Mother Jones Investigates Tea Party Patriots and Finds Trouble

Tea Party Patriots, one of the more well-known national tea groups, is getting a deep probe by Mother Jones. Not surprisingly, the left-leaning magazine doesn't like what it's found. Tea partiers should be steamed, too.

"Lately, Tea Party Patriots has started to resemble the Beltway lobbying operations its members have denounced. The group's leaders have cozied up to political insiders implicated in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and have paid themselves significant salaries. TPP accepted the use of a private jet and a large donation of anonymous cash right before a key election, and its top officials have refused to discuss how the money was spent," writes Stephanie Mencimer in Monday's first installment of a three-part series.

Upcoming stories reportedly will delve into the dealings of Everett Wilkinson, an increasingly controversial tea partier in Florida.

Robin Stublen, a Punta Gorda-based tea party activist and former state coordinator for TPP, said he was "saddened to read how ego, power and greed has corrupted the self-appointed national leaders of TPP.

"However," he added, "it is not surprising that we have experienced the same type of behavior from TPP state coordinator Everett Wilkinson. So much so that Mr. Wilkinson is shunned by many grass-roots groups as well. This movement is strong because of our grass-roots members and leaders who expect nothing more than less government, less taxes and more freedom."

Sign up for Sunshine State News alerts.