Washington (CNN) - A leading national Tea Party organization says it's going to pump $1 million to local Tea Party groups to spend on the midterm elections, thanks to an anonymous donation.
The Tea Party Patriots announced Tuesday that money will be distributed no later that October 4. Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler said the funds won't be spent on his organization, but rather are "intended to go out to the groups on the ground, in the field."
"The goal of this donation is to do what we've always done as Tea Party Patriots, is to help groups on the ground be more effective at what they're already doing, not to tell them what to do, not to tell them how to spend the money," Meckler said.
As a group, the Tea Party Patriots is not required to publicly disclose its financial backers because they are classified as a "social welfare" group under section 501(c)4 of the tax code. As long as the group does not mention individual candidates in campaign material they do not have to release donor names. This is one way the Patriots differ from the Tea Party Express and FreedomWorks groups who both endorse specific candidates.
Meckler said the grant will be distributed among the Tea Party Patriots' 2,800 local affiliates and requests for the money must be received by September 26.
"Their job is to take those funds and leverage their activities on the ground already," Meckler said. "We believe the best government is local government, the best tea party is the local tea party."
From CNN Politics
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Though it is largely fueled by fear and resentment among the public, the Tea Part is really just a vehicle for restoring conservative Republicans to power under a different name. And now, thanks to the Supreme Court, the rich can anonymously fund this sham. If I weren't old, I would want to move to another country.
Here we go with anonymous donations. These are not done to preserve the modesty of the donor. They are done to hide which corporations and billionaires are gaming the system.
No one would be surprised to learn that the Koch brothers are contributing to the teabagger fanatics. So, why not the Sultan of Brunei? Maybe a group of Russian mafia? Osama bin Laden, even? We will never know, thanks to the U.S. Extreme Court and their insane ruling in Citizens United. They have opened American elections up for sale to the highest, most corrupt, bidder.
Would that money have come from FOX, Koch brothers, or Wall Street executives? Hmmmm
This is a very good investment. We need to make a huge impact in Congressional elections so that The House and The Senate realize they have a mandate to pay attention to what Americans outside of DC are asking for. We are fed up with Democrats and their political gamesmanship and their constant flow of funding to their special interests. It's time now to manage the country, not their political party.
Anonymous donor? What, did the Fox commentators all chip in to help support their "baby?"
On October 30 we are going to find out just how many people don't think to much of the Tea Party – the Rally to Restore Sanity and the March to Keep Fear Alive should swamp the angry Beckhead rallies.
In the end, sanity, respect, rationality, and common sense (and perhaps a bit of mockery of the constume wearing fringe) will prevail over anger, disrespect, and irrational fear. See you in DC.
Where are they getting their money? Follow the trail and you will be suprised about the source.
Just a drop in the bucket compared to what union bosses and leftist organizations are giving to the dems in order to help them get re elected this Nov.
Getting a 1 million anonymous donation (do you smell Texas oil money?) is a sure sigh of a grass roots movement. In two months nobody will even remember what the Tea Party was or rather, was supposed to be.
Jimmy Carter is and always has been a complete idiot!!! that is why he was a one tern puppet president and his distorted views on foreign policy should boggle ones mind. he could not even figure out how to save our American Hostages during his term so American watched in horror while the iraq people played soccor with their heads. Supior ??maybe in his own mind..
I will vote ALL incumbents out in Nov.
What a WASTE of money!!! The Tea Party is not God's gift on earth!!
They just should NAME the anonymous donor because we all know it's the Republican Party in disguised!!!
Why not mention the DONOR – Be Proud Tea Party folks of your supporters. And as for the DONOR – why are you undercover??? Jeez!!
Please let November get here quick so the country will see that all of this spending is NOT going to achieve what the Tea Party thinks it would!!! Case and POINT!!
T'SAH from Virginia – The Original and the Liberal – and I approve this message!!
And, where is all this money coming from?? Yesterday it was announced they would be receiving several million.
These people are blindly allowing theirselves to be manipulated, used, brain washed by those who want big business back in control of our country.
What a shame.
Thanks to the supreme? court, any donation from China and Saudi Arabia is anonymous. I think the Koch brothers have spent far more than this amount to support their agenda to destroy the air we breathe at the expense of our grandchildren. The "its about me" baggers will gladly take their money.
Beyond conveniently anonymous donation (read: Koch Industry greed), our family is still not voting for tea party extremes.
When you add that to what the RNC has (since most tea party candidates are running as R) that one million makes them just about equal to the cash on hand the DNC reported (after debt).
(see related story)
Great, just loving to see money being spent to contribute to Obamas "fall of failure." I need my money that he has already stolen back and I don't want to give the dope smoking, non workers that love him anymore.
Oh Mr. Murdoch-you shouldn't have!
As we get an opportunity to look at what the Republican/Bagger party has given us for candidates, they all seem to have one thing in common: Stupid Teabaggers Unfit For Intelligent Talk, or as I like to say, STUFIT!
The dems MUST BE STOPPED! Obama, Pelosi and Reid have nearly ruined this great nation.
They're being hijacked by the neo-cons. When you have your Palin's, Limbaugh's and Beck's on board then you know what has happened. They have been hijacked. Sad to see. A true movement that was blind to see it happen before their eyes and did nothing about it. Oh well, at least there's still the Campaign for Liberty.
Shoddy reporting Paul! What you left out is that the "Tea Party Patriots" received that $1,000,000 in the form of an "anonymous" donation. There is something criminal at work here and it needs to be investigated. Federal campaign law limits individual donations and this is a cynical attempt to circumvent that law. Where is the DA?
"Anonymous" donations going to candidate elections doesn't sound like above board election procedure. Suppose it's a tobacco company and it is going to anti-health care candidates
Anonymous? I'm guessing the donor doesn't want anyone in his/her "circle" to know they are giving money to such an unstable bunch.
An anonymous $1M donation? No special interest control in the tea party? What a fraud these people are.