Utah Tea Party Interview with CNN

[David Kirkham]

Well guys, after all these months of organizing Tea Parties across the state...tomorrow is the day. Everyone seems to think Senator Bennett's career will end tomorrow. I have interviewed with many, many news organizations this past week--everyone seems to think Senator Bennett's won't even make it out of convention tomorrow. I have spent countless hours on this. Monday I won't know what to do with all my extra time. I guess I'll start to think about finishing that design on those wheelchairs.

This aired today on CNN.

David


http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS...iref=allsearch

[kayakjack]

Thank you David. I am just a foot soldier attending Tea Party rallies here in Georgia. You take it up a few notches.

Something good will come of all of this.

Jack

ps - Do the reporters drool over your "product" when they interview in the shop?

[FIA Mike]

David,

GO GET 'EM! I for one am with you. Seems to me in times gone bye a rail with some tar and feathers worked well. Washington could use a dose of good old fashion common sense. Lets hope you and the Tea Party bring some of it to them.

Regards, FIA Mike

[FIA Mike]

David,

This cartoon will hit home with you. You could play the role of John Q. Public or Joe Doakes in this cartoon.

http://nationaljuggernaut.blogspot.c...d-in-1948.html

FIA Mike

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by kayakjack

Thank you David. I am just a foot soldier attending Tea Party rallies here in Georgia. You take it up a few notches.

Something good will come of all of this.

Jack

ps - Do the reporters drool over your "product" when they interview in the shop?

No, I am just another blade of grass in a vast movement of concerned citizens who want to bring fiscal responsibility back to our government. Both sides spend all the money and then blame everyone else. Those of us who organize would be nothing--nothing--without you foot soldiers. I thank you will all that is in me for attending and supporting Tea Party Rallies in your state.

Yes, reporters do drool when they come in. I am so fortunate to have something to break the ice when they show up. They are immediately "disarmed" by the cars. We usually spend a lot of time talking about the cars before they even ask about Tea Party stuff. Then, I carefully bring up our factory in Poland and how I saw 20,000 men and women lose their jobs one day--because of the failure of their government to keep promises to their own citizens.

I tell them how I witnessed TARP in Poland and how bailing out failing companies only leads to darkened factories and displaced workers. I tell them I have seen the faces of displaced workers--they are the ones I hired when I first went to Poland. I tell them of the desperation in men's eyes as they begged for work. I show them pictures of when I first arrived in Poland. I show them the lights were out because Poland's own defense industry could no longer afford to keep them on.

Then I talk about US manufacturing and how our manufacturing jobs are disappearing before our very eyes.

Finally, I tell them, the Tea Party is not about conservative values or liberal values. It is not about Democrats or Republicans. 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 liberal or conservative 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 is Greece.

In the end, I believe the cars help to tell a story to the reporters that I truly believe, because I lived it. The cars help them to see see we Tea Partiers really don't have horns growing out of our heads. We don't have guns in every pocket. We harbor no ill will towards immigrants or anyone of any color--in fact, we welcome anyone who wants to join with open arms. We just want the politicians to 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.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by FIA Mike

David,

This cartoon will hit home with you. You could play the role of John Q. Public or Joe Doakes in this cartoon.

http://nationaljuggernaut.blogspot.c...d-in-1948.html

FIA Mike

Thanks. I do appreciate it. I'll keep speaking and reasoning whenever I can.

David

[dlampe]

Very nice David, I had no idea. I am fighting the good fight here in Illinois but you can imagine what that is like. Our muni bonds are only rated higher than California! I am thrilled to know you are involved.

[m5extc]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

No, I am just another blade of grass in a vast movement of concerned citizens who want to bring fiscal responsibility back to our government. Both sides spend all the money and then blame everyone else. Those of us who organize would be nothing--nothing--without you foot soldiers. I thank you will all that is in me for attending and supporting Tea Party Rallies in your state.

Yes, reporters do drool when they come in. I am so fortunate to have something to break the ice when they show up. They are immediately "disarmed" by the cars. We usually spend a lot of time talking about the cars before they even ask about Tea Party stuff. Then, I carefully bring up our factory in Poland and how I saw 20,000 men and women lose their jobs one day--because of the failure of their government to keep promises to their own citizens.

I tell them how I witnessed TARP in Poland and how bailing out failing companies only leads to darkened factories and displaced workers. I tell them I have seen the faces of displaced workers--they are the ones I hired when I first went to Poland. I tell them of the desperation in men's eyes as they begged for work. I show them pictures of when I first arrived in Poland. I show them the lights were out because Poland's own defense industry could no longer afford to keep them on.

Then I talk about US manufacturing and how our manufacturing jobs are disappearing before our very eyes.

Finally, I tell them, the Tea Party is not about conservative values or liberal values. It is not about Democrats or Republicans. 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 liberal or conservative 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 is Greece.

In the end, I believe the cars help to tell a story to the reporters that I truly believe, because I lived it. The cars help them to see see we Tea Partiers really don't have horns growing out of our heads. We don't have guns in every pocket. We harbor no ill will towards immigrants or anyone of any color--in fact, we welcome anyone who wants to join with open arms. We just want the politicians to 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.

David

Again David, so well spoken. Plus you have the experiences, facts and pictures to back up what we all have been saying. I am glad that you/we are getting more mainstream media coverage so the "average" person can be forced to be informed. Again thumbs up for everything great you do, from the factory, to the cars, to the wheel chairs, to the tea party, etc. You set an extremely high mark to dream of achieving.

Andrei

[Jamo]

muy goodo, mon ami

[kgs365]

David good job!...very well articulated!...the bail out was and is counter productive to business!..its an artifical prop keeping businesses alive that should have gone out business due to bad products, or really bad risk taking....should not have been allowed by Democrats or Republicans!

[Hexnut72]

Bennett is out.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10699757

Hopefully I will get a chance to talk with Dave at the shop now that this is over.

[rodneym]

Great Job, Dave!
It must feel good to see these results from your efforts.
Keep fighting the good fight.
rodneym

[David Kirkham]

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.

[twobjshelbys]

I've heard that McCain in Arizona is not a lock in either. Lots of unrest against the "old guard" regardless of party affiliation.

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I've heard that McCain in Arizona is not a lock in either. Lots of unrest against the "old guard" regardless of party affiliation.

Indeed. Now, BOTH parties are on notice we won't put up with their shenanigans.

David

[David Kirkham]

Bennett argued vigorously his seniority was paramount to fighting off Obama. The people told him we were willing to trade irresponsible seniority now for responsible seniority later.

David

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Indeed. Now, BOTH parties are on notice we won't put up with their shenanigans.

David

Indeed. It's about time. My thought when all this bailout c**p was going on was "You'll get yours. I don't know who you think you're doing this for bot not a single one of your constituents - the people you work for - want it. You'll be reminded of this when your term is up. We can't fire you in the middle of your term, but your management has plans when your contract is up. You might consider updating your resume now while you have some spare time."

Looks like it's starting to come down.

Congratulations!

[Bartruff1]

Is that you (eventually) get the government you deserve ....the people want the budget in balance...and I for one, believe that is what is going to happen in the next 10 years or so....it may be a proactive effort on the part of the Congress or the result of a bond rating downgrade but it must happen and the opportunity and the responsibility is here right now.

[David Kirkham]

Term limits began yesterday. It is open season on incumbents--there is no bag limit.

David

[Bobcat]

David ... just heard on FX News this morning that Bennett was out ... and the reporter lamented that his career was ended . What part do they not get ? Holding office was NEVER supposed to be a career .... that`s a good part of the problem today . Congratulations , now maybe someone will represent the people instead of their "career" .

Bob