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'I'm a born-free American woman' -- my government has forgotten its place
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Jun 18, 2013, 7:17:33 PM6/18/13
to
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/06/04/im-born-free-american-woman-
telling-my-government-youve-forgotten-your-place/?intcmp=obinsite
Editor's note: On Tuesday, June 4, Becky Gerritson, president of Wetumpka
Tea Party in Alabama, testified before Congress about the IRS allegedly
targeting her organization.Here is her full statement to the House Ways
and Means Full Committee Hearing on Organizations Targeted by the Internal
Revenue Service for Their Personal Beliefs.
Congressman Camp,
Thank you for inviting me here to speak today. And to the rest of the
committee, thank you so much for listening.
I�d like to begin with a brief statement. I know that you are primarily
interested in hearing about the abuses of the Internal Revenue Service.
But I believe that it is critically important that you and your
constituencies know, not just what those abuses were, but what exactly the
IRS was trying to stifle. In order to paint a clear picture, I need to
explain how the Wetumpka Tea Party came into being.
My husband and I had never been involved in politics before 2008. We�ve
always been patriotic and deeply proud of our country. We�ve always felt
that the United States IS the greatest country on earth.
In September 2008, when we had our first $700 billion bailout, we, along
with millions of Americans, were VERY concerned! That bailout was
confirmation that our government was out-of-control.
But just a few months later, in January of 2009, we learned that our
government was going to spend another $787 billion. This money went to
foreign nations, failing banks, and unproductive industries. We were
worried and knew we had to do something to sound the alarm.
We knew that the government had gone far beyond its habitual, deficit
spending. The government was mortgaging America�s future. And we knew that
Washington wasn�t going to stop by itself.
In the spring of 2009, we learned others were organizing �Tea Party�
events around the nation to educate and empower concerned citizens who
believed their government was out of control, so we made our plans.
My husband and I filled out a permit to meet at a local park in our small
town. My daughter and I walked through neighborhoods handing out flyers
for the on April 15th event.
When the day arrived, we were blown away by the large crowd. A few
politicians came also, but they didn�t speak. We wanted to give ordinary
people a chance to air their concerns.
Our event had no party affiliation. I could not tell you if attendees were
Republicans, Democrats or independents � it did not matter. The only
political notion expressed was the one we collectively felt: That our
�representative government� had failed us.
And that was the birth of the Wetumpka Tea Party. There are no dues, no
price for memberships. Our events are mostly educational. Whatever
expenses are incurred are paid from donations and T-shirt sales.
In Wetumpka, we are patriotic Americans. We peaceably assemble. We
petition our government. We exercise our right to free speech. And we
don�t understand why our government tried to stop us.
I am not here today as a serf or a vassal. I am not begging my lords for
mercy. I am a born-free, American woman � wife, mother and citizen � and
I�m telling MY government that you have forgotten your place.
It is not your responsibility to look out for my well-being or monitor my
speech. It is not your right to assert an agenda. The posts you occupy
exist to preserve American liberty. You have sworn to perform that duty.
And you have faltered.
The abuses I will discuss today occurred on your watch. It is your
responsibility to make sure it doesn�t happen again.
THE FACTS OF MY CASE:
We applied for our 501(c)4 in October 2010. Our $850.00 application fee
was cashed seven days from the date our application was mailed.
We received a letter from Robert Choi, dated Nov, 2, 2010 stating that our
application and user fee payment had been received. It stated that we
could expect to be contacted within 90 days.
However, the IRS did not initiate ANY contact with us for another four
hundred and fifty nine days. That was when I received a letter from the
Cincinnati office dated February 3rd 2012.
The letter stated that they could not process our application until we
completed the enclosed questionnaire which requested approximately ninety
pieces of additional information about our organization.
The questionnaire stated that if the additional information was not
returned by Feb 24th that our case would be closed.
The demands for information in the questionnaire shocked me, as someone
who loves liberty and the first amendment.
I was asked to hand over our list of donors, including the amounts that
they gave and the dates on which they gave them. 501c4 organizations do
NOT have to disclose donor information. I knew that. Why didn�t they?
Among the demands that I found alarming and inappropriate were:
* The wanted us to identify our volunteers.
* They wanted to know if any of our donors or volunteers had run or would
be running for office in the near future, (remember this was the 2012
election cycle). They wanted us to identify the office they would be
running for.
*They wanted us to provide detailed contents of all speeches ever given,
the names all of our speakers, and their credentials.
*They wanted copies of the written communications and contents of all
other forms of communications to any legislative body, even those that
represent us.
I was very uncomfortable with these questions and my husband and I
discussed forfeiting our application. However, within days of reading
through these questions we knew we were being targeted, because fellow TEA
Party organizers across the nation were getting the same types of letters
and questionnaires. It was then we decided to seek legal council.
On March 6th 2012, we retained the council of the American Center for Law
and Justice to represent us in this matter.
2 weeks later, I received a letter from Lois Lerner, dated March 16th
2012, asking that I provide the previously requested information.
4 months later, we received a letter, dated July 9, 2012 stating that we
had been approved to receive a tax exempt status. This was six hundred and
thirty-five days after we applied.
In conclusion, the Wetumpka TEA Party filed a complete application. Our
organization fell within the boundaries of receiving a 501c4 status. Yet,
our application was singled out solely because we had �TEA Party� in our
name. Government agents made invasive and excessive demands for
information that they were not entitled to.
Congressman Camp and members of the committee, this was not an accident.
This is a willful act of intimidation intended to discourage a point of
view.
What the government did to our little group in Wetumpka, Alabama is un-
American. This isn�t a matter of firing or arresting a few individuals.
The individuals who sought to intimidate us were acting as they thought
they should, in a government culture that has little respect for its
citizens.
Many of the agents and agencies of the federal government do not
understand that they are servants of the people. They think they are our
masters. And they are mistaken.
I�m not interested in scoring political points. I want to protect and
preserve the America I grew up in, the America that people cross oceans
and risk their lives to become a part of. And I�m terrified that it�s
slipping away.
Becky Gerritson, is president of the Wetumpka Tea Party in Alabama.
--
Barack Obama, reelected by the dumbest voters in the history of the United
States of America.
Eric Holder, racist black murdering United States Attorney General, still
has his job.
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact to
improper vetting of Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama, a confirmed
felon using SSAN 042-68-4425, belonging to a dead man.
Obama ignored the brutal killing of an American diplomat in Benghazi, then
relieved American military officers who attempted to prevent said murder
in order to cover up his own ineptness.
Obama continues his goal of disarming America while ObamaCare increases
insurance premiums 200% and leaves millions without health care.
Obama helped bankrupt Illinois. Democrat run Chicago closes 54 public
schools.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
telling-my-government-youve-forgotten-your-place/?intcmp=obinsite
Editor's note: On Tuesday, June 4, Becky Gerritson, president of Wetumpka
Tea Party in Alabama, testified before Congress about the IRS allegedly
targeting her organization.Here is her full statement to the House Ways
and Means Full Committee Hearing on Organizations Targeted by the Internal
Revenue Service for Their Personal Beliefs.
Congressman Camp,
Thank you for inviting me here to speak today. And to the rest of the
committee, thank you so much for listening.
I�d like to begin with a brief statement. I know that you are primarily
interested in hearing about the abuses of the Internal Revenue Service.
But I believe that it is critically important that you and your
constituencies know, not just what those abuses were, but what exactly the
IRS was trying to stifle. In order to paint a clear picture, I need to
explain how the Wetumpka Tea Party came into being.
My husband and I had never been involved in politics before 2008. We�ve
always been patriotic and deeply proud of our country. We�ve always felt
that the United States IS the greatest country on earth.
In September 2008, when we had our first $700 billion bailout, we, along
with millions of Americans, were VERY concerned! That bailout was
confirmation that our government was out-of-control.
But just a few months later, in January of 2009, we learned that our
government was going to spend another $787 billion. This money went to
foreign nations, failing banks, and unproductive industries. We were
worried and knew we had to do something to sound the alarm.
We knew that the government had gone far beyond its habitual, deficit
spending. The government was mortgaging America�s future. And we knew that
Washington wasn�t going to stop by itself.
In the spring of 2009, we learned others were organizing �Tea Party�
events around the nation to educate and empower concerned citizens who
believed their government was out of control, so we made our plans.
My husband and I filled out a permit to meet at a local park in our small
town. My daughter and I walked through neighborhoods handing out flyers
for the on April 15th event.
When the day arrived, we were blown away by the large crowd. A few
politicians came also, but they didn�t speak. We wanted to give ordinary
people a chance to air their concerns.
Our event had no party affiliation. I could not tell you if attendees were
Republicans, Democrats or independents � it did not matter. The only
political notion expressed was the one we collectively felt: That our
�representative government� had failed us.
And that was the birth of the Wetumpka Tea Party. There are no dues, no
price for memberships. Our events are mostly educational. Whatever
expenses are incurred are paid from donations and T-shirt sales.
In Wetumpka, we are patriotic Americans. We peaceably assemble. We
petition our government. We exercise our right to free speech. And we
don�t understand why our government tried to stop us.
I am not here today as a serf or a vassal. I am not begging my lords for
mercy. I am a born-free, American woman � wife, mother and citizen � and
I�m telling MY government that you have forgotten your place.
It is not your responsibility to look out for my well-being or monitor my
speech. It is not your right to assert an agenda. The posts you occupy
exist to preserve American liberty. You have sworn to perform that duty.
And you have faltered.
The abuses I will discuss today occurred on your watch. It is your
responsibility to make sure it doesn�t happen again.
THE FACTS OF MY CASE:
We applied for our 501(c)4 in October 2010. Our $850.00 application fee
was cashed seven days from the date our application was mailed.
We received a letter from Robert Choi, dated Nov, 2, 2010 stating that our
application and user fee payment had been received. It stated that we
could expect to be contacted within 90 days.
However, the IRS did not initiate ANY contact with us for another four
hundred and fifty nine days. That was when I received a letter from the
Cincinnati office dated February 3rd 2012.
The letter stated that they could not process our application until we
completed the enclosed questionnaire which requested approximately ninety
pieces of additional information about our organization.
The questionnaire stated that if the additional information was not
returned by Feb 24th that our case would be closed.
The demands for information in the questionnaire shocked me, as someone
who loves liberty and the first amendment.
I was asked to hand over our list of donors, including the amounts that
they gave and the dates on which they gave them. 501c4 organizations do
NOT have to disclose donor information. I knew that. Why didn�t they?
Among the demands that I found alarming and inappropriate were:
* The wanted us to identify our volunteers.
* They wanted to know if any of our donors or volunteers had run or would
be running for office in the near future, (remember this was the 2012
election cycle). They wanted us to identify the office they would be
running for.
*They wanted us to provide detailed contents of all speeches ever given,
the names all of our speakers, and their credentials.
*They wanted copies of the written communications and contents of all
other forms of communications to any legislative body, even those that
represent us.
I was very uncomfortable with these questions and my husband and I
discussed forfeiting our application. However, within days of reading
through these questions we knew we were being targeted, because fellow TEA
Party organizers across the nation were getting the same types of letters
and questionnaires. It was then we decided to seek legal council.
On March 6th 2012, we retained the council of the American Center for Law
and Justice to represent us in this matter.
2 weeks later, I received a letter from Lois Lerner, dated March 16th
2012, asking that I provide the previously requested information.
4 months later, we received a letter, dated July 9, 2012 stating that we
had been approved to receive a tax exempt status. This was six hundred and
thirty-five days after we applied.
In conclusion, the Wetumpka TEA Party filed a complete application. Our
organization fell within the boundaries of receiving a 501c4 status. Yet,
our application was singled out solely because we had �TEA Party� in our
name. Government agents made invasive and excessive demands for
information that they were not entitled to.
Congressman Camp and members of the committee, this was not an accident.
This is a willful act of intimidation intended to discourage a point of
view.
What the government did to our little group in Wetumpka, Alabama is un-
American. This isn�t a matter of firing or arresting a few individuals.
The individuals who sought to intimidate us were acting as they thought
they should, in a government culture that has little respect for its
citizens.
Many of the agents and agencies of the federal government do not
understand that they are servants of the people. They think they are our
masters. And they are mistaken.
I�m not interested in scoring political points. I want to protect and
preserve the America I grew up in, the America that people cross oceans
and risk their lives to become a part of. And I�m terrified that it�s
slipping away.
Becky Gerritson, is president of the Wetumpka Tea Party in Alabama.
--
Barack Obama, reelected by the dumbest voters in the history of the United
States of America.
Eric Holder, racist black murdering United States Attorney General, still
has his job.
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact to
improper vetting of Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama, a confirmed
felon using SSAN 042-68-4425, belonging to a dead man.
Obama ignored the brutal killing of an American diplomat in Benghazi, then
relieved American military officers who attempted to prevent said murder
in order to cover up his own ineptness.
Obama continues his goal of disarming America while ObamaCare increases
insurance premiums 200% and leaves millions without health care.
Obama helped bankrupt Illinois. Democrat run Chicago closes 54 public
schools.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
Bob
Jun 18, 2013, 7:26:03 PM6/18/13
to
On 6/18/2013 6:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
> http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/06/04/im-born-free-american-woman-
> telling-my-government-youve-forgotten-your-place/?intcmp=obinsite
>
> Editor's note: On Tuesday, June 4, Becky Gerritson, president of Wetumpka
> Tea Party in Alabama, testified before Congress about the IRS allegedly
> targeting her organization.Here is her full statement to the House Ways
> and Means Full Committee Hearing on Organizations Targeted by the Internal
> Revenue Service for Their Personal Beliefs.
>
> Congressman Camp,
> Thank you for inviting me here to speak today. And to the rest of the
> committee, thank you so much for listening.
>
> I�d like to begin with a brief statement. I know that you are primarily
> http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/06/04/im-born-free-american-woman-
> telling-my-government-youve-forgotten-your-place/?intcmp=obinsite
>
> Editor's note: On Tuesday, June 4, Becky Gerritson, president of Wetumpka
> Tea Party in Alabama, testified before Congress about the IRS allegedly
> targeting her organization.Here is her full statement to the House Ways
> and Means Full Committee Hearing on Organizations Targeted by the Internal
> Revenue Service for Their Personal Beliefs.
>
> Congressman Camp,
> Thank you for inviting me here to speak today. And to the rest of the
> committee, thank you so much for listening.
>
> interested in hearing about the abuses of the Internal Revenue Service.
>
> But I believe that it is critically important that you and your
> constituencies know, not just what those abuses were, but what exactly the
> IRS was trying to stifle. In order to paint a clear picture, I need to
> explain how the Wetumpka Tea Party came into being.
>
> My husband and I had never been involved in politics before 2008. We�ve
>
> But I believe that it is critically important that you and your
> constituencies know, not just what those abuses were, but what exactly the
> IRS was trying to stifle. In order to paint a clear picture, I need to
> explain how the Wetumpka Tea Party came into being.
>
> always been patriotic and deeply proud of our country. We�ve always felt
> that the United States IS the greatest country on earth.
>
> In September 2008, when we had our first $700 billion bailout, we, along
> with millions of Americans, were VERY concerned! That bailout was
> confirmation that our government was out-of-control.
>
> But just a few months later, in January of 2009, we learned that our
> government was going to spend another $787 billion. This money went to
> foreign nations, failing banks, and unproductive industries. We were
> worried and knew we had to do something to sound the alarm.
>
> We knew that the government had gone far beyond its habitual, deficit
> spending. The government was mortgaging America�s future. And we knew that
>
> In September 2008, when we had our first $700 billion bailout, we, along
> with millions of Americans, were VERY concerned! That bailout was
> confirmation that our government was out-of-control.
>
> But just a few months later, in January of 2009, we learned that our
> government was going to spend another $787 billion. This money went to
> foreign nations, failing banks, and unproductive industries. We were
> worried and knew we had to do something to sound the alarm.
>
> We knew that the government had gone far beyond its habitual, deficit
> Washington wasn�t going to stop by itself.
>
> In the spring of 2009, we learned others were organizing �Tea Party�
> events around the nation to educate and empower concerned citizens who
> believed their government was out of control, so we made our plans.
>
> My husband and I filled out a permit to meet at a local park in our small
> town. My daughter and I walked through neighborhoods handing out flyers
> for the on April 15th event.
>
> When the day arrived, we were blown away by the large crowd. A few
> politicians came also, but they didn�t speak. We wanted to give ordinary
> believed their government was out of control, so we made our plans.
>
> My husband and I filled out a permit to meet at a local park in our small
> town. My daughter and I walked through neighborhoods handing out flyers
> for the on April 15th event.
>
> When the day arrived, we were blown away by the large crowd. A few
> people a chance to air their concerns.
>
> Our event had no party affiliation. I could not tell you if attendees were
> Republicans, Democrats or independents � it did not matter. The only
>
> Our event had no party affiliation. I could not tell you if attendees were
> political notion expressed was the one we collectively felt: That our
> �representative government� had failed us.
>
> And that was the birth of the Wetumpka Tea Party. There are no dues, no
> price for memberships. Our events are mostly educational. Whatever
> expenses are incurred are paid from donations and T-shirt sales.
>
> In Wetumpka, we are patriotic Americans. We peaceably assemble. We
> petition our government. We exercise our right to free speech. And we
> don�t understand why our government tried to stop us.
> And that was the birth of the Wetumpka Tea Party. There are no dues, no
> price for memberships. Our events are mostly educational. Whatever
> expenses are incurred are paid from donations and T-shirt sales.
>
> In Wetumpka, we are patriotic Americans. We peaceably assemble. We
> petition our government. We exercise our right to free speech. And we
>
> I am not here today as a serf or a vassal. I am not begging my lords for
> mercy. I am a born-free, American woman � wife, mother and citizen � and
> I am not here today as a serf or a vassal. I am not begging my lords for
> I�m telling MY government that you have forgotten your place.
>
> It is not your responsibility to look out for my well-being or monitor my
> speech. It is not your right to assert an agenda. The posts you occupy
> exist to preserve American liberty. You have sworn to perform that duty.
>
> And you have faltered.
>
> The abuses I will discuss today occurred on your watch. It is your
> responsibility to make sure it doesn�t happen again.
> It is not your responsibility to look out for my well-being or monitor my
> speech. It is not your right to assert an agenda. The posts you occupy
> exist to preserve American liberty. You have sworn to perform that duty.
>
> And you have faltered.
>
> The abuses I will discuss today occurred on your watch. It is your
>
> THE FACTS OF MY CASE:
>
> We applied for our 501(c)4 in October 2010. Our $850.00 application fee
> was cashed seven days from the date our application was mailed.
>
> We received a letter from Robert Choi, dated Nov, 2, 2010 stating that our
> application and user fee payment had been received. It stated that we
> could expect to be contacted within 90 days.
>
> However, the IRS did not initiate ANY contact with us for another four
> hundred and fifty nine days. That was when I received a letter from the
> Cincinnati office dated February 3rd 2012.
>
> The letter stated that they could not process our application until we
> completed the enclosed questionnaire which requested approximately ninety
> pieces of additional information about our organization.
>
> The questionnaire stated that if the additional information was not
> returned by Feb 24th that our case would be closed.
>
> The demands for information in the questionnaire shocked me, as someone
> who loves liberty and the first amendment.
>
> I was asked to hand over our list of donors, including the amounts that
> they gave and the dates on which they gave them. 501c4 organizations do
> NOT have to disclose donor information. I knew that. Why didn�t they?
> THE FACTS OF MY CASE:
>
> We applied for our 501(c)4 in October 2010. Our $850.00 application fee
> was cashed seven days from the date our application was mailed.
>
> We received a letter from Robert Choi, dated Nov, 2, 2010 stating that our
> application and user fee payment had been received. It stated that we
> could expect to be contacted within 90 days.
>
> However, the IRS did not initiate ANY contact with us for another four
> hundred and fifty nine days. That was when I received a letter from the
> Cincinnati office dated February 3rd 2012.
>
> The letter stated that they could not process our application until we
> completed the enclosed questionnaire which requested approximately ninety
> pieces of additional information about our organization.
>
> The questionnaire stated that if the additional information was not
> returned by Feb 24th that our case would be closed.
>
> The demands for information in the questionnaire shocked me, as someone
> who loves liberty and the first amendment.
>
> I was asked to hand over our list of donors, including the amounts that
> they gave and the dates on which they gave them. 501c4 organizations do
> name. Government agents made invasive and excessive demands for
> information that they were not entitled to.
>
> Congressman Camp and members of the committee, this was not an accident.
> This is a willful act of intimidation intended to discourage a point of
> view.
>
> What the government did to our little group in Wetumpka, Alabama is un-
> American. This isn�t a matter of firing or arresting a few individuals.
> information that they were not entitled to.
>
> Congressman Camp and members of the committee, this was not an accident.
> This is a willful act of intimidation intended to discourage a point of
> view.
>
> What the government did to our little group in Wetumpka, Alabama is un-
>
> The individuals who sought to intimidate us were acting as they thought
> they should, in a government culture that has little respect for its
> citizens.
>
> Many of the agents and agencies of the federal government do not
> understand that they are servants of the people. They think they are our
> masters. And they are mistaken.
>
> I�m not interested in scoring political points. I want to protect and
> The individuals who sought to intimidate us were acting as they thought
> they should, in a government culture that has little respect for its
> citizens.
>
> Many of the agents and agencies of the federal government do not
> understand that they are servants of the people. They think they are our
> masters. And they are mistaken.
>
> preserve the America I grew up in, the America that people cross oceans
> and risk their lives to become a part of. And I�m terrified that it�s
> slipping away.
>
> Becky Gerritson, is president of the Wetumpka Tea Party in Alabama.
<applause>
>
> Becky Gerritson, is president of the Wetumpka Tea Party in Alabama.
GOP_Decline_and_Fall
Jun 18, 2013, 9:29:03 PM6/18/13
to
On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:17:33 +0000 (UTC), "Leroy N. Soetoro"
<leroys...@usurper.org> wrote:
> Our organization fell within the boundaries of receiving a 501c4 status.
Not your call.
<leroys...@usurper.org> wrote:
> Our organization fell within the boundaries of receiving a 501c4 status.
You were simply being asked to provide information to help those whose
call it *was* to decide.
>Yet, our application was singled out solely because we had “TEA Party” in our
>name.
wandering around with assault rifles and threatening civil unrest
that now tries to masquerade as a charitable organization why should
you be surprised?
>Government agents made invasive and excessive demands for
>information that they were not entitled to.
A mere glance at this woman and her organization's history of
partisan political extremist activism shows she should just count
herself darn lucky not to be prosecuted for her false claims of
charitable status.
http://wetumpkateaparty.com/Events/EventHistory.aspx
09-11-10 ** Unite in Action March & Rally, Washington, D.C.
08-28-10 ** Glenn Beck - Restoring Honor Rally, Lincoln Memorial,
Washington, D.C.
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