Exploiting The Tea Party: New Mailer From Dan Backer Connected Group Uses Louie Gohmert

A new mailer by a group called Patriots for economic freedom that claims to support Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert appears to be another attempt to take advantage of patriotic conservatives and the Tea Party base with a mailer that claims to support a candidate but seems to have no actual connection to that candidate.

The mailer from Patriots For Economic Freedoom was sent out under the subject line “We Can’t Lost Gohmert!” In fact, Rep. Louie Gohlnert won his March primary is a shoe-in to carry the November election.

This exploitation of the Tea Party base seems to be rampant. A few days ago, I reported on a new mailer by TheTeaParty.Net treasurer Dan Backer that was raising money to ‘Draft Sarah Palin’, who has made it clear that she is not running for Senate.

Patriots For Economic Freedom’s Tyler Whitney & Dan Backer

The group Patriots For Economic Freedom lists Tyler Whitney as their treasurer.

According to OpenSecrets, they brought in about $136,000 so far this cycle.

The OpenSecrets Expenditure reports shows at least $12,000 going to Mr. Whitney. The expenditure report also shows $73,000 going to a consulting company called Amagi Strategies. That’s notable because Amagi Strategies lists Tyler Whitney as their registered agent.

Patriots For Economic Freedom also has connections to attorney Dan Backer, according to their expenditure report as posted on Open Secrets, where Backer’s DB Capitol Strategies received at least $12,000 from Patriots For Economic Freedom.

One interesting biographical side-note (worthy of mention because of the apparent cynical hypocrisy it shows on both Whitney’s part AND on the part of the liberal gay media was savaged him): Tyler Whitney was reported in 2007 to have come out as gay to his friends. That article lists his connection to The Leadership Institute (notable because people like Dan Backer client Rep. Steve Stockman worked there for years) and Whitney’s activities before coming out.

Whitney is also pictured in a Nov. 20 protest holding a sign which reads “Go back in the closet.” The protest was against a proposed comprehensive human rights ordinance in the city of Lansing, an ordinance that was later adopted by a unanimous vote of the City Council.

The Leadership Institute, for which Whitney works, supports conservative college and high school groups around the country and provides nonpartisan campaign training. It has provided funds to Whitney, who used them to publish a conservative newspaper at East Lansing High School in 2005, as well as to YAF chapters at MSU and CMU.

How is this happening?

For one thing, very few of the big media outlets on the right are covering it.

For another, it’s become rampant.

As Politico reported in 2012:

Political operatives can create a PAC and corresponding website on the cheap, drop some cash to rent an email list and, voilà— in come the small-dollar contributions from grass-roots Republicans eager to support any effort aiming to turn out President Barack Obama or reelect the fiery West.

Except those chunks of $25 and $50 don’t often find their way to any serious campaigns to beat Obama or boost West.

“The vast majority of the groups that we know are engaged in this have done nothing for West,” said Jill Holtzman Vogel, the congressman’s campaign attorney.

And the 2012 Politico article mentions Patriots for Economic Freeedom-the group behind the Gohmert mailer-as one you raised money on Allen West’s name in 2012, gave him nothing, and won’t respond to comments.

More egregious to West’s campaign, though, are those groups that use his name and have given nothing to the congressman.

Patriots for Economic Freedom, the Republican Majority Campaign and Conservative Strike Force have all raised money off of West’s name and haven’t supported his campaign.

None of these groups list phone numbers on their websites, and they didn’t respond to requests for comment submitted online.

Here’s the complete mailer :

Subject: We Can’t Lose Gohmert!

Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert Is Standing Up Against The Left! We Cannot Afford To Lose Him!

Like few leaders in Washington, Louie Gohmert is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in - the conservative principles of less government, greater freedom and fiscal responsibility. Louie Gohmert’s courageous leadership has made him a target of the left. Liberals are doing everything in their power to remove him from Congress! We cannot let the left steal one of our greatest leaders. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000 or more will go toward voter outreach and advertising efforts to support this vital Member of Congress!The left wants to see Nancy Pelosi running Congress. Congressman Gohmert is standing in her way and working to stop amnesty, curb reckless spending and repeal ObamaCare.Please support Louie Gohmert and see that he is able to stay in Washington and continue his patriotic efforts to restore liberty.

Louie Gohmert is working to hold Washington accountable. During a recent House Judiciary Hearing, Congressman Gohmert questioned Eric Holder about the Justice Department’s refusal to hand over documents related to Islamic charities. What happens when you question this Administration about anything? You are bullied in hopes that you will be silenced.

Eric Holder has made many statements since this Hearing to convince Americans that Louie Gohmert is treating him differently than past Attorney Generals. This is ridiculous. The Obama Administration believes that they are above the law and should answer to no one. We must support Louie Gohmert’s strong leadership!

Louie Gohmert isn’t afraid of the bullies on the left. He continues to speak up even when liberals attack him. Conservatives cannot allow the left’s lies and scare tactics to work this November. We must reach voters with the truth. Please support advertising and voter outreach efforts for Louie Gohmert with a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000 or more.

Louie Gohmert fights to repeal ObamaCare, end Washington’s out of control spending and hold the White House accountable for the scandals they call “phony”. Louie Gohmert is a patriot and true conservative. We need him in Washington to stop the big government agenda that is killing jobs and hindering future success.

There is very little leadership in Washington and we cannot afford to lose leaders like Congressman Louie Gohmert. He is committed to protecting our conservative principles and ending Obama’s tyrannical policies! Please support advertising and voter outreach efforts for Louie Gohmert with a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000 or more.

Also, checks can be mailed to:

Patriots For Economic Freedom
P.O. Box 90
New York, NY 10009

Paid for and authorized by Patriots For Economic Freedom- a federal political action committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Patriots For Economic Freedom is responsible for the content of this message. Contributions are not tax deductible for tax purposes. www.EconomicFreedomNow.org Patriots For Economic Freedom 424 E. 10th Street, #3D New York, NY 10009

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