Washington, D.C. - Black activists with the Project 21 black leadership network are are the rebutting assertions made by rabid supporters of President Barack Obama that the recent downgrade of the nation’s credit rating is the fault of the tea party movement.

“Our country is at a crossroads, and I’m proud to stand with patriotic tea party activists who are concerned about the future of our nation,” said Project 21 fellow Deneen Borelli, a frequent speaker at tea party events across the country. “The tea party movement burst on the national scene as a spontaneous reaction to government gone wild — outrageous spending, growing deficit and exploding debt. Since its inception, the tea party movement has been a positive force for reducing the size and scope of government.”

In the wake of Standard and Poor’s downgrade of America’s credit rating from AAA to AA+ — a historic first downgrade of its kind in American history — defenders of the Obama Administration are seeking to pin the blame on tea party activists for holding politicians’ feet to the fire against excessive spending. Such pressure helped force a compromise by the White House in the recent elevation of the nation’s allowable debt ceiling.

“The credit downgrade is just another example of this president and his administration’s failure to lead,” said Project 21 spokesman Cherylyn Harley LeBon (LeBon will be guest-hosting the syndicated G. Gordon Liddy show on August 9). “One can hardly point to the tea party for the credit downgrade. The debt problem could have been addressed when it arose in the fall of 2010 when the liberals still had a majority in Congress. Instead, Obama took a pass — as he has done with so many issues — and lays blame with others.”

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Obama campaign operative David Axelrod and Fox News commentator Jehmu Greene, among others, call the nation’s lowered credit rating “the tea party downgrade.” Former presidential candidate and ex-Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean claimed “right-wing splinter groups” kept Republican lawmakers from offering a debt compromise more to the White House’s liking that Dean implies would have averted a downgrade. On “Fox News Sunday,” however, David Beers, the head of Standard and Poor’s government debt-rating unit, said: “[T]his is not really about either political party… [T]he underlying debt burden of the U.S. government is rising and will continue to do so…”

Tea party activists — represented by many different groups and affiliated with no political party — have been almost uniformly consistent in calling for less government spending and not raising the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts and a framework to cap and control future spending. Obama, who has not offered a comprehensive plan for easing debt or controlling spending, said in his August 8 statement on the downgrade: “No matter what the credit agencies say, we will always be a AAA country.”

“The credit downgrade is a consequence forced upon the American people by a president who has consistently demonstrated no regard to the fact the Constitution grants no right to Congress to subsidize private interests,” said Project 21 spokesman Stacy Swimp, a tea party organizer in Michigan. “Corporate welfare, record spending and contempt towards the Constitution from liberals created the condition which ultimately has led to the downgrade. Tea party activists have consistently and correctly condemned the aforementioned fiscal irresponsibility.”

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives since 1992, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research (http://www.nationalcenter.org).

“Looking at the research that comprises this report, I find it interesting that it appears not a single leader of the mentioned tea party groups was asked for its background,” noted Project 21 member Coby Dillard, a co-founder of the Hampton Roads Tea Party in Virginia. “Had this research been conducted, the facts would show that two of the mentioned groups are simply capitalizing from the tea party movement and that two others are for-profit enterprises. I fail to see, just as I did this summer when their resolution was voted on, how this report ‘advances’ black Americans or those of any color. The longer the NAACP stays on this path, the more they show themselves unable to provide solutions to the issues most Americans care about.”

In his introduction to “Tea Party Nationalism,” which was created by the little-known Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights and is being distributed by the NAACP, NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous says the report “exposes the links between certain Tea Party factions and acknowledged racist hate groups in the United States.” The first direct allegation of such raicalism made by Jealous, however, is the still-unconfirmed report that a racial epithet was used against Representative John Lewis (D-GA) during the health care debate last March.

In further examples of the report’s ideological agenda, it says the slogan “take our country back” — which has been used in various forms by liberals such as former presidential candidate Howard Dean, current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Nation magazine editor Katrina vanden Heuvel — is “explicitly nationalist” when used by tea party activists. As for tenuous linkages in the report, Tea Party Express is tied to the John Birch Society simply because they both played roles in the 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference (as did the homosexual rights group GOProud, but that was not mentioned). The report also tries to tie the Tea Party Express to Dale Robertson — who was repudiated by tea party organizations long ago — by reporting “Dale Robertson noted that members of his group traveled to Nevada for the kickoff rallies of the third Tea Party Express” (the event was open to the public).

“This is gotcha politics, plain and simple. They are using tall tales and hearsay to obscure real concern about the state of our nation. I’ve read fairy tales with more credibility,” said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie, who has spoken at many tea party events. “To drop down to their level, one could cite former NAACP executive director Ben Chavis as a link between the NAACP and the racial extremism of the Nation of Islam. The same could be done regarding IREHR board member Gina Chiala due to her years advocating for a pardon of Leonard Peltier, the radical Indian-rights activist who was convicted of murdering two FBI agents. I’m sure they wouldn’t think that’s fair game — even though both have or held leadership postions — but they’ll play that way when it comes to the tea parties.”

“This report is as credible as the recently-discredited U.N. report on climate change,” added Project 21 fellow Deneen Borelli. “This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to mobilize support for their policies through fear. Even though Obama’s policies are harmful to the black community, tragically, they seek to manufacture blind loyalty to the President by scaring them about the opposition. As a frequent speaker at tea party rallies nationwide, I know the movement has nothing to do with race and everything to do with toxic liberal policies.”

“As a black man, I scorn and resent this never-ending assault on the morals of all black people by the NAACP,” said Project 21 member Oscar Murdock, who took part in the Tea Party Express rally in Searchlight, Nevada. “In spite of being an organization that was correctly established to procure and preserve rights for a people to whom rights and dignity were being denied, the NAACP has descended into a group that is a disgrace to the humanity of the very people it was created to elevate. It is now only a bigoted and politically biased blight among organizations.”

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives since 1992, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research (http://www.nationalcenter.org).

Pasted below is more information about the August 8^th Code Blue Tea Party protests for health care freedom at Gabby Giffords’ offices in Tucson and Sierra Vista. 

1)  What, When and Where

2)  This Just In–Gabby Giffords Town Hall on Thursday Night, August 6

3)  How to Sign Up—And Info on Other AZ Rallies

4)  Ideas for Signs

5)  Why this Protest is Important 

1)  WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE 

Members of the Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity are joining allied organizations this Saturday, August 8th, at 9 am, for protests at the offices of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.  Her Tucson office is at 1661 N. Swan Road (SW corner of Swan and Pima), Tucson, 85712.  Her Sierra Vista office is at 77 Calle Portal, Sierra Vista, 85635. 

Our message to Congress, Washington bureaucrats, and special interests: 

     HANDS OFF OUR HEALTH CARE! 

AFP Arizona activists will join Arizona Tea Party, 912 Project Arizona, Smart Girl Politics, Tea Party Patriots, and hundreds of citizen activists in these Code Blue protests for health care freedom at Gabrielle Giffords’ offices. 

Congresswoman Giffords has serious reservations about the initial versions of the Obama-Pelosi-Kennedy “reform” plans.  She knows that the current plans would result in massive new taxes, fail to control costs, and take America a long way toward a single-payer, Canadian-style system of government-directed health care (under which Washington bureaucrats would decide which doctors you can go to, and which medical procedures you can and can’t have).  

Giffords is under intense pressure from President Obama, from her hard-left colleagues in Congress, and from radical activist groups that want to destroy what remains of America’s private health insurance system.  We need to make sure that Giffords hears loud and clear from grassroots supporters of health care freedom! 

Location for Giffords’ offices:  Saturday, August 8, 9:00 am.  Tucson–1661 N. Swan Road (SW corner of Swan and Pima), Tucson, 85712.  Sierra Vista–77 Calle Portal, Sierra Vista, 85635 

2)  THIS JUST IN—GABBY GIFFORDS TOWN HALL THURS AUG 6TH 

This just in from Tucson Tea Party co-organizer Robert Mayer:

WHAT:     “Casual Conversation” with Gabrielle Giffords

WHEN:     Thursday, August 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE:   La Placita, 110 S. Church Ave.

Parking info:   The address is 110 South Church Avenue, at the intersection of Church and Broadway.  Parking is available across the street (West of La Placita), off of the street “Jackson” in the five-story parking garage. Parking is reportedly free after 5 p.m. on Levels 3 and above. 

Mayer asks Tea Partiers to remember to wear your red Tea Shirts! 

3)  HOW TO SIGN UP FOR SATURDAY, INFO ON OTHER AZ RALLIES 

To sign up for a rally, please take the following five steps: 

a)  Decide which Congressional office you wish to visit on August 8th. The offices are listed on the Code Blue flyer:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/health-care-code-blue-8-8-flyer.pdf 

b)  Reply to this email (or write to tjenney@afphq.org) to let AFP Arizona know which office you plan to visit. 

c)  Let your local Tea Party organizer know which office you’re going to, by signing up at www.arizonateaparty.com 

d)  Get talking points, policy updates, and ideas for signs at: http://joinpatientsfirst.com/ 

e)  Email and call your friends and family members, and urge them to join us on August 8th. 

4)  SOME IDEAS FOR SIGNS 

My doctor is my choice!

Hands off our health care!

ObamaCare = Long lines, poor quality

ObamaCare = Death

Read the Bill, Gabby!  Then vote NO!

Read Page 30 of HR 3200:  Govt will decide who gets treated

Read Page 72 of HR 3200:  All private plans must conform to govt rules

Read Page 124 of HR 3200:  No one can sue the govt health monopoly

Read Page 149 of HR 3200:  8% payroll tax on large employers

Read Page 150 of HR 3200:  6% payroll tax on small employers

Read Page 167 of HR 3200:  2.5% tax on people who don’t go along

Read Page 272 of HR 3200:  Cancer hospital payments will be rationed

Read Page 318 of HR 3200:  Hospital expansions prohibited w/o govt approval

Read Page 335 of HR 3200:  “Outcome-based measures” = Rationing

Gabby: Don’t let DC bureaucrats destroy health care

Don’t pull the plug on elderly Americans!

Fed up with govt health care

The VA almost killed me—ObamaCare will finish the job

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s “free”

We say NO to ObamaCare

Where will the Canadians go for surgery?

Fascism: When govt decides whether you live or die 

5)  WHY THIS PROTEST IS IMPORTANT 

This is the fight of the decade for American liberty.  Now is the time to take a stand.  

President Obama and the leftists in Congress wanted to hurry up and complete the national government’s takeover of American health care–before the public got a chance to find out what was in the legislation.  We are grateful to report that the legislation does not look like it will move until after the August recess.  That means we have a very limited window to act. 

The same people who have taken over private banks and much of the auto industry now want to take over even more of the health care sector.  The same people who make you wait in line at the Post Office want to create a system in which you will have to wait weeks, months, or even years for life-saving or life-improving medical services.  The same kind of people who run America’s very expensive and very ineffective public schools claim that they will (somehow) maintain quality and control costs in the health care sector. 

Some of the central planners in Washington want to give government the power to say which doctors you can go to, and which medical procedures you can and can’t have.   President Obama is not sure whether the government should have allowed his own grandmother to get a hip replacement.  Imagine how Washington bureaucrats will treat YOU!

We must take a stand NOW to protect elderly patients, to maintain the high quality of health services in America, and to preserve the essential doctor-patient relationship.   Government has already distorted US health insurance markets by making private health insurance too expensive for many Americans, and by making American workers dependent upon on employer-provided insurance.  But if you think things are bad now, wait until government completes its takeover of the medical sector.  We must STOP the rapid march of socialist health care!

For Liberty,

–Tom 

Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
(Arizona Federation of Taxpayers)
www.aztaxpayers.org
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146

The leftists in Congress are twisting arms right now, trying to complete the national government’s takeover of American health care. The same folks who have taken over private banks and the auto industry now want to take over even more of the health care sector. The same folks who make you wait in line at the Post Office want to create a system in which you will have to wait weeks, months, or even years for life-saving or life-improving medical services.

Some of the central planners in Washington want to give government the power to say which doctors you can go to, and which medical procedures you can and can’t have. President Obama is not sure whether the government should have allowed his own grandmother to get a hip replacement. Imagine how Washington bureaucrats will treat OUR grandmothers!

We must take a stand NOW to protect elderly patients, to maintain the high quality of health services in America, and to preserve the essential doctor-patient relationship. Government has already distorted US health insurance markets by making private health insurance too expensive for many Americans, and by making American workers dependent upon on employer-provided insurance. But if you think things are bad now, wait until government completes its takeover of the medical sector. We must STOP the relentless march of socialist medicine!

Here in Arizona, it appears that U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Pima County), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Prescott/Flagstaff) and Harry Mitchell (D-Scottsdale/Tempe) are not hell-bent on creating a single-payer, Canadian-style system of government-directed health care. But they are under intense pressure from President Obama and their hard-left colleagues in Congress. We need to give them some grassroots pressure in the direction of freedom!

In MARICOPA COUNTY, protesters will meet at the office of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, at 7201 East Camelback Road, Suite 335, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (on the SE corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback) on Friday, July 17, from 9 to 10 a.m. Please bring protest signs and water. AFP Arizona will bring literature, as well as iced coffee and doughnuts. For more info about the Harry Mitchell event, contact Tom Jenney at tjenney@afphq.org.

In TUCSON, members of the Tucson Tea Party will protest outside of the office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, on the southwest corner of Swan and Pima, on Friday, July 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tucson Tea Party org suggests that everyone wear red. For more info on the Tucson event, contact Trent Humphries at tucsonteaparty@yahoo.com.

In PRESCOTT, members of the Prescott Tea Party will gather at the office of U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, at 240 South Montezuma, beginning at noon on Friday, July 17. They will walk over to the office of Sen. John McCain, at 122 North Cortez Street. The Prescott Tea Party suggests that protesters wear hospital gowns, nurses, scrubs, and/or lab coats (or just wear blue). For more info on the Prescott event, contact Mona Patton at prescottteaparty@gmail.com.

In SIERRA VISTA, members of the 912 Project of Cochise County will gather at the Sierra Vista office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at 77 Calle Portal, Suite B-160, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17. For more info on the Sierra Vista event, contact 912projectcochisecounty@gmail.com.

IMMEDIATE ACTION: If you haven’t already done so, please go to JoinPatientsFirst.com and sign our Hands Off My Healthcare petition: http://joinpatientsfirst.com/

Also: This week, be sure to check out a new TV ad from Patients United Now, entitled “Shona.” It will air on a number of national cable news outlets, including Fox News, CNN, Headline News, MSNBC, and others. Shona Holmes, the subject of the commercial, is a Canadian citizen who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Under the Canadian government-run health care system, Shona was told she would have to wait six months to see a specialist, but her condition needed immediate treatment. She and her husband mortgaged their home and came to the United States to get the care she needed, which saved her life. Unfortunately, her story is one of so many in Canada and Great Britain in which those who are sick are not getting the care they need. You can watch the TV commercial online at www.patientsunitednow.org.

Finally, be sure to visit www.azhealthcarefreedom.com for more information about the Arizona Health Care Freedom Act, coming to the statewide ballot in November 2010.

For Liberty,

–Tom

Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
(Arizona Federation of Taxpayers)
www.aztaxpayers.org
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146
http://www.afphq.org/071409-friday-health-care-tea-party-protests-scottsdale-tucson-and-prescott

Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who:

• vote for a $500 billion tax bill without even reading it? 
• are spending trillions of borrowed dollars, leaving a debt our great-grandchildren will be paying?
• consistently give special interest groups billions of dollars in earmarks to help get themselves re-elected?
• want to take your wealth and redistribute it to others?
• punish those who practice responsible financial behavior and reward those who do not?
• admit to using the financial hurt of millions as an opportunity to push their political agenda?
• run up trillions of dollars of debt and then sell that debt to countries such as China?
• want government controlled health care?
• want to take away the right to vote with a secret ballot in union elections?
• refuse to stop the flow of millions of illegal immigrants into our country?
• appoint a defender of child pornography to the Number 2 position in the Justice Department?
• want to force doctors and other medical workers to perform abortions against their will?
• want to impose a carbon tax on your electricity, gas and home heating fuels?
• want to reduce your tax deductibility for charitable gifts?
• take money from your family budget to pay for their federal budget?

If so, participate in the TEA party rally, the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party.

Bring your cell phone and call Congress and the president while attending the  TEA party rally (Representative and Senators, 202-224-3121; President, 202-456-1414). Tell Every American about this effort by forwarding this invitation to your friends.  Together we can make a difference. 

http://teapartyday.com/

Cavuto interviewing several tea party organizers. Cavuto says he has info that a well-organized and well-funded effort is underway to place Obamatrons inside tea party groups to then destroy the demonstrations when they occur through instigating violence and confusion. This in concert with the MSM to film only violence at such events so as to discredit anyone who opposes Obama.

The guests are down-playing Cavuto’s news, responding that the tea party movement is too large to be stopped in this way, estimating crowds of 10-15,000 at each demonstration on April 15.