FreedomWorks released a statement earlier today attempting to downplay their role in the Great Tea Bagging Bonanza of ’09. It says, “We’d like to say we are the main driving forces behind the protests. We’re mainly helping other activists get in touch with each other.”
We’ll have video shortly.
That account is nice and humble and all, but it sort of cuts against what I reported earlier today–that FreedomWorks took the lead organizing the very first of the tea parties; that FreedomWorks, and the group Americans for Prosperity have been providing messaging and coordinating for the protesters; and that robocall efforts (from sources unclear) are underway in various parts of the country to draw people out to tomorrow’s events.
The question, then, is if this much top-down organizing is necessary to initiate the protests, how much grassroots support could they possibly have? I guess we’ll find out for sure tomorrow.
Late update: Video below.
