Tea Party Event at Jackson County Park

Ms. Ellen O'Connor, Jackson County Republican Party Women's Club Chairperson.

The Tea Party held a political rally at the Jackson County Park Sunday. The rally kicked off with Blue Grass music played by Wills Town Junction. There were 85 people who attended the rally.

Ms. O'Connor gave a report concerning last years Tea Party Rally which raised $550. She introduced Tony Goolesby, Sylvania, Al. City Council member.

Mr. Goolesby said we are here today for remembrance of the First Responders who sacrificed so much on that memorable day in New York ten years ago. He stated, "God is the only one who can take a bad situation and make it better."

Goolesby spoke on two different occasions. He quoted several Bible Scriptures, Psalms 119-93, " I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life." He spoke for several minutes concerning his thoughts on this verse.  Mr. Goolesby in his second presentation spoke about Isaiah 5, 20-21 " (20)Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Goolesby said, "The government will never tell you the truth...I think this is what is wrong with America." His next scripture quote came from Ecclesiastes 3. 1-8, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

The next Speaker was Alabama Senator Shadrack McGill.  Senator McGill delivered a prayer and quoted scriptures, 2nd Peter:  "³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Senator McGill ask the question, "why are we befriending those who will destroy us?

 Ms. Kayla Carter sung the Star Spangled Banner and Amazing Grace. Mr. Goolesby delivered the Pledge of Allegiance.

Next up was the video, "We the People," a video letter to President Obama stating we reject your vision for our country.

Mr. J.E. Edwards was the next speaker. Mr. Edwards is retired, a World War 2 Veteran and has been a Red Cross Volunteer for 35 years. Mr. Edwards stated he spent 19 months in Europe during his tour of service during WW2. Mr. Edwards gave a special thanks to his wife for the period of time he was not at home during his Red Cross volunteer work.

 Mr Edwards is a retired teacher, he told of his days as a teacher and how he felt about the poor children in which many had not eaten when they arrived at school. I think Mr. Edwards held back a tear when his thoughts drifted to the children of Sand Mountain. God Bless our World War 2 Vets and the men and women who taught in Alabama Schools many years ago.

The next speaker was Mr. K.Carl Smith, a U.S. Army Veteran. He wore a t-shirt which proudly proclaimed, "I'm an FDR Republican, a Fredrick Douglas Republican.

 "I do not want a slave master Republic." Mr. Smith spoke of the distinct differences between President Obama and Mr. Douglas, "Obama rejects our Constitution, Frederick Douglas supported our Constitution."

"We are fighting a battle of propaganda." Mr. Smith talked about the 4 values of Frederick Douglas, 1) Respect for the Constitution, 2) Respect for Life, 3) Limited Government, 4) Personal Responsibility.

"Who are the Frederick Douglas Republicans," he asked? "We are people who are not afraid to stand up for our beliefs and convictions. We are every day citizens who will fight for liberty and justice and are not satisfied with the status quo. This movement is not about the color of our skin, this is about values."

In his book Mr. Smith goes on to say, "Frederick Douglas Republicans are not bound by race, color, creed or religion. We come together as a united front..."

He spoke about Jesse Jackson and liberals being about insults, accusations and instigation's.

Mr. Smith had this to say about diversity, "Jehovah God initiated the first diversity program as he ordered his disciples to carry the word of God to the world."

Mr. K. Carl Smith was an excellent motivational speaker. I spoke with him afterwords asking if he had any political ambitions. He stated to me, "I do not at the moment, but if I do it will be at the Congressional level. His book is titled, "Frederick Douglas Republicans, A Movement to Reignite America's Passion for Liberty." Good luck to you Mr. Smith, we need people such as yourself in Washington to change the course of negative endeavors. Consider a run against Mr. Brooks.

The last speaker was Mr. Paul Reynolds, National Committeeman, Alabama Republican State Committee.

Mr. Reynolds stated, "I need feet on the ground, we need to raise $300 million dollars."

The most impressive portion of the rally was Mr. K. Carl Smith, a graduate of Alabama A&M University. He has the "right stuff," and he is a person which could motivate the people of U.S. Congressional District #5 to vote for him. I thought he was a down to earth motivational speaker and well grounded in his values. He has an innovative approach and is well versed in the "Art of Engagement." He is the "Conservative Messenger." http://conservativemessenger.org/ This Keith Smith is a Classical Liberal.


What are Frederick Douglas Republicans? http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/

The question and challenge, will the Jackson County Tea Party distance itself from the Republican extremist "Southern Strategy," a covert policy of racial discrimination expressed in advertisements and secessionist 10th Amendment rhetoric and political policy?   http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/2010/09/republicans-southern-strategy-racism.html   

As Mr.Smith pointed out the Democrats of the 19th and 20th century practiced slavery, racial discrimination and exclusionary policy, so did the Republicans. No doubt times have changed, members of the "White Rooster" conservatives, Alabama Democrats of old, remaining have migrated to the Republican Party and make up a base of the right wing extreme. There are Democrats which do not subscribe to extremist exclusionary political action just as there are Republicans which do not subscribe to exclusionary political action. There are conservative Democrats which display values akin to conservative Republicans but are separated by political party lines.

The terms conservative and liberal are frequently confused and utilized as a divisional tactic of both political parties. We desperately need unity and solutions for our many problems,  the most pressing being our national debt. Will the Tea Party subscribe to American Unity or support exclusively Republican Party political strategy? That is the question in which members of the Tea Party must answer. An American independent political party is needed, the Tea Party could be the beginnings of that independence if it decided to go down the road of Independence in the Spirit of America and remove itself from current political divisionary tactics.