I sent this email out right before convention.
Utah Tea Party,
I am often asked by fellow delegates, "Who should I vote for at convention?" Tomorrow celebrities, friends, colleagues, and politicians will all endorse their various candidates in a chorus of confusing passions. "Who should you vote for?"
15 years ago I wandered through an enormous aircraft factory in Poland which produced 3 MiG's/day at the height of the Cold War. Times were tough and where 60,000 men and women once worked, only 24,000 remained. Day after day I walked past somber lathe and mill operators who stood motionless behind a thousand silent machines--waiting for someone, anyone, to give them work. The lights were turned off--because the Polish government could no longer afford to keep them on, even in their own defense industries. I was at that factory in Poland the day over 20,000 of those remaining 24,000 men and women were turned out into the cold--in a city of 100,000. I watched as displaced workers haltingly mounted their bikes and wearily pedaled home. The Polish bailouts were bankrupt. The once thunderous skies over the “People's Aircraft Factory” were still.
I witnessed the devastating effects of TARP-like legislation in Poland and how bailing out failing companies only leads to darkened factories and displaced workers. I have seen the desperation in the faces of men as they begged for work. They are the ones I hired when I first went to Poland. Many of them still work for our company today.
15 months ago
www.instapundit.com inspired me to put a US flag on the back of my car and drive to the Utah State capitol on a snowy day in March--before anyone really knew what a Tea Party really was. I didn't expect to see another soul at that first Utah Tea Party. But, I knew where the dark road of Socialism ends, as I had fought Socialism in that factory in Poland for 15 years. That day I resolved to stand up and be a voice in our Capitol--no matter who listened--even if I had to speak to the wind.
As I drove up State Street, the State Capitol Building loomed large in my windshield. I am not ashamed to say tears filled my eyes when I saw it. I had never voted in a primary in my life. I had never been involved in politics. I had never marched. I had no idea what I was doing--but deep inside I knew spending all our children's money was wrong. I knew the First Amendment guaranteed my right to Free Speech and Peaceable Assembly. I knew I had to speak out. When I walked inside, about 100 people showed up! I wasn't alone. It changed my life. Since then I have helped to organize numerous other Tea Parties across Utah. Thousands have turned out. Almost 3 times as many people as normal showed up at Caucus night. About 80% of the delegates are new. The tide is changing.
The Tea Party is not about conservative values or liberal values--it is about responsibility. TARP was an irresponsible financial vote that taxes our children without representation. When all the money is gone, there will not be a liberal or a conservative debate or discussion. There will be no debate or discussion. I have seen it in Poland. I have seen it in Peru. I have seen it in Russia. I have seen it in Greece.
Politicians must learn the lessons we all learned in college when we got our first credit card. We must quit spending money like there is no tomorrow because tomorrow will surely come. And when it does, the bill will be due, along with the interest.
Tomorrow we will be handing out thousands of yellow Gadsden "Don't Tread On Me" flags at convention. I encourage you all to take a flag and tell our politicians "Don't Tread on Me. Don't Tread On Our Freedoms. Don't Tread On The Constitution." Tomorrow I hope to wave the Gadsden Flag "Goodbye" to Senator Bennett. You may not feel the same and I welcome your own personal choice. Please join me in quietly and respectfully waving the Gadsden flag for the candidate of YOUR choice--WHOEVER that may be.
"Who should you vote for?" You should vote your heart because all of us are smarter than any one of us.
Tomorrow will be a great day!
David Kirkham
Utah Tea Party Organizer
(really, just another blade of grass in a vast movement of concerned citizens who want to bring fiscal responsibility back to our government.)
Well, "tomorrow" (today) was an AMAZING day!
The hall exploded on the announcement Bennett was defeated. I'm sure you'll see the Utah Tea Party on the news. We went nuts.
I am so exhausted I can't speak. I've lost my voice. We emailed each other all night--no one could sleep all night. Bridgewater and Lee will now face each other in a primary. Our work in this race is done, but there is so much more to do.
Guys, I learned if you'll just stand up you CAN really make a difference. It is an amazing feeling to have succeeded. Thank you for all here on this site for putting up with me. Utah now passes the Tea Party baton to the rest of the nation--I hope they use it to beat the RINOS out of office at the ballot box!
Today was the first day of "Term Limits" for many of our elected officials this fall--we actually defeated Senator Bennett!
We climbed on the podium to capture the moment. I don't want to sleep for fear this amazing day will be over.
Obama has awakened a sleeping giant. Tomorrow--we get back to work.
