FreedomWorks not free: $10K to participate in D.C. tea party march

Original Link: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/FreedomWorks_not_free_10k_to_participate_in_DC_Tea_Party_march.html

By Ben Smith

FreedomWorks, the conservative group organizing much of the "tea party" movement, has riled allies by charging hefty fees to participate in a Sept. 12 March on Washington aimed at bringing the movement's broad anti-government agenda — notably, opposition to health care changes — to Capitol Hill.

FreedomWorks, which is chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, is charging other groups a minimum of $10,000 for the right to distribute material to the activists gathered for the march, and to attach their own names to the event. The group has raised its rates from an initial fee schedule, which would put a group's name on the website for free, and would allow it to distribute materials for $2,500.

Groups can also pay to have a speaker address a rally and workshops, with $10,000 securing a prime Saturday afternoon speaking slot, according to the fee schedule, obtained by POLITICO and printed after the jump.

The organization is citing the event's increasing cost in justifying the increased price to conservative allies, one of whom disclosed the details to POLITICO.

"Their 'organizing' is tending to dominate and overformalize what would’ve otherwise been a more 'freelance' protest," wrote the conservative, who also complained of FreedomWorks' move to "own" the entire event by controlling access both to workshops and to the march itself.

A spokesman for FreedomWorks, Adam Brandon, didn't immediately respond to telephone and email messages inquiring about the pricing.

Some groups, however, appear to have paid up. Though most are listed on the event's homepage as "Bronze" sponsors — the free level of involvement, which is no longer available, the National Taxpayers Union came in at the $10,000 "Platinum" level, while the Tea Party Patriots, the conservative social network ResistNet, and California Republican Howard Kaloogian's Our Country Deserves Better PAC each ponied up at the $5,000 "Gold" level, while the Institute for Liberty got access to the protesters at the $2,500 "Silver" level.

The original fee schedule is after the jump; the more recent correspondence from the group to conservative has raised the minimum donation to $10,000.

UPDATE: FreedomWorks federal and state campaign director Brendan Steinhauser emails: "The March on Washington is going to cost a lot for the stage, sound, equipment, materials and other things. We think it's a great opportunity for organizations who want to co-sponsor this event to help us pay for some of these costs. We are excited to have a huge coaliton of limited government organizations joining with us on the 12th."

Old fee schedule:

Bronze-Level Co-Sponsor: FREE

— Name on the website www.912dc.org and a link

— We will list your happy hours/open house or other events on the website

Silver-Level Co-Sponsor: $2500

— Ability to distribute materials during Thursday issue panels and grass-roots training

— 2 tickets to Friday appreciation dinner

— 1 speaker on Saturday at the rally

Gold-Level Co-Sponsor: $5000

— Ability to distribute materials during Thursday issue panels and grass-roots training

— Speakers from your organization to participate in Thursday issue panels and grass-roots training

— 5 tickets to Friday appreciation dinner

Platinum Level Co-Sponsor: $10,000

All Silver- and Gold-Level benefits, plus:

— Organization name and logo printed on official 9-12 March on Washington T-shirt

— Organization name and logo displayed on 9-12 March on Washington banners and signs

— 10 tickets to Friday appreciation dinner

— 1 speaker from your organization to address the crowd Saturday afternoon