Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Atlanta Tea Party Crushed by Obama-Supporting Billionaire?


[Note: see my post on American Thinker]


With as many as 20,000 people in attendance, the Atlanta Tea Party on April 15 was one of the largest and most successful Tea Parties in the country. The Atlanta Tea Party on July 4, 2009 had been expected to be just as large. Unfortuantely, plans have changed. Simon Property Group has forced the cancellation of the Atlanta Tea Party.

The Atlanta Tea Party was forced to cancel its Independence Day celebration in Gwinnett, after losing its location due to the objection of Gwinnett Place Mall (a Simon company.) The Tea Party had been scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the old Macy's building at Gwennett Place since March.

"It is unfortunate the event had to be canceled," said Julianne Thompson, event co-organizer. She continued, "The old Macy's building is on private property, and not owned by Simon Malls, however the mall manager asked the property owner and I to come in the office on Thursday of this week [June 18], and told us Simon does not want political events on its property. They were also concerned about the fact we were using the term 'protest.' Although the event was on private property, the mall was able to assert authority on the matter due to reciprocal property easement agreements."

Event Co-Chair Debbie Dooley stated, "Our Atlanta Tea Party team tried for the next day and a half to find an alternative location large enough for the event, and with the proper layout for our vendors, children's activities, and fireworks show, but we could not find anything suitable that would have been available on July 4th.

...With just a few days left until the Fourth of July Tea Parties begin, this is very unfortunate timing! You wonder why Simon Property Group waited until now to interfere.


Liberal AJC's snarky reaction.

Now, digging deeper...

The story behind the story here

Update I:
Following the Money
  1. Gwinnett Place Mall shut down the Atlanta Tea Party.
  2. Simon Property Group owns Gwinnett Place Mall.
  3. Melvin Simon (a Forbes 400 billionaire) is CEO/Co-chairman of Simon Property Group.
  4. Melvin Simon & his wife have provided large political donations to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, John Edwards, & the DNC.
  5. Melvin Simon was a major contributor to Barack Obama's inaugural committee (to the tune of $50,000) and has given at least $1 million to the William J. Clinton foundation.

Update II:
Melvin Simon Political Donations

Friends of Hillary
2008: $2,300

Hillary Clinton
2007: $4,600

Hoosiers For Hill
2007: $2,300

Al Franken For Senate
2007: $2,300

Friends of Senator Carl Levin (D)
2008: $1000

John Edwards
2004: $2,000

DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee
2007: $100

And last but not least, Simon's local senator, and Obama's newest "moderate" Republican cheerleader, Dick Lugar
2008: $6,800



Update III
The Simon Family

Melvin's wife Bren personally donated almost $100,000 to political candidates, was a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, and contributed to President Obama’s inaugural committee (to the tune of $50,000). Bren Simon's political connections.


Update IV here





More to follow...

Have more info on this topic? Email us: rightklik (at) gmail (dot) com.

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23 comments:

WomanHonorThyself said...

at least we know how many are on our side dude!!!

Anonymous said...

He looks like the Mr. Potter!

Amusing Bunni said...

What sneaky snakes!
Waiting until the event was almost here, guaranteeing another venue would not open up!

He looks like an unshaven version of Dr. Evil! Let's home some Republican Property owners can step up and try to salave the Party!

RightKlik said...

WHT: Too bad we're being silenced. The Simon people say they don't want a political event going on near their property, but the Simon family is quite active politically. I'd really like to see this backfire for them. Tea party patriots should be made aware of the fact that they are being strong-armed out of the opportunity to voice their outrage.

MCO: Yes, Mr. Potter is a Democrat

RightKlik said...

AB: I really hope they can salvage that situation somehow. It would really be a shame to totally give up.

Left Coast Rebel said...

RK - This story stinks to high-heaven, I was reading some other accounts on other blogs. Nice work! Thanks for supporting LCR too, any time you want to cross-post etc. just give me a heads-up
LCR

DaBlade said...

It's Simon Bar Sinister in the flesh! Go ahead. Google image it. I'll wait here...

RightKlik said...

LCR: Thanks

DaBlade: You're right. And the name is a match!

He resembles so many classic villains.

Desman said...

Last time I go to a Simon Mall. The nearest one to me, "The Westchester", in White Plains, New York, has a great tea store, but I guess they will get along without my business.

RightKlik said...

Desman: Sounds like a very good idea.

Pasadena Closet Conservative said...

So much for the Libs' love of free speech.

RightKlik said...

PCC: Free speech isn't very convenient for them now that they are in control.

Z said...

HOLY #@*($&)(@*&$#!! You have done some great detective work (and I only came over to tell you your comment about calling everyone senator just so's to tick Boxer off was HILARIOUS!)..

We ARE being silenced and we HAVE TO FIGHT BACK> we have to stop LAUGHING at all of this and DO something..Hannity and Dick MOrris LAUGH, everyone seems to just want to smirk and laugh at THE ONE and how he's killing our country..what's UP with laughing ??

So WHAT if that site isn't good, find another one! Tell them you didn't realize so many people wanted to get together.....'they just happened to all come to THIS PARK' (heh)

RightKlik said...

Z: You are very kind.

It sounds like they've exhausted their resources in trying to find another location that would be suitable for the large crowd and the activities planned. The fact that there are so many other events planned for the 4th has seriously limited their options.

If it had been me, I would have been tempted to file a lawsuit before giving up. But I'm sure Mr. Billionaire could have beat them at that game.

It's very disappointing that it had to end this way.

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

I think I'm glad I don't go to the mall anymore...keeping my business local. Pulling for the little guy...He does look like Mr. Potter...

RightKlik said...

SD: Perhaps this is another incentive to consider "going Galt."

Anonymous said...

Great blog you have here RK, I'm proud to be a follower.

Ymarsakar said...

Wars are not won on the defensive, for the aggressor will always be the one that obtains the initiative to decide when and where to attack.

The defender can only remain constantly vigilant, and thus eternally fatigued, in reaction, and only in reaction, to perceived attacks. And by that, the defender will not have the luxury of time to consider alternatives in a timely and luxurious manner.

As you can see, there is a reason why wars are not won on the defensive.

RightKlik said...

JKOW: Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Ymarsakar: Now is certainly time for conservatives to go on the offensive.

Mike aka Proof said...

I wonder what would happen if those 20,000 people just spontaneously showed up? Maybe some of them could stand outside the doors of the mall, with signs telling the shoppers how much the owner of the mall supports free speech?

RightKlik said...

Proof: The Simon folks certainly have the right to do as they please with their private property, and I support that... but the timing of their interference, and the legal jujitsu they went through in order to tell another guy what to do with his property bothers me. Apparently it's all perfectly legal, but it's very disappointing. Imagine the outcry if an "evil conservative" billionaire had done this to a group of progressives.

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