The Ellis County Press: Letters to the Editor: Responses to Barton article (By Gary Bennett) Letters to the Editor: Responses to Barton article (By Gary Bennett) ================================================================================ Editor on 09/10/2010 10:18:00 Following the story in your paper covering the forum with Congressman Joe Barton on Aug. 30, several members of the Ellis County Tea Party have been asked if that means the tea party is endorsing Joe Barton. Let me state that such is not the case. The Ellis County Tea Party has not and is not endorsing any candidate for office. Each member of our group is free to make his or her individual decision as to which candidate to vote for and to support. The Ellis County Tea Party’s objective is to provide opportunities for the members to educate themselves on the various issues and candidates in order to make an informed decision at the polls, to inform their friends and neighbors of what they have learned, and encourage each person to exercise their responsibility to vote intelligently at the polls. The forum with Congressman Barton, hosted for our members and the public, was just such an opportunity. Had he acquired a really viable opponent in the race for Congress, we would have extended the same opportunity to that individual. Throughout this year, we have extended opportunities for our members to hear from many candidates running for office. None of those candidates received an endorsement from the Ellis County Tea Party. That has been and is our policy. Please feel free to contact me or other leaders of the tea party should you have any questions. Thank you. Gary Bennett President, Ellis County Tea Party Ennis