Editor:

This is in response to Commissioner (Eloy) Rodriguez’s comments in Wednesday‘s paper. I wish to thank Mr. Rodriguez for providing the opportunity to clarify who the Tea Party Patriots are and what they stand for.

We are taxpayers, Democrats, Republicans, independents, young, old and middle-aged from all walks of life; most of us are also veterans or married to them. We have sacrificed to keep our country based on the principles as laid out in the Constitution of the United States. We want personal responsibility to become the norm again. We resent anyone who wants to take our rights to free speech and other freedoms away; that includes President Obama, many of the members of Congress (both Democrat and Republican), you and your ilk.

You say that we are divisive, yet you do not tell us how we are being divisive. If that means that we refuse to bend our morals and values to those of yours and the Hollywood crowd, then I would have to agree. We are optimistic about American citizens and believe they have the power to make their lives what they wish them to be. We reject the “victim” mentality (encouraged by some in our government) pervading the country.

You spit on the very things upon which our country was built… self-sufficiency, hard work, innovation and common decency.

As I said earlier, I’m glad Mr. Rodriguez has the opportunity to voice his opinions, just as I’m glad the Tea Party Patriots are still free to voice theirs. All of the patriots have a deep love for the country, and, as in the past, are willing to sacrifice, once again (through their time and voices), to keep it a great nation. As a side note, I find it ironic to see an article (of that type) about a group made up of a majority of veterans and their families on Veterans Day.

Ann Allard, USAF Retired

Tea Party Patriot