As your organizer for many months now, I have started this thread several times, only to discard it. Our folks don't pay a lot of attention to our Message Boards as it is. I hope this time will be different.

Freedom isn't Free but there are those who will abuse that truth for their own purposes. They have hidden behind the cloak of grassroots activism while artfully dodging the truth for those who support them with their hard earned money. Like many of you, I have given to most of these organizations leading up to 9/12. Most recently, I gave a mere $40 to Tea Party Patriots in support of their national caravans to aid farmers.

It's ironic that all these groups DEMAND transparency of government and everyone else. Do they follow suit with their own donors? Unfortunately, the IRS is always two years behind in their publishing of nonprofit Form 990 tax returns. We will learn the facts of these 9/12 and Tea Party expenses versus donations in 2011. We can only look to 2007 returns for a clue on how they use our money.

FREEDOM WORKS: We asked for transparency

From: PDN Webmaster [mailto:webmaster@patriotwatch.com]
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 12:10 PM
To: 'Brendan Steinhauser'
Subject: RE: Permit Application 09-1314
Importance: High

REF: On Tuesday, July 21, 2009 you replied to me with:. “I'd appreciate it if you guys give me some space on this as I work with the various government agencies in town. … As soon as I can publicly say that we are cleared for all aspects of the March and Rally, I will do so.”

Mr. Steinhauser, this was in reply to my request: “Surely you can appreciate the need for uniting our movement and seeking clarity in all information being communicated by and to, the great grassroots patriots that want to make a statement on 9/12. Those who have contributed should be kept informed on the costs and remaining funds that need to solicited to insure a successful mission. We demand transparency from our government so why shouldn't we expect the same from our own leadership.”

You asked for time and I’ve waited a month before contacting you again. Fair? I have a new FOIA due back from the Department of the Interior to check on any updated permit applications, (possible counter protest groups for example) and modifications to existing applications or denials. A response from you and the FOIA information, should fulfill my promise to all Beck Meetup groups I represent as their Organizer.

Dave Jenest, Webmaster/VP Operations
www.patriotwatch.com

---

From: Brendan Steinhauser [mailto:BSteinhauser@freedomworks.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 5:55 AM
To: PDN Webmaster
Subject: RE: Permit Application 09-1314

Things are going well. In fact, the event is growing so rapidly that we are trying to upgrade the sound system now. NPS, DC Metro and Capitol Police are happy, and great to work with. We are all set for the 12th.

Brendan Steinhauser
Director, Federal and State Campaigns
FreedomWorks

---

From: PDN Webmaster [mailto:webmaster@patriotwatch.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 10:19 AM
To: Brendan Steinhauser
Subject: RE: Permit Application 09-1314

Thank you for the prompt reply sir. I’m pleased to hear you’re on track with all the involved agencies. Tracking http://912dc.org/dona... we read: “We are on our way to making history as the largest march on Washington in favor of lower taxes, less government, and more freedom. But we need your help! … Please help us cover some of these costs so that we can have a successful event and prevent the Left from overshadowing and dismissing us!”

That brings me back to my original questions. What’s the projected attendance you’ve worked out with NPS, to meet their minimum needs, how much funding remains to be raised and how are the other sponsor’s donation solicitation doing in meeting your needs? As I have suggested before, keeping current donors and potential contributors informed of the funds raised and donations still needed, would be a prudent move.

Dave Jenest, Webmaster/VP Operations
www.patriotwatch.com

---

From: Brendan Steinhauser [mailto:BSteinhauser@freedomworks.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:04 AM
To: PDN Webmaster
Subject: RE: Permit Application 09-1314

As a 501c3 foundation, we do not disclose our donors, nor private information like totals raised and spent on the event. I'm sure you understand. Things are going well, and it will be a great event. I'm going to have to focus on logistics from here on out.

Thanks,

Brendan Steinhauser
Director, Federal and State Campaigns
FreedomWorks

Well, there it is: "As a 501c3 foundation, we do not disclose our donors, nor private information like totals raised and spent on the event. " You will learn there are good reasons for not divulging this information. It didn't come from Freedom Works, rather, from the very federal agencies like NPS, DC Metro and Capitol Police Freedom Works claims are such happy campers.

Under Brendan Steinhauser's own signature, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Mr. Steinhauser lied about the number of expected participants on 9/12. In both the application and the issued permit that number was 5,000 not the anticipated hundreds of thousands published on every 9/12 website leading up to the event. Why? You need only ask those who stood in line for an hour to use the too few port-a-potties required of Freedom Works for only 5,000 visitors. There is a long list of requirements by Park Services, Capitol Police and DC Metro Police that should have been paid for by donor's contributions or event sponsors were the application been honest.

So where did the money go and for what?

We won't know until 2011 as long as Freedom Works remains silent. What we can assume is they added paid staff and had lots of expenses leading up to 9/12. So what can we look to for a clue?

$645, 634.00 in executive salaries alone for 2007.

Keep in mind these figures don't include health insurance, retirement packages, travel expenses (I'm sure they don't stay at Motel 6 on your donations) and other operating expenses. It must be really tough working on such a frugal budget and sacrificing so much to insure Freedom Works.

Grassfire.org a.k.a. ResistNet

Again, this major 9/12 DC player won't divulge their expenses versus donations. Like their partner Freedom Works, we turn to the 2007 990 tax return:



Two years before the Tea party Movement and 9/12 this "grassroots" cash cow spends a quarter of a million dollars on credit card processing and fees. DO THE MATH folks! When you pay your $15 Hub dues on PayPal, we get $14.37. PayPal charges 30 cents for each such transaction plus .985%. Bank Merchant fees for credit card processing range from 1.3% to 2.5%. Giving them the benefit of the highest rate y x 2.5% = $259,894 where y is over $10 million.

$826,441 for Email Licensing/Delivery? I can't even wrap my mind around this item, can you?

Tea Party Patriots Farmer Relief and Freedom Relay

I grew up on a working ranch in Southern California. We had hundreds of acres devoted to growing wheat, barley, alfalfa and oranges. Wheat and barley depended on rainfall while the feed for our cattle and the oranges we grew depended on irrigation. We were lucky to have our own plentiful water supply from a natural stream on our property. I know more about water and farming than most.



There were no Tea Party Patriots on September 30, 2002 when we fought for farmers in Washington State and Naples, Florida. We warned our residents of the crisis that would come to America's Breadbasket:

Now is not the time for silence, it is a time to be heard, loudly, strongly and with unity.

Let us not forget we have much work ahead, and several California issues on the forefront of this battle. Here in Sacramento, California, years of environmental meddling and dictatorial demands on private property owners, farmers and ranchers has been challenged all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

For a number of years I have given what I could to the only people fighting this battle for our farmers where it counts the most - The Courts: The Pacific Legal Foundation is our farmer's lawyer.

How did Tea Party Patriots get in the mix? It would be funny if it weren't so sad and embarrassing to our movement!

I first learned of the Central Valley Tea Party Patriots interest when one of their folks spoke at the 9/12 rally in DC. Ben Bergquam delivered a passionate appeal for our Central Valley farmers. Jenny Beth Martin, the apparent head of TPP would later tell us she didn't realize Ben message was important to everyone in the country.

Just how did it come back up on TPP's radar? On August 28th there was a Tea Party at our California State Capitol. Farmers came with their tractors from far and wide only to be attacked by members of Tea Party Express:

The Central Valley Tea Party IS NOT ASSOCIATED with the Tea Party Express
Sunday, September 27, 2009

Dear Fellow Central Valley Tea Party Patriot,

While Ben Bergquam and I had the privilege of working on the Sac828 event in Sacramento last month, we also experienced the "fun" caused by involvement of the Tea Party Express at the event. Through this process, we got to know everyone at the state level (there aren't that many, this is still VERY GRASSROOTS) and can assure everyone in the Central Valley that the state coordinators share the same values, ideals and concerns that we do.

Although the Tea Party Express got some good press for the Tea Party movement during their bus tour, I believe that trying to coordinate anything with them or their future activities would be a detriment to our long term goals. I have heard good things about everyone involved with the Tea Party Express other than Mark Williams (see below), but as an organization, they have different goals than the millions of Tea Party Patriots across the country.

To make the entire issue very simple to explain to any others that might ask about the Tea Party Express, it comes down to two points:

1. The Tea Party Express is a Republican PAC with different goals than the millions of us that identify ourselves as Tea Party Patriots.

2. This Republican PAC used the "Tea Party" name to try to position themselves as part of the Tea Party movement. While this was a good marketing technique for their efforts, it has caused a lot of confusion and they have not been completely forthcoming regarding their relationship and/or involvement with the actual grassroots Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party Express has another bus tour planned to start in San Diego on October 25th and looks to be traveling through Bakersfield and Fresno. The Central Valley Tea Party will not have any involvement with the Tea Party Express as they make their way through the valley. I have heard reports that the Tea Party Express is looking to raise $250,000 on or for this bus tour. Please understand that any donations to the Tea Party Express will not make their way back to or help with our efforts here in the Central Valley.

The California coordinators issued a statement on 9/25/09 regarding the Tea Party Express bus tour. If you would like to see a copy of this statement or have any questions or concerns involving the Tea Party Express, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Brad Roltgen, Coordinator
Central Valley Tea Party

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