Charlotte, NC – January 31, 2012 – Common Americans United to Inspire OUR Nation (CAUTION) announced today that the organization will host a forum during their February 6 meeting to bring together prospective candidates for public office with elected officials, political party officials, and past candidates.  CAUTION meets every Monday evening at the Dilworth Neighborhood Grille located at 911 East Morehead Street in Charlotte.  The meeting at 6:00 follows a social hour in advance.

CAUTION President Dennis Peterson voiced the objective as such: “This is an informal forum, and while we’ll have some guided questions, we are generally looking to engage people considering a run for office with people who have been through the process before. It can be a daunting task to make the decision to run, so if we can help demystify the process and set the expectations game, I think it will be a help to all parties involved…including volunteers and others who aren’t running, but who play a real role in the campaign process.”

Participants on the panel thus far include Charlotte City Council Member Warren Cooksey, Mecklenburg GOP recruitment chairman Mike Walker, recent GOP candidates Dennis Peterson, Jay Privette, and Ed Toney, Libertarian Party chairman Tim Doran, and recent Libertarian candidate Alex Vuchnich.  Additional members are being added as they declare availability.

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by Rhiannon Fionn

Let us tell a story of an oft-leaderless group of protesters who meet in public parks in costumes, carry signs and shout about government injustices. A group that split over differences of opinion only to then begin educating its masses on the inner workings of government and American history. A group that feels misunderstood by the media. You’d be forgiven for assuming this was another Occupy story. It is not. This is a story of the Charlotte Tea Party, which — depending on whom you ask — is three to five years old and continues to push forward.

The Tea Party, of course, is the conservative-slash-libertarian movement credited with flexing its political muscle during the 2010 election, ousting leaders from long-held congressional seats and filling those seats with tea. In Charlotte — a blotch of blue in an otherwise red area of North Carolina — the Tea Party has had more difficulty placing its members in office.

What seems clear to everyone interviewed for this article is that 2012 is a make-it-or-break-it year for the Tea Party. On one side are the social conservatives, and on the other, fiscal conservatives. Tim Doran, chair of the Mecklenburg Libertarian Party, would like to see the Tea Party focus on fiscal issues. “If the Tea Party were to keep a very narrow view of limited government,” he says, “they would gain a lot of support across party lines.”

“The question is,” says Michael Bitzer, chair of the History & Politics department at Catawba College, “‘Who’s going to get energized? Because that’s who’s going to get mobilized, and that’s who’s going to win.”

While no one CL talked to for this piece believes there are any true Tea Party members in elected office in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area — other than Charlotte City Councilman Warren Cooksey, who self-describes as a Tea Party member — Bitzer says that doesn’t mean the movement isn’t making its mark. He believes the group’s focus on local issues will make the biggest difference.

Christian Hine, co-founder of the conservative blog PunditHouse, agrees. “We’re really going to try to be more proactive locally this year,” Hine says.

Tea Party members from the group Common Americans United to Inspire Our Nation (CAUTION) recently spoke out against the city’s decision to subsidize Chiquita’s move to Charlotte as well as the proposed city ordinances for the Democratic National Convention. CAUTION is a branch of the area Tea Party movement that was formed, according to its website (ProceedWithCaution.us), “as a response to Glenn Beck’s 9/12 project.” Beck’s project describes itself as “a non-partisan movement focusing on building and uniting our communities back to the place we were on 9/12/2001.”

Groups like CAUTION, says Bitzer, are the best way for local Tea Party-leaning voters to make an impact. The only time national issues are injected into local movements, Bitzer adds, is when there’s a candidate to back, but the greatest impact of the local Tea Party is its “ability to organize and channel energy.”

Councilman Cooksey agrees that channeling energy into local action is the way to go. His advice to anyone running for office is to start attending government meetings and volunteering for vacancies on boards and commissions. “Gain experience and contacts, and give it time,” Cooksey says.

That seems to counter to what most people read or hear about the Tea Party. The mainstream media tends to focus on the Big Money behind the group — from the Conservative Koch brothers, nationally, to Art Pope in North Carolina. CAUTION president Dennis Peterson says that hasn’t made much of a difference to the Charlotte movement. “We fund ourselves,” he says. “We don’t take money from outside sources,” although the group accepts voluntary donations during its Monday night meetings at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille. Peterson does disclose that he plans to attend a political leadership course that has received funding from Pope.

In 2011, Peterson lost a bid for City Council. He raised a total of $10,327.70 for his campaign, including several contributions from his family. None of the contributions seems to have been attached to Pope or the Koches. Peterson’s biggest concern locally is a growing apathy among potential Tea Party voters. “People are just sick of politics,” he says.

What remains unclear about the Tea Party is exactly how the group got its start nationally. Some credit the libertarian zeal of Ron Paul and say the movement started in 2007. Others say it began in earnest after CNBC’s Rick Santelli went into a full-on rant on live TV in February 2009, calling for a Tea Party — an “occupation,” if you will — on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade. Soon after, protesters were showing up on Charlotte-area public lands — including Old City Hall, future home of Occupy Charlotte — demanding lower taxes, smaller government and issuing the warning, “Don’t tread on me.”

Matthew Ridenhour organized those early Charlotte Tea Party rallies — each attended by a few hundred people — in the spring and summer of 2009. He’s also behind CharlotteTeaParty.org. (CL reached out for a comment from Ridenhour, but he did not respond by press time.) It wasn’t long after those first few rallies that the group split into several factions, with CAUTION seeming to take the lead.

While plenty of left-leaning voters suggest the Tea Party was created to oppose the election of the nation’s first African-American president, Peterson disagrees. He cites the federal stimulus bill as the main driver, saying he’d “like to see the government live within its means.” Peterson blames the mainstream media for the assumption that “our motives were solely race-based,” and adds, “that’s not what drew me in. What drew me in is that the government is out of hand.” He suggests the racist material depicted in many media stories about the Tea Party “was planted. We were holding up signs that read, ‘Not with us!’” Those signs, he says, rarely made the news.

“It’s a lot easier to attempt to marginalize your opponents than to attempt to deal with the issues in an adult manner,” Peterson says.

That marginalization, Hine says, is what led Tea Party members to eventually agree “that the time for rallies was over,” although he credits the protests with bringing normally independent-minded Republicans together under a larger social umbrella.

Hine sees a third wing of the Tea Party. In addition to the libertarian wing (the more fiscally minded, anti-war, anti-big government and pro-freedom voters) and the social conservative wing (fundamentalist-minded voters), Hine sees what he calls “disaffected Democrats” — voters who are tired of corruption in politics and corporate involvement in government.

The story of the Charlotte-area Tea Party, then, is not that much different from the story of Occupy Charlotte. What binds the three branches of the Tea Party — and, by extension, the members of Occupy Charlotte — are the nation’s money matters, and the collective concern, according to Hine, that “the power is not with the people, where it should be.”

Planned for our February 6th meeting is a panel discussion with former candidates for public office.  If you are interested in running for office, this open discussion will provide valuable information on what to expect when you throw your hat in the ring.  We hope to “demystify” the process and provide advice and encouragement from those who have been through the process.  More information will be available in the next newsletter. 

You will notice that our website, proceedwithcaution.us, is taking on a new look.  Still a work in progress, with the goal of being more interactive with our members.  As CAUTION involves itself more in the local political scene this year, we hope to highlight issues as well as outside publicity our activism is able to generate.  For example, CAUTION  members were quoted in a recent article on the Tea Party that appeared in Creative Loafing.  We thank the author for the story and the fair look it gives to our movement.  We’re also looking at a redesign of our newsletters.

Upcoming Events:

Today!!  Americans for Prosperity is hosting Dick Morris at a free school choice event in Charlotte at the Nascar Hall of Fame. The event is entitled “Restoring American Exceptionalism”.  Doors open at 6:15 with the event starting at 7:30.  Click HERE to register. 

March 2-3 – Join nationally recognized speakers Charles Krauthammer of Fox News, radio talk show host Jason Lewis, and many others at the 2012 Civitas Conservative Leadership Conference: Battleground North Carolina on March 2-3 at the Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh.  Visit HERE for more information and to register.

Thank you, and please join us Monday, January 30 from 5:30-7:30 at the Dilworth Neighborhood Grill on 911 East Morehead Street in Charlotte.

~Your CAUTION Leadership Team

Congratulations to our newly elected board. Your 2012 officers are:

President – Dennis Peterson
Vice President – Derek Melum
Secretary – DJ Wilson
Treasurer – Ingrid Bray
Communications – Christian Hine

This Monday, January 23, our meeting will, as usual, be at the Dilworth Neighborhood Grille from 5:30 (for dinner, 6:00 for the meeting) until 7:30.
The meeting will feature the installation of the new officers and Dennis will further outline some of the goals of the organization as we move forward.

As always, CAUTION is only as strong as it’s individual members. The board is forever open to ideas and suggestions and is always looking for leaders interested in developing and running with a project idea.

For anyone looking for a job, or who knows anyone looking for a job (and in the Obama economy, who doesn’t!) we were asked to pass this information along from Sue Myrick’s office.

(CHARLOTTE, NC) – U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09) will host a job fair for job-seekers in the Charlotte area on Monday, January 23, 2012, from 8:30am to 1:00pm at the Harris Conference Center at 3216 CPCC West Campus Drive, Charlotte, NC.
Employers from around the area have been invited, as well as a career counselor who can offer advice on resume building and interviewing techniques. Individuals will also be on hand with information about employment opportunities and other resources for veterans. Job seekers with all experience levels and skill sets are encouraged to attend.
The fair is free and open to the public, though we are encouraging those interested in attending to RSVP to Myrick.RSVP@mail.house.gov. For a running list of participating employers, please visit www.myrick.house.gov.
Rep. Myrick will be attending, and will be available for media comment from 8:30 – 9:30am.
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In other news, the State of the Union Address will be presented by our President on Tuesday, January 24. To get a taste of what mainstream Americans will be facing during this election campaign in terms of rhetoric from the opposition, watch or listen. (Yes, we know it’s hard, but you can do it!) This will likely be the first major campaign speech of 2012.

See you Monday!

~The CAUTION Leadership Team

Here’s hoping that you had a very Merry Christmas and that your New Years festivities this evening will be fun filled (and safe!)!

No doubt about it, 2012 is going to be unlike any other election year in memory. The nation is at a crossroads, North Carolina is a major battleground state, and Charlotte is on the front lines of the battle.

If CAUTION is going to play a role in voicing Conservative ideas, supporting the goal of limited government, and keeping our elected officials accountable for their actions, we are going to need all hands on deck!

We invite you to join us at our weekly meetings each and every Monday at the Dilworth Neighborhood Grille located at 911 East Morehead Street. Folks gather at 5:30 for dinner and conversation and our meetings begin at 6:00.

This week, since we’re still in holiday mode, we are hosting one of our popular “movie nights” on the big screen. On Monday, January 2, we will be showing “I Want Your Money”. The movie holds no punches in getting to the bottom of Barack Obama’s failing economic policy – and explaining the consequences of our national debt. “I Want Your Money” is a mix of respected interviewees and proven economic facts presented with 3-D animation. Learn more at http://iwantyourmoney.net. Our CAUTION Facebook page also currently has a Youtube clip posted.

The following two meetings will be very important regarding the direction of our organization. At a recent meeting, our membership voted to hold elections for five board member positions who would be tasked with the regular duties of running the group. In addition, they will be charged with creating and proposing important changes to the functionality of our organization…for example, whether or not we decide to officially file as a political action committee.

The offices up for election are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Communications Officer.

If you are interested in running, you may announce at our January 9 meeting. Elections will be held on January 16, and the swearing in of the winners will be on January 23.

It’s going to be a year to remember, and we hope that you will be involved with us!

Sincerely,
The CAUTION Leadership Team

While we may have lost the final vote on Chiquita incentives, CAUTION took a tremendous step forward last Monday night.  Our members were able to unite behind a cause and take our grievances to the City Council. 
Many thanks to Jay Privette, Dennis Peterson, Christian Hine, and Ed Toney who spoke during the council meeting.  Thanks also to the many CAUTION members who trekked out to the government center to show their moral support by clapping and waving homemade signs.  
As a result of our efforts, the people of Charlotte were made aware that there was opposition and were informed as to some of the reasons why.  As we continue to take advantage of opportunities to speak out, our hope is to encourage others to join us in supporting limited government in Charlotte Mecklenburg.
Here are some links to press coverage that we received as a result of our activism:  Way to go!!

Charlotte Observer 
WSOC TV
News 14

Our meeting on December 19th from 5:30 to 7:30 at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille will be the last before Christmas.  Put on something festive and join us for a more casual gathering amongst friends and activists!

In other goings on:

Andrea Arterburn provided us with a heads up for the next League of Women Voters Civics 101 classes.  If you are interested in local politics, this is a very good series of seminars on what makes local government tick.  Here is how to sign up:
 

• Registration is now open for the Civic 101 classes presented by the League of Women Voters of Charlotte Mecklenberg. The first class will be Monday Feb. 13, 2012 on Charlotte city government. The remaining 4 classes will be on Tuesdays, beginning with Feb. 21 on Mecklenberg County, followed by Feb 28 (CMS), March 6 (NC Courts) and ending on March 13 at the Charlotte Observer. 

  The cost for the 5 classes is $40 which includes all materials, snacks and dinner the last evening. Classes begin at 6:00 with registration for the evening and will end at app. 8:45.

  Classes on the first 3 evenings will be at the City County Government Center at 600 4th St. On Mar 6 we will be in a courtroom at the Courthouse. You will receive directions in an email reminder a few days before each class.

  We have a limited class size and an article should appear in the Observer by the end of the month, so I recommend you register quickly to reserve your spot.  Go to Paypal at

  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WQAV3T87W9WDA 

Also, coming up March 2 and 3 in Raleigh, the Civitas Institute is sponsoring the Conservative Leadership Conference with speakers Jason Lewis and Charles Krauthammer, amongst others.  For more information and to register, please visit HERE.

As always, your feedback and ideas are always important to us.  We hope to see you soon!

~CAUTION Leadership Team

In a unanimous vote, the membership present agreed to officially oppose the use of incentive grants.

As a result, we are encouraging our membership to join us on Monday, December 12 at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille (911 East Morehead Street, Charlotte) from 5:30 until 6:45.  Following the abbreviated meeting, we will reassemble at the Government Center to attend the Charlotte City Council meeting at 7:00pm.  

We are encouraging our members to sign up to speak at the City Council meeting to present our case and encourage a “no” vote on the granting of incentives.

There are two ways to sign up.  The first is by calling the City Clerks Office at 704-336-2248 on Monday before 3:00pm.  The second is to sign up online by visiting the following link:

LINK TO CLERKS OFFICE

CAUTION is looking forward to taking a more active approach in fighting back against an ever growing government.  If you haven’t been by in awhile, we’d love to see you again!

In Liberty,
The CAUTION Leadership Team

Thanks to the generosity of our members at last week’s meeting, we know that many of our brave soldiers serving overseas will have a little taste of home this holiday season as well! 

We received several requests from members who couldn’t join us last week to keep the window of opportunity for donating open another week.  We are happy to oblige!  Please feel free to continue to bring any items from last week’s request (click here to see) to our meeting this Monday, November 28 from 5:30-7:30pm at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille.

A special thanks to Sharon Peterson and Catherine Oxford for helping organize and sort the donations we have already received and for creating this new list of some “fill in” items we can use some more of.

They are:
-  Individually packaged Q-tips
-  Body powder for the gals
-  Feminine products (tampons and mini/maxipads)
-  White socks
-  Batteries (AAA & AA)
-  Shaving cream (tubes)
-  Razors
-  Ointment like Desidin (tubes)
-  Stationery
-  packets of sugars and creamers
-  Pocket Bibles
-  Travel size shampoo and conditioner
-  Bobbie pins
-  Sunscreen (!)
-  Bug spray
-  Emory boards
-  Gel insoles
-  Multi-vitamins
-  American flags
-  Dust masks
-  Hand and foot warmers
-  Doggie treats

Thanks again for your generosity and see you Monday!

Below is a list of approved items.

If you would like to donate items for the giftboxes but are unable to attend please contact:

Dennis Peterson at dennisp15@earthlink.net
…
or Kevin Outlaw at NODAGiveback@yahoo.com

The following is a list of suggested items:

Items for soldiers/marines:
Please, consider that we are mailing items to the bravest, finest young men and women in the world. Whatever is sent should be things that we would send to our own sons and daughters.

Please DO NOT send: items with peanuts or pork products, liquids, aerosol cans, hotel toiletries, anything home-cooked, anything illegal…PERIOD!!! All items must be factory packaged/sealed. NO cans or glass.
Also, please Google “what to send to soldiers in Afghanistan”… or “Iraq”
**********************************************************************
beef jerky/slim jims
Cup ‘o Soup
Ramen noodles
Gum
hard candy
decks of cards
Toothpaste
toothbrush
deodorant
Feminine hygiene items
lip balm
socks (black)
Hand sanitizer
baby wipes
power/energy bars
Calling cards/prepaid
hand warmers
tuna in pouches
Chocolate (Oct to March)
drink mixes (Crystal Light, Gatorade powder, To Go packets)
Quart size Zip Loc bags
Gallon size Zip Loc bags
snack items
Warm Delites (individual cake mix found with cake mixes)
plastic knives, forks & spoons
Band-aids
note pads/paper
writing pens
Breath mints
protein bars
Kleenex travel size pkg.
Sunflower seeds
coffee (ground)/filters
gummy bears
Instant oatmeal packets
batteries (AA ,AAA, C & 9 volt)
lozenges/cough drops
Nerf footballs, Frisbees, Hackey sacks
bandanas
school supplies
Dice, poker chips
posters of scenery for walls
holiday decorations

Photos of you doing every day things (birthdays, tailgating, walking the dog, sitting at the beach) Notes and cards telling of every day activities…to remind them of life at home, what is going on in the sports world, etc. MAIL BRIGHTENS THEIR DAYS!!!

WE WILL MAKE A GROUP PICTURE TO SEND AS WELL.

**HAL WEATHERMAN AND ACT! FOR AMERICA’s FIRST CHARLOTTE MEETING**
Tuesday – May 3, 2011
6:30PM for dinner (order off the menu)
7:00PM Meeting
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E. Morehead St., Charlotte
You are invited to the first meeting of the Greater Charlotte Chapter of ACT for America. As you know, ACT for America is a National Non-profit organization that deals with National Security and Terrorism related issues. Act has 560 chapters in over 400 cities, representing 160,000 members and counting. They are a grassroots advocacy organization and we will be discussing the goals of our local chapter.  Hal was on ACT for America’s latest tv program. To view, use this link: http://act4america.blip.tv/     Please RSVP by Monday 5/2/11 to:  heatherwhillier@gmail.com  

**ACT! ALERT RECEIVED 4/29/11**
Today, The Charlotte Observer, North Carolina’s largest newspaper, ran an editorial lampooning the brave efforts of two state representatives who introduced a version of the American Laws for American Courts bill this session. Click to read the editorial and our official response below
We need you to call the editorial page editor, Mr. Taylor Batten at 704-358-5934 and, firmly but respectfully, express your strong disagreement with his paper for taking such a position. Express your belief that this bill is needed to protect the rights of all people, especially women, from foreign legal systems, such as sharia law, that treat them as second class citizens. 

NMRW MAY MEETING
Tuesday – May 10, 2011
6:00PM Registration
6:30PM-Buffet Dinner/Cost is $20 cash or check
15801 NorthStone Dr., NorthStone Country Club, Huntersville, NC  28078
Please Join us for a Conversation with Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Seven-term Mayor of Charlotte, 2008 Republican Nominee for Governor, Served on Homeland Security Advisory Council. All interested friends and neighbors are invited.
Please make reservations by emailing nomeckrw@gmail.com. 

3rd ANNUAL CONSERVATIVE COOKOUT, HOSTED BY JULIE MCKINNEY
Saturday, May 21, 2011
5:00pm-10:00pm
McKinney Residence (near Hwy 51 & Rea Rd – address to be given at time of RSVP)
Get to know other conservative minds! Open to anyone who would like to come. Food will be catered by Mac’s Speed Shop.  (Pulled pork BBQ, Beer-Can Chicken, Baked Beans, Slaw, Mac ‘n Cheese) Soft drinks and iced tea provided, BYOB, COST: $20/adult and $5/child.   RSVP’s are REQUIRED to Julie McKinney no later than May 16: ncsmartgirl@att.net or to 704-604-5425
 Due to the growing size of the crowd (80 last year), this event can no longer be managed with payment “at the door”!  I can easily accept checks, either in person or by mail.  Credit or debit card payment is also an option, but I have to send a PayPal “invoice”.  If you prefer that method, please send an e-mail asking that I do that for you! 
Information needed with RSVP:  -  Names of those attending:  -  Number of Adults:  -  Number of Children:

CIVITAS FREE MARKET ACADEMY
Tuesday, June 6 and June 7, 2011
6:30PM-9:00PM
Charles Mack Citizens Center
215 N. Main Street, Mooresville, NC 
Learn what politicians, left-wing economic professors and the liberal media don’t want you to know about economics, all without the confusion and clutter of complicated mathematical equations.  Never lose a debate about the economy again! 
Cost is $5.00!

ACT! FOR AMERICA
NATIONAL CONFERENCE & LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING
June 22-June 24 2011
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, DC 
For more information on the event and speakers list, please  here

2011 VALUES VOTER SUMMIT
October 7-October 9
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, DC
Fore more information on the event and speakers list, please click here

A “must listen to” interview!
Black Chamber of Commerce President Blasts “Marxist,” “Brownshirt” Obama
Real Clear Politics posted an interview with Laura Ingraham and Harry Alford, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce.  More and more people are figuring out that the POTUS isn’t quite what they bargained for. 

Another very interesting article written by Mychal Massie, he is the Chairman of Project 21’s National Advisory Council, a position he has held since mid-2006.  He works closely with Project 21 Fellow Deneen Moore Borelli (strong TeaParty speaker and often seen on FoxNews) and the membership of Project 21.  His article is:  When will Obama crack in public?

HERITAGE FOUNDATION ALERT!!
Oppose the Gang of Six’s Thinly Veiled Tax Hike
CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW!  The above link will provide the information you need to let your voice be heard!
The Gang of Six’s plan will likely call for increasing tax revenues.  In other words, it will raise taxes. Conservatives need to ensure that the Gang of Six’s misplaced attention on tax hikes falls flat.

FREEDOMWORKS 
Gave Gov. Kasich their “Legislative Entrepreneur Award” for supporting economic liberty.
Now President Obama has struck back, criticizing Gov. Kasich and Senate Bill 5. Watch the video below to see Gov. Kasich defend the taxpayers!

NETRIGHT DAILY
How an Unelected, Unconfirmed Obama Appointee is working to destroy the secret ballot