Roanoke Tea Party

It was a full house last night at the Roanoke Tea Party’s special event for E.W. Jackson. We were told by some of the usual suspects in Roanoke Valley politics that attendance might be low because of multiple political events happening the same night during the lead up to the Nov. 8 election. Our RTP members never fail us and they were joined by many area citizens who were interested in the candidate for U.S. Senate that the RTP leadership have raved about since their initial meeting with Jackson in August of this year.

E.W.  excited the crowd over and over to wild applause (as he has every time I have seen him speak) that ended in a standing ovation when I finally had to bring the event to a close.

Some of the many statements from Jackson that sparked cheers and applause from the group assembled included his desire to scrap the current IRS code, for the Congress to stop increasing the debt to pay for things we can’t afford and to end federal programs and departments that are not authorized at the federal level under the Constitution. The list included the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and much of the activity of the Department of Energy.

Jackson said he would join a “tea party caucus” in the Senate and work to create a “constitutional caucus” in the U.S. Senate that would examine  not only legislation, but the actions of the Federal Courts and the President as well to make sure they were in compliance with the authority granted under the U.S. Constitution. When asked how he would deal with unconstitutional activity by a president, for example, he proclaimed that the Constitution granted the power to impeach and he would advocate for both houses of Congress to do their duty in that process to stop those actions.

While Jackson finds serious problems with the actions of the current president, he said “Obama is just a symptom of our country’s problems. The disease runs much deeper. For years we have been fed a false vision for America. A vision of collectivism and an all-powerful federal government. The vision our founders had for America was one of individualism, personal freedom, personal responsibility and a very limited government. We have strayed from that path and we are paying the price”. 
Many questions were asked during the hour long Q&A. Of particular importance to an RTP member who admitted being a George Allen supporter was whether he could beat Tim Kaine in the general election. Jackson explained, at least to my satisfaction, how he had what it takes to win against Kaine in ways George Allen cannot. The member in question admitted Jackson had gone a long way toward changing his mind on supporting George Allen.

I hadn’t asked ahead of time, but after the meeting I escorted Bishop Jackson to the Roanoke County Republican Committee meeting that was still going on over at the County Administration Building. I did not expect what transpired. Upon entering the meeting room, the gentleman speaking to the group stopped his presentation, pointed at Jackson and said, “There is the man you all need to hear from.” The room erupted with applause for Jackson. Obviously more people know him and support him than I realized. Bishop Jackson spoke for just a moment to the group as they had a lot of business to get done and little time left in the meeting. Before leaving, he accepted an invitation to come and address the group at length at a future meeting.

It is becoming obvious that no matter how much the establishment may want us to believe George Allen is the ”chosen one”, a growing group of Virginians is out there and they want E.W. Jackson to be our next U.S. Senator. I can be counted among them and ask that you learn about E.W. Jackson. I believe that if you do, you will excitedly join our ranks. Together, we have a chance to have the most honest, principled, constitutionally minded senator in my lifetime.This is my personal position and not the official position of the Roanoke Tea Party…YET!  

Sargent at Arms- Greg Aldridge