Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Indianapolis Tea Party Organizer (Laura Behney) bans activist's free speech

My name is Melyssa and I am the publisher and owner of this blog. I'm the tax activist behind Hoosiers For Fair Taxation and led the tea parties throughout Indiana in 2007. I won a Sammy from the Sam Adams Alliance in 2007 for my activist work by bringing about positive change in my local government. I'm also a Fair Tax volunteer and got my start with those good folks.

I am writing to spread sunshine on something disturbing that was done to me today by the organizer of the Indianapolis Tea Party. If you are going to the Tea Party in Indianapolis, this concerns you. Many of you may think I should shove this incident away in a closet, but I cannot for sunshine is the best disinfectant.

Today, I was banned by Laura Behney who heads the Defenders of Liberty. She is the organizer the Indianapolis Tea Party to take place tomorrow. Laura, who self-proclaims to be a defender of freedom and liberty, silenced my freedom of speech right in her own back yard yet wants to hold the government accountable to protect your liberties. Sadly, she failed to protect my 1st Amendment freedom. And she has the right to do so, because the group she runs is technically private. That doesn't make it right. And it certainly is not principled in freedom.

Here is background on what took place.

I've been delighted, yet also concerned deep down about why there is so much mainstream media coverage focused on the national tea parties. Mainstream media (MSM) is corporate controlled and that's why I'm concerned. It is corporatism that bankrupted America. (Yes, we ARE bankrupt.)

When I first got wind of the tea party in Indianapolis, I was very excited to help. It was all coming together at the time we were planning the Revolt At The State House event focused on local and state issues in Indiana.

It is my belief from all my experience, that it is too late to save our federal government. We have no control there to enact change there. We won't win against that machine. The rest of the world has power to enact change through pressure on America and the people who control our government.

However, we DO still have power to change our local government and our local election results. We CAN realistically make Indiana government accountable, obey the Constitution, and do what it should.

Yet most people at the tea party tomorrow won't be able to tell you the name of their city councilperson, let alone their state legislator or state senator. Don't believe me? Conduct your own poll. Many won't even be able to tell you where the city county building is located just four blocks away, because they have never been there or know what takes place there.

On the email list of the John Birch Society, today I published an opinion stating my belief that the MSM and Republican Party are herding well meaning Americans to these Tea Parties in order to distract them from the real place where they have true power to change their government. That place is local and state government.

I stated that the elites controlling our federal government are literally laughing at the peasants in the streets who they are bilking for trillions of our future wealth. These elites are also very relieved that so few people are paying attention to their state and local government. That part is most delightful to them. Their worst nightmare is 50 states with clean accountable governments controlled by The People standing up to the Federal Government.

These elites fear our citizens taking lawful control over our local cities and states.

I suggested that the MSM is leading well-meaning sheep (novice activists waking up) straight into the slaughter by distracting them from the only part of government they can control...that part which is in their own back yards.

For this opinion, I was banned.

The tea parties are not grass roots. It is a national movement within the Republican Party to herd people into the party so their players can have control once more. This is the same party that had their butts handed to them in November after letting George Bush and for a while a Republican controlled House run amok for 8 years. Now they all of a sudden found God? I don't think so.

Meanwhile, there are many very good people inside the Republican party trying to change it from the inside. They are the Republican Liberty activists.

True grass roots has a bottom up management style. The tea parties are top down management and the proof is right in front of your eyes. It's seen in the national conference calls to coordinate the events, it is seen in the reluctance of the organizers to use the grass roots activists already plentiful and successful in Indiana, and in their amazing power to generate MSM out of no where and literally overnight.

Grassroots doesn't get that kind of action accomplished overnight.

Desperate to rally the same kind of grass roots support that Obama enjoys, Republicans (many well meaning freedom fighters) upped the freedom movement with their friends at FoxNews and social networking. The Behney's volunteered to head up the "grass roots" in Indianapolis. And they honestly believe that this is all grass roots. And they are working very hard and I'll never take that from them. They are giving 150%.

A few weeks ago, I gave over the keys to this blog to the Behney's when the national tea party web got hacked. I also published their email and directed a few thousand people their way. (This blog got more than 400 unique readers today alone.) I wanted to help. I don't think it is a bad thing that so many people are getting together to demand freedom.

I also believe that there are good well-meaning people that are waking up to what is happening in America and are finally ready to learn and do something. I also know most will go back to American Idol next week, and rely on their emails (harvested from this activism) to tell them how to vote so they don't have to do the hard work of watching over government for themselves. And you can bet the people at the top of this movement are counting on that.

If we are to lead our government to a better place, we need to be staunch practitioners of the very principles we espouse ourselves. And that starts with protecting our 1st Amendment freedom to free speech and free press.

18 comments:

  1. Did the tea party organizers reach out to people in the Democrat or Libertarian parties? Are they really non-partisan?

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  2. Exactly how are you "banned"?
    It's not like anyone can stop you from being there and speaking your mind, aside from your right to assemble, associate, and speak, anyone who knows you, knows that.
    I expect to see you there, with bells on, and when the cameras find you, do your thing.

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  3. Sorry to inform all of you, but this person is a kook! This IS a grassroots effort because i can tell you that I have not been involved with ANYTHING in the Republican party and have had ZERO contact with the GOP/RNC or any other party for this Tax Day Tea Party.

    The first sign to anyone that reads this blog is Ms. Melyssa says the MSM is 'encouraging' this effort? ARE YOU SERIOUS? The MSM is calling the organizers of these tea parties 'white supremicists and hate-filled bigots." Just ask Rachel Madow. And ANYONE who says that we cannot change the government in D.C. is a PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is people like Melyssa who have the agenda and if everyone she talks to doesn't cow-tow to her demands, then they are "banned" from events. She was not banned, she was just told that all of the 'speaking' spots are full...which they are. And we also, unlike Melyssa's protest, are keeping our protest SPECIFIC to one issue...STOP SPENDING...REPEAL THE 'STIMULUS' package or we will repeal each members employment in Congress. Melyssa, wanting to redeem herself from a VERY disorganized "Revolt at the Statehouse," has decided to try to sabotage our event in the hope of portraying us as Republican hacks. If you would have sat at a meeting with us, Melyssa, you would know that we are just as mad at Republicans as we are at Democrats. This is not about party, it is about liberty. Just look at the coverage of the Revolt at the Statehouse. There were about 100 people with 12 different messages...that does not make for a very productive protest. Heck, the media was even distraught because they couldn't figure out how to cover the numerous messages out of it.

    For you, ma'am, to say that we are a part of a top-down movement from places on high is an absolute lie, and you know it. Laura Behney and EVERY SINGLE VOLUNTEER, YES, VOLUNTEER, is here because we are sick and tired of our federal government trampling on our freedom and we are no longer going to be silent. We are not a part of a group of agitators that are paid by a certain party to show up at every protest. We are small business owners, stay-at-home moms, retirees, students, and plain old citizens.

    Next time you decide to slander people, you may want to get your facts straight. I beg of you to PROVE your accusations. You and I both know you cannot. Too bad people like you are too narcissistic to see the true value of an event like this.

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  4. Double D? Afraid to post your name to your remarks? I'm not afraid to put my name to my opinion. It's really easy to call a person a kook when you hide behind a moniker.

    I could easily wipe out your remarks, but I don't. That's cause I care about your right to speak your mind. I know the truth will come out.

    Who runs the tea party conference calls? Who is at the top of that chain? I know, do you?

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  5. And Double D...if you knew a thing about local politics, which you obviously do not, you would know exactly why Channel 8 did what they did after we exposed what we did about the CIB. They are sponsors of both the Colts and Pacers and recently several of their employees went on a junket to Cancun sponsored by those billionaires we exposed who are after your wallet to the tune of $50 million a year. There's a lot you don't know. I didn't libel (print is libel, not slander)the Behney's. I reported what happened.

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  6. Yes, we do know the name of the person that does the conference calls from Atlanta, and that is why we are not doing a lot of the things that they are doing...why? Because this IS a grassroots effort. By the way, it shouldn't be that hard to find out who i am if you go to the indianapolisteaparty.com website...Double D...Dustin Doyle, Media Chair. I have no problem with posting my name. You did libel...we are NOT run by the Republican party..sorry, you are a liar and you have NEVER been to one meeting, so why do you think you have the right to speak?

    About the local politics, fine. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT! We would probably agree on most points about the Colts/Pacers etc. But this is not about LOCAL politics...even though that is what YOU want it to be. Face it, we are going down a different road than you and you are upset about it.

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  7. The reason i put kook in there was the other blog you have with the 'scientist' 'proving' that there were explosives in the WTC buildings on 9/11. That is called...Koo Koo!

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  8. By your logic, you just libeled me. I was at a meeting at the Behney's business. That is completely contrary to what you wrote above. We made signs. Unfortunately, that was all the time I had to give.

    I also bought this domain and set up this site and promoted the Indiana Tea Party movement. This site got more than 500 unique readers yesterday and the same today.

    I also gave the keys to the Behney's to post anything they wanted on this site when the national site got hacked. This fact is documented in the archives here and in my personal emails to them.

    I did not say I wanted the tea party to be about local politics. Never did. I said people attending need to focus activism on local issues, because they have real ability to control from their back yards.

    I'd also like to point out, that I did not ban your dissenting opinion of my work. For I do not fear you.

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  9. I put a lot of things on the HFFT site that other people say! It's called getting to the truth and we'll never ever find out if we don't tolerate free speech and free press. You are welcome to debunk it and say anything you'd like about nano-thermite. Anything else?

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  10. Nothing else...you just proved my point. You just said 'people attending need to focus activism on local issues..." maybe these people want to focus on the national level? Is that wrong?

    That is the point all along...WASHINGTON D.C. We are not focusing on local politics with this rally...that is what the Revolt at the Statehouse was for. You shouldn't fear me. I am a citizen that cares for freedom and am focusing it on the federal level...ie, the Federal Government should get out of the affairs the constitution does not give it the specific duty to do so. Again, that is what THIS tea party is about!

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  11. Yes, I know you care. I totally believe you. I find it admirable! I've never suggested the Behney's do anything but proceed with their direction with THIS rally. I even promoted it right here, didn't I? Did you see me say anything contrary to the message they wanted to project?

    I wasn't planning to say a peep on my blogs until after the tea party.

    The very 1st Amendment defends free speech and free press. Today, mine was stomped upon, although I said nothing in Laura's group or here either.

    My right to speak was banned simply for stating an opinion in ANOTHER group after that group's moderator wrote to Laura. I have friends in the JBS group...patriots who helped with the Revolt. That's why I said what I did THERE. I know the newbies aren't ready to wrap their heads around it all yet.

    Laura was quick to judge me and squelch my voice, although I've offered all I could to them.

    Let's not just say we defend Liberty. Let's really do it. Otherwise, we become the hypocrites we fight.

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  12. As neither a Republican nor Democrat I think Greg Garrison's comments made it clear that this was a Republican event. Most of the rhetoric was "us" vs. "them" with the "them" being "Democrats, er...liberals" as Garrison put it. If you were at the event did you take a good look around at the people in attendance? I was standing beneath the Jefferson monument and everyone around me was white. But when I got on route 39 to ride back to my apartment I was the only white person on the bus. Seemed a bit disproportionate for the usual downtown Indy crowd. Who is "them"?

    I believe the turn out would've been much greater had this type of seperatist mentality been avoided and the issue of taxation been seen as a rallying issue for All Americans (had to wait for Thomas Paine to get to that idea). I know many "liberals" on my college campus opposed the bailout legislation and yet chose not to come because of the partisan rhetoric (did all the anti-Obama sign holders forget that he was not in the white house when this legislation passed) Oh, and I guess "us" consists of Christians and Jews according to Garrison. If you're Muslim, Bhuddist, Wiccan or Atheist, then you're "them" as well.

    And, btw, I support grassroots local movements.

    And My name is Kermet Key. I ain't scairt.

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  13. C'mon guys. Aren't we more or less all on the same team? Let's act like it and all pull on the same end of the rope.

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  14. Are we on the same team? That's not the rhetoric I was hearing today.

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  15. This type of "infighting" is exactly why we have the current state of government we have.
    Build a bridge and get over it. AND MY NAME IS DORN.

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  16. I also tend to agree with what Kermit Wrote both sides are the issue here not just Obama and the DEMS.

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  17. I don't think the official tea party organizers have demonstrated they are on the same team with the activists that have been there long before them. Yesterday Jerry Titus of Indiana Honest Money was being interviewed by a local documentary team. Security approached them and said that they were not allowed to conduct an interview without press badges. How is that freedom? This is coming straight out of the worst part of the republican party. Patriots need to infiltrate their future events and educate, educate, educate! We've got problems when within a 24 hour period there are two incidents of the organizers failing to protect both free speech and free press.

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