But if you read the fluff piece in today’s Politico, one would think so.
Last year, Sen. Dick Lugar was the tea party’s top target — a 35-year veteran who lives in Washington, strays from conservative orthodoxy and even criticized the right-wing movement in the wake of the 2010 elections.
But last week, Lugar was the tea party’s dining companion.
For more than two hours at a restaurant in Carmel, Ind., Lugar sat face to face with the head of one of Indiana’s largest tea party chapters, speaking at length about campaign politics, the senator’s voting record and some of his comments that have irked the movement. Lugar listened patiently and said he’d do more outreach, as he ate his eggs Benedict and peppermint ice cream.
“I was surprised,” said 62-year-old Chuck Ford, president of the Tea Party of Hamilton County. “I don’t usually dine with senators and congressmen.”
At least not in public he doesn’t. The fact is, the Hamilton County TEA Party leader supports Senator Lugar. Ford recently ousted his vice president, who had expressed a dislike for reelecting Lugar. In an interview with AWB, the ousted VP stated, “Lugar gives Ford tingles up his leg.”
Late last year, when Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate, (HFCS) held their convention to declare support for Richard Mourdock, the Hamilton County TEA Party, (HTP) decided to hold a competing event. Lugar did not attend the event but his spokesman and campaign coordinator David Wilke attended as Lugar’s representative. While Ford has denied to me his group is supported by the Republican party, the Hamilton County Young Republicans donated $500 to the event. The Young Republicans generally march in lockstep with the state party. (read:support Lugar)
Ford’s group could not attend the HFCS convention due to their 501c3 status, however, they were invited to attend the rally afterwards, which was represented by the majority of Indiana TEA Parties. The time of the rally would not have impeded on their event, but they chose to not stand in solidarity and were no-shows.
By all impressions, this is not a TEA Party group. It’s merely a bunch of hacks parading to be a TEA Party group to make it appear as if Lugar has some TEA Party support. It should be noted that Mr. Ford at one time was a member of the Indiana State Teacher’s Association, (union), and negotiated union contracts on its behalf.
Back to Wilke for a moment. The 1940 Republican presidential nominee was Wendell Willkie, David’s grandfather.
Willkie was cozy with Democrats. He joined with Eleanor Roosevelt to form Freedom House and was a delegate to two Democratic national conventions.
A Wilsonian Internationalist who promoted world government, Willkie wrote the book “One World.” He supported Roosevelt’s controversial New Deal.
Late in his career, Willkie joined the New Liberal Party and attempted to push its agenda nationally. Senator Lugar was a member of a liberal think tank, the Roosevelt Institute’s Campus Network. And proving that he’s no statesman, he recently resigned under pressure from the Tea Party.<
So, while Ford states, “I don’t usually dine with senators and congressmen,” according to another HTP member I spoke with, Mr. Ford has regular breakfast meetings with Lugar’s closest adviser, David Wilke.
His name is Robert Vincent Erb. His business, according to Facebook, is Bad Ass Distribution (link), and he does brake jobs, changes flat tires, etc. He’s an Obama hater, Ron Paul-ite, gun lover and, general pissed off citizen.
Here’s his Facebook page (link). He appears to be obsessed with the government, and is a big fan of conspiracy theorist and general nut-case Alex Jones, and his website, Infowars. He also believes that the Oklahoma City bombing was an inside job by the government.
He lived in Wabash at one time, and operated a business called the Pine Farm Greenhouse. It appears he may have co-owned it with his father.
Court records. Not much, really.
7 seat belt violations, 3 speeding.
Lost house to foreclosure in 2006.
Divorced in 2006
Not sure what this was all about. Had another in 1990, same basic thing.
WABASH COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
85D01-0507-CM-518
ST VS ERBFile date: 07/14/2005 Disposition Date: 08/10/2005
Minute Date:7/15/2005
Order Location:Book: 86 Page: 61Court examines probable cause affidavits and determines there is probable
cause. Court orders defendant to appear for initial hearing on
8-10-05 at 9:00 a.m. Service by mail. llMinute Date:8/10/2005
Order Location:Book: 86 Page: 307
Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, and his opponent, Richard Mourdock, will both speak at this year’s Allen County Lincoln Day Dinner, which will be held shortly before the May primary. That begs the question:
A tweet from Indiana State Senator Mike Delph at 10:15 this morning. “Congressman Burton is announcing his retirement on the Statehouse floor at 10:30am, where it all started.”
Burton represents Indiana’s 5th congressional district. There are several vying for the slot, including former congressman and Kendallville native David McIntosh, attorney Jack Lugar, (Senator Dick Lugar’s son), Susan Brooks, a former U.S. attorney and Fort Wayne native, and former Marion County Coroner John McGoff, who came close to defeating Burton two years ago.
The 5th District presently includes Huntington County, which joins the 3rd District for the next 10 years beginning with the 2012 elections.
Oh, I can hear Kevin Knuth now, hunkered down in his bunker with Mike Bynum.
A former Fort Wayne police officer, who must hold the record for disciplinary actions against him, has filed to run against Stutzman.
John Roberson filed this week as a democrat candidate in the primary election for the 3rd congressional seat. Robertson was canned form the FWPD in 1999 after receiving 28 various disciplinary actions. After that, he drove truck for a while, then retired.
Then we have hotel dweller Tommy Schrader, who never saw a gay porn flick he didn’t like. He’s also running as a democrat. You’ll recall he ran as a democrat last year in the at-large city council race, and won, only to be booted by the election board at the demand of Knuth and the democrats due to residency issues.
The paid union protesters had little effect on the outcome of the Indiana House vote on right-to-work. It passed union 54-44. The bill had passed the Senate last Friday 28-22.
Indiana becomes the 23rd state to ban unions from collecting union dues from non-union workers. Governor Daniels will likely have the bill in his hands, and signed, prior to the Super Bowl.
So much for the OWS and union protests that were planned for the Super Bowl, eh?
This was written by my friend, Monica Boyer to the Times Union. No need for commentary, since it pretty much sums up the democrat’s thought process with the RTW issue and how to handle it.
This is in reference to Mr. Bartley’s latest rant on his closed door “town hall” for the Right to Work bill. Since Mr. Bartley loves labels, let me give you a few of mine.
My name is Monica Boyer. I am a Christian, social and fiscal conservative, Tea Party leader, Republican, a mom and a wife of a union member.
I attended Sunday’s meeting because my family will be affected by Right to Work. I have been in politics for the last seven years, and I know how lobbying works. I know how fear tactics can be used (can’t say I’ve never used them myself), I know how talking points are used on both sides.
My family went to this meeting Sunday with no agenda but to find the truth. I’m a pretty opinionated person, but this day, I was truly on the fence, even leaning toward being frustrated with the Republican Party. I have been vocal about this, which hasn’t made any brownie points with my party.
What happened Sunday was nothing more than a hateful Republican bash session. There were no facts offered, just the pre-scripted talking points. No education, no counter points. We were told Republicans are evil. I learned right away that this was not a family friendly meeting, as “F” bombs were flying left and right.
When I removed my children, and came back in, some pastor was quoting Proverbs about how evil men must be destroyed, and those were the Republicans that must be destroyed. They speared our representatives, and talked about them being absent from this meeting. Not one time did Mr. Bartley mention he knew Dave Wolkins was in the hospital having medical tests. Tell me, how is that fair?
The kicker for me was as I introduced myself to the Democratic chairman, Mr. Bartley, and pleasantly told him that I enjoy hearing about the things their party is doing via email. He informed me he did not know how I got on their email database and that he wanted me removed immediately.
Is this how you attract new members to your party, sir, because if so, I now understand why our county has only seven Democrats!
I am not taking a public stand on RTW, and I support my husband in whatever decision he makes on this. I have no problem with a referendum. The union has treated us well, and we thank the Lord every day for our job. But shame on you, Mr. Bartley, for turning this into a party issue, and presuming to know how we feel about this topic.
Thanks to you, my husband, the conservative Republican dad and union worker, is now tagged and marked.
You know what I want? I want a conversation. Guns down, name calling put away, political party put away and all preconceived ideas put away; a conversation between both sides so I, as a Christian, a conservative, a Tea Party leader, a Republican, a mom and a wife of a union member can make up my mind with what is best for my family. It’s time to grow up and have this conversation.
If a TEA party leader can handle it … what is your problem?
I’m not sure what process took place to select these lawyers. Today, Anthony S. Churchward and Mark A. Thoma were appointed by the Allen County Defender’s Office to represent Michael Plumadore, who has confessed to killing and dismembering Aliahna Lemmon. Here’s a promotional video from the firm.
As should be clear, sex crime convictions are taken very seriously in Indiana. Therefore, anyone facing sex crime charges should not hesitate to contact a qualified sex crime defense attorney to have an experienced advocate on their side.
At Leonard, Hammond, Thoma & Terrill, P.C., we understand what you are up against. The law takes sex crimes extremely seriously. Public opinion is rarely on the side of the accused. That is why it is so important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.
When the deck seems to be stacked against you, an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help even the odds. Our lawyers have established a record of success in representing clients accused of sex crimes in both state and federal court.
We defend clients charged with all types of sex crimes, including those involving:
Sexual assault, including rape and date rape
Sexual battery
Child seduction
Child pornography, including possession, distribution or creation of child porn
Sexual misconduct with a minor, including molestation and child abuse
For more than 50 years, people in Fort Wayne and throughout Indiana have turned to the criminal defense attorneys of Leonard, Hammond, Thoma & Terrill, P.C., when it mattered most. We are experienced in defending clients against the most serious of charges, and we have established an impressive record of success on behalf of our clients.
Murder in Indiana is defined as:
Knowingly or intentionally killing another human being
Killing a person while committing or attempting to commit specific crimes
Knowingly or intentionally killing a fetus that has attained viability
Developing a Solid Defense Strategy
We will carefully review the facts of your case to develop an intelligent strategy for your defense. We will comb through all the evidence, review the police reports, retain our own investigator or expert witnesses when necessary and prepare your case thoroughly for trial. Our years of experience often allow us to see opportunities that may not be readily apparent.
We will delete comments that are abusive, off-topic, use excessive foul language, or include ad hominem attacks.
We understand the need for anonymity due to your profession, etc. We only require a valid email address, which we will from time-to-time, attempt to verify. However, violate the first paragraph and you will be banned.
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