Whatever level the coordinator deems appropriate, as long as we aren't representing Dallas Tea Party when we do so.

I believe it's OK to talk about the qualities of any of the candidates but I think it should end at publicly endorsing a candidate. Our whole reason for being organized as the Tea Party is to help educate people, not be like the "dictator in chief" and tell you what you should or should do.

If the DTP is now a 501(c)4, it can legally endorse or support individual candidates. I think the DTP should review candidate records and start giving actual endorsements and non-endorsements with reasons why. If there are two candidates running for a single office that meet the tea party standards, both should be listed as endorsed.

At the local/zip code level, each group should determine whether and to what degree they want to support and/or endorse candidates.

They should probably put a statement on their neighborhood page indicating that group's policy regarding endorsement.

Each election many of my members ask who best represent the tea party principles because they're just too busy to research each candidate's position on multiple issues. Rather than having members burned out on figuring out who represents them, it seems a better use of their limited time & energy to allow Coordinators to endorse candidates, then have members spend precious time & energy toward supporting the candidate(s). Thus far, it has worked well with my 3 groups. The members then choose whether they wish to help support/campaign for a specific candidate or not. I always add a disclaimer in my messages that it is not an endorsement by the Dallas Tea Party, and when I mentioned names I always clarify by stating that Coordinators as individuals can state who we think best represent the tea party principles.

I'm actually torn on this issue. Given the perpetual degrading of the organization and members, and the ongoing efforts to use any issue (real or fabricated) to marginalize us, I suggest we refrain from public endorsement of candidates. If, however, the membership chooses to begin endorsements, I strongly suggest the development of a rigorous policy that requires complete disclosure of the rationale for the endorsement, the nature of the relationship, and any potential benefit both personal or otherwise that could come from the endorsement.

Personal support should not involve the DTP in name or use of email lists, etc., but otherwise who I personally endorse is just that--personal. I also think the tea party needs to endorse to be effective.

In 2007 and 2008 all of the national and local conservative talk show host refused to make endorsements of ANY presidential candidate Just MAYBE if they would have, we would have ended up with someone with spine as the Repub. candidate and as a result we would not have ended up with a communist in the W.H. I believe that it is absurd,and WRONG that Tea Parties do not make endorsements. We cannot allow Romney to get the nomination. We need someone with metal,that will stand up to Sotero {or whatever his name really is}We need to play like we are playing to win,the democrats,communists and homosexuals DEFINITELY are.

what you would normally do for any
person you would support.

A coordinator should make it clear that their endorsement is personal, not that of the Tea Party. When they work for a candidate's campaign, they should represent themselves as such, not as representing the Tea Party. In the gray area, they should state that they're representing one or the other, but it would be OK to say they're also a Tea Party member or that they also work for the candidate.

I agree with others that the Tea Parties would do a great service to rate candidates on our core issues. Especially in the primaries, when we need Tea Party participation the most to ensure we have conservative candidates to choose from, too many people are too busy to do the research as Landra says.

I think rating candidates would go far toward raising participation as well, and help make voters more confident in their selections. Rigorous disclosure of the rationale as Jeffrey recommends would be key.

Given the stance of the parent organization, best would be no one in a tea party coordinator role displaying any preferences, ever. If they want to be leaders for a candidate, they should go do that. If they want to be in the Dallas Tea Party, no preferences. The whole idea of the Tea Party was supposed to be bi-partisan. It seems to've been co-opted by the GOP. Personally, I like the non-partisan approach. There may be a rare Democrat (or a Dem in transition) who believes in Tea Party principles, but is also pro abortion, etc. Tea Party principles are really libertarian, more than anything else. That's my 2 cents, as they say.

I believe we need to keep in mind that as the political elite see their power under attack they will fight back viciously, with media help. The fact that any Tea Party leader is speaking their own opinion and not representing the Tea Party will be completely lost. So anything any identified leader says will be attributed to the movement as a whole.
That being said, maybe if all leaders have a standard disclaimer that they use anytime they give their own opinion, making it very clear that they are expressing their free right to give their opinion, not to be associated with the Tea Party. At least if this is done when the media cuts the disclaimer out, it will be there and the cut can be shown, showing the bias. Not perfect but a possible approach.
We just need to understand the environment and have policies not to give our opponent ammunition.

You will find it difficult to tell liberty minded individuals and leadership types to not give opinion...and any opinion is subject to bias of one type or another. Those who try to mislead or corrupt the TEA party will be exposed sooner than later so there is little danger in allowing free speech. The truth always comes out in the end. Any endorsement is usually followed by examples of why that person deserves an endorsement and it would be odd to endorse someone to a group that does not define or fit the image that the group purpose portrays. There is always a chance that someone runs on a platform and then votes improperly once in office but it is our duty to choose wisely and hold our leadership's feet to the fire...not to foolishly follow those who do not understand the Constitution or Bill of Rights.

A coordinator can support a candidate as much as that person wishes. We need to make it clear that the coordinator, the individual person, is supporting the candidate, and that the Dallas Tea party, whatever that is, does not EVER endorse candidates.

The Tea Party must NOT endorse,
however, each individual member
should express their opinion and
endorse.

I agree with a non organizational endorsement. I think it is wise to take a candidates' views and align them with our 5 core values 7 making that known. Those that align...give the thumbs up. We could run into a situation on a Social issues where I might disagree with another coordinator or member based on my faith. I have admired the DTP for realizing we will not agree with all folks and emphasizing what we do agree on and so far that has been our 5 core values. During my meetings I often say..."taking off my tea party hat for a moment...I, Patti say this...but tea party hat back on thus and such." I agree we want to inform on the issues. We want to empower citizens to think, research, process and decide. we do not want to spoon feed. But if someone asks my opinion...I will speak as an individual.
Good Question. Primaries are the key!!!

That's tough. I feel all of us should have the right to support who we want to as individuals.

I do see the potential issues for those who are known well as a Dallas Tea Party leader.

The best thing I can think of is not to publically endorse anyone when doing a tea party related speech or appearance. Yard signs, money support, etc. should be your individual choice and right.

All you can do is try to be clear when endorsing a candidate that you are doing so as an individual and are not representing the Dallas Tea Party group.

Good luck.

Very sticky situation. I think its ok to say " I'm really looking at so and so and hears why " But what I really like is to have access to what a candidate has done in the past, what they have said about certain issues and how they have voted. This is the only thing that speaks volumes to me. Maybe that info could be offered when someone is trying to " promote " one they like

I was dissapointed to see Mike Rawlings win the Dallas Mayoral race, especially since he had ties to the SEIU, and JW Price. I think more Dallas voters needed to be educated about this. More and more candidates run without their party tag on their advertisements, and many voters have no idea of their inclinations.

Since the Tea Party is vilified by MSM, maybe the Tea Party needs to target and identify candidates that need to be REJECTED.

In fact, I almost wish the Tea Party had a separate and anonymous wing that would target and take down the enemies of the Republic and the Constitution.

For instance, the fact that neither the D.C. Beltway Republicans and the MSM will not point to Obama as the rapist of the US Treasury, and abuser of US Taxpayers is beyond me. Instead they have let Obama be seen as the mediator for the debt "solution", instead of the problem that he is with NO credibility. Obama needs to be branded as the liar, thief, and enemy of the people.

I think that as long as they state that they are not endorsing a particular candidate as a member of the Tea Party but as an individual citizen then they should be able to do so. Freedom of speech.

I agree with whatever level the coordinator deems appropiate so long as we are not representing DTP when we do so.

The DTP is about educating, not endorsing when we cross that line you can be sure we will loose support of many who do not believe the same. NO, to publicly advocating support of a candidate, personally or otherwise, it will ALWAYS be used against us as a whole. The media will turn it into a fiasco "mixed, confused group" and we will loose our creditability. We are about educating, and exposing candidates' voting records and keeping candidates' honest.

100% FREE - this is America! - Free Speech! Go for it!

I agree with Gail!

Here is what I know: someone in our group indicated that "even though we TELL people the DTP does not endorse - we really do." And they were talking about the GROUP - not individually. I have always operated under the "we don't endorse meme" but if that has changed I need to know.
I have told a couple of people who I support but it was an offline conversation, and I provided information about why I endorsed that person and encouraged them to make their own decision.

The First Amendment gives an "individual" the freedom to express his or her feelings either Pro or Con for a candidate or Organization including the Tea Party. The Constitution didn't require that whatever a person utters publicly must be intelligent, smart or true.