort is a campaign we launched within the movement.

So what are we up to now?

I'm currently working with a coalition of folks that have opted to take a quieter, more strategic approach to the energy surrounding the Tea Party effort. We're developing a two pronged plan for long term political activity within the free-market movement, and I want to invite you to be a part of this effort.

1) Federal
At the Federal level, we believe we're looking at three very significant fights coming up that our coalitions and networks should be heavily involved in. It is our opinion that these are fights that we can not only play a major role in, but we think we can actually influence the outcome.

--Socialized Healthcare
--Internet Taxation
--Union Card Check
(and a few other free-market related issues as well)

2) Local/State
Our goals at the local level are as follows (not limited to):
--Revitalize and strengthen the initiative & referandum process
--Heavily support and push through Term Limit legislation
--Identify candiates for school board, city council, county boards, state legislatures and state constitutional offices... and arm them with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed at running for office
--Develop a large scale fifty state network of independently operated grassroots networks/coalitions that can effectively combat extreme local taxation
--Identify potential leaders and groups within the movement and provide them with the tools needed to expand and become politically successful

3) Long term planning for a large scale 50 state Capital protest on tax day of 2010

We hope to kick this effort off on June 1st, 2009, and we would love to have you as a part of the team.

Consider this a special invitation to a private, national strategic planning conference call that will take place on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009. In order to accept the invitation, you MUST send an email to [e-mail] and tell me why you desire to be a part of this conference call.

We'll reply with call credentials once we've reviewed your response and approve you as a participant (sorry for the long process... trying to block those who simply wish to disrupt what we're doing).

In the meantime, in regards to the Tea Party effort... keep doing what you do. We need lots more of it and I think we'll get it. But let's not lose focus on the bigger picture, and let's make sure we're thinking about the entire movement as we head into an important 2010 election cycle.

We the People have the power to take back our country. We need to get back on track and do the work that needs to be done to fix this broken system.

Best Regards,
-Eric Odom

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Comments

[breakingpoint]

I disagree on a number of issues with these guys, but it's too bad the GOP invaded the original Libertarian outfit.

The good part is, this will do more damage to the GOP in the long run

[wdw505]

we don't care.......that's what you people don't get.......we just want to bring back conservative values
conservative taxes
conservative spending
conservative law making

[bluejoni2525]

YOU LOST! move over you had 8 years look what you DID!!!!!!!!

[mogeorge]

When did you have that, again? Surely not during the last administration. And if youh agree with me on that, then you must agree that the last administration drove most of us further left then we have ever been.

[breakingpoint]

Sorry to say we will have to try a little socialism until men become angels again.

Once the safety net is in place then it's free market for all. Hit the Wall Street casinos at your own peril.

Again sorry to say this is what Libertarians don't get, you can't have crooks calling themselves conservatives, rob the public blind and expect people not to say, "Where's mine?"

It's like those who think Jimmy Hoffa still runs the Unions from the grave.

once the bad guys are in jail and every one feels safe perhaps personal responsibility will make a come back.

[chgoblue]

No, what you people don't get is that the vast majority of American's have had enough of your "smaller government" trashing the Constitution, preaching family values (but not practicing them), starting unnecessary wars, politicizing every major branch of government, and discriminating against everyone that doesn't buy into your inane ideas.

You are constantly on this site preaching the same tired ideas, do you really think you are going to change anyone's mind on this site?

[swift goat pet for truth]

Yeh. Conservative (Hoover) GDP growth.

[A Meat Beetle]

You got that right. Throwing in with the L-tarians (aka p o t-smoking Republicans) is not a very smart idea. Makes you look even more phoolish than nature intended.

[Steve Magruder]

Who are these "grassroots" who oppose universal access to health care and like having employers trample on union organization? It's actually astroturf, folks. No common American who has thought through these issues would support this "movement".

[JulieSA]

We can't afford universal health care (or Social Security) with the baby boomers retiring, as things stand now. If we do it, we'll have to have a VAT tax or something like it. Plus, it would mean health care would be rationed by the government. Some old people in Britain are being told they're not worth it, so they can have the procedures they want. No government will ever tell me what procedures i can or can't have.

Most workers don't want to unionize, and removing the secret ballot would open them up to intimidation for refusing to join. Even George McGovern is against this. The only reason the Dems want this is all the union funds that go to political donations. It's a Dem slush fund. More dues=more Dem donations. Plus, the bigger unions like the UAW have chased companies overseas or to right-to-work states, because of their inefficient work rules. There's a place for unions, but there's a reason their membership has shrunk so much.

So, if you are for card check, you are for higher unemployment rates, because that will be the result.

Of course, it's fine to be in favor of these things, if that is your choice. But don't think they are free and without government controlled strings, and don't mischaracterize those who disagree with you. We have thought these things through, and these are our views. Your views are valid and important, and so are mine.

[JulieSA]

That should read:
"so they CAN"T have the procedures they want".

[Nagarjuna]

Though I disagree with most of what you're saying, I really appreciate your civilized and courteous attitude. Thank you for that.

[MinasTirith]

What we can't afford is the current health system. Companies go bankrupt trying to pay for it. Insurance giants make money off denying claims for legitimate diseases, and we 'Capitalists' try to make a fast buck on someone's suffering.

When the world turns full circle, and it's you that's needing the health care your insurance company is denying you, then see which side of your mouth you speak out of regarding the affordability of it.

People getting sick has become a cash cow... with all sorts of leeches hanging on to draw their share of the blood. That you think that's somehow the right thing to do speaks volumes.

[mogeorge]

Most workers don't want to be unionized??? Facts please. I can't imagine a worker would choose to work at Sam's Club over Costco. Unless they prefer to be underpaid , underinsured and pretty much be treated disrespectfully. I don't belong to a union, but I asppreciate what Unions do for American workers. You may have thought things through, but I wonder what flawed information you used to come to your opinions. Card check is to eliminate intimidation...not by the Unions, but by big business. Haven't we had enough of these hotshots treating the middle class like peasants?

[wdw505]

agreed

[John Perozzi]

I've thought this through Steve. I don't like government health care for the simple reason of seeing what it looks like in other countries. And I don't see how keeping a ballot secret is the same as trampling union organization. Quite the opposite, it is the union doing the trampling.

[swift goat pet for truth]

In what world would that be?

We are 37th in the world in health care, yet pay twice as much as the next most expensive country.

[mogeorge]

Then you don't understand the issue and you choose not to study it for fear of learning a truth that does not suit you. As for health care, I have personally experienced nationalized health care systems in two very diverse countries and found the care to be excellent.

[swift goat pet for truth]

What other countries? Names? Dates?

Me:
Japan 6 months, 1998
Sweden 3 months, 1997
Norway 8 months 1999.
England 3 months, 1998.
Luxembourg 5 months 2001

[ascotp]

And that is why the Democratic party proved it's point in the past 100 days. It can not fix the economy from centrally controlled government. The only people that can fix it is "We the people" in a free and open society. It are democrats who label and classify people into groups, in the misguided attempt to control us. Obama, this is not Africa my friend.

[bluejoni2525]

In 100 days you expected it to be FIXED Bush took 8 years to break it!!!!

[mizani7]

"It are [sic] Democrats who label and classify people".

Also, hope you know that Africa is a continent of many nations. It isn't ruled by one person or government. (I'm assuming you made that statement out of ignorance and not prejudice)

[ObamacratInCA]

Succinctly, here are the big goals of Eric Odom's movement that still doesn't have a name:

--Develop a large scale fifty state network of independently operated grassroots networks

--Identify potential leaders and groups within the movement and provide them with the tools needed to expand and become politically successful

Basically, he wants to mirror Howard Dean's and Barack Obama's 50-state strategy.

There's only one problem: A 50-state strategy ultimately relies on local activism and neighbor-to-neighbor outreach or what is known as community organizing.

We all heard at the Republican National Convention, from party elders like Rudolph Giuliani and Sarah Palin that community organizing is beneath contempt.

It's funny how willful stupidity always comes back to bite you in the teabags.

[John Perozzi]

Giuliani and Palin said that community organizing is beneath contempt? I must have missed that, yet I saw both their speeches.

[Nagarjuna]

Palin famously ridiculed community organizing in her convention speech -- It became one of her biggest signature lines.

[bluejoni2525]

Try the Reptilian Convention

[A Meat Beetle]

Don't know about G-boy, but P-girl was openly derisive toward community organizers (like Thomas Jefferson and Paul Revere) in numerous speeches.

[bluejoni2525]

And we know community organizer is code for ---ooooo---- black people.

[jackbutler5555]

This group has a problem. They resemble a libertarian-like movement. But at the rallies, all the Republican issues emerged -- abortion, prayer in schools, creationism, etc. The problem is that these are not libertarian issues. As a matter of fact, Libertarians and social conservatives part company on these issues. The future of the Republican Party (and for that matter its past) is finding a way to mix all these issues together, gloss over the obvious disparities, and win elections. I don't know how you do that. But Republicans have done this in the past. I gather they dislike Democrats so much that they'll ignore their differences and fight on.

[ascotp]

Yep Life is complex. We the people... We are not groups. Democrats like to label people, classify them and put them in boxes. Draw borders around them, put them in fences or shackle them. In the case of Obama. Shackle the successful, in the misguided hope to revive our economy. Obama is a ONE TERM President. Full stop.

[lmnop13]

What?
So, democrats now have the monopoly on labels, fences and shackles?
K.

[mizani7]

"DEMOCRATS like to label people, classify and put them in boxes..."

[Nagarjuna]

"Shackle the successful"? Like, say, Bernard Madoff?

[questionsquestions]

Those sour grapes yummy?

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

"We the people....Obama is a ONE TERM President."

Right. Only Republicans are the "people" that the Constitution talks about, only Republicans are "real Americans." Got it, heard it all before, yada yada.

Obama is a one-term president? ASCOTP, he's gonna do better the SECOND time than he did the FIRST!

[Fotios]

If people at the tea parties didn't know what they're protesting, how can anyone reasonably react to it?

If protests aren't focused on specific issues, it doesn't matter how many people show up - their message isn't getting across.

[ascotp]

Republicans do not need a message. Everything we do comes from the heart. We the people.

[mizani7]

"Republicans do not need a message"

Apparently not. But if they want to be taken seriously again, they may want to get one or two.

[lmnop13]

I thought you didn't like labels,labels like 'Republican'?

[Nagarjuna]

We see that in the fevered Republican defense of TORTURE. Yeah, you guys are all heart, all right.

[chgoblue]

Don't need a message? Is that why fewer people are identifying with you far right wing party than anytime in history? Something like 20% of the electorate? How is that working out for you so far? Yep, thought so.

[jazzycafe]

The heart? Is that why all the R's are saying empathy is not needed in a judge?

[TokyoCalling]

Another Shamm WOW from the republicans! Hate to see you go but your going to out of power for a long time. Or you can all move to Texas just leave Austin alone ok.

[Newthron]

"ShammWow" Lol! You brought a smile.
Be careful yo! Texas might secede with "Austin" the coolest city of them all.

[Fotios]

Since when did the tea parties become a formal political party? There's a long list of policy points in that email that I've never heard of before.

I don't think they understand the practice of protests... Liberals protest specific things in the hopes to achieve specific goals - like withdrawing troops from Iraq. This seemed like a mess of every anti-govt loony, all with their own agenda, and Eric Odom's long, rambling email here proves the point - this movement doesn't have any focus or goals.

I thought the tea parties were meant to protest tax increases (like the original tea parties). However that didn't make any sense since everyone just received a tax cut. So, I figured the protests were about increased spending, but then I watched the protests on TV and became totally confused. People were ranting about taxes and spending, but were also talking about liberty, freedom, terrorism, tyranny, secession, globalization, corporations, socialism, communism and every thing else under the sun. No focus at all.

Now, according to one of the biggest grass-roots organizers of the event, the mission is fighting:
--Socialized Healthcare
--Internet Taxation
--Union Card Check
(and a few other free-market related issues as well)

And on a local level:
--Revitalize and strengthen the initiative & referendum process
--Heavily support Term Limit legislation
--Identify candidates for state offices
--combat extreme local taxation
--provide leaders and groups with the tools needed to become politically successful

[lmnop13]

I was a little confused by that email as well.
I never saw one sign about internet taxation. Not one.
Nor union card check, or anything pertaining to the topics listed.
What, did they just write really small or something?
They must have been standing behind those people exercising their freedom of speech and freedom to protest that were holding the 'Welcome the USSA' signs.

[runfastandwin]

Dust in the wind.

[ProfessorDuh]

The right-wingers have seen the bloody, historic ruin that has been caused by the insane policies for which they shouted their support. The United States still stands at the brink of moral and economic disaster, thanks to the worst presidential administration in history, headed by a man as vicious as he is vacuous, whose every garbled utterance was defended by the right wingers.
Just look at these tea drinkers now, still squawking pathetically about “liberals” and “Dem0craps” and “cut and run.” They’re like chickens in the slaughterhouse, feverishly searching for somebody weaker they can peck to death as a way to distract themselves before the inevitable ax falls.

[Dbos]

Proves it's not grassroots .

[joycehelene]

Why don't those stupid tea-baggers just go home and start drinking something else, the tea is getting to their heads.

[Dynamohum]

While he infers he know the exact number of protesters, he doesn't bother to share that information. What an absolutely functionally illiterate tool.

[GalaxieGal]

He's being really cagey. I think he's referring to the number of web hits rather than protesters.

A tool to be sure.

[slaughterhouse]

I am sure these teabagged folks are getting tired of being treated like a rodeo animal being riden by the Beverley Hillbillies in a steamy Cleveland. I am sure they feel like they are tired of gettin treated like a brown mushroom by the Washington Houdinis out there. Yep, it is about time they put their teabags where their mouths are, and unleash the full wrath of their inner angry dragon!

[Newthron]

There is a world out there, hidden behind certainties and religious believe that forbid all form of dialogue or debate. You don't question God because he is the truth.
You don't question their certainty, because it is empirical.
We don't need enemies to feel strong, unique, special or valuable.
Mistakes are good, they make us evolve.
Disagreeing is good, we debate and learn.
To criticize with so much antagonism, wont help a bet the country.
T-baggers don’t want dialogues. They want their views imposed.
It’s their way or the B.U.S.H/C.H.E.N.E.Y’s way.
Well . . .look where it did took us.
Now, we have a president whom wants to work with the entire country. Let him do it.
He can’t be as bad as it was.

[JulieSA]

"T-baggers don"t want dialogues. They want their views imposed."

Where do you see any evidence of that? We are for the Bill of Rights, especially the first amendment. Peacefully protesting is our right. Why do you think we shouldn't do it? Are you against the first amendment?

We are all for dialogue, but we like to talk about ideas and principles, and teabag jokes and baseless insults don't qualify.

[Dynamohum]

All righty then. Give us a single important purpose of your said protest. All the signs I saw from cities across the USA conveyed nothing but the most hateful and irrelevant messages, none of which was about dialogue but condemnation, racism and bigotry. So give me a break

[Newthron]

I would love to believe you. I mean I don't have nothing against you, and don't want to have anything against you. But the first amendment you are talking about is a tool which white Christian conservative use and manipulate to antagonize the rest of the country.
The "baseless insults" you are talking about. Hmm . . .Yes! I forgot! Generally you are more the kind of people with highly selective memories. You will conveniently be in denial about your "Emp-tea-bagging party signs, full of insult against Obama, whom has never done such a thing to you, "Victimized true America."

[zezel]

I got a good one guys : Tea "Baggers" ha ha ha ha ha. Let's keep that joke alive, it's so damn funny. Seriously, my leftist friends use the "bagger" part of the term as a desperate put down of a legitimate movement. You may not have learned at Salon.com that there were at the very least 300k people at these "tea parties". Why can't y'all admit they were a successful expression of discontent with the RIDICULOUS spending of our money? Spearheaded by a President who said "no more earmarks blah blah blah" during the campaign?

[Jeff1958]

300K. Big deal. There were close to 300K in CHICAGO on 11.4.08. And how many were there in DC on 1.20.09?

[Sandmanj]

There were well over a million marching on D.C. immediately after the "Saturday Night Massacre" in the fall of 1973.

[lmnop13]

He said earmark reform.
Speaking of RIDICULOUS spending.
Did you actually DRINK the tea you purchased? One party had 1 million teabags in a dump truck. How much money was wasted on that? Not to mention the fact that you paid taxes on your purchases. And you're protesting taxes!
How can you protest wasteful spending and taxes by wasting money and paying taxes on it?
Now, ask us again why your tea party wasn't very coherent?

[John Perozzi]

The difference is, they chose to spend that money and pay the tax. They're not protesting taxes, they're protesting the amount of taxes.

[breezi]

I think there was some koolaid in that tea.

[doctorwang]

Keep having these little F0X love-fests and the joke will continue to remain alive.

BTW: wearing colonial costumes or teabags as earrings only adds to the joke.

[oscartucker]

Teabaggers seem to have so many levels of participation--there were people concerned about taxes, some who were concerned about policies, but there were some who were just hate--filled--participants with awful signs and who were "egged on" by several sources (a network). The signs they carried were not "homemade"; it was not hard to see that some people really let themselves be "used". The ill will of the movement and the misinformation--people did not seem to be thinking for themselves, so the "grassroots" part was rendered invalid. "A successful expression of discontent"--yeah, but "discontent" with whom??? Some people will never admit their prejudice. As far as the RIDICULOUS spending of our money" goes, Teabaggers do not want to look back and see where all of that started. That's sad.

[Dynamohum]

WOW 300k out of 350,000,000! That is some significant percentage there!! Whoooo hoooo. That is some movement.......maybe a bow el movement. roflmao

[MassInsanity]

At the very least, people are getting up and out to stand for what they believe in. Whether it's 10 or 100, at least some people are doing SOMETHING.

Too bad it isn't put together better, starting with an ACTUAL issue worth protesting.