As AFP shed light on the policy issues that are failing our country – a $1.7 trillion healthcare takeover, unemployment which stayed above 8 percent for 42 months, $16 trillion in national debt, and $1 billion wasted on Solyndra and green energy scams – a force of activists joined us to spread the message to their friends and family. 35,000 activists signed out petition to President Obama, letting him know that Americans don’t support his big-government policies.

As we look to the future and continue to lead the fight for individual liberty and limited government, we thank you for standing with us!

Americans for Prosperity pumped gas for over 300 Byron Center residents at just $1.84 a gallon. For many, the event couldn’t have come at a better time.

Laura, a single mother of three, talked about the difficulties she faces getting enough gas to drive her children to school. “When you have to choose between putting gas in your car, and feeding your children, you know things have gone too far,” she said.

With gas hovering right at $3.78 a gallon today, over double what it was four years ago, American families and businesses are hurting.

“We want to remind people what the true cost of President Obama’s failed green energy policies has been,” said Scott Hagerstrom, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan.

“President Obama has made it more expensive for Michigan families to drive to work, take our children to school and sporting events, and make trips to the grocery store.”

With AFP’s Obama’s Failing Agenda Tour crisscrossing the nation, we’re out to educate people on the harmful aspects of the President’s big-government agenda, and put grassroots pressure on politicians to turn away from these policies.

“The President claims to have an ‘all of the above’ energy policy, yet his Administration has rescinded oil and gas leases and held up drilling permits with bureaucratic red tape,” Hagerstrom concluded. “Average retail gasoline prices have more than doubled under President Obama. That has caused Michiganders pain at the pump, but also increased the cost of consumer goods such as groceries. We’re calling on President Obama to change his failing agenda and embrace pro-growth energy policies.”

“This is a can’t miss event! Americans for Prosperity is incredibly excited to share our message of liberty and individual freedom with some phenomenal entertainers,” said Tim Phillips, President of AFP. “With so many Americans struggling in the Obama ‘recovery,’ this is a great opportunity for some fantastic entertainment combined with the powerful message of economic freedom.”

Event Information
Date: October 6, 2012
Time: 2:00 p.m. (before the Ohio State Football Game)
Location: Columbus Convention Center

The event is free, but those wishing to attend should register at FailingAgenda.com.

This event is part of AFP’s nationwide bus tour that will host events in some 400 cities in 20+ states.  The tour titled “Obama’s Failing Agenda” is focused on educating citizens on the disastrous economic policies of the President including 43 straight months of unemployment over 8%, a healthcare law which will cost over $1.7 trillion, $16 trillion in national debt and millions wasted on green energy scams like Solyndra. More information on the tour is available at www.FailingAgenda.com.

The hub of this effort was at our newly opened field office in Leesburg, where Virginia State Director Audrey Jackson had been working to bring out around 80 AFP volunteers, including a contingent from Maryland. Our good friend and fellow happy warrior Kate Obenshain took time to drop by and make calls with us and remind us of the importance of our work for the future of freedom and prosperity in America. Of course, my favorite activists were my three sons and daughter, pictured above.

Enthusiastic volunteers were given mobile phones and their own personal access code to connect to our sophisticated dialing system. Using this technology, each volunteer is capable of making literally thousands of calls in a few hours – far more expansive and effective than anything used before. That means we spend less time dialing and more time talking to real people about the issues that concern so many Americans. Our volunteers know that when they phone bank with AFP they are an integral part of pushing back against the left and advancing freedom and prosperity.

To make sure this national effort was synchronized and coordinated across all 100 locations, we live-streamed the Leesburg kickoff to make sure everyone got off to an enthusiastic start. The video of Kate and my speech will be posted soon. As of 12 noon eastern time, AFP volunteers had made over 75,000 calls. An hour later, we were up to 104,000. At the time of this post we have hit 200,000 calls and look forward to surpassing our goal of 250,000 in the next hour or so.

As many activists continue to make calls, a number of activists are spending the day outside, knocking on doors and having one-on-one conversations with activists. We’ve met some great people who are concerned about the state of our economy and want to know more about how President Obama’s policies affect them. By talking with concerned citizens and educating them about economic freedom, AFP’s activists are making a real difference for the future of our country. While the National Prosperity Action Day has been a huge success and represents a major victory for our activists, we aren’t resting on our laurels.

Come Monday morning, our activists will continue making calls with our phone banking program, driving around the country in our “Obama’s Failing Agenda” bus tour, and otherwise holding politicians accountable.

Thank you for standing with AFP and making a difference for our country’s future.

Jeff Crank, AFP-Colorado’s State Director, spoke to the crowd about the President’s failing agenda, including the 1.7 trillion health care takeover. “No man or woman should have to ask the government for the health care they deserve,” he said. “These failing policies are ruining our country’s future… but we fight for our children’s future, and our grandchildren’s future, and we’re not going anywhere.”

The Obama’s Failing Agenda tour continues across the country with stops planned in the coming days for Montana, North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Kansas and Minnesota. Learn more at www.failingagenda.com.

See below for a slideshow of today’s event.

LEESBURG, VA – Americans for Prosperity, the nation’s leading grassroots advocate for economic freedom and limited government, will host a “National Prosperity Action Day” on Saturday, September 22. This nationwide event will harness the combined strength of AFP field staff, volunteers, activists, and coalition partners to make hundreds of thousands of phone calls for economic freedom. The phone banks will be hosted at over 80 AFP field offices around the country, each using the advanced “Freedom Phones” technology.

AFP President Tim Phillips and special guest Kate Obenshain will greet volunteers and give remarks at the AFP field office in Leesburg, VA.

“Our National Prosperity Action Day will give concerned Americans the opportunity to do something about President Obama’s failing agenda,” explained Tim Phillips, President of Americans for Prosperity. “Americans are tired of sitting on the sidelines while Washington spends away our future and drives us deeper into debt. This Saturday, they will get to respond.”

AFP’s newly-opened field office in Leesburg, VA will serve as the hub of the day’s activity, where AFP president Tim Phillips and other national staff will take part in the action, and track progress of offices around the country. AFP activists have already made nearly 3.8 million issue advocacy calls using Freedom Phones. The National Prosperity Action Day builds on the field program effort and will demonstrate the capacity of the technology for reaching and mobilizing concerned citizens.

“We look forward to greatly boosting already robust grassroots advocacy efforts, and sending a clear message to Obama that Americans are tired of his big-government agenda that has led to more spending, more debt, and fewer jobs,” Phillips continued.

The National Prosperity Action Day is a coalition effort supported by multiple fiscally conservative organizations including 60 Plus, Concerned Woman for America, and the National Rifle Association.

This event will highlight President Obama’s failing green energy policies that have Nevadans counting every penny and putting America deeper into debt.

Join us today and check out local coverage of today’s event here!

Reno

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 4- 6 PM

Rainbow Market Gas Station at the corner of Kietzke and Vassar

Reno, NV 89502

Why mix politics and football?

“People are here,” explained Patrick Werner, Missouri state director for Americans for Prosperity.

Football fans are used to encountering promotional tents for sports-talk radio stations and brands of beer and mixed nuts on their way to the game. Not so many of them expect to discuss politics as part of the pregame festivities.

Read the full story on NPR.

The Tour kicked off in Florida on August 27, and has since made 50 stops across the country – in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, and New Mexico.

“Friday the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 368,000 people stopped looking for work last month, that’s not hope, that’s despair,” said Luke Hilgemann, AFP-Wisconsin State Director. “Despite this, President Obama continues to push failed policies that are literally bankrupting America. Look no further than the dilapidated GM plant that can’t afford to re-open.”

“Where’s the recovery, where’s the prosperity, where’s the hope? Let me be clear, the private sector is not doing fine,” continued Hilgemann.

To learn more about the tour and the stops we’ll be making in an area near you, visit failingagenda.com.

In the days ahead, the tour continues through New Hampshire, Maine, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, and Nevada.

See below for photos from the road!

President Tim Phillips talked with the crowd in Sarasota about the grim situation of our economy, “If we don’t turn things around, our children are going to be the first generation that does worse than our generation … And that’s not dire predictions, it’s just the reality of where we are, but we’re Americans, and we’re not going to let that happen!”

Click here to listen to his speech.

Florida Director Slade O’Brien also discussed President Obama’s failed agenda with Inside America’s Johnny Jackson.

Click here to listen to his interview!

Slade couldn’t have said it better … “Free markets are the best path to prosperity.”