Most Happy To Have Tea Party Trial Behind Them
Okla. tea party leaders say it’s unharmed by trial
by TIM TALLEY, AP
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The conviction of a tea party leader on felony blackmail and computer crimes charges brought unwanted attention to the conservative political movement but has not diminished its message of limited government and lower taxes, according to other tea party leaders in Oklahoma.
An Oklahoma County jury convicted Sooner tea party co-founder Al Gerhart on Wednesday after prosecutors claimed he sent a politically charged email to a state senator who testified that he felt threatened by the email’s tone.
Gerhart was an Oklahoma City cabinet maker when he became an early face of the tea party movement four years ago. But even then, some conservative Oklahomans were concerned when he targeted the state’s Republican Party leader and floated the idea of a volunteer militia to guard the state from what were called federal infringements on state sovereignty.
“Al has a very hard time working well with others,” said Charlie Meadows, president of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee. “Al is not effective at all, and it’s because of his confrontational style.”