Good news for Maryland! This decision should really boost AFP’s image in the state.
ANNAPOLIS- Grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is pleased to welcome aboard Charles Lollar, Newburg resident, and Marine Corp Officer, as the new Maryland state director.
“Charles has stood alongside Americans fighting for free market ideas right here in the Maryland Free State, and he’s stood alongside American soldiers overseas serving in the US Marine Corp,” said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity. “We’re proud to welcome him as the leader of AFP’s Maryland state chapter.”
I’ve been critical of AFP especially during the primary campaign for governor when I saw AFP appear to be a front for the Bob Ehrlich team (and we know how well that worked out!). I’ve been especially critical of moneyed establishment groups getting out in front of the Tea Party tide.
Here is what I said back on October 4th:
If you are a firm believer in the Republican insider notion that Republicans should only focus on fiscal matters and not sully themselves with immigration, national security (particularly Islamic extremism) or social issues, then AFP is for you. I think the majority of Tea Party activists in the US and Maryland do not want to be kept within that AFP fiscal-issues-only corral.
With Lollar in the leadership spot, I’m optimistic that we won’t see AFP tied to the fiscal-issues-only platform because I have heard Mr. Lollar tell an audience that one of the three most important issues to black voters in Maryland is illegal immigration—as it is to most tea party advocates.
Good luck Charles!
Ann Corcoran
Judy K. Warner
[...] Funny thing though when you consider one of the leading Tea Party groups in Maryland just picked a black conservative leader. [...]
By: Message received loud and clear—Democrats will be punished in Maryland if they venture near Tea Party « Potomac Tea Party Report on February 10, 2011
at 7:15 pm
What you describe as the focus of AFP has always been the focus of Tea Party groups nationwide.
The difference between Tea Party groups and conservatives is that Tea Partiers have no consensus or interest in issues like national security, immigration, social issues, etc. The entire focus of Tea Party groups has been on fiscal issues.
By: Zinzindor on May 25, 2011
at 10:05 pm
Zinzindor, I think you are mistaken. The average grassroots local Tea Party person is passionately interested in national security, immigration and social issues and I mean to keep those issues in the forefront of this blog at least. What you are reporting is that the big moneyed Tea Party groups—AFP, Freedom Works etc are attempting to steer the tea party train toward only fiscal issues. I need only look around me in Maryland to tell you the real grassroots Tea Partier is deeply concerned with the radical Islamic threat (Brigitte Gabriel had a great turnout in Baltimore just this week), our borders (witness the huge out pouring on this petition drive going on now on in-state tuition for illegal aliens) and the defeat of the Gay Marriage bill in the legislature this year.
So, it is my adamant contention that grassroots conservatives care about all those issues and the establishment Tea Party groups are working very hard to convince you and others that fiscal is all there is!
By: acorcoran on May 26, 2011
at 5:43 am