http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/tea_party_nation_speaks_out_we_never_did_this_to_b.phpTea Party Nation organizers today issued a long defense of their unraveling convention, lambasting former members they say are trying to harm the movement and outlining for the first time in great detail their event's sponsorships and problems.
We've been following the travails of the upcoming Tea Party Nation convention for weeks, with key speakers withdrawing and the Tea Party Express group backing out as well thanks to feuds over the cost and expected profits of the convention.
Sherry Phillips wrote a long email to members of the Tea Party Nation mailing list titled "Setting The Record Straight."
Phillips said organizers were encouraged to speak out against the "intense media scrutiny and attacks by former members" but she stayed silent so as not to further divisions "that are already hurting this movement."
"We will stay silent no longer," she wrote.
She goes into detail about convention sponsors American Liberty Alliance, American Majority and Campaign for Liberty, and said the Tea Party Express only withdrew because of their push to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada.
She calls out "former Tea Party Nation members" for "discussing their association with liberal media outlets" and "conspiring" to harm TPN and the convention.