A hard-hitting tea party ad is calling out Republican state Sen. Thad Altman and Rep. John Tobia -- and generating a bit of notoriety itself.
The radio spot produced by Tea Party in Action blasts the two Space Coast lawmakers for supporting the controversial high-speed rail project and for pushing an added fee on Miami-based Dosal Tobacco Co.
Marianne Moran, founder of the West Palm Beach-based Tea Party in Action, said, "The issue advocacy ad speaks for itself -- against ObamaRail and against people saying one thing and doing another."
Though tea parties were widely credited for helping to elect Republican candidates in 2010, Moran vows to take on GOP lawmakers she considers backsliders.
"This is the start of a larger issue advocacy campaign to hold legislators' feet to the fire," Moran told Sunshine State News.
"TPIA has had enough of politicians saying they aren't going to raise taxes, but do during session. It happens every session and it is time for it to end.
"We are taxed enough already and taxing small business will kill jobs in Florida; it is unacceptable."
Altman, who unsuccessfully sued Gov. Rick Scott over the rejection of $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds, is unabashed in his support for the derailed Orlando-Tampa train, and unfazed by the ad.
"If anything, it reinforces the overwhelming public support for high-speed rail. The ads have been asking listeners to call me to voice displeasure with my position. I haven't received a single negative call," said Altman, R-Melbourne.
As for the Dosal "tax," Altman calls legislation sponsored by Tobia an "equity issue" that rank-and-file tea partiers might not oppose.
Altman, who has introduced Dosal bills in the past, but not this year, said the goal is to ensure that taxes are levied "fairly and equally."
"That's in keeping with tea party principles, and the [Dosal] legislation tries to embrace that principle," he said.
Tobia, R-Melbourne, says he finds Moran's opposition odd, considering he is also sponsoring a "repeal bill," one of her favored causes. House Memorial 1429 supports the right to nullify congressional action with a two-thirds vote of the states.
Tobia calls TPIA a "fictitious party" that is "looking to capitalize" on the Dosal issue.
"It's pretty sad when you use the tea party name for profit," he said.
Tea Party in Action is registered as a 501(c)4 organization, which means Moran does not have to disclose the group's donors -- and she declined to do so.
But Moran, a political consultant who works for the Washington, D.C.-based Federalist Society, says her TPIA endeavors don't pay a dime.
"I do this completely for free. I do not take a salary," she said.
A former staffer for then-Senate President Jeff Atwater, Moran said her objective this year is to "raise a little hell during session. [Lawmakers] need to know we're watching."
Ironically, Moran's campaign has brought some other tea partiers and the Brevard County legislators together in questioning TPIA's motives and tactics.
Speaking on background, some tea leaders part company with Moran on the Dosal issue. They, along with Tobia, suggest that she is receiving Dosal money to wage her campaign.
Moran calls the allegation "ridiculous" and says she's been familiar with the Dosal debate since her days in Atwater's office.
Whatever the money trail, Altman says issue ads by special-interest groups, including tea parties, can be problematic during the legislative session.
"They try to single out a few members for intimidation. It's a shoddy, sleazy political tactic that in most cases backfires," Altman said. "We have a process, and money shouldn't taint it. This isn't the proper way to get the message out. It's usually a sign of desperation."
Altman cautioned that tea groups "need to be careful they don't become pawns for larger financial interests."
In its ad, TPIA declares: "Tobia and Altman even tried to raise taxes on Florida small business -- a tax that would destroy jobs. While running for office, Tobia said higher taxes kill jobs. And Altman hasn't signed the Tea Party pledge against tax increases."
The reference to a "Tea Party pledge" raised the hackles of other tea leaders, who said they have no pledge.
Robin Stublen, a tea party leader from Punta Gorda, said he had no problems with Moran's message, especially on ObamaRail, but he objected to intimations that TPIA was speaking for the larger movement.
Moran responded that the spot was referencing a TPIA pledge to "do no harm to business and not to balance the budget with tax increases."
Pledges aside, Stublen sees the Dosal issue as a non-starter for tea partiers.
"It's a no-win situation," he says. "If we supported Dosal, we are supporting 'cheap tobacco.' If we support increasing the tax, we support 'Big Tobacco.' The actual issue of taxes will be lost."
Not surprisingly, the bottom line in the intramural tea squabbling may be money. In past years, two national tea-flavored organizations -- FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity -- have accepted contributions from Big Tobacco. That could put some affiliated Florida tea groups in opposition to TPIA on Dosal, or at least generate a few internal sparks.
As for himself, Altman related that he has attended tea party rallies and enjoys good rapport with members.
"It's like Ronald Reagan said, 'If I disagree with you 10 percent of the time, you're not my enemy.'"
--
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
