Teabaggers promote fiscal responsibility by campaigning on a $1,499 per person Alaskan cruise liner

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Friday, Sep 17, 2010 09:01 ET
War Room
Tea Party's secret campaign weapon: Lavish Alaska cruise
By Justin Elliott

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/2010_elections/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/09/17/tea_party_express_cruise



Staffers for the Tea Party group that fueled Joe Miller's stunning GOP primary upset of Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska actually campaigned around the state on a luxury cruise liner, Salon has learned, even as they touted fiscal responsibility.

The $1,499 per person Holland America tickets -- which the group, Tea Party Express, maintains were cheaper than traveling on land -- allowed a handful of staffers to sail along the Alaska coast, holding pro-Miller events when the ship went to port, said former Tea Party Express political director Bryan Shroyer. The tickets also, according to Holland America, entitled the staffers to complimentary fresh fruit on request, fresh flowers, 100% Egyptian cotton towels, shoeshine service, and high-end body lotions from Elemis Aroma.

The Tea Party Express is a Sacramento-based group founded last year by several veteran GOP operatives to harness the conservative resurgence; it operates off of grassroots donations. By arranging rallies and making hefty ad buys (nearly $600,000 worth in Alaska) the group was a decisive force in the victory of Miller over incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and of Christine O'Donnell in Delaware over heavy favorite Rep. Mike Castle.

The group's chief strategist, Sal Russo, said in an interview with Salon that the cruise option was picked because it was cheaper than airfare, hotel, and food expenses on land in Alaska. Nevertheless, the image of staffers frolicking on a Holland America cruise has already prompted grumbling from some conservatives who are aware of the expenditure -- and it's likely to provide fodder for the other tea party groups that have accused Tea Party Express of irresponsible spending in the past.