SC Tea Party Convention to meet in Myrtle Beach | News

From the SC Tea Party Coalition:

The South Carolina Tea Party Coalition, which is comprised of numerous Grassroots organization leaders, activists and Patriots from across the state, will hold the first-ever South Carolina Tea Party Convention on Sunday and Monday, January 15-16, 2012, at Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach. 

The Convention will begin on Sunday with a “Welcome Brunch” at 11:00 am and conclude the day’s activities at 9:00 pm. Monday’s events will run from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, followed by the Fox News/SCGOP Presidential Debate at 9 pm. Admission to the Convention is limited to SC Tea Party or Grassroots organization members and their guests. Pre-registration with your local tea party or grassroots organization is required. The cost for the event will only be $1 per day to be paid upon arrival but donations of $5 per day are encouraged.

The goal of the event is to bring together SC Tea Party/Grassroots conservative organizations for the purpose of enhancing networking capabilities, sharing resources, ideas, encouraging the formation of new tea party groups and providing an educational forum from nationally known experts on a variety of current subjects.

Joe Dugan, State Coordinator for the South Carolina Patriots and organizer of this event, believes that, by working together, sharing documentation, research and resources, conservative groups across the state will have a greater impact on the government of our state, and our country.

“We also want to set an example for other states to improve their collaborative efforts and lines of communication, and thus their influence on the 2012 elections and beyond,” Dugan explained. “We want to let the nation know that, in South Carolina, the Tea Party has moved beyond the initial public rally phase and into a more intense phase of firmly establishing organizational substructure and networking.

Anyone who thinks the Tea Party has diminished, because we have been less visible, should look carefully at this convention. We are mobilizing and strategizing to greatly increase our  membership, influence  and passion to take back this great nation from the onslaught of insolvency, political correctness and corruption.”

Dugan stressed that the Convention is a non-partisan event and is designed to provide a one-stop learning experience for grassroots conservatives who want to know more about the issues that are threatening our country’s liberties, our way of life, our global leadership, and our security.  

Boasting a “star-studded” line up of nationally-known speakers, authors, and dignitaries, Dugan said the two-day event has drawn experts who will address current topics such as the national debt, Agenda 21, counter-terrorism, Sharia Law, securing our borders, US Military role as a global Leader, insider trading and capital cronyism in Congress, key congressional races for 2012, applying Lean Six Sigma business model to government, Fair Tax, economic  literacy, and growing the conservative base through racial diversity. 

In addition to the featured speakers, a number of elected South Carolina officials will also address the convention.  U. S. Senator Jim DeMint will open the convention on Sunday, and SC Governor Nikki Haley will offer opening remarks on Monday.  U.S Representatives Mick Mulvaney, Tim Scott, Jeff Duncan and Joe Wilson will also address the convention, along with South Carolina elected officials including Attorney General Alan Wilson, SC State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, and Superintendent of Education Mick Zais. 

While the timing of the convention coincides with the nationally televised, 2012 GOP Presidential Primary Debate, also being held in Myrtle Beach on January 16, Dugan emphasized that the convention has nothing to do with any political party or candidates. He added that there will not be a straw poll at the convention. However, all of the candidates have been offered a twenty-minute time slot to address our members. So far, Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have confirmed their intentions to attend. 

Dugan expects over 500 leaders and patriots will attend the precedent-setting convention. “There is such a tremendous need to get the real facts out to a misinformed citizenry...One of our missions will be to seek out the truth of the issues, and then work to inform others about the perils that we are facing as a nation. Knowledge is power and if the American people really knew what is going on, they would not tolerate it . A forum such as (our convention) is a giant step toward accomplishing that mission.”