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* UPDATED x1 * More politicians attend tea parties as GOP recruits and woos, but turnout down

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* Last year’s “tea party” rallies around Illinois featured few if any GOP speakers. National GOP Chairman Michael Steele was refused his request to speak, for instance. This year, there appeared to be lots more politicians getting into the act…

[The Oswego rally] welcomed speakers like Dan Koukol, running for Kendall County Board, and Keith Wheeler, who ran against State Rep. Kay Hatcher, 50th District.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, riled up the crowd on the issues of state pension reform and a cap on property taxation. Randy Hultgren, Republican candidate for the 14th Congressional District seat, was scheduled to close the rally.

Chicago…

In Chicago, three Republicans running to unseat Democratic House members appeared before a rally of thousands at a plaza outside City Hall. One, Joel Pollak, sang a song he wrote, with the verse: “Don’t tax our freedom away.”

Adam Andrzejewski and Dan Proft also spoke in Chicago. Proft was in Naperville as well. GOP congressional candidate Adam Kinzinger appeared at the Joliet rally. Republican State Sen. Kyle McCarter spoke in Decatur.

* Local GOP organizations are taking advantage of the new synergy…

(T)ea party activists have already begun work at the local level in Lake and Will counties, where they have taken control of some GOP precinct committeemen positions, which help slate candidates, influence party policy, and interact with voters on a face-to-face level.

“One of the big things today, at the Joliet tea party, was (people saying) ‘OK, the rallies have been great, now what do we do?’ ” said Bill Walker, coordinator of the Will County Tea Party. “So we are recruiting people to get involved at the local level. That is the key to victory in November 2010.”

Richard Kavanagh, chairman of the Will County Republican Party, said about one-third of the vacant precinct positions he has filled since March have gone to those active in the tea party.

Bob Cook, chairman of the Lake County Republican Party, said his organization was having some difficulty filling vacancies until they reached out to the tea party activists. Now, Cook said, he has filled nearly half of the 60 vacant precinct positions with those who are active in the movement.

Bill Brady’s campaign worked the Chicago rally. Brady said yesterday that he was in tune with the ralliers…

“I believe that what they’re about is limited government, more efficient, effective government that’s responsive to the people. Ending career politicians,” Brady said. “They’re looking for the same clean break from the politics of the past.”

But there was at least one non-Republican campaign working the Chicago event…

Democrat-turned-independent Forrest Claypool’s campaign workers gathered hundreds of Tea Party signatures for Claypool’s Cook County Assessor bid on clipboards that said, “Are your taxes too high? Vote for Forrest Claypool.”

*** UPDATE *** Cook County Democratic Party political director Scott Cisek responds to Claypool’s tea party circulators on his Facebook page…

Mad Hatter former Democrat Forrest Claypool’s campaign joins with the Tea Party to get on the ballot. Is this his idea of a “big tent”. Do NOT circulate petitions for third parties and do NOT sign for them.

[ *** End of Update *** ]

* Also of note, some of the crowds were smaller and less visceral. Oswego attendance was way down…

Compared to last year when the bridge was filled from end to end with signs and American flags, about one-fourth of the stretch was filled.

Peoria’s turnout was estimated by organizers at around a thousand, which is down from 3,000 a year ago. The Naperville estimate of 500 is the same as last year. Chicago’s official estimate was 1,500, which appears to be smaller than last year. Less than 100 attended the Decatur rally.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:26 am

Comments

Claypool had petition passers at the Daley Plaza Tea Party rally. A Fair Map petition was also going around.

Comment by Niles Township Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:30 am
The Claypool thing is in the post, NT.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:35 am
One of the outtakes from the 2004 campaign was that because the democrats relied so much on outside groups in crunchtime they were unable to control the groups, the message, the strategy, the manpower and to channel it into an effective organization. I have a great fear that the gop is making the same mistake. Tea party members may lean right and may bring good organization, but the gop especially a party that hasn’t been effective at the grassroots level in a decade might make the same mistake. I can just see a flyer from a well meaning tea party republican precinct committeeman who doesn’t quite get it comparing alexi to a nazi or something ending up in the mailbox of a jewish mom in arlington heights setting off a firestorm. The other problem for the gop, is that the tea party people have endorsed some democrats and aren’t a partisan organization so if say beth coulson was still running this year and the tea party committeman did not care for her, would he not pass out her literature in wilmette?

Also josh pollak needs to take a crashcourse on evanston, he’s running in a grande late district not a tea party district. If he wanted to run that kind of campaign he should have run against bean.

Comment by shore Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:45 am
I’m very disappointed to learn that State Sen. Chris Lauzen is associating himself with the Tea Parties. Being a Democrat I always felt that Sen. Lauzen was the rare breed of a reasonable Republican. Now after hearing his connection to the Tea Party I will have to rethink that.

Comment by M Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:46 am
The Claypool thing is in the post, NT.
———–

Sorry Rich. It’s Friday and I still need another cup of coffee.

Comment by Niles Township Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:48 am
==“I believe that what they’re about is limited government, more efficient, effective government that’s responsive to the people. Ending career politicians,” Brady said.==

How many years do you have to serve to be a “career” politician???????

Comment by bcross Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:50 am
Rich:

The link to Paul Green’s table on the county board prez race is screwed up.

Comment by JT Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:50 am
pollak
———–

As a resident of the district, I can say with confidence that he is doing both the grande and tea party circuit. Nice kid, Harvard-educated, but has no chance against Jan. He is doing all the right things for that district, like being visible at the annual Holocaust memorial service, taking out ads in the Jewish newspapers etc. But it will still not be enough.

Comment by Niles Township Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:52 am
As always, it is hard to find out what was an accurate head count at the Tea Party functions. The local Joliet newspaper said there were 300 people at the Will County Tea Party Event in front of the Will County Courthouse. Several other people that were there told me that that there were around 1,000 to 1,200 people.
A friend of mine who saw the crowd said that the total was probably closer to around 800 people.

The important fact is that he said that this year’s crowd was at least “double” last year’s crowd of 300- 400 Tea Party folks. That says to me that, 1) The Tea Party Movement is growing and is not a “flash in the pan” as many would like us to believe, and 2) There are a lot of upset voters out there that will be making a trip to the polls on November 2nd to vote new faces into elected office.

The Tea Party Movement has served to organize and energize people who were mad but thought that maybe they were the only ones who were upset. All incumbents should be worried this November but especially Democrat elected officials who simply voted the way that their Party leadership told them to. Which way will the union “rank & file” vote this November? That to me is the $64 question.

Comment by Beowulf Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:53 am
Nice kid, Harvard-educated, but has no chance against Jan. He is doing all the right things for that district, like being visible at the annual Holocaust memorial service, taking out ads in the Jewish newspapers etc. But it will still not be enough.

That is one of the benefits of being a kid - you can build up for future winning campaigns. If you are ever a political candidate, try as hard as you can to look farther than Election Day. A good campaign well ran is politically often as good as winning.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 9:57 am
I would be curioius to see if there are any good polls or data about what non-tea party or independents think of a politician who supports or is endorsed by the tea party.

i.e. if most voters who are not tea-party supporters do not care or do not consider being associated with the tea party a strong negative, then there is no strong negative or downside for a gop, ind or even a dem to court the tea party.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 10:09 am
Did BillTheBuilder tell the crowd he was stiffing everyone on request for tax returns —- a move designed to build confidence and crush that sneaky real estate hustler image he worked so hard to build with the FL condo buddies.

Thank goodness BillTheBuilder ignores the suggestion that he retreat, let Quinn stumble and walk in the office

BuildBillBuild! i

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 10:13 am
If the Tea Party crowd really is serious — then why don’t they really try to do something?

Like — actually form a Tea Party, perhaps? And — gasp, gasp — run candidates? (As opposed to allowing Republicans and Claypool types to swoop in and try to co-opt and enlist the disaffected.)

Quitcherbellyachin’. Put together a statewide slate and gather 25,000 good signatures by June 21st.

A daunting task, to be sure. But time’s a-wastin’!

Comment by Dooley Dudright Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 10:18 am
I would be curioius to see if there are any good polls or data about what non-tea party or independents think of a politician who supports or is endorsed by the tea party.

Me too. Over the past month, the number of people who claim to be a part of the Tea Party grew by over 10%. That’s weird. If it is true, and I have no concrete reason to doubt those figures, it means that the Tea Party’s mission is becoming internalized and personally accepted within a growing and significant faction of active voters.

We are now seeing a parade of B list celebrities coming out in support. The Tea Party is no longer an embarrassment or risk to those within our popular culture. That means it has moved beyond being a fad.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 10:24 am
Excuse the cheap rhetorical question, but — oh, by the way — who’s financing the Tea Party? Sarah Palin (for one) ain’t exactly pro bono.

Comment by Dooley Dudright Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 10:44 am
So what you’re saying, Rich, is that the Quantity of politicians at Tea Party events has increased, but no word on the Quality.

Comment by George Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:03 am
===no word on the Quality===

That’s a bit too subjective for a post like this. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:08 am
…who’s financing the Tea Party?

That sounds like a normal question, but the Tea Party isn’t a political party. It has no leaders. After a year it finally issued a political statement based on half a million votes online. It is so diffused that it runs on hand outs.

Your question also suggests that Palin is being paid. Why? She gets the benefits of speaking to it. The Tea Party doesn’t have to pay. It attracts it’s own political wanna-bes.

Now that there is finally a public political document, please take a look at what these people have agreed to online. It will burst a lot of partisan balloons. The media has gotten this thing wrong for a long time. Worse, they have tried to paint these people into klansmen, which is totally unprofessional of them.

I don’t consider your question cheap - they are very good ones!

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:09 am
Cook County Democratic Party political director Scott Cisek responds to Claypool’s tea party circulators on his Facebook page…

Mad Hatter former Democrat Forrest Claypool’s campaign joins with the Tea Party to get on the ballot. Is this his idea of a “big tent”. Do NOT circulate petitions for third parties and do NOT sign for them.
——————-

Sorry Scott this Dem already signed the petitions because I’d much rather have Claypool than Berrios in the assessor position. I am not alone.

Comment by Niles Township Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:19 am
==I am not alone.==
Well, yeah, I guess you’re right, there’s Forest himself, Quigley and the rest of the Gumpettes, but that’s about it.

Comment by Bill Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:46 am
NT - Claypool should have run for the office in the primary. He CHOSE not to - I’m a Dem and won’t for him. I would have in February but he didn’t give me that option.

Comment by belmont cragin kid Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:50 am
According to the New York Times, Sarah Palin delivered the keynote at last February’s Tea Party convention in Nashville. “Ms. Palin’s fee for speaking was reported to be $100,000…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/politics/08palin.html

Perhaps the freight was paid in full by those in attendance: “Her speech was the keynote event of the convention, and the big draw for many of the 600 people who had paid $549 to attend – another 500, organizers said, paid $349 just to see for her speech alone.”

With that kind of money sloshing around, there SHOULD be reports with the Federal Election Commission, or the Illinois State Board of Elections (to name just two).

The FEC is reporting a “2010 Tea Party USA Political Action Committee”:
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00480160/ Not much in the way of activity — no individual donations reported. (And perhaps there are other Tea Party-related entities that I’ve not found.)

And perhaps I’m missing something — but I find no committee with the phrase “tea” on the Illinois State Board of Elections website. If they’ve raised or spent $3000 here — I believe they need to file, “handouts” or no.

Comment by Dooley Dudright Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 11:52 am
Estimated 500 people attended the Tea Party rally here. Compared to 300 or so in 2009.

Comment by Effingham Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 12:08 pm
Where’s the info that the Tea Party was a creation of a Republican PAC? Also, these are upper income people griping about taxes. We’re talking people who make hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars a year. They SHOULD pay more. Lastly, have you seen an African-American at any of the rallies? How about hispanics?

Comment by Dead Head Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 12:09 pm
An African-American spoke at the Will County rally.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 12:10 pm
Talking Points Memo has had posts on Tea Party financing:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/04/proactive_with_the_facts.php

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 12:12 pm
=With that kind of money sloshing around, there SHOULD be reports with the Federal Election Commission, or the Illinois State Board of Elections (to name just two).=

The Nashville speech was paid for by a for profit tea party corporation. They don’t have to report anything to the FEC.

Comment by Brennan Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 12:50 pm
–The Tea Party is no longer an embarrassment or risk to those within our popular culture. That means it has moved beyond being a fad–

You wish. It’s only an embarrassment to those who participate. More chronic whining from the tinfoil hats and the never-satisfields who somehow think they’re victims because they live in untold wealth and security in the most free country in the history of the planet. No thanks to them.

Sarah Palin is perfect as their intellectual and substantive symbol.

I was in Daley Plaza yesterday, not for the tea partiers, but to observe the glorious rite of spring, young ladies in their new summer dresses at lunch on a beautiful day.

There weren’t 1,500 people listening to those unhappy and incoherent yabbos. Chicago ain’t a tea party town.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 1:02 pm
1,500 protesters in Daley Plaza? It’s absurd that this is considered news. If any lefty group pulls less than 5,000 it’s considered to be a failure and gets skipped by the news media. I don’t buy this narrative that the Tea-baggers are a political force in this country because their “mass protests” pail in comparison w/ anything the left ever does. If you want proof, wait for the immigration reform march and rally (thats right, they can’t even get enough people to do a march first) that’s coming early next month, and lets see if they get half the respect the media gives the tea-baggers.

Comment by SweetLou Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 1:18 pm
Forest Claypool has been playing the Cook County voters for some time now. He only ran as a Dem. because he knew he couldnt win as a Repub. Now he is an independent, yea ok and Im George W. Bush, the guy who brought this country to its knees..

Seriously though, why isnt the paper exploiting the scandle that took place in city hall when he was Chif of Staff ? Could it be that the news papers have their own polical will that they want to force on us ? Forest wont need to raise money, he has the newspapers to do his bidding..

Good old Forest, what a class act, suck up to the tea party republicans and yet say hes an independent !!

Comment by Stallion Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 2:12 pm
Claypool should have run for the office in the primary. He CHOSE not to - I’m a Dem and won’t for him. I would have in February but he didn’t give me that option.
———–

He has given a reasonable answer as to why he didn’t. Ray Figueroa, the former judge, who is a reformer type was running. Claypool supported him.

Comment by Niles Township Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 2:25 pm
I was there and I’d say 1500 at Daley was a bit light. I guessed 2000, perhaps 2500 at high tide.

There were counter demonstrations by leftists and gay organizations, which is odd given that the Tea Parties are not concerned with social issues.
But it certainly was interesting to watch the reporters scurry over to interview the counter-protestors at length.

One thing many noticed was that the counter demonstrators carried professionally made signs straight out of a print shop. It makes you wonder who paid for them. The Tea Party signs, on the other hand, were nearly all handmade.

Comment by Bubs Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 2:28 pm
I think the Tea Party released a “contract from America” yesterday. I would be interested in seeing what people think of it.

Comment by Truth Seeker Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 2:45 pm
“One thing many noticed was that the counter demonstrators carried professionally made signs straight out of a print shop.”

Yea, that’s because us on the left have been organized for years and have permanent organizations in place that can pay for things like signs and 2×4’s which, by the way, aren’t actually as expensive as you might think. You look better when you don’t have an entire crowd with signs that are riddled with spelling errors.

Comment by SweetLou Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 3:19 pm
Sorry again NT - When Mike Quigley was the likely candidate for county board pres it didn’t stop Claypool from jumping in. He is an egoist of the highest order.

Comment by belmont cragin kid Friday, Apr 16, 10 @ 4:00 pm