FreedomWorks

Tuesday, Dec. 15th - I headed to Arkansas to meet with activists and talk about healthcare and cap and tax. I started out in Conway at a luncheon where about 20 folks gathered to hear a brief history of the tea party movement, and a discussion about how to persuade Sen. Blanche Lincoln to vote NO on Obamacare. The group was energized and enjoyed hearing an update on the debate inside Washington. The group has participated in tea parties in Little Rock at the state capitol and hosts a monthly discussion group at the local Ryan's restaurant. I encouraged them to keep calling, writing, faxing and visiting Sen. Lincoln to keep up the pressure. I also encouraged them to visit our website and look for details of our PAC.

After the luncheon I joined Pulaski County Tea Party chairman Bob Porto for an hour and a half interview with Dave Elswick of Little Rock station KARN 102.9 FM. The trio discussed healthcare, cap and trade, the conservative movement and the 2010 elections. Brendan and Bob invited everyone listening to attend the evening's event, and the next day's press conference outside of Sen. Lincoln's district office in Little Rock.

That evening around 7:30pm FreedomWorks joined the Pulaski and Garland County tea party groups for an evening event at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock. There were more than 300 people signed in for the event, and FreedomWorks handed out more than 100 packets of materials on healthcare, cap and trade, and grassroots lobbying. The packets included our Obamacare translator, our top ten reasons to oppose cap and trade and Obamacare and our legislative questionaires and leave-behinds.

I spoke to the crowd about FreedomWorks, the PAC, the tea party movement and importance of grassroots activism. FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey gave the keynote address to the crowd and focused on the problems with Obamacare. He said that if Sen. Lincoln voted YES on the bill, she would lose her office. Armey received a very warm welcome and stayed afterwards for a group photo with the 300 attendees.

The next morning FreedomWorks joined Bob Porto and the Pulaski County Tea Party group for a 10:30am press conference on the steps of Sen. Lincoln's district office. More than 75 people came out in the cold weather to rally behind Bob and chairman Dick Armey as they stood together to oppose Obamacare. There were a few reporters there, including local tv, bloggers and newspaper reporters. At the conclusion of the press conference, the entire group of Arkansans went inside the office, as the staff scrambled to let the DC office know what was happening. The group went in one by one and filled out cards with their opinions on the healthcare bill. The message was delivered loud and clear to Sen. Lincoln that Arkansans oppose this terrible healthcare bill being considered in the Senate.

Here is a local media report from the press conference, which includes a statement of response from Sen. Lincoln's office: http://arkansasnews.com/2009/12/16/lincoln%E2%80%99s-lr-office-becoming-health-care-reform-battleground/