Watching the sex scandals at Penn State and now Syracuse Universities develop, one can’t help but wonder how people with such polluted values could be protected for so long to the detriment of so many. It’s a sad commentary on the state of American society, our legal process and institutions that hold a public trust. What we see playing out in the scandals at the colleges, in the halls of Congress where insider trading is apparently legal, or with Wall Street banks who game the system, is the work of a protected class of Americans. They are above the law or mold the law to suit their needs. They believe they are untouchable. More often than not, they’re right.

The crimes of a sex offender and a Congressman profiting from insider information clearly inflict different injuries on different victims and in different ways. They both however highlight how our institutions have created a ruling class that treats the law as a tool to be used for their benefit or an instrument of convenience.

READ MORE AT TOWNHALL.COM

An Open Letter to Colin Powell from Ned Ryun, President of American Majority regarding Powell’s comments on ABC’s This Week regarding the Tea Party:

November 28, 2011

Secretary Powell:

As someone who works closely with thousands of tea party members and conservative grassroots activists across America, I disagreed with your recent comments on ABC’s This Week suggesting the Tea Party was a cause of the divisive and unproductive tone in Washington. You further stated that the Tea Party’s reluctance to compromise would not produce a winning Presidential candidate.

On the contrary, Tea Party members would agree that compromise is part of the legislative process. They know how the system works. However, when government spending is spiraling out of control and the nation is $15 trillion in debt, in no small part due to President Obama, there comes a time when Americans must say enough. There comes a time when people must make tough choices to turn America back from its course toward statism.

READ MORE ON AMERICAN MAJORITY’S INSIDER

Whether it’s Penn State or politics, there’s always a reason why the masses never can quite fathom why what’s being done behind closed doors is actually being done, in spite of popular outrage or even votes at the ballot box. That’s because, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan—and in direct contradiction to our common sense and decency as citizens, as neighbors, as people—the first order of business for any entity, whether it’s a government agency, a church, or an NGO is to ensure its own survival. Self-preservation is job #1, anything else (including public sentiment or something as laughable as the “will of the people”) be damned.

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When the historic 2011 recall elections in Wisconsin were over late this summer, conservatives withstood an assault from labor unions to maintain a 17-16 majority in the state senate. American Majority prepared the local Tea Party groups and other conservatives for these historic elections through training in or near all of the Senate recall districts in April and May. These grassroots individuals really made the difference in responding to the $25 million the Left spent attempting to buy control of the state senate. Moreover, local Tea Party leaders led the recall efforts of two state senators who fled to Illinois.

During the April Training Blitz, American Majority trained the two leaders of the recall committees for AWOL incumbents, Kim Simac and Dan Hunt. These leaders were instrumental in organizing the grassroots efforts of local groups. Further, American Majority trained two candidates running against AWOL incumbents, Kim Simac and Jonathan Steitz. The two challengers successfully defeated establishment candidates in their primaries before taking the incumbents to the wire on election night and rocking the status quo.

Although the two incumbents won re-election, the Tea Party told their elected officials loudly and clearly that they will be held accountable and must listen to their constituents.

We have been through a lot since our founding only three short years ago. We’ve trained almost 20,000 people, in over 44 states, and have quickly grown to become one of the most trusted grassroots political training groups in the country. Much of our success is due to the amazing people around this country that woke up from their political apathy and began to take back their government, pursuing trainings, education, and experience in local government. With major elections just around the corner in 2012, we knew we had to do all we can to assist as many local groups as we could. That is why we are making sweeping changes through out American Majority, and creating even more great content for you to use as you volunteer, organize, and run for political office.

In order to prepare candidates seeking office in 2012, their campaign staff, and the armies of activist volunteers behind them, we have put together a potent set of training sessions, manuals, and online resources.

Candidates
Running for office is no small feat. But American Majority is here to help. First-time candidates trained by American Majority have been elected at nearly all levels of state and local government. And we have taken our proven training program to the next level. Our expert faculty of former campaign staffers break down everything you need to know to run for office. From determining the message of your campaign to developing the plan, American Majority training leaves no i undotted. Further, American Majority training for campaign staff equips them to handle everything from scheduling and precinct work, to media relations and volunteer management.

Activists
Whether you’re supporting a candidate, slate, or issue, American Majority training gives you the tools necessary to be effective. We have gone back to the drawing board and nearly doubled our existing curriculum. Taking from the Left’s playbook, our brand new series “How the Left Does It” cracks open the ACORN community organizing manual. By learning their plays, we can mount an effective defense and beat them at their own game. We’ve broken down the concepts of precinct organizing, GOTV, and election integrity to make it even more accessible for groups of all size and mission.

Online
We understand better than anyone the power possessed by effective online organization. To help you navigate this constantly changing landscape, American Majority has produced all new editions of the guides and video resources you have trusted before. Further, we have launched a brand-new online training webinar series. No matter if you’ve never logged on to Twitter.com or if you need advice about plug-ins for your new blog, our expert faculty will be there to guide you every step of the way. But unlike our standard trainings, you’ll be able to attend from the comfort of your home.

On-Campus
In 2008, college campuses proved to be a powerful source of volunteers, donors and campaign staff. This fall, American Majority has traveled to college campuses all across the country to work with liberty-minded students, providing them the tools necessary to organize for freedom and be effective in their communities. In the spring, we will host even more trainings geared for students who are interested in serving as campaign staff.

This year, as town council, school board and other local elections are held across the nation, voters are getting involved like never before and are standing up to demand accountability and responsibility from their elected officials. As states face critical budget issues, town councils have to decide whether to cut spending or raise local taxes, and corrupt elected officials are taken to task, our country needs patriots who are organized, effective and ready to stand for lower taxes, transparency, and Constitutional government.

American Majority will be conducting an activist training session hosted by Tea Party 365 in New York City on Sunday, December 4th, from 10:00AM-4:00PM, at the Baruch College Recital Hall (55 Lexington Ave. @ 23rd Street).  The event will be geared toward giving grassroots activists in New York the resources and information that will help them effectively organize at the local level. Registration is $25.00 per person- a student rate of $20.00 is available.

Some of the topics that will be addressed will include*:

For more information or registration over the phone, please call 540-338-1251.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change. Registration is open to the public.

This year, as town council, school board and other local elections are held across the nation, voters are getting involved like never before and are standing up to demand accountability and responsibility from their elected officials. As states face critical budget issues, town councils have to decide whether to cut spending or raise local taxes, and corrupt elected officials are taken to task, our country needs patriots who are organized, effective and ready to stand for lower taxes, transparency, and Constitutional government.

American Majority will be holding an activist training session in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday, February 11th , co-hosted by the Goose Creek 912 group. The event will be geared toward giving grassroots activists in South Carolina the resources and information that will help them effectively organize and be most effective as the local level as they defend free market principles and individual liberties in their communities.

The event will be held at the City of Hanahan Court Room-Council Chambers, located at 1255 Yeamans Hall Road, in Hanahan-North Charleston, SC from 9:00AM-3:00PM. Registration is $25.00 per person, and includes lunch and training materials. Some of the topics that will be addressed include*:

-          Community Organizer for Freedom: Steps you can take in your community to find new leaders, increase transparency and find the votes.

-          Precinct Power: Knowing what a precinct is and why it’s important is the key to impacting the vote tally in your community. Crunching the numbers, making sure that precinct captains are in-place, and making sure the voter registration logs are up-to-date are crucial to getting the results you want.

-           Grassroots Action: In this presentation we discuss building a successful coalition. We cover specifics on how to lead an organization, how to hold elected officials accountable, and how to work together with other organizations in your area.

-           So You Want to Run for Office: This presentation goes through six important sections of questions you will need to know and answer yourself before you know if you’re ready to run for office.

For more information or registration over the phone, please call 540-338-1251 or email Jaoni Wood at Jaoni@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change. Registration is open to the public.

This month I thought I’d take a detour from my usual writing on the political “military-industrial complex”. I didn’t feel like doing nuts-and-bolts campaign mechanics either. Something’s been gnawing at the edges of my mind for a time, and I wanted to draw it out. So bear with me please.

Now, it’s certainly no secret that most of us in America these days take for granted that social media is part of the very fabric of our life. Those of us in the conservative grassroots certainly realize and struggle to master the power of this relatively recent technology. The ability to amplify our voice, echo our message, to create our own personal “brand” and manage our image online has been a tremendous boon to the Tea Party movement among many others in the last few years. Not to mention what it’s done for the ties of family or friendship, or even interpersonal relationships (think Match.com).But do we really stop to think about the fundamental changes this new facet of communications has made to who we are at our core?

Plenty has been written about generational and even partisan differences in how people view “new” media: email, social networking platforms, mobile applications. What I wonder about is something a little deeper. I wonder about what living like this—with both the blessings and all the curses of current technology—says about us as individuals, as citizens.

Let’s go back first though to a time before AOL, before Al Gore, maybe before DARPA made the modern internet. About twenty years ago, a sleeper of a movie came out. “Dead Poets Society” was one of Robin Williams’s first dramatic roles, and it starred the formerly manic comedian as a subdued yet inspiring teacher, John Keating. Taking his 1950’s-era New England boarding school students aside one day, he whispers “CARPE DIEM” to them, supposedly in the now-dead voices of their pictured predecessors at the academy for boys.

It was a needed lesson. The once-staid and blazered boys now looked at their existence in a different way. They started to question the same authority they had blindly followed; they peered into the mirror to discover their innermost passions: literature, cigarettes, girls. I doubt that many viewers of this melancholy film remained unaffected by its themes, its effortless joy, or the moral of its story: “seize the day”.

But I eventually stopped taking Mr. Keating’s advice and taking stock, and real life’s fast-forward button got pressed.

Next it’s 1994, the year I sent my first email. It was a tedious thing, filled with the kind of computer jargon and IP addresses only University tech support (or older, longtime CompuServe users) could remember. Then it’s 1997, the year I signed up for my first Hotmail account. This interface is much more human, and I spend a not inconsiderable amount of time trying to come up with a clever “@” handle before finally just using my own full name. The 2000’s come. I learn Outlook at a corporate job. I also create a LinkedIn account, featuring an early resume. MySpace hits even my circle of grown friends, while MeetUp helps get local political volunteers around me organized.

Now it’s 2004, and a certain young Harvard student first sets up a tiny thing called “Facebook”. The phenomenon I previously observed via MySpace (adult friends spending hours on their profiles, uploading photographs, etc.) goes into high-gear once Facebook decides to allow even those without a college email address to join. Overnight, one’s “wall”, “status”, and “feed” are all-important. Somewhere in that same timeframe, an oddity named “Twitter” (basically, texting via computer) comes into being, and now, it seems, the only life worth living is the life displayed.

And that’s what I’m getting at. While I realize full well how many millions of Americans (heck, people everywhere) used to live Thoreau’s ‘lives of quiet desperation’, I fear we’ve gone to the other extreme in today’s society. Aaron Karo (who, ironically, writes an online journal of sorts at www.ruminations.com) talks about this, and how we’ve created a culture of ‘exhibitionists—and not in a good way’.

We’ve opened Pandora’s box (which was actually a jar I’m told). Things like humility, modesty, decorum and a sense of discretion are now unheard of (actually not even understood) by most owners of iPhones. I don’t even need to begin to list the litany of political figures undone by technology (Anthony Weiner, anyone?)

Still, somewhere , way back there…almost a speck now in our civilization’s collective rearview mirror…the life examined (not displayed; there’s a difference—and Socrates knew it), the life of delayed gratification lies. It’s a simpler, more silent approach to be sure: one that doesn’t require the constant blaring of how awesome one’s travels and experiences are. One that rarely invokes the refrain of “best day ever”, typically accompanied by a smartphone-snapped photo.

Somehow we’ve confused the Latin word for ‘seize’ for our word “share”.

American Majority is pleased to announce that we will be joining the Lincolnway Tea Party Patriots to hold a half-day Activist Training that will provide citizens with the tools necessary to win elections and implement limited government and free market principles.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

The training will be November 12, 2011 at The Frankfort Township Building, 11000 W Lincoln Highway, Frankfort, IL.  The event will begin promptly at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm. Registration begins at 8:30 am. Advanced registration is $15. The registration fee includes training materials and coffee.

In addition to providing an opportunity to meet other patriots in your community, the seminar provides an opportunity to network and learn from grassroots organizers with successful campaign experience. Topics to be covered during the training include*:

• Community Organizers for Freedom: Steps you can take in your community to find new leaders, increase transparency, and find the votes
• Precinct Power: Knowing what a precinct is and why it’s important is the key to impacting the vote tally in your community.  Crunching the numbers, making sure that precinct captains are in place, and making sure the voter registration logs are up-to-date are crucial to getting the results you want.
• GOTV: Volunteering for a campaign’s GOTV effort can have measurable impact on the results of an election, and may even decide victory.  Learn what it takes to be an effective volunteer and prepare to work for your candidate of choice.
• New Media & Social Capitalists: In this new media presentation the value of social networks and how to invest in your “brand” online.  Political campaigns are built and ruined on one’s reputation.  We can control what others see and read. In this presentation, we will take a look at how to manipulate Google search returns and increase brand awareness through social media.  We will also include an overview on how to use Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, email Sarah at Sarah.G@AmericanMajority.org or Raquel at Raquel@AmericanMajority.org. To register by phone call Sarah or Raquel at 630-455-0736.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

*Topics subject to change prior to event.

This year, as town council, school board and other local elections are held across the nation, voters are getting involved like never before and are standing up to demand accountability and responsibility from their elected officials. As states face critical budget issues, town councils have to decide whether to cut spending or raise local taxes, and corrupt elected officials are taken to task, our country needs patriots who are organized, effective and ready to stand for lower taxes, transparency, and Constitutional government.

 American Majority will be joining the Rhode Island Tea Party for a campaign training session in Rhode Island on Saturday, November 19th. The event will be geared toward giving candidates and campaign staff in Rhode Island the resources and information that will help them structure and manage successful campaigns as they seek to hold elected officials accountable at the local level, and elect new, principled leadership. Some of the topics that will be addressed include*:

• Campaign Plan: A campaign without a plan won’t get very far- this covers what a campaign plan should look like, what should be on it, and how detailed and flexible it should be.
•  Fundraising: The one thing every campaign needs, and can never get enough of is money. Who to ask, how to ask, how much to ask for- these are all important questions that you need to have answered before you start fundraising.
• GOTV: Boots on the ground are essential for any campaign victory, but first you have to find them. You also must have the necessary knowledge of your district or precinct, the equipment they will need, and the infrastructure to direct them in the last minute push to find your supporters, and get them to the polls.

The training will be held from 8:30am-5:00pm on Saturday, November 19th, at BrokerNetUSA, located at 100 Metro Center Blvd, in Warwick, RI. The $50.00 per person registration fee includes lunch and training materials.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change. Registration is open to the public.

Every elected official, from school board member to state legislator to the President of the United States plays a vital role in shaping the policies and direction of our communities, states, and nation. These offices deserve men and women who are grounded in the principles of liberty and individual freedom. With the eyes of the nation on Wisconsin, it is more important now than ever before that we have defenders of liberty stepping forward to run for office.  American Majority’s political training is designed to enhance your campaign effort through targeted education and resources.

American Majority Wisconsin along with Wisconsin Family Council is hosting a Candidate, Campaign Manager and Activist Training on Saturday, November 12th at the Olympia Resort located at 1350 Royale Mile Rd., in Oconomowoc. The training will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.

The cost for Activists is $25 per person if registered online and $35 at the door. Campaign Managers is $35 per person if registered online and $45 at the door. The cost for Candidates is $50 per person if registered online and $60 at the door. These costs include lunch and all training materials.

The Candidate Training program is designed specifically to educate candidates on every level how to run effective and victorious campaigns and prepare them to become successful elected officials. The Campaign Manager and Activist lectures provide extensive knowledge on the role campaign managers and volunteers play during an election, as well as how citizens can be engaged and effective in their community.

The Candidate/Campaign Manager Training Program includes the following topics*:

•  Creating your Campaign Plan and Campaign Structure
• Campaign Fundraising
• Public Speaking and Messaging
• The Role of a Campaign Manager
• Get-Out-The-Vote
• Campaigning Online
• Winning your Precinct

Upon completion of this political training seminar, candidates will receive continuing education materials, access to podcasts and other presentations, communications curriculum, and suggestions to help them utilize think-tank resources.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Heather Weininger: e-mail Heather@americanmajority.org or Matt Batzel: email Mattb@americanmajority.org.  You can also call 262-241-7945.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority is pleased to announce that we are holding a Candidate and Activist Training that will provide citizens with the tools necessary to win elections and implement limited government and free market principles.

The training will take place on Saturday, January 21st, at the American Air-power Heritage Museum facility at 9600 Wright Drive, Midland, TX 79706. The event will begin promptly at 10am and end at 3:30pm. Registration begins at 9:30 am. Registration is $50 per candidate and $25 per activist. It includes training materials and box lunch. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

In addition to providing an opportunity to meet other patriots in your community, the seminar provides an opportunity to network and learn from grassroots organizers with successful campaign experience. Topics to be covered during the training include*:

• Precinct Work: Organizing your precinct and setting a battle plan to win elections.
• Grassroots Organizing for Freedom: Maximize the impact that your group and each individual within it has at the grassroots level.
• Social Capitalism: Leveraging social media as a tool for online political action and winning the culture war.
• How the Left Does GOTV: Understanding the GOTV strategies of ACORN & SEIU
• How to Run for Office: Part 1 – Building a campaign plan and laying the groundwork for success
• How to Run for Office: Part 2 – Putting plans into action and seizing victory
• Media/Interview training for Candidate trainees

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call or email Raz Shafer: e-mail Raz@americanmajority.org Phone: 254-592-3361.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

This year, as town council, school board and other local elections are held across the nation, voters are getting involved like never before and are standing up to demand accountability and responsibility from their elected officials. As states face critical budget issues, town councils have to decide whether to cut spending or raise local taxes, and corrupt elected officials are taken to task, our country needs patriots who are organized, effective and ready to stand for lower taxes, transparency, and Constitutional government.

American Majority will be conducting an activist training session in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, December 3rd at Georgios Restaurant (3425 Thomasville Road) from 9:00am-3:00pm. The event will be geared toward giving grassroots activists in Florida the resources and information that will help them effectively organize in their communities to defend limited government and free market principles. Registration is $25.00 per person, and includes training materials and lunch.

Some of the topics that will be addressed will be:

• Holding Elected Officials Accountable
• Building Effective Organizations and Coalitions
• Precinct Organizing and GOTV

If you would like more information about the event, please contact Ken Mayo at Ken@AmericanMajority.org, or call 540-338-1251.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change. Registration is open to the public.