Chicago Tea Party Rejects Michael Steele
National Republican figures have been trying to attach themselves to the growing anti-tax "Tea Party" movement -- with limited success. Requests from politicians to speak at tea party events around the country have been rebuffed. "We're not a function of the Republican party," one Washington, D.C. tea partier told the Huffington Post. He didn't name names, But the Chicago Tea Party organizers have not only rejected a GOP party leader, but made the snub public.
When Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele asked to speak at the event, and organizer Eric Odom posted his response online. In it, he thanked Steele for "finally" reaching out to the grassroots. "Unfortunately, it appears that he has only just decided to reach out after realizing how big the movement has gotten and how much media is now involved," Odom continued. He invited Steele to attend and listen, but not to speak.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/09/chicago-tea-party-rejects_n_185026.html