This is a story very near and dear to me. I have a special interest in this candidate and he means a lot to me.
February 27th was a cold day in Chicago. It was snowing, the wind was blowing and hot coffee wasn’t quite doing the trick. Our organizers for the Chicago Tea Party had spent just six days preparing for the first first event to follow Rick Santelli’s rant. We had no idea who or how many would attend.
I remember thinking, at the time, that if 100 showed up we could deem it a success. Until 2009, gatherings of this nature just didn’t really materialize in Chicago. Everyone I know in politics told me to prepare for the worst… believing that few would actually show up.
I parked the car and got my signs, clip boards and handouts, and headed to Daley Plaza, the location for the first Chicago Tea Party of 2009. When I arrived on scene, there was a family standing to the side of the property with some signs. It was obvious that at least someone had come to be a part of the event.
Their names were Richard and Laura Behney. They had traveled from Indiana up to Chicago for the tea party, and they were eager to be a part. After a brief introduction and chat, I asked them to take the clipboards and ask attendees to put there information on them so we could stay in contact. They humbly accepted and were happy to help out.
Hundreds and hundreds would soon start flooding into Daley Plaza and I lost sight of Laura and Richard for the duration f the event. But after the tea party, they brought me the clipboards and wanted to know what was next. They were extremely excited about what was unfolding, and they would eventually go back to Indiana to become a very influential and hard working part of the tea party movement in their home state.
This morning I received a message from Laura that reads as follows:
On that freezing cold February 27th day, you met my husband, Richard and I at Daley Plaza for Chicago’s first Tea Party. We were the first ones there and you asked us to take your clipboards and ask people to sign in. And so began our involvement in the historic Tea Party movement.
From there, Richard and I founded the Indianapolis Tea Party, where on Tax Day we had over 13,000 Hoosier Patriots on the lawn of our statehouse holding signs reflecting the sentiment that they had had ENOUGH!
And from there, hundreds of Hoosier Tea Partiers and 912 Groups urged Richard to take on Indiana’s political dynasty, Evan Bayh. A master of fence-riding so much so that he must have splinters!
The road from regular citizen (we own our own small plumbing business) to Tea Party goer to Tea Party organizer to candidate for United States Senate has been one we never expected to be on and frankly, slightly ticks us off that we have to be on it. BUT, someone has to do something, so it might as well be us.
Now I don’t know about you, but I think Richard needs as much help as we can possibly give him. Richard and his wife were the first two tea party activists I met since this movement began, and they deserve the full support of tea party activists across the country.
I recommend we all blog about him, tweet about him, send him financial support, volunteer for the campaign, call friends and family in Indiana to ask for help… do everything possible to give this campaign a boost.
Not only do we need to rid the Senate of thugs like this, we need to replace them with patriots like this.
For Liberty,
-Eric Odom
I would sooner have some one like Richard in ofice then some of the Double-Talkking people we have now. When Obama has Marxist and these socilist Reformist working in the Whitehouse NO GOP Offical will even talk about this it’s SAD ! They are working in the FCC IN the EPA and the SEIU is calling the shot’s for the Obama Agenda ! When Obama came to Washington he came with Chicago Thugs and Chicago Commie’s and that’s a FACT !
I’ve served with the Behneys here in Indy on the Tea Party committees, and now I’m volunteering for Richard’s campaign — and I can assure you that Behney is the REAL DEAL in a grassroots, “end this madness” style of candidates.
You can find videos of Richard Behney’s stump speaches on YouTube (search for Richard Behney). Richard is facing some solid conservatives in the primary. The main difference between them and Behney, is that Richard is taking a fearless and bold attitude to DC.
He’s said these are the times to draw a line in the Senate floor, and to be the one who stops the process while the people make their voices heard. Being bold, he asks: why isn’t anyone grabbing the lapels or ties of the other legislators that keep trouncing our rights?
His campaign is being run on a shoestring budget with a core of volunteers - NO ONE on the committee is paid. We’re behind Richard because he actually represents the feelings and sentiments of the people who have attended the Tea Parties here in Indiana.
He’s said many times - the first bill he wants to submit or sponsor is for term limits on members of congress! I urge everyone to take a look the stump videos and make up their own minds.
Apathy had been a sore on America for a long time. I think we are beginning a healing with the massive support for the Tea Party movement.However, we must be diligent, continue to fight, and work to put good Patriots into office, like Richard. Thank you Patriots!
Run,Richard,Run
Throw the Bums out !!!!!!!!
I am thrilled to know that someone, not another polition, is willing to take on Bayh. I worked for the State of Indiana while he was governor and discovered he can be very 2 faced. I am, also, very happy that person is part of the Tea Party movement. It will be interesting getting to know more about Richard.
Praise be to God!
Richard Behney and his wife Laura are an answer to my prayers! I am so excited someone is going to run against Evan Bayh. Finally we really have someone who stands for “CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN”!
We have to get E.B. out of Washington along with all of his Liberal, Socialist cronies! I can assure you my husband and I will do everything we can to support Richard including emailing family and friends to make sure they do the same. Let’s get behind him and make this happen!
Jan
Indianapolis
This is the premise on which the country was founded: CITIZENS donate a FEW YEARS of service to the country. The gentlemen who crafted the constitution did not envision career politicians.
Plumbers are great! Remember Joe? Let’s have more regular folks donate a few years to the governing of this great country. Let’s leave Harvard and Yalies behind. They’ve done enough, don’cha think?
There is so much wisdom in a man or woman who has built a business from the ground up. Let’s help “Richard the Plumber” in his great task.
It’s Good To see There are Politicians (And Future Politicians), Who Still Want To Fight the good Fight.Does anyone Remember The Old New England Greeting—”How Stands the Union”?? I Wonder what The reply would Be Nowadays.
Must be something in the water. Well known TEAers are plumbers! (wink, wink - just kidding) You go Richard! I will help when I can.
Way to go Rich. One of the early founders of the rebirth of our bill of rights and constitution. Soldier on!!!
Nice to see this kind of results. Hope the tea party is sending messages to both Dems & Reps. I have started answering all my mail & phone political solications with: “I have joined the Tea Party and am making all political contributions to this party until I see evidence you are representing my values.”
Our country was founded by revolutionaries, freedom seekers, and kind souls. Thank you Richard an Laura for taking on our failed government!
Way to go Richard! Our group, Patriotic Resistance, is working hard in MO to support only conservative candidates, and we plan to remove Russ Carnahan from office next year! We have many hard working tea party goers included in our membership and believe Americans should fight the good fight in whatever areas are important to them, so while we fight as a group to take back the political process, we fight as individuals in any number of ways. We will spread the word, and pass the hat for Richard!
Praise God for people like Richard! I would love to do the same here in Montana to get rid of Senators “BalkUs” & “TestCur”, however being almost 70 years old rather limits me - so I’ll just keep going to every tea party within distance & means, forwarding emails to everyone I know about these Patriots & that’s going on in our country, writing letters to our Senators & Congressmen & doing everything in my power to help defeat the criminals.
Does anyone know of a good conservative in Montana willing to take on the establishment?????
Great news, we need more people like you. I will contribute to your effort even though I am from Pennsylvania. Good luck!
This grass roots effort is exactly what we need….not the grand scale events within the beltway. By working and supporting those of us who take to the calling of running for office is where we need to focus our efforts and money. If we can just take 25% of the vote at the local level, we WIN! Going to DC allows the insiders to make jokes and cracks at us, not taking the messages seriously.
The current pinheads in Washington are beyond the apex of the arrogance curve and are now into blind ignorance; so arrogant that they do not realize what is happening to their base. At the grass roots level they will understand the foundation of voters come out from under them. This, I think is the strategy we need.
Those that we chose to support must swear to the following list for our support:
1- Term Limits
2- Terminate or repeal the work of the current Congress: Health Care, Cap and Trade, Gun Regulation, and Immigration just to mane a few
3- No lawyers as they are Officers of the Courts (in most states it is against the law for them to hold office). So much for the law….
4- Read the bills before voting on them and seek input from the folks at home
5- Agree to Recall if they break stated promises to us
Add or subtract from the list as you see fit…
Richard in Florida
Another, Tea Part Activist, that I know of is also running for Congress. And thats Michael Yost of Jacksonville. Fla. He is a Conservative Republican and desperately needs all the help he can get to defeat an incumbent Democrat who has held the office for years and done nothing for her district. He is a common man, with a common cause—-”run our country as the Constitution says—we the people”!!!
We must elect people that love God and Country..not Me Me Me,and that is what we have too many of in Government now.We Must have the same kind of people that the great Farmers were,Judeo Christians!
I am very conserative,have voted Republican for the past 45 years, I will never again vote for someone that does not hold to my kind of values, whatever party they run under.This is the only thing that is going to change this Nation back to a country that God will Bless!I think the Republican party has died from Within!They could not give us anyone better than Jonh McCain,who was trying to please the democrates, rather than the people he serves.
There is a new party forming in Ms,that is based on these values.I will be learning MORE about them.Laura and Richard, I pray you will be this kind of people!
It would be nice to see success! We are fighting a terrible tyrant and administratively unrelenting movement away, around, and through the Constitution! They have NO REGARD for Freedom, Constitution, History, and Propriety! I have also been contemplating running for office. For 2 years I have been asked to be Sarah Palin for parties–in character, dress, educating about the Constitution, and in full campaign mode. I, too, will need to find fiscal backing for the application. We have several openings–2 of which are now national democrats. Unfortunately, neither listen to their constituents and have fiscal dealings that promote their personal interests if they follow the Obama way. I will do my best to educate, facilitate, and present conservative, Constitutionally based options and solutions. We tell people every day what is happening. We have gone to Caesar’s Palace to protest. I was featured on national news. The interviewer asked me twice before I helped her with the news report interview. I have attended Tea Parties wherever and whenever I can. This country is sadly being abolished by those who wish to enslave and destroy–power hungry, greedy, and unprincipled, and some just are totally unaware because they think that this is politics as usual. I believe it is a war besieged upon our country, system of government, and ultimately, the people. This is the country my grandparents settled, and I appreciate the beauty it once held. If people were educated about the freedoms (Bill of Rights), the Constitutions (both national and state), and were led by a strong commitment to values (schools having the wisdom, along with parents to instill the rules for life–instead of teaching fluff, socialism, and expecting the children to grow up on their own) we could succeed in getting our country back. But, the current administration’s efforts to entrench us with historically unsound methods and take our personal freedoms, and ruin the economy and nationalizing it (All UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!) have got to be stopped by MORE DIVERSE PEOPLE COURAGEOUSLY STANDING UP AND TAKING THE NECESSARY STAND. WRITE, CALL, VISIT Your Senators and Representatives, even the White House and Congress! All these individual groups must come together in ONE RESOUNDING VOICE!!!
YES YES YES — we are sick of sell-out plastic life-time politicians who don’t represent us, the citizens. We need common people to run for office - we will take back our gov’t this way. We need plain talking well-educated, intelligent citizens — surely they CAN figure out how to represent us and work in the Congress and Senate !!
Remember that one of Britain’s branches of gov’t is called The House of Commons.
Remember how many governors have risen to be President - it’s been a traditional stepping stone, it has not been a junior Senator who is a marxist !!
He’s a silver tongued devil - We deserve better.
May many other conservatives come forward to replace the disgusting establishment that has been in place far too long!
100% American, I wish everyday folks (not TV celebbities) would run the Government! It would be Incredible! Imaigine I think it would be less Kaos than it is now! I also believe our Government is so Bloated now that it would be very hard for anybody to Fathom the Extraordinary WASTE thats taking place! Imagine life just 50 years ago! No Nanny state mentality where you have to have all these insurances “FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!” Seat belt violtions and Fines “What does it hurt” on & on! 50 years ago life was much more Free! I know I am 55 years old and I used to be Free! I did not have a nintendo,or $300 electronics,or even Cell phones at age 5! We had our imagination and the Country wasn’t Broke! I could go on & on, but we need some Sanity in the Government and stop these CAREER POLITICIANS with the Regular Folks!
[...] Richard Behney, an Indiana Tea Party organizer and activist, is now making a serious run for US Senate. Tea party activists are stepping it up a notch all over the country to declare legitimate candidacy for office. This morning, we announced on the Tax Day Tea Party website that Richard Behney, an original Tea Party organizer who started a major liberty movement in Indiana, has tossed his hat in the ring by running for US Senate. [...]
good for you Behney!!!!! i hope we get non-politicians to run in every “open” office in the next few election years. and i hope they all win.
I came to the tea party in April and I was amazed at the size of the group. I’ve been to two other events held at the Federal plaza that I heard about in emails. My husband and I are so pleased to be part of the Tea Party group. Next time there is an event in DC, we are going for sure. We will certainly help Richard Behney. Also, did you know that Joel Pollack is running for Congress as a republican against Jan Schakowsky. He is an intelligent and well-spoken young man. Joel questioned Barney Frank at a townhall meeting in September; that encounter has been televised many times. He has a website “JOEL POLLACK FOR CONGRESS.” It would be great to get rid of Jan Schakowsky.
Plz!!!! Tell all your candidates to read and print out the info on the attached sites.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/06/07/JulAug2006Review.pdf
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml
The first has an article proving the US Gov’t is bankrupt.
The second is the US Treasury’s info telling us that our money is worthless and that we cannot own any property because all of our production is collatteral for the national debt. If you have any questions plz e-mail me at mc.odonnell@hotmail.com
Mike
YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT! Even though I am from CA I want to take this country back, one district at a time, one state at a time. Our goal in CA is to get Barbara Boxer OUT and next will be Nancy Paloski.
We have to stop the spending, we have to stop this farce of a medical reform. One by one I am getting people interested who have never done anything political before. SAVE OUR COUNTRY!
Fantastic! It would be great to see how many “other” first time tea party folks are contemplating a run for office!!
Good luck to Richard and his wife. We will keep you in our prayers and support you as best we can.
Peace,
Mary
lol Eric, I just hit send on an email asking what I could to to help the cause, and this email pops into my inbox. Thanks for such a quick reply, hehe. This is EXACTLY what we need, more guys like Richard willing to put their money where their mouth is. I refuse to give the Republican Party itself any more money, and instead I am sending my $ directly to the individual candidates that truly represent me. I may not live in Chicago, but I think we all know by now that it doesn’t matter if they are in your district or not, the people in the House and Senate have a DIRECT AFFECT on your day to day life. I supported Hoffman in NY-23, and I will support Richard Behney as well. Thank you for bringing us this awesome story!
Has anyone like that in Illinois stepped up yet? If so, please let me know so I can help any way possible!
Richard is running as a Republican, not a third party. He IS a Patriot. Eric has the link to Richard’s web site above. All the information you need is there.
Elizabeth,
Minor correction there. The April 15th Tea Party came AFTER the February 27th Tea Party. And Mancow was our guest, not the host. I was the organizer for both Feb 27 and April 15.
Feb 15 had about 450. On April 15 we had 5,000. Both were considered a huge success!
-Eric
I am so proud of them. I hope the Republican Party is ready to become the Conservative Republican Party as that is what it is going to take to save our Republic. We have to change the face of the G.O.P., it is the only way to defeat the Demon”crats”. I truly feel as if we have been taken over by a foreign country without them ever firing a shot! The Tea Party movement is something I am so proud to be a part of and I do believe America is waking up, the Sleeping Giant sleeps no more!
This story is truly a profile in courage and patriotism! Richard and Laura Behney have been willing to give up their valuable time and energy to help save their nation, as this long saga of Tea Party rallies and behind-the-scenes work has dragged on, and are also willing to accept the hardships of campaigning for Washington office. Our Founding Fathers would be proud!
I live in Texas and have seen some great efforts by our Tea Party citizens here too. As 2010 approaches, we absolutely MUST take back our government from the “lifers” who use entitlements to buy votes and refuse to vote Conservatively (i.e., in a sane manner!).
Indiana folks, please get your Richard Lugar out of Washington too. I believe he’s the lone Republican supporting this horrific federal judge now up for confirmation.
Go, Behney family! I’ll be circulating appeals for support of your campaign.
God bless you for stepping out in faith.
I was at the 1st tea party in Chicago April 15th 2009 - It was at the Federal building - (by the Calder sculpture) not the Daley Plaza - It was hosted by Mancow (radio talk show)-
I went alone and had no signs - just a T.E.A. Sticker - There were a lot of us alone out there coming from all over the place - It was a GREAT Day for me - Everyone around me had never protested anything before - and I guess we all have had enough - My favorite sign there was a guy had superimposed Obama’s face over errol Flynn as Robin Hood … and it read: ” Robbin’ the hood ”
I’d go to more tea parties but I never hear about them until after the fact -
What inspriation for all of us. I believe 2010 will bring forth many Americans who wish to serve, protect and defend.
I live in Northern Indiana and have attended a Tea Party in Winamac in April and the Tea Party Express in Mishawaka on Labor Day. I was so excited to be there and to meet so many people who believe in the same things I do. I have e-mailed Evan Bayh numerous times over the last few months about the major issues, urging him to not vote for certain bills and to support other bills. I am happy to put my support behind a fellow tea partier who will hopefully, return our country to the Conservative values we want and need in this troubled time. I look forward to hearing what you will do to help our country turn away from this administration’s socialist and dangerous agenda.
We are so fortunate to have people like Richard who have the courage to stand up For the People, and We the People will stand behind him to ensure that honest, good, hard working people will want to put their hat in the ring.
Media bias will be a major obstacle, but remember they don’t have the people standing behind you!!
As long as Richard runs a commonsense conservative REPUBLICAN, I can support him, But I will not, repeat not, support a third party candidate. It is easier to change the party leadership and bring it back to the Conservative base it once had, than to try to create a third party and split the vote,almost guarranteeing, a democrat win. NO THANKS!
And they say there can be no third party. Just maybe the Tea Party will be that party. So many of the Republican’s have forgotten what a conservative is, now, the Tea party is reminding them loud and clear. Tea may just have the medical property’s to cure this Country’s ills. Richard I will be rooting for you.
Th man who organized the Arkanasas Tea Party is also running for US Senate in Arkansas. He is a great man. Here is his info. http://www.tomcox4senate.com. I think we need to support these conservatives who are stepping up and putting their families and themselves in the line of fire. I will definitely give my support to Richard and help in any way I can.
There are so many of us energized, angry, and disenchanted with both parties. I would love to hear more about Richard’s platform, who is the treasurer, etc.? I applaud them! We need to hold our government accountable AND they keep rolling along spending OUR money and then they lie about the jobs being created.
The incredulous decision of Eric Holder to prosecute the 9/11 masterminds in a civilian criminal court boggles the mind. He is grandstanding, looking to smash our intelligence gathering operatives, giving these terrorists the City of NY on a silver platter. God help us all. I believe Obama’s party is committing acts breaching our security and soverneighty. AND he’s still traveling all over the world…aimlessly “making friends” and has the public believing in the Fairy Godfather in this case!
This is what we need and want right now - to have good, decent, hard-working, tax-paying citizens to stand up all the way to DC.
I am grateful to Richard and his wife, Laura, for taking this on.
EXCELLENT! We must all hope many more good, qualified people will step up to the plate and take our country back to the basic principles of common sense along with the ideals set forth in 1776 and rid our system of a lot of self serving trash now leading us in the wrong direction to a society of their perception, rid us of excessive and destructive Govennment controls and programs, and rid us of all those not abiding by the Constitution of the United States. TRUE CHANGE IS COMING, Of the People, For the People and BY WE THE PEOPLE!
my wife and i only have ss for income and i cannot afford to contribute.
i do want to say that i only wish this Tea Party thing would have been here when i was younger and still working.
it is very laudable that Mr. Behney is running for the senate. any one living in indiana should certainly support and vote for him.
thanks for the movement.
Great story of patriots doing what they do best. Bring “averae” citizens. Go get them Laura and Richard. You take Evan Bayh down and we will do what we can with Boxer and Feinstein. No “fence sitters here in California.
Please let us know way out West here if there is anything we can do to help.
Ron, that’s what the links are for.
Peri, that information is probably on his donate or contact page.
Eric, what a nice story. For starters I sent this on to all on my Email list. If I donate to him, how would the check be made out and where would I send it to help him? We certainly need to get rid of all the corrupt politicians and I think he would be a good start. Thanks for the story on these patriotic people.
We need to know what Richard stands for.
R
This is so exciting! I too have been an active TEA PARTY Patriot in MS and this story is so encouraging! We need more passionate people who are willing to stand up and get involved rather than sit back and watch the same old folks get re-elected. We have become so apathetic, but hopefully, the TEA PARTY movement has begun waking the sleeping giant, i.e. CONSERVATIVE AMERICA! Thank you, Richard, for being a courageous soldier in the effort to TAKE BACK AMERICA! I will do my part to encourage others to support you financially!