Tea Party vs. Patriots: different names, similar goals

Content with the political status quo they are not.

The Delaware Tea Party and 9-12 Patriots are frustrated with Democrats in Washington, D.C., and angry with the political direction Delaware is taking.

On Tax Day, April 15, hundreds of Delaware Tea Party members and Delaware 9-12 Patriots gathered in Wilmington, Dover and Lewes to protest everything from national healthcare reform to amnesty for illegal immigrants. Both groups say lowering taxes and ensuring fiscal responsibility are commonly shared goals. They also call for smaller government and less federal intervention.

Both groups have sought help from the Delaware GOP in the past, although they don’t identify themselves as rank-and-file Republicans. Leaders of both groups say the public is misinformed about their ideas.

The Delaware Tea Party and 9-12 Patriots have been called violent, racist and disorganized – charges they deny.

Annette Silva, a speaker coordinator with the 9-12 Patriots, called Patriot membership “a mixed bag,” which includes Democrats, Independents, Republicans and a lot of conservatives.

Chris Shirey, state coordinator with the Delaware Tea Party, said the Patriots spun out of the Delaware Tea Party last year. The Kent County Tea Party group, led by Russ Murphy, turned into a statewide Patriots group, she said.

Shirey said Tea Party members focus on fiscal responsibility and following the U.S. Constitution, while the Patriots follow the principles of conservative author and radio and talk show host Glenn Beck. “Mainly, if you’re a conservative, we like you,” she said. Despite differences, the Delaware Tea Party and 9-12 Patriots support each other at events.

Last week, Delaware Tea Party organized hundreds of protestors to gather in front of Home Depot in Lewes for a Tax Day event, urging lawmakers to stop irresponsible spending.

The demonstration was originally to be held in front of Kmart in Rehoboth. Delaware Tea Party Assistant State Coordinator Donna Gordon said after she read a post on DelawareLiberals.net, an anonymous blogger suggested Kmart seek a cease-and-desist order to prevent the groups from gathering there.

The day before the protest, April 14, Kmart obtained a cease-and-desist order.

In an April 14 blog anonymously posted on Delaware Liberals’ website, the author wrote that Kim Brailey, head of public relations for Sears Holdings Co., the parent company of Kmart, said, “We were not aware that the Tea Party was going to use the Kmart property in question as a staging area for their rally. We have sent them a cease-and-desist order. We are nonpartisan and do not approve of Kmart property being used for any political purposes.”

Still, Gordon insists that the group was not forced to gather at Home Depot.

She said after not hearing from Kmart officials weeks after she sought permission, she began seeking an alternative location.

Shirey said, “We tried to get permission, but they had not called back. We spoke to Home Depot. They were in favor of free speech and gave us a permit. Way before any difficulty came up, we had already changed the location. It’s kind of funny Kmart went to court over it,” she said. “We are certainly pro-business, but we wouldn’t impose where we are not wanted. “

Katie Ellis, a spokeswoman with the Delaware Democratic Party, said, “I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between the Tea Party and the 9-12 Patriots. I’m not sure if they do either. At that, I’m not sure how separate they are from the Republican Party, since 80 percent of self-identified Tea Party members are Republicans, and they have leaned on the Delaware GOP to publicize their events,” Ellis said.

Calls to Tom Ross, state committee chairman of the Republican Party of Delaware, were not returned at press time.

Ellis said a number of national polls indicate the two groups’ priorities are reducing taxes, decreasing the deficit and creating jobs - three goals she called mutually exclusive.

“Furthermore, they seem to have organized in response to the bank bailouts – which, incidentally, were enacted under a Republican administration, in response to near-complete collapse caused by a lack of government regulation. I understand that people are upset about the state of the economy – I am too – which is why Democrats are providing real solutions that are working, instead of blocking any attempt to make things better,” Ellis said.

After the rally protest location was changed, Shirey said the Delaware Republicans were contacted to help distribute new locations and times. She said at first, the GOP didn’t respond. “At the last minute, the GOP decided to help us, but they sent out the wrong information. I’m not placing fault there, but we definitely need to improve the lines of communication,” she said.

Another anonymous post on DelawareLiberal.net, by a Delaware Tea Party supporter, read, “Just because we don’t agree with you doesn’t make us crazy, evil, stupid or racist. You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me.” For their part, the Delaware Liberals denied calling Tea Partiers bigoted.

“It seems like we’re always pictured as being racist and violent. That is simply not true. One thing we believe in is that we’re all Americans. Concerned Americans,” Shirey said.