It’s been a busy week both online and in real life for the South Jeffco Tea Party. On Tuesday one of its members called out the Republican establishment in no uncertain terms and tonight the group is hosting a VIP Meet & Greet followed by a public forum for state GOP party official candidates.
Embracing its anti-establishment spirit, the South JeffCo Tea Party account posted a poll on Facebook earlier this week, asking its followers which they “hold in higher regard: ‘Chlamydia’ or the ‘RNC National Committee.’
A commenter asked “Is this same RNC that ran Walker Stapleton? I’ll have to think about that.”
While one might expect a Tea Party group to pile on the criticism of an establishment candidate like Stapleton, the SJCTP instead celebrated the democratic process, saying “We Coloradans picked Walker Stapleton and there was nothing wrong with that, he’s a fair enough candidate…”
But then things got dark:
“…but his campaign strategists and advisors should be drawn and quartered, acid poured on their remains, and what’s left should be salted and burned. Not to be harsh or anything.”
Reached for comment, SJCTP Chair Mike Donahue disavowed the comment, stating that it was made by “a Tea Party member with former administrative privileges who really should have cleared it first.” He continued,
“This is really not something we would promote as the Tea Party.”
Mike Donahue, South Jeffco Tea Party Chair
The post was removed immediately following Donahue’s conversation with the Colorado Times Recorder.
The group is hosting a Republican Party VIP meet & greet, followed by its regular meeting including a Candidate Forum this evening in Littleton. The event will give party Bonus Members (along with anyone who wants to purchase a ticket) a chance to mingle with the candidates for Party Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary before they give their stump speeches to the general public.
State Rep. Susan Beckman, current Vice-Chair Sherrie Gibson are confirmed, with Steve House, representing Congressman Ken Buck, also believed to be attending. Vice-chair candidates Joe Webb (former Chair of the Jeffco GOP) and Kristi Burton Brown, who serves as the registered agent for the House GOP 527 Values First Colorado, are also confirmed.
