Liberty Central Founder and Conservative Advocate Ginni Thomas Joins Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention’s Speakers

Richmond, VA – Virginia (Ginni) Lamp Thomas, a long-time conservative advocate with a unique perspective on Washington D.C. politics, is the latest prominent speaker to sign on to appear at the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention on Oct. 8-9, sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation.

Thomas is the founder and president of the recently-formed nonprofit group Liberty Central, which aims to “harness the power of citizen voices, inform everyday Americans with knowledge, and activate them to preserve liberty,” according to the organization’s Web site, www.LibertyCentral.org.

“Too many decisions over our lives are now being made in Washington,” Thomas said. “This is a historic time when we will decide, most directly, if this nation will be self-governed by the Constitution or ruled by an elite who want to impose their preferences on us. Tea party groups are America’s political first responders and I am excited to join those in my own state at this important and timely convention!”

“We are thrilled to add the voice of Ginni Thomas to an impressive and growing list of prominent speakers for the convention,” said Jamie Radtke, president of the Richmond Tea Party and chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. “Ginni is a tireless defender of freedom and democracy, most recently as the founder of Liberty Central and we look forward to hearing her insights into how Tea Party supporters can best focus their efforts.”

Thomas is a lawyer who has served in a number of roles over the past three decades, including congressional aide and policy analyst, legal advisor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Labor Department employee in the George H.W. Bush administration and Heritage Foundation liaison during the George W. Bush Administration. She is married to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and she was by his side during his contentious Senate hearings before his confirmation by a 52-48 vote.

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Ginni Thomas to Speak at Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention

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The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention, themed “The Constitution Still Matters,” will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Oct. 8-9, 2010, just a month before the mid-term Congressional elections. The convention is sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, a collection of Tea Party and Patriot groups from throughout Virginia who have joined together to host the event. 

Thomas joins a growing roster of high-profile participants, including Dick Morris, Lou Dobbs, Herman Cain, JennyBeth Martin, John Fund, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention, themed “The Constitution Still Matters,” will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Oct. 8-9, 2010, just a month before the mid-term Congressional elections. The convention is sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, a collection of Tea Party and Patriot groups from throughout Virginia who have joined together to host the event.

During the two-day convention, speakers will address the importance of the Constitution and limited government during a time of unprecedented government expansion. Dozens of breakout seminars will be offered related to the Constitution/U.S. political history, current public policy and grassroots activist training. Congressional candidate and national policy forums will be conducted. The convention will end with a presidential straw poll. In addition, a “Freedom Lovers Extravaganza” event is scheduled for Friday evening at the Downtown Marriott.

All of Virginia’s congressional incumbents, congressional candidates, state senators and delegates have been invited to attend and participate, regardless of party affiliation.

Two-day convention tickets are $50, and one-day tickets are $40. Tickets to the Freedom Lovers Extravaganza are $20. Further details about the convention—including information about lodging and how to become a sponsor—can be found at www.vateapartyconvention.com.

Speakers and schedule are subject to change.

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Charter:

Virginia Tea Party Patriots (VTPP) is a statewide federation of local, non-partisan Tea Party and Patriot groups established to advance and strengthen the founding principles and rights predicated in the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Constitution. Our mission is to encourage and facilitate citizen participation in the political process and empower all citizens with a voice and influence in demanding Constitutional governance and fiscal restraint. VTPP will help local, independent Tea Party and Patriot groups grow in numbers and influence and nurture communication and collaboration among these organizations.

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I bring you two excerpts that make me wonder if Republicans – who were clobbered in 2006 and 2008 for their big government policies – have learned anything from their defeat. First, an article from The News Virginian discusses the possibility of the Tea Party being absorbed by the Republican Party in order to stay effective after the November elections. Former Virginia Governor and Senator George Allen (R) said that made sense, but RTP President Jamie Radtke disagreed:

“People are just as nervous if the Republicans get in there,” Radtke said. “They are afraid they will act just like the Bush years. Neither party has proven to be trustworthy.”

Sam Adams Alliance Research Director Anne Sorock said her group’s work shows Radtke’s sentiment is widely held by tea partiers.

“It won’t be a fix to simply elect Republicans,’’ she said. “There is a sense that there is a Republican class, and that class is not listening to the people.”

And second, this article states that our own Congressman Eric Cantor said that if the Republicans retake the house (which he expects to happen), they “may roll back their ban on earmarks, as long as the spending items have ‘merit.’”

Amazing. I guess it’s cool to aggressively oppose all earmarks when you’re not the party in power and have no ability to advance legislation, then as soon as you are back in power, start trading pork for votes again. If an earmark has “merit,” why can’t it stand on its own instead of being inserted into some other bill it has nothing to do with?

That’s exactly the kind of governing that landed Republicans in the minority. This, along with Governor Allen’s statement about absorbing the Tea Party (as if we want to be absorbed by any political party), makes me think that the Republicans still don’t understand the mood of the country and if they do regain control, we’re in for much the same old, same old.

What they don’t realize, of course, is that voters will no longer tolerate that type of nonsense. Sooner or later, one way or another, politician by politician, We the People will control our government again and no longer be ruled by it.

A Corporate Titan and a Tea Party Grass-Roots Phenom

Sign on to Speak at Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention

Richmond, Va. – Two prominent thought leaders with very different backgrounds – Herman Cain and Jenny Beth Martin – will speak at the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention on Oct. 8-9, sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation.

Herman Cain is a corporate giant, author and one of America’s leading voices for fiscal restraint and limited government. During a career of more than 40 years, Cain served as president and chairman of Godfather Pizza, vice president of systems for Pillsbury Co., chairman of the board for the National Restaurant Association, member of the National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform (chaired by Jack Kemp) and chairman and member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Today, Herman hosts “The Herman Cain Show” on radio and is a FOX News Business Commentator. He also is president and CEO of THE New Voice, Inc. leadership consulting company and serves on the boards of directors for AGCO Corp., Hallmark Cards Inc., Whirlpool Corp., the George Chamber of Commerce and Morehouse College. In 2004, Cain ran for the United States Senate from Georgia.

Jenny Beth Martin also has risen to prominence among Tea Party and Patriot group supporters. Martin, 39, is a wife and mother of two young children. Her family was personally experiencing the effects of this recession in the suburbs of Atlanta when she helped launch the Tea Party Patriots organization in early 2009. The Tea Party Patriots’ seek to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize citizens in support of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets. In April, Time magazine named Martin to the “2010 Time 100” list of “people who most affect our world” in light of her tremendous impact on the grass-roots Tea Party movement. Martin is a national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots and co-coordinator for the Atlanta Tea Party.

“Herman Cain is a tremendously successful corporate leader and consistent advocate for fiscal restraint, fair tax policy and limited government,” said Jamie Radtke, president of the Richmond Tea Party and chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. “Herman knows that the private sector is the true engine for American prosperity because he’s lived it.

“Jenny Beth Martin is a model for anyone who wonders whether one person can make a difference,” Radtke added. “Like all Tea Party and Patriot group supporters, Jenny Beth is driven by a passion for the principles our nation was founded on and that made America so successful. And, like Tea Party and Patriot group supporters, Jenny Beth is taking action.

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Herman Cain and Jenny Beth Martin to Speak at Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention

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“We think Herman Cain and Jenny Beth Martin will inspire and energize the attendees at the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention,” Radtke said.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention, themed “The Constitution Still Matters,” will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Oct. 8-9, 2010, just a month before the mid-term Congressional elections. The convention is sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, a collection of Tea Party and Patriot groups from throughout Virginia who have joined together to host the event.

Cain and Martin join other high-profile participants, such as Dick Morris, Lou Dobbs, John Fund, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

During the two-day convention, speakers will address the importance of the Constitution and limited government during a time of unprecedented government expansion. Dozens of breakout seminars will be offered related to the Constitution/U.S. political history, current public policy and grassroots activist training. Congressional candidate and national policy forums will be conducted. The convention will end with a presidential straw poll. In addition, a “Freedom Lovers Extravaganza” event is scheduled for Friday evening at the Downtown Marriott.

All of Virginia’s congressional incumbents, congressional candidates, state senators and delegates have been invited to attend and participate, regardless of party affiliation.

Two-day convention tickets are $50, and one-day tickets are $40. Tickets to the Freedom Lovers Extravaganza are $20. Further details about the convention—including information about lodging and how to become a sponsor—can be found at www.vateapartyconvention.com.

Speakers and schedule are subject to change.

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Charter:

Virginia Tea Party Patriots (VTPP) is a statewide federation of local, non-partisan Tea Party and Patriot groups established to advance and strengthen the founding principles and rights predicated in the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Constitution. Our mission is to encourage and facilitate citizen participation in the political process and empower all citizens with a voice and influence in demanding Constitutional governance and fiscal restraint. VTPP will help local, independent Tea Party and Patriot groups grow in numbers and influence and nurture communication and collaboration among these organizations.

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The NPR put together a very fair and balanced radio story on the tea party movement, covering specifically the Manassas Tea Party. It emphasizes that the tea party isn’t just about fiscal responsibility, but the importance of our focus on the Constitution as well.

The Tea Parties started as an anti-big government, anti-tax movement — T-E-A stands for “Taxed enough already?” But Tea Partiers have another pressing concern — an obsession, really — the United States Constitution.

Along with the “Don’t tread on me” flags and the George Washington impersonators, the Constitution is ubiquitous at Tea Party events, whether it’s reproductions of the original parchment or pocket-sized copies.

The NPR story goes on to discuss why it is to the advantage and importance of the Tea Party to continue their focus on the Constitution:

the Tea Party is giving a big grass-roots boost to the elite conservative legal movement, whose views of the Constitution are already well-represented on the Supreme Court.”Right now, four and probably five of the justices are much more sympathetic to the Tea Party view of the Constitution than they are to the Obama administration view,” he says.

With more than 20 states currently pursuing legal challenges to the new law requiring individuals to have health insurance, the Tea Party views on that issue will eventually have their day in the highest court. But until then, the Virginia Tea Party Patriots and others like them will keep pushing their case in the court of public opinion.

You can listen to the 5 minute radio spot here. And yes…that is my bellowing you hear opening the piece:

Our own Jamie Radtke gave a rousing speech on July 3^rd at the We the People, An American Event in Northern Virginia. She discussed the enormous threats our nation faces, but the hope she sees in ordinary citizens like us standing up against those threats with history as our guide:

I am encouraged, because people are not only waking up and seeing the threat to our liberties, but they are remembering the significance of our rich history. We are relearning our history and recalling the importance of why the Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in the way they did.

She called us all to a steadfast commitment to defend our liberties that are under constant attack:

I truly believe we are on the precipice of a great awakening in this country. Where we are refreshed in our understanding and our commitment to God, Constitution, and individual liberties. But that won’t happen because of national speakers. And it won’t happen because of great speeches. It will only happen because of ordinary citizens like you and I who are willing to keep this on the forefront of our minds and in our daily actions. Because we choose to be committed and involved in securing the blessings of liberty.

Please take a few minutes to listen to entire speech here.

The tea party movement continues to grow a year and a half after the movement began.  The last few months Richmond Tea Party has received requests to start local tea party groups. The interest to hold local government accountable is very high, as people realize that we must solve the problems in our own backyard before wrestling the larger giants.

RTP Board Member, Susan Lascolette, decided to take the initiative and start a Goochland Tea Party Committee last night that will be fostered by RTP. This approach will allow Goochland Tea Party to avoid all the legal and accounting headaches that new tea parties usually have during the start up phase. We want local tea parties to hit the ground running and not get sidetracked with all the legal and organizational setup and hassle, realizing that at some point they may grow into their own independent group.

Susan sent the word out through the RTP email and put a notice in the local paper. The meeting was set for the Goochland Library, which holds 50 people theater style. We had received RSVPs from about 47 people, so we thought we would be fine with our location. But what I saw when I pulled into the parking lot blew my socks off!

The parking lot was slap full. There was not one space left. People were parked in the grass and in the lots across the street. When I approached the library, people were overflowing out the library doors and down the sidewalk. It was a sight to behold. It looked like one of the town hall meetings you saw on TV last year where people were packed like sardines all around the room, gushing out the door, and then out the building!

It became quickly apparent that we couldn’t stay where we were for our meeting. Outside the library was a large grassy field on a slight hillside. We moved the meeting outside.  Young people and seniors alike took their seats on the grass. People who had lawn chairs in their cars got them out and provided them to the elderly. We brought the American flag outside and stood it up on the grass lawn, said our pledge, and away we went with our meeting. It was a sight to behold. Nobody can deny this is a TRULY grassroots movement with the first meeting of the Goochland Tea Party taking place on the grassy hillside outside the library.

We had expectations of about 50 people and had 175 turnout last night! We went over our mission, charter and core planks and updated everyone on the plans for 2010. We talked about the next steps for the Goochland Tea Party. We took questions for over 45 minutes from people interested in all sorts of things from organizational structure, public policy, legislation, and campaigns. At the end of the meeting we had 15-20 individuals who came forward and indicated their interest in forming an executive committee to move the Goochland Tea Party along towards the next steps. A meeting will be scheduled for sometime next month.

All I can say is that Goochland knocked my socks off! It is so thrilling for me to be a part of a truly grassroots movement…in every sense of the word!

Two days ago, the Richmond Times-Dipatch printed a response to Jamie Radtke’s April 25th article “Tea Party: Right Wing or Mainstream?”. In it, the author does a good job of quickly explaining why Senators were originally appointed by state legislatures and not elected by popular vote, as instituted by the 17^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Here’s an excerpt:

Federalist No. 62 explains the reason for senators being appointed by state legislatures: to “[give] to the State governments such an agency in the formation of the federal government as must secure the authority of the former, and may form a convenient link between the two systems.” Unfortunately, the Progressives forced the 17th Amendment upon an unknowing public in 1913 — whereby senators are now elected by the people. That means by those who will line their pockets, thereby opening the floodgates to unlimited federal power. Because of the 17th Amendment, the federal government can run roughshod over the state legislatures, passing unfunded mandates and dictating what they must do, hence, corrupting the purpose of the original Constitution.

Jamie Radtke of RTP had a guest column in the Richmond Times Dispatch in the Sunday Edition, April 25, 2010. We have received a significant amount of positive response. Here is the article:

Questions and confusion abound in the media — and among the political establishment in both parties — about how the Tea Party movement fits into the two-party political sys tem and into the conventional “left-to-right” political spectrum.

Some have suggested that the Tea Party is a “right-wing” organization. This is an interesting assertion since the Tea Party movement is fundamentally about four things: Constitutional adherence, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets. Is the Tea Party “right wing”? Well, were the Founding Fathers “right wing”? Is the Constitution “right wing”?

The Constitution is the cornerstone of our nation and has protected our liberties for 223 years. It should not be offensive to politicians that Tea Party activists are demanding a return to legislating according to the supreme law of the land, as the oath of office requires. Surely we can agree that the Constitution is not “right wing” — it is mainstream.

Our country also was built on the idea of limited government, as influenced by Locke and Montesquieu, to prevent government from becoming the oppressor. The Founders created our government with horizontal and vertical checks and balances because they knew through hard experience that our liberties could be protected only if government were restrained. Our Founders’ ideal of limited govern ment is not “right wing” — it is mainstream.

Our country certainly was founded on fiscal responsibility. Patrick Henry argued the Virginia Resolves, reiterating disdain for burdensome taxes, and even Andrew Jackson, co-founder of the modern-day Democratic Party, made it his mission to pay off the national debt. Fiscal responsibility is not “right wing” — it is mainstream.

Free markets always have been central to the growth and success of America. The exceptionalism of our country — and the reason it has always been a destination for people who longed for a better life for themselves and their families — is based on the dream and the truth that the entrepreneurial spirit is rewarded in America. The free market is not “right wing” — it is mainstream.

Constitutional adherence, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets are not right-wing ideas, but rather the cornerstone of our Constitutional Republic, and central to the sensibilities of most Americans.

Naturally, with so many voters identifying with the Tea Party movement, many in the political and media establishment want to pin us down for their own purposes. Is the Tea Party movement a breakaway group or a subset of the Republican Party? Is it a third party that will run its own candidates?

The truth is that the Tea Party offers a unique opportunity to exert outside influence on both political parties. While the Tea Party includes Republicans and Democrats who are unhappy with the direction of their parties, it equally represents many Libertarians, independents, and newly engaged voters unaffiliated with any party. Together we are accomplishing what we have been unable to do separately: make our voices heard.

A great example of these concerned citizens’ growing influence is Virginia’s Health Care Freedom Act, which blocks the federal government from forcing Virginians to purchase health insurance. Grassroot activists secured co-sponsors and saw the bill through to final passage.

There is nothing a politician fears more than a truly independent constituent who is loyal to principles before political party. We must maintain this independence — keeping pressure on incumbent politicians and never again trusting them to vote correctly simply because an “R” or “D” follows their name. This sort of complacency got us in our current predicament.

We also must exert influence at the polls. To this end, we encourage Tea Party supporters to get actively involved in their preferred political parties and their nomination processes. Working inside and outside the political parties, we want to promote candidates who reflect Tea Party principles.

To the degree that the Republican and Democratic parties “get it,” independent candidates will be unnecessary. But activists in the Tea Party will put forward candidates who uphold the Constitution, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets when the party establishment fails to do so, as was necessary with the New York congressional race in the 23rd District last year and with the current U.S. Senate race in Florida.

The media and political world don’t understand the Tea Party movement because we don’t fit into the neat, status quo paradigm they are familiar with. That’s OK, because tens of millions of Americans do understand — just as they understand that Constitutional adherence, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets are mainstream principles.

We are in the mainstream, even if the national media and the political establishment have moved out of the mainstream. Come November and beyond, however, they may understand a little better.

Jamie Radtke is president of the Richmond Tea Party and current chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation. Read the article and leave a comment at Richmond Times Dispatch We want to show our support to the RTD for printing our commentary. Thanks!

Here’s a great video montage from the Lobby Day rally on January 18th at the Capitol. Virginia is clawing her way back to the Constitution, one bill at a time. Keep fighting!

Big thanks to Norvell Rose of Hampton Roads Tea Party for the video!

The RTP received an invitation recently to speak at the first 2010 meeting of the Goochland Republican Women’s group (GRWG).  We were asked to come and share with the group more about the Tea Party movement, what RTP did in 2009, what are plans are for 2010, and what are the concerns of the Tea Party with the current GOP. 

The GRWG had a very nice turnout of approximately 50+ individuals, both male and female I might add.  The crowd was very receptive to our message.  When I took a poll with a show of hands, I would say approximately 1/3 of the audience indicated they either attended the April 15 or 9/12 tea party event.  I was very encouraged by their questions, interest, and enthusiasm for the RTP.

RTP welcomes the opportunity to share what we are all about to all parties and organizations. If you know of a local party, club, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, church…you name it, that would like to hear more about RTP, let us know.  We want to take our message to anyone willing to listen.  We are grateful for the invitation and kindness of the GRWG and look forward to more such invitations.  It is a step in the right direction.  The more organizations and people that better understand who we are through direct interaction rather than through MSM news coverage, the more people join our cause to fight for liberty and the Constitution.

If you would like to read the assessment from their perspective, I encourage you to read the blog  at Goochland On My Mind.