More Bad News For The Tea Party Convention

Doubts have grown steadily among some Tea Partiers over the first-ever Tea Party convention, being put on by Tea Party Nation in Nashville starting next Thursday, and The New York Times reports today that another of the affiliated organizations has pulled out: the National Precinct Alliance, a nationwide conservative activist organization (though not one of the more prominent groups associated with the Tea Party movement, in terms of media coverage) withdrew its affiliation with the convention, saying it carries "the appearance of an RNC hijacking."


The convention, advertised as a meeting of the minds for activists and boasting appearances by conservative heroes Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), has drawn criticism for its ticket prices (at $550) and the unconfirmed $75,000 to $100,000 that Palin (who reportedly charges that as a standard speaking fee) is speculated to be getting to keynote the event.

The convention lacks the support of the Tea Party Patriots, a prominent group in the movement, as well as the two independent conservative activist groups most closely associated with the Tea Partiers: FreedomWorks and the American Liberty Alliance.