YOU NEVER KNOW

FAIRtax was front and center in the hallway outside the Union County, New Jersey, Republican Convention on February 15, 2023. The event took place in person for the first time in three years following a pandemic-induced hiatus. Delegates from all twenty-one municipalities in Union County, New Jersey, gathered at the STEM Building at Kean University in Union to choose their 2023 candidates for the State Senate and Assembly in three legislative districts and the County Board of Commissioners.

FAIRtax has good relations with the County Republican Chair and got permission to have a table in the hall outside the auditorium. We set up with buttons, sign-in sheets, pocket cards, business cards, and a two-page sheet that explained the FAIRtax in greater depth than could fit on a pocket card.

Delegates congregated in the hall before the doors opened to the auditorium for the Convention, permitting us to engage in conversation and hand out literature.

We were also delegates to the Convention and had to leave our table when told to head into the auditorium to start the program. Following the usual speeches to nominate, second, and accept nominations, the Convention ended, and something unusual happened.

We came out of the Convention and saw a former candidate for County Commissioner from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, stopping by the empty FAIRtax table. We caught up with him, and he wondered why more people weren’t supporting the FAIRtax. Several years ago, he had seen us at a street fair, and we knew each other from other County Republican functions. 

We let him know that our freshman Congress Member, Tom Kean, Jr., NJ-07, would not commit to the FAIRtax. Kean had received help from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during his most recent and previous campaigns. We know that McCarthy made a deal with the Freedom Caucus to permit the FAIRtax to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, but he does not favor it. Kean may have some loyalty to McCarthy and wants to be in McCarthy’s good graces by keeping clear of the FAIRtax.

We told our visitor that Kean needed to hear from him. A Republican stalwart from Scotch Plains and former County Commissioner Candidate like our visitor would have much more pull with Kean than we would. Our visitor agreed to speak to Kean. Meanwhile, he asked where he could get a lawn sign, and we gave him one from our table. Pictured below are our table about to be taken down and the lawn sign in front of his house.
So, here we go from a casual visit to a booth at a street fair years ago to an active supporter to puts lawn signs in front of his house: who knew?

FAIRtax is not a Republican or Democrat movement, so if you are active in the Democratic Party, a FAIRtax table at a Democratic County Convention could be just as effective.

I would love to hear what you are doing to get out the FAIRtax word. AFFT Grassroots Coordinator & Secretary

 

🇺🇸   Call For Pictures & WriteUps - When others see your activity, they are inspired, the process snowballs and Representatives, Senators and, yes, even the President start to listen to you and me. Please send your material to me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.org.

🇺🇸   The Official FAIRtax Store - Don’t forget to order your FAIRtax gear from the FAIRtax Store.

🇺🇸   We've Got You Covered, If You Let Us Know - If you are planning an event, we have event insurance coverage available for you. Email me the "who-what-where-when" and I will obtain for you a COI. Once the event is underway, it's too late.