Glenn Reynolds just posted this: THE CINCINNATI TEA PARTY on the Hannity affair.
Posted at 12:03 am by Glenn Reynolds
April 15, 2010
Cincinnati Tea Party Responds to Allegations
By Justin Binik-Thomas
Topics:
Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cincinnati Tea Party Contact
Justin Binik-Thomas, VP National Affairs and Strategy
justin@cincinnatiteaparty.org
Media Line: (513) 258-0454
Cincinnati Tea Party Responds to Allegations
Cincinnati, OH, April 15, 2010. Freedom has rung loud and clear in southwestern Ohio at the second annual Tax Day Tea Party 2010. Nearly 10,000 conservatives and all local media outlets joined together to celebrate liberty and freedom in the United States of America.
The initial schedule included a book signing, a tea party, and a live television show. Fox News was responsible for all aspects of the book signing and the television show – staffing, funding, and producing . The Cincinnati Tea Party was responsible for all aspects of the tea party – staffing, funding, and producing. Funding and contracting for these events was separate and no funds or contracts were signed between Fox News and the Cincinnati Tea Party.
Shortly after the scheduled book signing (which was canceled) Fox News producers onsite informed the Cincinnati Tea Party senior leadership that Mr. Hannity had to rush home for a personal emergency. The Cincinnati Tea Party expressed a statement of support and concern to Hannity and family.
The Cincinnati Tea Party received information from local media attributing concerns regarding ticketing to a executive vice president at the Fox News Network. The Cincinnati Tea Party has not been able to confirm the authenticity of this message via a source this statement to any @foxnews.com email or foxnews.com website. Emails and phone calls to network went unanswered until 7:48 p.m. – more than four hours after the scheduled his appearance; this source has not yet put it in writing despite our request.
The Cincinnati Tea Party will honor requests for refunds. A special email address will be setup within 48 hours for this purpose and posted to the blog for supporter access.
Despite the fact “we cannot verify the source we do feel the allegations deserve a response” says Chris Littleton of the Cincinnati Tea Party:
Allegations
Cincinnati Tea Party will profit from broadcasting Hannity Show
The Fox News Network was unaware of paid tickets
Response
No member of the Cincinnati Tea Party has personally profited from any event.
All members are volunteers – we have no paid employees.
The cost of tickets was designed to offset the cost of the event – we did not make a profit.
Direct Expense – Estimate
$50,000 (Facility/Security, Refreshments, Ticketing)
$10,000 advertising and promotions
$9,000 for three speakers (Jonah Goldberg, Bob Murphy, Sonja Schmidt)
$700 rental of tables
$500 security tags and press materials
Decreased Revenue
$2,000 worth of tickets given to sponsors
$2,000 worth of tickets set aside from students and volunteer
Volunteer Hours
3,000+ people hours of planning (includes senior leadership, media, and training)
1,250+ people hours for event staffing (250 volunteers x 5 hours)
About the Cincinnati Tea Party
cincinnatiteaparty.org
The Cincinnati Tea Party is a grassroots, nonpartisan organization promoting its core values of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets, while strongly opposing wasteful government spending at all levels. We encourage our members to actively participate in government by supporting candidates who share our core values or by running for office. Our goaals include influencing elections to protect the freedom of current and future American citizens, promoting state sovereignty (Federalism), and compelling our elected officials to comply with the Constitution of the United States of America as written. To accomplish our goals, the Cincinnati Tea Party:
• Encourages Americans who value liberty to Voice their opinions through rallies, forums, and town halls
• Supports the Education of Americans for a better understanding of our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the authority granted to our government by the People
• Impacts Elections throughout America by encouraging freedom-loving American citizens to run for office at the local, county, and state levels
The Cincinnati Tea Party was founded in February 2009 by a conservative group of Cincinnatians who love America and want to pass its gift of freedom to future generations. In April 2009, Community Tea Parties were launched to allow local leaders to spread the core values at the neighborhood level.
View Our Founding Documents
United States of America
Declaration of Independence | archives.gov
Constitution | archives.gov
Bill of Rights | archives.gov
State of Ohio
Constitution | legislature.state.oh.us
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Updated by Mike (1:00am to correct math on volunteer hours) |
