TeaCon organizer says party eyes state races in 2012

TeaCon 2011, this weekend's regional tea party convention in Schaumburg, is a prime example of the efforts of local tea party groups to work together more closely to have national impact on the upcoming election. Calling the 2012 election “one of the most important elections of our lifetime,” TeaCon organizer and Chicago Tea Party Patriots Director Steve Stevlic spoke with the Daily Herald about a new focus on state legislative races, why the tea party won't be making endorsements as a group, and why “tea party jokes” are easy to ignore.

Q. What do you think this event will do for tea party groups in Chicago?

A. We're looking for TeaCon to energize tea party members and supporters all over the area. There are many races across the state where they can actually have a direct effect.

(This convention) is designed to empower tea party members. The breakout sessions were designed to give them skills we needed to be more active. For instance, the Illinois Policy Institute is leading one session on how to deal with the media. What's the best time to reach them, how to contact them. Because the tea party is grass-roots, we need to work on more support and how to get savvy like the big parties.

Q. There are more tea party groups popping up in the Chicago area. Have you seen more cooperation and cohesiveness among them?

A. It is and always has been a grass-roots movement. Eventually they will start interconnecting with the other groups. I think this convention would be an example of this interconnection. We're trying to bring people together.

Q. With an eye on 2012, where do you go from here?

A. I think there are going to be some congressional races that are going to be of interest with the tea party. There are going to be a lot of state senate and state house races. With 2010, most of the focus was on the national races, but next year, there will be more attention on Illinois because of the pension tax increase.

Q. So, does that mean you could be going after individuals like longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan?

A. That remains to be seen. If Madigan can get behind meaningful pension reform that's going to save the system and save the state money, then we'll support those efforts. We're not about politics; we're about principles and making a difference.

Q. Do you see the tea party groups coming together to endorse candidates for Congress and president?

A. There will be local groups making endorsements. There shouldn't be any national endorsement by the tea party (as a whole). A tea party endorsement is an indication of what kind of support the various candidates have. We believe everyone is an individual, and the choice is still on the individual, not the party.

Q. How do you feel about tea party jokes? How do you respond?

A. We don't. I mean, getting called a ‘tea bagger' is not an insult to me.

It's not a big deal. What have they called us that we haven't been already called before? We're often talked about how you can personalize and demonize your opponents. For the most part people can't argue with us on the fact that the debt's out of control, that government's out of control.

Q. What do you think the tea party's effect has been on the Republican party?A. I don't know the answer to that question. I think it depends on what you're looking at. Has it changed the agenda in Washington in terms of what you're looking to do? Yes. Does it really mean the party's changed? I don't know.

<b>TeaCon 2011</b>

<b>Where:</b> Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg

<b>Remaining tickets:</b> On Friday a limited number of tickets were on sale in person. The Glenn Beck dinner is sold out.

<b>Today:</b> A breakfast general session is followed by three hours of break-out sessions focused on specific topics and issues. Then there's a lunch general session, followed by a presidential candidates forum. A straw poll comes afterward.

<b>Tonight:</b> Dinner with Glenn Beck. Straw poll results will be announced.