Appeals Court: 'The Tea Party' can't make ballot (MI)

[ccharles000]

The Michigan Court of Appeals said Monday that a group calling itself "The Tea Party" doesn't qualify for the Nov. 2 ballot because it didn't correctly show its name on petitions.

Republicans and tea party activists say "The Tea Party," which has nominated nearly two dozen candidates, is a fake party controlled by Democrats aimed at drawing away votes from Republican candidates. "The Tea Party" is being investigated following allegations that some of its potential candidates may have been nominated through fraud.

In its decision released Monday, the three-member court said the word "the" was not in 24-point bold face type on the petitions as required by law. Michael Hodge, the lawyer representing "The Tea Party," could not immediately be reached Monday evening to say whether he would appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.

He has argued that the petitions submitted substantially met the requirements of state law.

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/08/appeals_court_the_tea_party_ca.html