Corporate Tea Parties

I'm more of a coffee man.

"Lobbyists have clout in Romney’s campaign circle; 14 raised $1.6m for candidate in 2d half of 2011" by Michael Levenson,  |  Globe Staff, February 05, 2012

Mitt Romney, who has criticized Newt Gingrich for peddling influence in Washington, relies on his own array of politically connected lobbyists to help him raise money and advise his campaign on political strategy and policy.

Romney raised $1.6 million from 14 lobbyists who gathered checks from their friends and associates in the last half of 2011. These “bundlers’’ include lobbyists for Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris.

Romney’s political and policy advisers include lobbyists for Sallie Mae, the student lender; Alcoa, the aluminum producer; and Walmart.

And on Thursday, Romney is hosting a series of “policy roundtable meetings’’ at the Marriott in Washington, where lobbyists, industry players, and others who raise at least $10,000 for his campaign can join his advisers for discussions on education, energy, health care, defense, and infrastructure.

The Romney campaign declined to comment. But the involvement of lobbyists in his operation illustrates how corporate and Washington interests are rallying around the former Massachusetts governor, betting that he may be president next year....  

Oh, yeah?  How much you wanna bet?

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Like it or not, Romney as president would be the perfect representation and reflection of AmeriKa -- a complete corporate creation.

Want another cup of tea?

"Tea Party voters more open to Romney" by Matt Viser,  |  Globe Staff, February 05, 2012

RENO, Nev. - Tea Party activists, long dismissive of Mitt Romney, insist that most of the movement’s legions will back him if he continues to surge toward nomination, with a few already urging Republicans of all kinds to unite now to defeat President Obama.

The slowly building shift in outlook on Romney is by no means universal or set in stone. Some activists still express hope that Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, or Ron Paul will regain traction.

Yet, groups previously opposed to Romney are beginning to prepare their members to embrace the former Massachusetts governor as their best shot at defeating an incumbent president they distrust even more.

The Tea Party is a splintered movement with no elected leadership, which makes it hard to generalize about how supporters are leaning, or whether the trend will hold. But interviews with activists around the country suggests a shift toward Romney is underway since his impressive win in Florida.

Even the person who has been running the “Anybody But Mitt’’ website has climbed aboard, grudgingly conceding that it is time to end the very public war within the party and make sure ideology does not trump unity.

“After the primary in Florida, it’s over. He’s the nominee. You can grouse about it and whine about it - as I’ve been doing for months - but the fact is he’s the nominee now,’’ said Michael Graham, the website pundit and a conservative talk radio personality at Boston-based 96.9-FM. “For Republican primary voters, even the most conservative who are very unhappy with Mitt, there’s something binding us all together, and that is ending the presidency of Barack Obama.’’

Around the country, Tea Party activists voiced similar sentiments. They had long hoped a conservative alternative could inspire them and give them a reason not to support Romney. At one point, they rallied behind Michele Bachmann, then jumped to Rick Perry. When he faltered, Herman Cain surged. All three are now former candidates....

One reason for the gradual acceptance may be that while Romney has long been distrusted by Tea Party activists, his message of smaller government, less debt, and fewer regulations has resonated with some supporters....

So Ron Paul's votes are going to Mitt, huh?

Sal Russo, the cofounder and chief strategist of the California-based Tea Party Express, likens the Tea Party movement to an iceberg. At the tip are the loyalists who show up at rallies, toting signs and wearing Colonial-era hats as they loudly pronounce their support for the most conservative candidates, he said. But the majority of supporters are mostly hidden and probably view Romney more favorably than those who seek attention.

“At the end of the day, whoever becomes the nominee will have wide support from Tea Party people,’’ he said. “It doesn’t make sense to conclude that Tea Party people wouldn’t be enthusiastic about Mitt Romney.’’  

Related: Inside the Tea Bag

Early in his campaign, Romney avoided reaching out to Tea Party activists, who have been vociferous critics of his political flexibility and his health care law in Massachusetts. But by last fall, he began trying to appeal to the movement, appearing at forums and attending a Tea Party Express rally in New Hampshire.  

Related: Around AmeriKa: Tossed Teabag

That appearance triggered protests from FreedomWorks, a Washington-based group that has been at the forefront of the Tea Party movement. The group protested Romney’s inclusion, and several groups staged a counter-rally.... 

The true Tea Party Patriots?

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