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Tea Party 'grass-roots politics at its best'

About 250 people from across the area attend event held Friday, May 29, in West Chester Twp.

Dan Rivers, a singer/songwriter and Dayton Tea Party member, entertains the West Chester Community Tea Party on Friday, May 29, in the Miami University satellite building at Voice of America Park.

Contributed photo by Martin Wheeler Dan Rivers, a singer/songwriter and Dayton Tea Party member, entertains the West Chester Community Tea Party on Friday, May 29, in the Miami University satellite building at Voice of America Park.

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Community members applaud musician Dan Rivers during his performance Friday, May 29, during the West Chester Community Tea Party, which was attended by about 250 people.

Staff photo by Danielle Wilson Community members applaud musician Dan Rivers during his performance Friday, May 29, during the West Chester Community Tea Party, which was attended by about 250 people.

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Mike Wilson facilitates a break-out session at the West Chester Community Tea Party on Friday, May 29, in the Miami University satellite building at Voice of America Park. About 140 people from the Butler County area attended the event. Organizers said about 250 people attended overall.

Staff photo by Danielle Wilson Mike Wilson facilitates a break-out session at the West Chester Community Tea Party on Friday, May 29, in the Miami University satellite building at Voice of America Park. About 140 people from the Butler County area attended the event. Organizers said about 250 people attended overall.

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By Danielle Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 1:18 AM Saturday, May 30, 2009

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A few hundred local residents showed up to be the next voices of America on Friday, May 29.

Folks representing 20 southwest Ohio communities, including local lawmakers, made up the first West Chester Community Tea Party, organizers said. About 250 people were present at the Miami University satellite campus at Voice of America Park.

“I think it speaks to how fired up people are right now,” Cincinnati’s Mike Wilson, founder of the Cincinnati Tea Party, said about the attendance. The group was formed this year as a nonpartisan advocate for national government that is run by the people, said Wilson.

He urged attendees to do more than vote or complain about the outcome of an election.

The purpose of the gathering, he said, was to inform local residents about the organization, giving them a chance to become tea party leaders in their voting precincts.

West Chester Twp. resident Chris Littleton organized the event, and said it was good to see state Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., and state Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, in the crowd.

“This is grass-roots politics at its best,” said Cates, impressed with the high turnout on a nice Friday night.

“This is how the country started,” said Maag, adding lawmakers have taken too much authority from constituents.

“Organizations like this, hopefully, will help get us back on track,” said Maag.

“What they’re doing is what’s gonna straighten out the mess we’re in,” Fairfield Twp. resident Jerry Shoemaker, 60, said about the group.

Stuart Lebowitz, of Deerfield Twp., said he took his teen daughters to the event to teach them “with freedom comes responsibility.

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Marple-that'Tea Party' sounds a lot like the 'Lebanon Tea Party Organization' -started by a warren county commissioner and in existence for electing her buddies. And the arrogance of Mr Wilson's response to you!-a Cinti 'Tea Partier' running for higher office, but already acting like a Washington politician! If you are looking for the 'real thing' then join us on Facebook - search 'The Tea Party Tribune' for news and opinion pieces (brand new-not too many entries yet!).

Tea Party Separatists
12:52 AM, 6/2/2010

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Only about 160 people attended in one of the most conservative Republican areas in Ohio. And they picked a FRIDAY. With orgainization like this, they deserved low turnout.

Mike A.
10:40 PM, 5/31/2009

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Marple,

If you did attend and are sincere in your concerns, then you know how to contact me. I'd be glad to address them personally.

-Mike

Mike Wilson
1:38 PM, 5/30/2009

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Marple,

Either you are lying about attending, or you weren't paying attention. This was anything but a campaign for the Republicans. Our discussion of efforts to get involved at the precinct level centered about the resistence we expect to get from establishment Republicans (and Dems).

Mike Wilson
1:33 PM, 5/30/2009

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I am sorry I did not get word of this tea party event. Please have someone contact me about getting involved with your group.

Christine Probert
Fairfield, Ohio

513-829-3342

cap1575@hotmail.com

Christine Probert
7:12 AM, 5/30/2009

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