Dayton Tea Party activist starts conservative business exchange

DAYTON — About 30 local businesses are participating in a program to link conservative consumers with businesses owned by conservatives to help support the Tea Party.

Donald Hutchinson, a businessman and Tea Party supporter, calls his initiative the Tea Party Exchange Inc.

Tea Party supporters who obtain a TPX-Great American card — similar to a customer-loyalty card consumers can attach to key rings — and show it at a participating business can get a discount on the company’s services. The local merchant then gives 5 percent of the sale revenue to the local Tea party chapter to help fund rallies.

“It might attract some customers. It might drive some away,” said Herb Asher, an Ohio State University political science professor. “If I were a businessperson, the first thing I’d ask: Is this a winner or a loser for me?”

Hutchinson is co-founder and president of Essex HR and Associates, a Washington Twp. human resources consultant. He said he plans to speak at the national March on DC Tea Party rally Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C., and will promote the Tea Party Exchange concept to other chapters of the Tea Party, whose members advocate for reducing taxes and cutting spending and the size of government.

But businessman Greg McAfee, president and owner of McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning in Kettering, said his company is participating in the Tea Party Exchange, along with about a dozen other businesses.

McAfee said Thursday that since he started speaking at Tea Party rallies in April 2009, he received four negative letters from customers who said they would stop using his company because of his politics. But McAfee said he also has received about 75 positive letters and e-mails from conservative consumers, and that they have helped bring him an increase in new customers since then.

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Tea Party Leader or Participator (The Blog)

There are a number of businesses getting involved in the Tea Party Exchange. Some are Tea Party leaders and take a position they are going to put their stake into the ground and announce to the public they are Tea Party Exchange Members. They do this through window decals, banners, and posters. These businesses do not worry about whether or not they may offend someone because of their beliefs in the Tea Party’s three core values: (1) limited federal government, (2) fiscal responsibility, and (3) free markets. I applaud these businesses and owners for taking a stand for what they believe in. Without their courage, this movement would be much harder. However, just as important as these leaders, are the future leaders of the tea party, the participators.
These businesses join Tea Party Exchange yet do not want to be as outspoken on the conservative topics. They often have a substantial liberal client base that they do not want to disturb. Many of the businesses have found their rightful place in the Tea Party Exchange. They become members in the exchange yet do not place window decals or other advertising material in their place of business. Therefore, they can be located within our conservative database yet remain neutral on the issues to the general public. Both groups will be very effective at fund raising for our combined conservative cause.
One very important note to understand, whether you are a Tea Party leader or participator does not define you as a person, it simply defines the position you have placed yourself within. In other words, sometimes we are leaders and sometimes participators. It all depends on the situation.
Question: How would you reply to a business owner that says they would like to join the Tea Party Exchange yet they do not want to risk upsetting their not so conservative clients? Should this be a worry and how do you plan on addressing it?